Can Reality Be Virtual?
Imagine yourself in a room of a mansion watching Netflix on an IMAX Screen, without spending millions! Picture yourself flying a plane from the cockpit, without having to spend months in training! Envisage yourself exploring the depths of the ocean, without having to wear an oxygen tank!
Now, take off your Virtual Reality goggles.
What is Virtual Reality?
Virtual Reality (VR) is an experience of interacting with a 3Dimensional(3D) world, which is unreal. It is designed and generated by a computer, enabling the users three basic functionalities of immersion, navigation, and manipulation. Consequently, giving one the ability to create a completely new environment.
How does Virtual Reality work?
Most VR devices are usually head-mounted displays or headsets. Additionally, they come with an input tracker, in the form of a joystick, sensors, navigation buttons, among many others. A curved lens and a split display create the stereoscopic 3D effect, along with stereo sound to appeal to the auditory senses.
How long has Virtual Reality been in existence?
Many people believe that VR is a recent invention. However, in reality, it is a very old invention. The very first VR headset was created in 1960, called the ‘Headsight’. The term ‘Virtual Reality’ was first introduced 20 years later, in the 1980's. 360-degree effects have been in existence for more than 2 centuries; the effect was then reflected through 360-degree paintings and now they are depicted through a computer.
What are the benefits of Virtual Reality?
The major benefits are in simulating dangerous and challenging activities that are sometimes too risky to try in real life. These activities range from military training to extreme sports. VR lowers both the risk of injury and the cost of rehearsal. In addition, these situations can be manipulated and controlled, creating more realistic scenarios.
Another benefit is that during this pandemic, travel and social interactions have been reduced. VR can therefore be used for in-home tourism. It has the potential of bringing you to different parts of the world, through touring the places in up to 6-degrees of freedom. It also has the potential to increase human interactions, during a time when physical interaction has become limited. Instead of meeting someone through a screen, VR allows users to feel just like sitting in the same room even though they are cross-country.
What are the downsides of Virtual Reality?
One of the major downsides of VR is its high cost. Other than the new Google Cardboard, all other headsets range from $100 to $1500. This causes VR to have limited accessibility. Another disadvantage of the simulation is the lack of safety it provides. Users may perceive a situation to be safe or easy, though in real life if the proper precautions are not taken the event could end up being fatal.
What are the applications of Virtual Reality?
Since simulations are the act of ‘pretending’, they can be used for a vast number of activities extending from entertainment to training.
Military Training
VR enables training for military personnel in different scenarios, and environments. Currently, military training facilities in some parts of the world use VR for flight, battlefield, medic, and vehicle simulations. VR is also a safer way to teach first-time recruits the entire process and procedure.
Sports Training + Viewing
VR was first intended for gaming. However, recently it has shifted to include subjects like healthcare, education, and sports. VR could be used by players and coaches to train more efficiently across a variety of sports. This will help them replay scenarios, making it much easier to focus and improve their mistakes. VR can also train injured athletes, helping them in improving their cognitive abilities. Further, for audience experiences, broadcasters have started streaming live games using VR.
Space/Astronautical Training
Currently, astronaut training facilities can emulate the feeling of Space. However, VR can provide the full simulation and the synchronization of being in Space. VR technology can also simulate space travel for the general public; those who don’t plan on going to space anytime soon!
Mental Health
Currently, scientists and doctors are looking into treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) with VR. Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) is being used on those who need help to readapt to normal life. VRET is the process of using VR to re-enact the traumatizing situation. Meditating can also be done using VR, studies suggest that it is more relaxing.
Key Takeaways
Though VR was introduced in the 1960s for gaming purposes only, in the last couple of decades, VR has become extremely helpful in simulating scenarios that would be more dangerous, difficult, and expensive to run in actual physical environments. It is still expensive for individual use however, it is much cheaper for the training of military, sport, and astronautical activities. The covid era has introduced limitations and many can be minimized through the use of Virtual Reality, a technology that will revolutionize all industries.
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