What is Virtual Reality
Virtual Reality (VR) is the use of computer technology to create a simulated environment. Unlike traditional user interfaces, VR places the user inside an experience. Instead of viewing a screen in front of them, users are immersed and able to interact with 3D worlds. By simulating as many senses as possible, such as vision, hearing, touch, even smell, the computer is transformed into a gatekeeper to this artificial world. The only limits to near-real VR experiences are the availability of content and cheap computing power.
Advantages of Virtual Reality
1) Virtual reality creates a realistic world
2) It enables user to explore places.
3) Through Virtual Reality user can experiment with an artificial environment.
4) Virtual Reality make the education more easily and comfort.
10 Virtual Reality Applications
The exact history of virtual reality is unknown but it’s been a topic of conversation for centuries. However, it is only recently that technology has emerged to transform fantasy into reality.
1. Healthcare
The most important way VR is modernizing healthcare is through training. VR facilitates an environment to learn and grow outside in real-world situations.
With VR, specialists who need to perform very precise operations can practice without being in the midst of an emergency.
And practitioners who need to get familiar with the hospital environment can do so without the extra stress involved.
The technology is also being used in cognitive behavior therapy where patients with phobias and anxieties work through their problems in a controlled environment.
2. Entertainment
The entertainment industry was one of the first to incorporate VR and still remains one of the strongest examples of how it can be applied. If you look at online and/or console gaming, you will see that VR has a strong presence in this industry.
Similarly, VR is being introduced to cinemas and theme parks to simulate movie-like adventures and let people experience their favorite cinematographic masterpieces.
3. Automotive
VR helps car manufacturers in analyzing road scenarios and the behavior of cars. The simulated situations allow them to analyze and make changes to the prototypes before developing a new model.
Virtual reality is widely used in the development of smart cars that will flood the market in the future. Cars learn how to drive, turn, and stop using artificial intelligence (AR) and virtual reality.
4. Education
Even though education is believed to be a rather slow industry to pick up new trends and technologies, VR has already shown a lot of promise.
For adults, it means that any industry can provide professional training to their employees. But for younger students, VR is part of educational games, field trips, and in general experiencing the world.
5. Space & Military
Given that these two industries have to operate in rather dangerous environments that can’t be easily accessed, VR provides conditions for making things as close to reality as possible for training.
VR enables trainees to go through preparation with minimal risks and even helps soldiers suffering from battlefield trauma to overcome these conditions and prepare for new or unexpected situations.
6. Architecture
Using VR, architects can not only envision what they’re building but understand how it feels as well. This allows them to experience the space before it is built and make real-time changes to deliver customer satisfaction.
7. Digital Marketing
While most people don’t like commercials, experiencing the use of a product close-up can actually be an entertaining and enlightening experience. There are a variety of applications of VR in digital marketing.
For example, retailers can show potential customers how a product will look in their home. Or nonprofits can create more empathetic messaging for political issues.
8. Occupational Safety
Occupational safety and health (OSH) is a concern for workplaces with machinery or natural hazards.
These workplace dangers can be addressed in a simulated environment so workers can learn how to respond to them effectively without being hurt.
9. Social Science and Psychology
Much of this industry relies on VR so that a patient can embody someone else and imagine reality from a different perspective or worldview. Immersive environments can leave positive impacts on future social interactions.
10. Tourism
Try a holiday before you buy it. No, seriously. One pointed virtual reality application is tourism.
You can go on guided virtual tours of hotels, landmarks, restaurants, and whatever else you may want to visit on your next vacation. And then when you do go, you know you won’t be disappointed.
The main features of VR systems include:
Immersion
The goal of any VR system is to completely immerse the user in a new simulation environment. This means filling their peripheral vision using the visor, introducing sound canceling surroundsound headphones which can put them into the scene and giving them control over the scene with their head movements. At the very least introducing these three levels of control can create an immersive experience. Adding in new interaction features can be even more powerful.
interaction
In many films and games, app creators are working at creating more immersive experiences. Using a specialty controller in the new Playstation VR for example can help users to interact with the scene and control elements. Having the ability to pick up objects in the scene or even interact with characters can improve immersion even further and add to the value of VR simulations.
