Virtual Reality Technology

Virtual Reality Technology

Virtual reality (also called Virtual Realities or VR) is best understood by first defining what it aims to achieve - total immersion.

Total immersion means that the sensory experience feels so real, that we forget it is a virtual-artificial environment and begin to interact with it as we would naturally in the real world. In a virtual reality environment, a completely synthetic world may or may not mimic the properties of a real-world environment. This means that the virtual reality environment may simulate an everyday setting (e.g. walking around the streets of London), or may exceed the bounds of physical reality by creating a world in which the physical laws governing gravity, time and material properties no longer hold (e.g. shooting space aliens on a foreign gravityless planet).

Key Elements of a Virtual Reality Experience

Virtual World

A virtual world is a three-dimensional environment that is often, but not necessarily, realized through a medium (i.e. rendering, display, etc.) where one can interact with others and create objects as part of that interaction. In a virtual world, visual perspectives are responsive to changes in movement and interactions mimic those experienced in the real world.


Immersion

Virtual Reality Immersion is the perception of being physically present in a non-physical world. It encompasses the sense of presence, which is the point where the human brain believes that is somewhere it is really not, and is accomplished through purely mental and/or physical means. The state of total immersion exists when enough senses are activated to create the perception of being present in a non-physical world. Two common types of immersion include:

• Mental Immersion - A deep mental state of engagement, with suspension of disbelief that one is in a virtual environment.
• Physical Immersion - Exhibited physical engagement in a virtual environment, with suspension of disbelief that one is in a virtual environment.

Sensory Feedback

Virtual reality requires as many of our senses as possible to be simulated. These senses include vision (visual), hearing (aural), touch (haptic), and more. Properly stimulating these sense requires sensory feedback, which is achieved through integrated hardware and software (also known as inputs). Examples of this hardware and inputs are discussed below as key components to a virtual reality system, which include head mounted displays (HMD), special gloves or hand accessories, and hand controls. 


Interactivity

The element of interaction is crucial for virtual reality experiences to provide users with enough comfort to naturally engage with the virtual environment. If the virtual environment responds to a user’s action in a natural manner, excitement and senses of immersion will remain. If the virtual environment cannot respond quick enough, the human brain will quickly notice and the sense of immersion will diminish. Virtual environment responses to interaction can include the way a participant moves around or changes in their viewpoint; generally through movements of their head.

Types of Virtual Reality 

Several categories of virtual reality technologies exist, with more likely to emerge as this technology progresses. The various types of virtual reality differ in their levels of immersion and also virtual reality and applications and use cases. Below, we explore a few of the different categories of virtual reality:

• Non-immersive simulations are the least immersive implementation of virtual reality technology. In a non-immersive simulation, only a subset of the user's senses are stimulated, allowing for peripheral awareness of the reality outside the virtual reality simulation. Users enter into these three-dimensional virtual environments through a portal or window by utilising standard high resolution monitors powered by processing power typically found on conventional desktop workstations.

• Semi-immersive simulations provide a more immersive experience, in which the user is partly but not fully immersed in a virtual environment. Semi-immersive simulations closely resemble and utilize many of the same technologies found in flight simulation. Semi-immersive simulations are powered by high performance graphical computing systems, which are often then coupled with large screen projector systems or multiple television projection systems to properly stimulate the user's visuals.

• Fully-immersive simulations provide the most immersive implementation of virtual reality technology. In a fully-immersive simulation, hardware such as head-mounted displays and motion detecting devices are used to stimulate all of a user's senses. Fully immersive simulations are able to provide very realistic user experiences by delivering a wide field of view, high resolutions, increased update rates (also called refresh rate), and high levels of contrast into a user's head-mounted display (HMD).

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.

Disadvantages of Virtual Reality 

1) The quipments used in virtual reality are very expensive.
2) It consists of complex technology.
3) In virtual reality environment we cant move by our own like in the real world.

Applications of Virtual Reality 

1. Military

The military in the UK and the US have both adopted the use of virtual reality in their training as it allows them to undertake a huge range of simulations. This is used in all branches of service.

VR can put a trainee in a number of different situations, places and environments so the military are using it for flight simulations, battlefield simulations, medic training, vehicle simulation and virtual boot camp, among other things. A key benefit for the use of VR in the military is the reduction in costs for training. In addition to this, it can safely replicate dangerous training situations.

2. Sport

VR is revolutionising the sports industry for both players and viewers. It’s used as a training aid in many sports and to help measure athletic performance and analyse technique.

VR has also been used to enhance the viewer’s experience of a sporting event. Broadcasters are now streaming live games in virtual reality and preparing to one day sell “virtual tickets” to live games.

3. Mental Health

VR has become a primary method for treating post-traumatic stress. Using VR exposure therapy, a person enters a re-enactment of a traumatic event.

It has also been used to treat anxiety, phobias and depression. Virtual reality technology can provide a safe environment for patients to come into contact with things they fear, whilst remaining in a controlled and safe environment.

4. Medical Training

Medical and dental students use VR to practice surgeries and procedures, allowing for a consequence free learning environment. Virtual patients are used to allow students to develop skills which can later be applied in the real world.

5. Education

Virtual reality has been adopted in education for teaching and learning situations. Students are able to interact with each other and within a three dimensional environment. Students can also be taken on virtual field trips, for example, to museums, taking tours of the solar system and going back in time to different eras.

Students with special needs, such as autism, are also using VR technology. Research has found that VR can be a motivating platform to safely practice social skills for children. A company called Floreo has developed virtual reality scenarios that allow children to learn and practice skills such as pointing, making eye contact and building social connections. Parents can also follow along and interact by using a linked tablet.