Do you have a dream that is so extreme or outrageous that you know it is so impossible to achieve? Kids and adults alike, go through this specific phase. There will always be a point in our lives where dream and aspire to something big.
Children will usually dream of going to the moon or a planet that they have learned in school. Some would even be very fascinated with dinosaurs that they want to go back in time to have a glimpse of these amazing creatures (I did!).
As we grow older, our bucket list gets longer too. We want to go to the moon, pet a shark, play basketball with our favorite NBA star or perform together with Bruno Mars. These may not happen in real life, but with virtual reality, these things may be achieved.
With the use of a computer, visual and audio equipment, and other sensory equipment, we can enjoy a thrilling adventure right in the comforts of our home. This is the power of Virtual Reality.
What is Virtual Reality?
Virtual Reality or more famously known as VR means that we experience things that don’t exist, using high-performance computers and other equipment. This is the simplest way to define VR.
A more technical definition is – the computer-generated simulation of a three-dimensional image or environment that can be interacted with in a seemingly real or physical way by a person using special electronic equipment, such as a helmet with a screen inside or gloves fitted with sensors.
Virtual Reality, as the words suggest mean Near Reality. It is reality emulation that we experience as human beings.
Why is Virtual Reality in demand?
There are a lot of reasons why virtual reality is an integral and an essential innovation. Let us take explore this quickly.
Virtual Reality is believable. It means that you need to incorporate both Mental and Physical activity. You should be able to put yourself on that imagination phase and to maintain that illusion stage or the very least imagination phase to make it believable.
Virtual Reality is interactive. You just do not stand and let the graphics amaze you. To fully enjoy the experience you also need to move and make use of the other senses like hearing and feeling. That is the reason why most cinemas include other special effects so that you get the total VR Package.
Virtual Reality is and remains to be computer-generated. The use high-performance or high-tech machines and other equipment are vital in making the Virtual Reality experience more lifelike or convincing. This is the primary reason why VR developers continuously seek for innovations.
Virtual Reality is immersive. It should achieve both the believable and interactive aspects. VR should not just engage your imagination, but your physical movement too.
VR makes you feel and thinks that you actually exist inside an entirely realistic virtual world. This is why you are partly or fully immersed. It is interactive because as the user, you respond to what you see and then the VR also responds to what you do. When you move around, the images or scenes also change, that is why VR is also considered a two-way interaction.
Different Types of Virtual Reality
There are different types of Virtual Reality. We need to understand the proper terminologies for us have a bigger picture and enjoy the entertainment benefits it gives.
Full Immersion or Fully Immersive Virtual Reality.
Before we categorize it as fully immersive, we need to know three things.
First, a believable computer model or simulation that can elaborately detail a virtual.
Second, a powerful or high-performance computer that can sense the movements and can adjust the experience properly.
Third, hardware that is connected to the computer that will now fully immerse the user in the virtual world. This goes hand in hand with other VR equipment.
Non-immersive Virtual Reality
This is the type of VR that does not give the total immersive aspect. 3D animation or a flight simulator in an arcade can fall in this category. This is still considered Virtual Reality since it gives a more distinct visual without the immersion part.
Augmented Reality
Augmented reality is the integration of visual and digital figures or information with that of the user’s real-time environment. Virtual reality creates an artificial environment while augmented reality uses the present environment and then includes new information or graphics on top of it. One famous mobile game that uses Augmented Reality is the Pokemon Go.
Mixed Reality
Mixed Reality or sometimes called Hybrid Reality, and MR. It aims to combine the best features of both virtual realities and augmented reality.
Virtual Reality and Us
Now that we have covered several key information of Virtual Reality let us now cover the different advantages and disadvantages of Virtual Reality.
Advantages of Virtual Reality
Virtual Reality reinvents the idea and concept of communication. It expands a total communication process between the receiver and sender of the message. This means there will be an opportunity to enhance the user experience and even relationships because it expands not just on the general location, but also the interest.
Different sectors of the society can benefit from the use of Virtual Reality. It enhances the training experience in the fields of medicine, architecture, aviation, education, and others. It also affects the entertainment industry as it provides a near reality movie experience.
People with disabilities could explore the Computer-generated World and still experience a full life experience through Virtual reality.
Virtual Reality also makes a great impact on tourism. It will help a country promote their tourist locations through virtual tours.
Disadvantages of Virtual Reality
The fast breakthroughs in the development of Virtual Reality and online world provide legal risks. There are no specific laws that govern the use of Virtual Reality. Virtual Reality users and developers can do things in these worlds that may be deemed illegal in the real world.
Some users may become addicted or hooked to living in the virtual world and may affect their real-life duties and responsibilities.
Children are very susceptible too regarding addiction. They may neglect their studies because of the thrill they get from VR Games.
Summary
Virtual reality is the formation of a near reality atmosphere that ignites the interest of our senses. It uses high-performance technologies to achieve the technical complexity of bringing the idea of imagination and reality together. Virtual Reality has a massive effect on our lives. A new era of technology future awaits us. It will change our lives radically. There is so much to look forward to with the innovations in virtual reality.