Virtual reality is an artificially created environment that allows us to perceive it as reality.
These innovations use a lot of technologies and developments that take into account not only the technical part, but also the human perception, in order to provide the greatest comfort and convenience in use.
Virtual reality should not be perceived as a technology aimed exclusively at the computer games industry. It also has much more serious uses.
Today this technology is becoming cheaper, more accessible and, accordingly, more widespread. That is why it is high time to learn more about virtual reality.
What is virtual reality?
Virtual reality is a term used to describe a computer-generated 3D environment that interacts with a person's senses, allowing them to fully immerse themselves in it.
Promotional video:
While in this virtual reality, a person is able to control objects or perform a number of specific actions.
How is virtual reality created?
Today virtual reality is achieved using computer technology. There are a number of systems and headset accessories such as helmets, headphones, treadmills, suits, joysticks, etc. that are used for this purpose.
All these assistive systems and technologies affect the human senses and perceptions to create the illusion of reality.
This is much more complicated than the description sounds.
All our senses and brains are developed with one goal in mind - to perceive reality and notice even minor inconsistencies. That is why we suffer from motion sickness, notice what is happening with peripheral vision and feel the presence of other people, even when we do not see them.
All this is extremely difficult to reproduce with the help of even the most advanced computer technologies. Virtual reality technology must take into account all the features of our physiology.
When virtual reality manages to achieve the perfect combination of hardware, software and sensory synchronicity, we get the effect of being immersed in a fictional environment.
Why is virtual reality needed?
Creation of virtual reality requires considerable costs and efforts. Is it worth the candle for this new development?
Only in the entertainment industry is virtual reality able to recoup all costs, and in the very near future. The technology allows you to get a unique experience while watching movies and using computer games.
After all, the computer games industry alone operates in the billions and is ready to go to great lengths to delight its customers with a novelty.
Using
Today, virtual reality has many other purposes, much more important and serious.
Virtual reality applications are actively used in areas such as:
Architecture - planning spaces and creating projects.
Medicine - practice for young professionals in the virtual space.
Art - virtual museums and theaters.
Entertainment - virtual concerts, casinos, cinemas, etc.
Army - conducting exercises and piloting practice.
Virtual reality can lead to new and exciting discoveries in these and many other areas that will affect our daily lives.
If the use of real space is too dangerous, expensive, or simply impossible, a virtual environment that completely mimics reality can come to the rescue.
From fighter pilots to neurosurgeons, virtual reality helps budding professionals take virtual risks for real-world experiences.
With a decrease in cost, the development of technologies will allow virtual reality to occupy a significant niche in the field of education. Not to mention how much the interface of our familiar programs, computers and even household appliances can change.
Future
It is already becoming clear that virtual reality is ready to stand firmly on its feet in the very near future.
While Facebook's Oculus Rift, Sony's VR PlayStation, and HTC's Vive have burst into the modern market with fanfare, 2016 hasn't been the year of virtual reality. Perhaps, this technology needs several more years, because not everything depends solely on the equipment developers.
For virtual reality to sparkle with all its colors, an effort is also needed on the part of software creators, game and application developers. It is on them that the creation of platforms that are attractive to consumers depends for the most part.
Of course, virtual reality equipment is not yet the main computing device. And all because this equipment is not cheap and will not work with a regular computer.
To enjoy virtual reality today, you have to shell out a lot for a high-performance computer, hardware such as the Oculus Rift, software and applications that support virtual reality. Few are yet able to shell out that amount in one go.
Chipset company Nvidia released data that in 2016 only 13 million computers were powerful enough to run virtual reality hardware. That is, less than 1% of all computers in use around the world are capable of supporting this new technology.
Most likely, the equipment will soon become much cheaper and more affordable. Perhaps the era of virtual reality will come in five to six years.
Hope Chikanchi