Imagine the possibility of using technology to immersively experience an artificial world- like a real-world? Virtual Reality allows that. It refers to a computer-generated experience or simulation in which a person can interact with a three-dimensional environment through electronic hardware devices. This environment is usually artificial but provides an immersive real-world feeling.
Virtual Reality allows you to see the world in another dimension and to experience things that are not created or accessible in real life. This world has no borders or constraints. To fully understand Virtual Reality, think of it as a world where you can perceive taste, Smell, sight, hearing, and balance. Virtual reality simply facilitates our brain to think of an illusory environment as a natural one. It delivers a sense of being in an environment you aren’t.
Non-Immersive VR systems: This system is the least implementation of VR techniques. It is usually done through a desktop computer. Interaction is majorly by mouse and keyboard. It is also called the Window on World system.
Semi-Immersive Systems: This involves the use of a high-performing graphics system together with a large screen monitor or projection system. They do not support sensory output.
Fully-Immersive Systems: This system is the most direct experience of a virtual environment. A head-mounted display is typically used to view this environment. This system can be improved by using audio, haptic, and sensory interfaces.
Virtual Reality presents the width, height, depth, and some more dimensions through cutting-edge technology and devices. It requires one to visualize and manipulate computers and complex data. To successfully create that immersive, multi-sensory, interactive, viewer-centered environment, some of these components are needed.
The software components are the encoded computer instructions. They are responsible for data and generating feedback. They include 3D Modelling software, graphics software, digital sound editing software, and VR simulation software.
The 3D Modelling Software is used in constructing the shape of the objects in a virtual world. 3D modeling software also gives the visual identity to those objects.
2D graphics software is used to enhance the visual details of the objects in the virtual world by modifying their texture.
Digital Sound editing software is necessary for editing and fine-tuning the sounds produced by these virtual objects.
Virtual Reality Simulation Software: This software programs how objects should behave.
They include computer workstations, sensory displays, input devices, and tracking systems.
Computer Workstation: Workstations are computers that operate better than normal personal computers concerning the CPU, graphics, memory capacities, and multitasking capabilities. They are optimized for virtual reality because of their processing speeds, image rendering abilities, and advanced accessories and collaboration tools.
Sensory Display: This component is used in displaying simulated virtual worlds to the users. An example of this is the visual display unit.
Tracking System: This helps in tracking the position and orientation of a user in a virtual environment.
Input devices are for interacting within the virtual environment. They determine how a user communicates with the virtual world.
Virtual Reality has been applied in various fields including entertainment, business, healthcare, etc. An explanation of some of the applications of VR is as follows:
Virtual Reality has been used to showcase objects of historical background and monumental feeling in museums.
Virtual Reality has been used as a visualization tool to analyze great amounts of data and make it easy to process and accessible.VR has also been used in the visualization of chemical molecules and the digital terrain data of mars.
Virtual Reality provides the option of looking at how your design could look like. You can be able to change colours, textures, and positions while observing how it could look like.
Virtual Reality has found its way into the training of professionals. Its use case ranges from medical lectures to surgical practices. It can also be useful in the treatment of phobias and psychological disorders.
Virtual Reality has made it for operators or supervisors to be present in an otherwise distant place. It could also be a place that is hazardous to health.VR makes it possible for the operator to be actively involved
Virtual Reality has found its way into home entertainment. It is being used by big gaming companies in-game systems to improve their user experience. It is also used by filmmakers and Musicians.
Researchers and Enthusiasts in the Virtual Reality field agree that it is exciting and can provide benefits in diverse fields. From learning to firefighting, entertainment, driving, safety, and military strategies for soldiers.
Virtual Reality's greatest issue has been the high level of skills and cost required to develop and implement it. Very high-level programming and graphics expertise is needed to do this effectively.
There is also the concern of health and safety issues regarding using virtual reality equipment. This concern stems from the type of materials being used. This concern includes nausea, headache, and balance.
There are also concerns about addiction and misuse. However, experts believe these concerns would wane over time as the technology improves.
The future of virtual reality can be looked at based on two aspects: technology and social aspect.
It is expected that more research would be done to allow a more comfortable and intuitive interaction with the virtual system. The visual display also needs to be worked on. At the moment VR still feels artificial due to its limited colour range and narrow field of view.
Virtual Reality is currently limited but has the potential to affect our everyday life in the future. There is also the danger of it being misused e.g creating weapons and spying.
A lot of advancement in technology has been made in the field of virtual reality over the years. It has exciting potentials to change our lives and disrupt the way we see things. More VR applications would be made in education, design, simulation, entertainment, prototyping, etc. There is the need to know certain things like whether virtual reality would replace physical contacts in the future or what the ethical norm will be in using virtual reality. Above all, we must do the right thing with this technology.
