Into the

World of

Virtual Reality

By: Valeria Dominguez

What Exactly is Virtual Reality?

• Virtual Reality is a recent invention that allows users to experience the virtual world. This device allows users to enter a simulation of the real or make believe world through the use of computer technology. Users are able to interact with the 3D world 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.
• Models of this Device are sold by HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, PlayStation VR (PSVR), etc.
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How Virtual Reality is helping the World:

• In aviation, medicine, and the military, Virtual Reality training is an attractive alternative to live training with expensive equipment, dangerous situations, or sensitive technology. Commercial pilots can use realistic cockpits with VR technology in holistic training programs that incorporate virtual flight and live instruction. Surgeons can train with virtual tools and patients, and transfer their virtual skills into the operating room, and studies have already begun to show that such training leads to faster doctors who make fewer mistakes. Police and soldiers are able to conduct virtual raids that avoid putting lives at risk.
• Speaking of medicine, the treatment of mental illness, including post-traumatic stress disorder, stands to benefit from the application of Virtual Reality technology to ongoing therapy programs. Whether it’s allowing veterans to confront challenges in a controlled environment, or overcoming phobias in combination with behavioral therapy, VR has a potential beyond gaming, industrial and marketing applications to help people heal from, reconcile and understand real-world experiences

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Harms of Virtual Reality:

One Main Effect of VR Technology is illness. People who get motion sickness are not going to be on a good foundation going into the world of VR, but even if you don’t usually get motion sickness , they might still come about if you are in VR too long. Seizures can also be caused by Virtual Reality Technology. Using the VR headset for a long time can cause you to strain your eyes because of how close the screen is to your eyes.

Input of Virtual Reality:

Input devices provides users the sense of immersion and determines the way a user communicates with the computer. It helps users to navigate and interact within a VR environment to make it intuitive and natural as possible. Unfortunately, the current state of technology is not advanced enough to support this yet. Most commonly used input devices are joysticks, force Balls/Tracking balls, controller wands, data gloves, trackpads, On-device control buttons, motion trackers, bodysuits, treadmills and motion platforms.

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Sources:

• https://www.marxentlabs.com/what-is-virtual-reality/
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• http://resourcemagonline.com/2018/03/the-negative-side-effects-of-virtual-reality/87052/
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• http://web.tecnico.ulisboa.pt/ist188480/cmul/devices.html