Virtual reality
is the use of computer modelling, that enables a person to communicate with an artificial three dimensional (3-D) virtual. It uses technology to create a stimulated environment. It’s used to create immersive experiences that can help educate and even entertain consumers, the software works together with its hardware to immerse the user into the virtual world. On a computer, virtual reality is primarily experienced through two of the five senses: sight and sound.
Types of virtual reality
1.Non-immersive virtual reality: you interact with a virtual environment usually through a computer where you can control some characters or activities within the experience, but the visual environment is not directly interacting with you.
2. Semi-immersive virtual reality: this is something between non and fully immersive virtual reality. Using a computer or virtual reality glasses, you can move around in a virtual environment but other than your virtual experience you will have no other sensations to enhance the experience.
3. Fully immersive virtual reality: it is the presentation of an artificial environment that replaces the user’s real-world surroundings convincingly enough that they are able to suspend disbelief and are fully engaged with the created environment. Fully immersive simulation gives the users the most realistic simulation experience, complete with sight and sound. Usually, we’d need to put on what’s called a head mounted display with two screens and stereo sound, and wear one or more sensory gloves.
4. Collaborative virtual reality: it is a multi-person, computer generated networked environment where people from different physical location interact with one another in the same virtual environment.
5. Mixed reality: it allows you to see and immerse yourself in the world around you even as you interact with a visual environment using your own hands.
6. Augmented reality: a communicative experience of a real-world environment, where the objects/tools that are in the real world are enhanced by computer-generated perceptual information, sometimes across multiple sensory modalities including virtual reality. It is the modification of a real-life environment by the addition of sound, virtual element and other sensory elements.
Benefits of Virtual Reality
a. Virtual Reality helps create new relationship in an effective way.
b. Effective communication tool in the digital world.
c. Enables people to find out and explore interesting places.
d. It can be done remotely.
e. It creates an entire digital environment, a 360-degree immersive user experience that feels real.
Implications of using Virtual Reality
a. Over indulgence gives way to addiction.
b. Quite expensive making it out of the reach of the poor masses. c. Lacks flexibility.
d. Can’t be used as a substitute for direct interaction with other people.
Application of virtual reality
a. Military; Virtual reality has been used to integrate militant’s experience of how to deal with their opponents not minding the facts that there is no real war going on, given a fully immersed environment, the virtual user thinks and sees himself in a warring environment so he does all his best to conquer.
b. Medicine; it has made a very big contribution to the medical world. It gave medical practitioners the opportunity to see beyond their environment, immerse themselves trying to know the underlying cause of a sickness then try to solve the ailment.
c. Space; it gives the virtual user ability to see beyond our environment, beyond the earth, with you thinking that you are already in space, viewing many stars, constellations, galaxies and the rest of them.
d. Entertainment; no doubt virtual reality has contributed a lot to the entertainment industry, especially in the gaming field. Gamers get fully immersed in the game they are playing
e. Architecture; it provides artists with the opportunities to build a virtual house and this makes them see modern day houses and cities.
