Virtual reality
Virtual reality (VR) is intended to be an immersive experience and typically requires equipment, most commonly a headset. Often times wearables are worn to further simulate the user's motion in the environment and make it even more realistic.
Currently, the most immersive VR experiences require a computer-tethered headset. More cost effective ways to experience VR have arisen leveraging devices such as smartphones and a low cost “shell” containing optical lenses. VR has potential uses in the entertainment industry, education, and training among many other applications.
Features
- 3D world that can often be manipulated or explored by the user as if it were a real environment
- Tracks user's motions, such as eye or head movements, and adjusts the images on the display to reflect this change in perspective
- Effective virtual immersion makes the user unaware of the true surroundings, focusing the user on the virtual environment
VR in practice
An American airline used virtual reality to get customers excited prior to the release of their redesigned business class and lounges. Customers were given a full 360 degree immersive tour of the upgraded lounges, day beds, showers, and restaurants. This gives consumers a “taste” of the experience before they even purchase a ticket.
Architects can design buildings and let engineers, construction firms, and customers walk around and evaluate the building and make changes before ever breaking ground via VR applications. A potential renter could tour apartments in a new city remotely.
VR provides an immersive substitute when real-world training is costly, hazardous, or otherwise difficult, such as in mining, welding, or healthcare. For example, a British train operating company is using virtual reality to train its staff on potential platform-train interface hazards. Employees use a virtual environment to simulate various hazardous situations and prevent them from turning into accidents, ultimately translating this to the real world.
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