Written By Atishaya Gupta (Grade 7)
‘Virtual Reality is the first step in a grand adventure into the landscape of the imagination’ – Frank Biocca
We have all heard of Virtual Reality (VR) haven’t we? Isn’t it a cool idea to explore the dinosaur world at the comfort of our sofa or tether at the very edge of a rope, trying to NOT fall into the precipice below? VR certainly looks the path ahead for the future, and not just for gaming but for a host of other reasons, too.
What is VR?
Before we dive into the applications of VR, we need to understand what VR exactly is. Virtual Reality, in other terms, is nothing but near or implied reality. It is a world that we are not really in, but we feel like we are in. This is what makes VR so flexible. Because, say if you want to learn how to conduct a surgery while training to be a surgeon, you can use VR to simulate the experience and not rip a real person’s body open! The environment that VR creates leads our brain to think we are in that world when we are not. This is due to the concept of the 5 senses (sense, smell, taste, sight and hear). When we are in that reality our senses are used to gain an understanding of our surroundings.
Applications Of VR
Ok, so now since we have talked about what is VR, let’s dive into its applications! And no, it’s not only the humongous headset dangling over your head as you spend hours in the alternate world! It’s much more than that!
| Uses of VR | More Information |
| Gaming | As you know, enormous headsets (HMD) are used to make the player see the reality and either play stations or sensory technology are used to control the play. |
| Engineering, Architecture, and Fashion | VR plays a vital role in simulating different structures such as houses and machines so that designers can get a clear, 3D view of the object they are building. E.g.: Cars, Airplanes can be virtually designed and be tested for factors such as aerodynamics. Also, VR is used by many fashion companies such as Tommy Hilfiger and Gap to design products accurately. |
| Medical Reasons | Here, VR is used to treat patients mentally and physically by doctors. For Example, Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) is used to treat anxiety disorders such as different Phobias. More than 3 million patients have been treated by the da Vinci Surgical Robot built-in 2009. |
| Training | VR is extensively used for the training of doctors and pilots by teachers. Here, simulators are created which enable students to perform surgery E.g.: Without actually hurting someone. Similarly, an airplane-like environment is simulated to make sure trainee pilots know what to do. Such type of technology is also used in armies of the US and UK to train students. |
Conclusion
In conclusion, VR is used in a plethora of ways ranging from fashion to medical purposes! I believe that VR is a great tool to use in different fields to ensure good results. I also think that this amazing piece of technology will keep on growing and in doing so, make the world a better place. Virtual Reality is one of the pioneers of the future and will carry the world forward, and help in discovering various things. But don’t mistake this for reality! After all, it’s near reality.
Featured Image Courtesy – BBC