Virtual Reality: Everything You Need to Know

Today, progress has truly reached unprecedented heights, and the new generation is able to use opportunities that people only dreamed of 10-15 years ago. What used to be mysticism and magic has now become technical progress. One of these things is virtual reality. Today we are going to talk about what VR is and how it is being used in different areas.

Definition of Virtual Reality

Virtual reality is a virtual world created with the help of hardware and software, which is transmitted to humans through touch, hearing, as well as sight and, in some cases, smell. It is the combination of all of these influences on the human senses that together are called the interactive world

It, VR, is able to simulate with high accuracy the effects of the surrounding virtual reality on humans, but in order to create a truly plausible computer synthesis from the reactions and properties within the interactive world, all synthesis processes are calculated, analyzed and derived as behavior in real time.

The use of virtual reality is multifaceted: in 99 percent of cases, animate and inanimate objects created with this technology have exactly the same properties, behavior and movement as their real prototypes. At the same time, the user is able to influence all animate and inanimate objects according to the real laws of physics (if the game process does not provide for other laws of physics, which happens very rarely).

Operating Principle

Many people wonder exactly how the technology works. Here are the three main components that are used in almost any interaction with the virtual environment:

• Head. The virtual environment carefully, with the help of a specialized headset, tracks the position of the head. So, the headset moves the picture according to which side and when the user turns his head – to the side, down or up. This system is officially called the six degrees of freedom.
• Motion. In more expensive versions of the hardware is tracked and the user’s movements, and the virtual picture will move according to them. We are talking here not about the games, in which the user is simply in place and interacts with the environment, but those where it moves in a virtual space.
• Eyes. Another fundamental sensor in reality analyzes the direction in which the eyes look. Thanks to this, the game allows the user to immerse himself more deeply in the interactive reality.

The Full Presence Effect

Already by the term full presence, it is clear exactly what we are talking about: the world is a virtual reality. This means that the user will feel exactly where the game is, and he can interact with it. The user turns his head – the character also turns his head, the person steps in his room – the player moves in the interactive reality. There is still a debate – is it possible to be fully immersed in virtual reality?

The Leap – tracking fingers and hands

The full presence effect is achieved by The Leap device. This device, which uses a complex system to track every movement, is still part of the very expensive and top-of-the-line helmets. However, the algorithm is quite simple, and it is present in a slightly modified form in another device, namely the HTC Vive helmet.

Both the controller and the helmet in the HTC Vive, are equipped with many photodiodes – small devices that convert light energy into electrical energy.

Important point! Generally speaking, one encounters photodiodes and their operation on a daily basis. As an example, this is the photodiode, which is responsible for lighting a smartphone. The photodiode detects exactly how much light falls on it and, based on this data, adjusts the brightness level

The same full-presence principle is used in the helmet. A standard VR helmet comes with two stations that let in a pair of beams at time intervals – these are horizontal and vertical beams. They pierce the room and reach the photodiodes on the helmet device and the controller. The photodiodes then begin their operation, and in a few seconds information data is exchanged, during which the sensors transmit the position of the controllers and the helmet.

This is the algorithm for creating full presence.

What Varieties of VR There Are

Officially, there are now three varieties of virtual reality:

• Simulation and computer simulation.
• Imaginary activities.
• Cyberspace and hardware.

VR helmets

The start of interactive reality can be considered the creation of three helmets:

• HTC Vive
• Oculus Rift
• Samsung Gear VR

The main difference between these three gadgets is only in the companies-manufacturers. Otherwise, they are similar. All three helmets differ in portability and full immersion in the gameplay.

Pros and cons of virtual reality

Pros:

• Being able to fully immerse yourself in an interactive dimension.
• Gaining new emotions.
• Prevention of stress.
• Creation of electronic information and training resources.
• Holding conferences.
• Creation of cultural heritage objects.
• Opportunity to visualize various objects and physical phenomena.
• The possibility for everyone to move to a new level of entertainment.

Cons:

• Addiction.
• Another clear disadvantage: virtual reality and its psychological impact on people – it is not always positive, as there is a risk of too much immersion in the virtual world, which sometimes entails problems in social and other spheres of life.
• High cost of the devices.

Application of virtual reality

VR can be used in areas such as:

• Training. Today, interactive reality makes it possible to simulate a training environment in those areas and for those activities for which it is necessary and important to prepare in advance. As an example, it can be an operation, control of machinery, and other areas.
• Science. VR makes it possible to greatly accelerate the research of both the atomic and molecular world. In the world of computer reality, one is able to manipulate even atoms as if it were a constructor.
• Medicine. As noted, VR can be used to train and educate medical professionals: to perform surgeries, learn equipment, and improve professional skills.
• Architecture and design. What could be better than showing the customer a model of a new house or any other construction object using such reality? It is what makes it possible to create these objects in virtual space, in full size, for demonstration, whereas before, hand models and imagination were used. This applies not only to construction objects, but also to machinery.
• Entertainment. VR is insanely popular in the gaming environment. And, games are in demand, as well as cultural events and tourism.

VR – is it harmful or not?

So far it can be noted that no global research has been conducted in this area, but the first conclusions can already be drawn. Since VR is still in its infancy (and indeed it is), many people may experience unpleasant feelings when using this technology for a long time. In particular, one will feel dizzy and nauseous.

So far, there is no evidence that VR has a negative effect on vision. The negative effect is undoubtedly there, but it is not so great as to be alarming. So it is still unknown whether virtual reality is a harm or a benefit.

VR – what does the future hold?

Today, virtual reality is not completely finished, so there may be some unpleasant feelings. In the future, there will appear many devices, copies and analogues, which will not affect the human body and psyche negatively.

Also VR devices will be able to solve problems with the consumption of information data, and the sessions will become as standard and commonplace as the usual games on the computer or consoles these days.

Conclusion

Virtual reality is still a bottomless abyss to explore and improve algorithms. Technology is advancing very quickly today, so it is safe to say that in the near future the market price of the kit will be affordable for a person with average income.