Virtual Reality (VR) is a reality created by software, hardware, and devices in a combined manner. VR creates a new world that makes the user feel real. For example, if you are in India, then through VR, you can find yourself in the USA through some device.
You can experience VR through two senses. One is seeing and another is hearing. Three-dimensional images (also called 3D Objects) are the simplest form of VR.
Virtual Reality combines the physical environment to generate 3D objects which are real. It creates real sounds and other senses which gives the feel of real surroundings. VR allows the user to look around the created world.
Types of Virtual Reality
1. Non-immersive Virtual Reality (NiVR)
This type of VR has a big screen, audio system, and some controls. It is unlike immersive VR where its effect is restricted only within glasses placed on the eyes. In NiVR, the entire screen surrounds the user.
Non-Immersive VR can be controlled through headphones, joysticks, etc. Even keyboards and mouse can be used.
2. Fully-immersive Virtual Reality (FiVR)
Virtual Reality is capable to find sounds, sights, and emotions. In this, the user needs to wear a special type of spectacle called Head-Mounted Displays (HMD).
Users can see in all directions. HMDs accordingly adjust the views of anything coming in front of it. For example, if you go closer to an object, then its size must grow. Also, if you are going away from the object, then its size must decrease.
FiVR must follow the rules of human understanding. For example, if the user moves left with respect to the object, then the object should move right with respect to the user’s sight.
This VR must also allow users to move freely. This means it should behave accordingly if the user moves to the front, back, left, or right.
Users should be able to do actions on virtual objects. For example, pushing an object or pulling it. FiVR should respond accordingly by changing the object’s position.
For You -> Immersive VR
3. Collaborative Virtual Environment (CVE)
NiVR and FiVR are concerned with a person. But CVE gives a space where more people can talk to each other in different areas. So, this creates a new form of interaction where people living at different locations can talk to each other in a single virtual location
CVE is highly beneficial in board meetings. For this, a special type of conference room is created. This room has a special light projection device. This device is configured with CVE and has information about the physical appearance of each board member.
Therefore to start the meeting, this device is activated. Then, it projects the virtual 3D objects of all board members in a proper position.
This 3D object has behavior. Also, the accuracy of the position is maintained. Therefore, it looks like the virtual 3D object of all board members are sitting, standing, or doing other things.
For you -> Collaborative Virtual Environments
4. Web-based Virtual Reality (WbVR)
WbVR is based on Virtual Reality Markup Language (VRML).
Related -> 5 Types of Virtual Reality that will Affect the Future
How VR can be able to benefit us?
1. By making the training process easy
In the training, VR can help by protecting trainees from dangerous environments. Examples are pilot training, firefighting, etc. So, VR can create such environments virtually. It includes real hazardous situations along with its behaviors.
Therefore, trainees can easily become experts. This VR training is safe because such environments cannot make real injuries to the person.
2. By making the designing process easy
VR improves the experience of designing. It is possible through bringing the 3D structure within the sight and make changes to it. Since the structure looks more real, so finding defects and correcting it becomes much easier than before. This also makes designing work more fast and efficient.
3. By conducting the meetings without reaching the venue
This is possible due to CVE. Members of the meeting can do it by sitting at home. Just they have to be on the formal dress to represent themselves. So, one can see the virtual 3D object of each member at different locations together at the venue.
The main benefit is that one can save the cost to travel. Also, one can save the extra time required to travel. Therefore the meeting becomes more efficient.
4. By making the education more realistic
VR does this by throwing away the work of reading. VR directly shows situations and phenomena. Also, being a reality, learners also can also experience knowledge. Hence, experience makes the learners remember things permanently.
VR can be more beneficial in learning science. For example, physics, chemistry, biology, etc.
In chemistry, VR can help to show how chemicals look before and after due to reactions. So, this can help students to permanently remember the changing color of chemicals.
In Physics, VR can help to show frictions, inertia, the center of gravity, etc. So, the student can experience how the position of things is affected due to this.
In Biology, VR can show how body parts are affected due to the outside environment. So, the working of all internal organs can also be shown which is not possible to show in real.
For You ->Benefits and Dangers of Virtual Reality
Applications of Virtual Reality?
1. For Military Purpose
In military applications, VR creates a war and battlefield environment. In this environment, trainees trains to fight. For this, VR gives special control systems that can be used by trainees for fighting.
Also, this VR system trains to drive military vehicles and fly fighter planes. VR also creates a virtual environment of boot camps. Here trainees can learn how to live in these camps without actually going to these camps.
Medical training can also be given through VR. Here it can create a living body within the sight of trainees. Using control systems, the trainees can do the treatment and results can be showed through VR.
Again this helps to reduce the cost of training in the military. Also, it increases safety during the training session.
2. For Sports Purpose
In sports, VR can create a virtual ground or sports complex. VR through Virtual Reality Simulation (VRS) creates an environment for players playing the sport. Here Artificial Intelligence is used to make the behavior of the virtual players real. So, this gives a difficulty level for training in sports.
VRS helps trainees to do actions like kicking footballs, swinging bats, tennis rackets, etc. Therefore trainees can play against virtual players in the VR system for practice. VR not only helps in training players but also helps in entertaining viewers who are fans of sports.
3. For Medical Purpose
In Medical, VR can help trainees to do operations. It also helps in training for dental treatments. Here VRS helps trainees to handle and operate medical instruments like knives, spatulas, scissors, etc. Medical training becomes more realistic as compared to give training on physical human models.
Also, not only in training, VR can help to do surgeries more accurately. This is possible by making the patient’s 3D object of the body transparent.
Hence, transparency helps surgeons to see the condition of internal organs. Also, this helps surgeons to position their surgical instruments at the right position of the organ to avoid any damage which could infect it. This can greatly help in micro-surgeries.
VR can also help to remove phobias. For example, assume a person who is afraid of heights. Then using VR, an environment of a high building or tall bridge can be created insight into the patient. Accordingly, doctors can treat patients to live in this environment which can slowly remove the phobia.
4. For Purpose of Entertainment in Cinemas
Using VR, the viewers not only see a movie but also be a part of it. So, instead of looking at a movie filmed using cameras, users can directly see what is happening in the movie. Therefore, being a part of the movie increases amusement to a very high extent.
Conclusion
The use of Virtual reality( VR) is changing with time from playing games to attending Professional conferences. With time we will see many fields where VR will be used to enhance the user experience. We will see many upgrades in the VR technology with demanding application needs