Difference between revisions of "Virtual reality"

Revision as of 06:00, 29 April 2015

Virtual Reality or VR is a computer-simulated artificial world that can mimic the physical features of the environments in real life and in fantasy. In VR, all of our senses are fooled, temporarily, into believing that this artificial environment is real. The goal of a true VR experience is to create presence, the feeling of physically being somewhere else, being in another reality.

Virtual Reality is an interactive and immersive medium that can be utilized to create unique experiences that are unattainable elsewhere. VR has the power to transform games, films and other forms of media. Some enthusiasts call VR the "ultimate input/output device" or the "last medium" because any subsequent medium can be created within VR, using only software.

While Augmented Reality enhances the real world with digital content, Virtual Reality completely replaces the real world with a virtual one, creating a brand new digital environment for the users to explore.

Method

Head-mounted Display

VR is currently created by head-mounted displays (HMDs) such as the Oculus Rift. HMDs utilize rotational and positional tracking sensors and optical lenses to give the illusion that the user is physically inside the virtual world. To create the illusion, a display is placed very close to the users' eyes, covering their entire field of view. Two images that are very similar but have different perspectives are channeled into each of your eyes through a series of lenses. The headset tracks the movement of your head and changes the images shown on the display based on it. This process creates the sensation that users are located within the virtual environment. Users of these devices are not only able to experience the computer-simulated environments but also interact with them. Various input methods, from the traditional game controllers and keyboards to the futuristic hand gestures and voice commands, are available or under development.

Platforms

Oculus Rift

SteamVR

OSVR

WebVR

Devices