Virtual reality

Virtual Reality (VR) is a simulated experience that can be similar to or completely different from the real world. Applications of virtual reality include entertainment (e.g. video games), education (e.g. medical or military training) and business (e.g. virtual meetings). Other distinct types of VR-style technology include augmented reality and mixed reality, sometimes referred to as extended reality or XR.

History

One of the first systems that was recognized as VR was Ivan Sutherland's Sword of Damocles, and the first use of the term "virtual reality" was in the mid-1980s when Jaron Lanier, founder of VPL Research, began to develop the gear, including goggles and gloves, needed to experience what he called "virtual reality."

Technology

Virtual reality systems use computer graphics, sound effects, and often other sensory input to simulate an environment. A VR system can be as simple as a smartphone running a VR app and using a Google Cardboard-style viewer to look at the 3D world and hear the 3D sound. More complex systems include full-body tracking, haptic feedback, and multiple users, all interacting in a shared virtual world.

Applications

Virtual reality has many applications. In medicine, it is used for telemedicine, surgical training, and therapeutic purposes. In entertainment, it is used for games, films, and virtual tourism. In business, it is used for virtual meetings, remote work, and product visualization. In education, it is used for immersive learning, special education, and simulation-based learning.

See also

• Augmented reality
• Mixed reality
• Haptic technology
• Telepresence
• Immersive technology

External links

• Virtual Reality Society

Virtual reality Resources
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