Virtual Reality is a computer-generated environment that people can experience through sensory stimulation i.e.; visual and auditory, making the surroundings immersive and real. Take it this way; you can experience the middle of an ocean or an island miles away while staying home.
VR technology requires a lot of components to function. For instance, youll need a VR Headset, a VR-capable device, and a service that can stream VR content.
The term Virtual Reality essentially comes from the definitions of both virtual and reality that we all know. In laymans terms, Virtual Reality means experiencing things that dont exist. Likewise, you could call it an illusion if you wanted.
VR isnt something new; it has been out there for several years now. VR tech became mainstream when the early prototypes of the Oculus Rift surfaced in 2012. However, its beginning to mature and come of age now.
A Virtual Reality environment requires a VR headset to hear and see the content from an app or service. As of now, you can experience a variety of media on VR headsets, which could be standalone hardware or powered by a computer.
For instance, some games support VR, where you can play while being the protagonist. You could experience everything inside a fantasy game yourself, or play badminton with your friends.
While explaining the concept of virtual reality, you need to familiarise yourself with the term immersion to understand it. The VR user becomes immersed in an artificial three-dimensional computer-generated environment that they can interact with. Moreover, there are a variety of VR-compatible services that can stream content.
Many have tried their hands at VR and failed; *cough* Google Daydream. Facebook is progressing swiftly with its several VR apps such as Facebook Horizon, and the Oculus brand. VR isnt all about entertainment various industries use VR tech for their day-to-day functioning. Healthcare professionals use VR headsets to have better insight while diagnosing patients, real-estate and architecture industries make use of virtual reality to function efficiently.
VR has been a hot topic for several months now. With significant tech companies weighing in, virtual reality is getting all the importance it deserves and progressing. Facebook is all-in with its VR department; the Oculus VR headsets keep getting better with time.
But is there a need for Virtual Reality? There isnt a definite answer, but there are several indirect ones that appeal to everyone in a different way. Be it for stress relief, leisure, or research, VR can help everyone who can use it. With billions of dollars poured into the industry, its base is strong, and we might see VR tech emerging at unusual places in no time.
Excerpt from:
What Is Virtual Reality (VR) And How Does It Work? - Fossbytes
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