Into A Different World: Virtual Reality (VR)

    By: Brian Doan

    10/10/2021

        Imagine being transported into a different world that you can move around in and interact with just by putting on a headset. You know it isn’t real, but it sure feels like it is. This is what virtual reality or “VR” for short does.

        VR uses computer modeling to create an artificial three-dimensional simulated sensory environment that users can communicate with. Users can communicate using interactive devices in the forms of headsets, goggles, gloves, and body suits that send and receive information. These devices pick up the users’ movements and actions in real time and can even provide the sensation of touch, allowing for the user to move around and interact with the generated environment around them. This new type of technology is so new and innovating, and is currently what intrigues me most in the realm of information technology. Although being a relatively new innovation, VR already shows amazing promise with its wide range of applications.

        The first and most obvious use of VR is gaming. This probably what most of you think of when you hear VR. This is because gaming is currently the most well-known and popular use of VR. Players commonly use a headset and a pair of joysticks to move around and interact with their environment. Some more advanced VR systems include a treadmill-like machine that allows for leg movement in all directions, enabling the player to walk and run, further enhancing the immersion. It offers an experience like no other, which is part of the reason why VR in gaming has gained so much popularity. You can play solo, co-op, or with groups of friends, in action, adventure, or strategy games. Overall, VR seems like it was almost made for gaming providing limitless forms of entertainment and enjoyment.

        The second use of VR is in training, this something that you all might not have thought of but will understand once I explain it. The “Teslasuit” is a full-body suit that offers haptic feedback in the sense of touch, as well as measuring heartbeat, respiration, and other stress indicators. This type of VR technology allows people to safely train and be monitored under simulated hazardous situations. Upcoming nurses, doctors, and surgeons can practice interacting with and operating on people without the risk of harming them. New soldiers will be able to combat train in dangerous conditions without endangering their lives. Inexperienced astronauts can learn about space conditions and its environment without having to go to space. An added benefit is the fact that the financial risk of allowing inexperienced workers or novice students to use expensive and complex machinery and tools is reduced immensely using VR. As in computer generated tools are much cheaper than the actual tools. Altogether, VR allows people to properly and safely train for their future lines of work while reducing the cost of said training. 

        A third use of VR is in the workplace. This is something that even I didn’t think about before researching. VR is expected to completely take over the work environment. Ericsson, a VR distributing company, predicts that by 2030, there will be VR environments that will appear completely real to all five senses simultaneously. This would lead to what is called the “dematerialized office” in the workplace. The “dematerialized office” implies that the physical office is completely taken away, and an interactive virtual workplace is available wherever the user is. This means people can work from home, show up to meetings while on the toilet, or even talk to their bosses in their boxers. In all, VR will change how we work as we know it.

        However, VR does come with its security risks and ethical issues. VR's security risks are unique only to VR. There is the risk of identity theft and impersonation in VR worlds as well as the risk of users changing the environment itself. VR can also cause nausea or motion sickness due to a delay in the equipment not tracking user movements correctly in real time. Also, with VR, there is the possibility for bullying, stalking, or harassment, except the VR environment makes these negative interactions feel even more real and personal. VR has its problems but these issues are being worked on every day to perfect the VR experience, and these issues still don’t even come close to invalidating the positive uses of VR and its potential.

        Currently, modern day VR only excels at taking control of two out of our five main senses, sight and hearing. But in the near future, VR is expected to be able to enable us to feel, smell, and even taste in the computer-generated virtual world. All these advancements will allow for all current fields that VR is being used for to be further improved and made more effective.

        In conclusion, despite not being fully developed, VR demonstrates its immense potential and wide uses. Many people think in the future we will be in space or in flying cars, but we will be in completely different worlds, under a headset. VR is the future.