Virtual Reality

Virtual Reality (VR) is the use of screens, sounds, and other devices (moving chairs, controllers, gloves, and many others) to allow the user to immerse themselves into an environment out of its natural surroundings. 

The main and largest barrier for virtual reality is cost.  While at the moment there are lower cost solutions and options for VR, to be able to use or create in-depth VR can cost a great deal of money.  With most people owning a smartphone and Google Cardboard being relatively inexpensive, almost everyone can use what I am going to call the base model of VR.  But again, if one wanted to create or use a more or total immersive VR, it would cost them $350 for an Oculus Rift to tens of thousands of dollars.  Please note that similar technology would have cost hundreds of thousands of dollars a few years ago and, with VR growing, the cost will continue to go down.

Another barrier, at least for me, is strain on the body.  After using VR (Google Cardboard) for less than ten minutes, I had the start of a headache.  More time could have resulted in a migraine.  While I know I may be in the minority for this, it is a concern we need to take into account if we are having students use them for long periods of time.

The last barrier we need to take into consideration is the medical condition of the person using the VR and what they will be doing.  Those people who are more susceptible to seizures may not be able to use VR.  VR can have many fast changing lights and images.  Take the Kaleidoscope in the Google Cardboard app.  This has many changing colors and shapes.  This could result in a medical episode.  I was surprised that I haven’t seen any warning on the apps yet, like you see on your normal video games. 

While the potential uses of VR are almost limitless, I will hit on just a few.  First is where extensive cost is involved.  Take the example everyone likes to use: learning to fly a plane.  Depending on the plane, the plane could cost millions of dollars, not to mention the fuel and the upkeep of the plane as well.  Because the cost would be so high, VR would make a great training tool to get the student acclimated to the plane and many of the scenarios that may occur without endangering lives or assets.  The next area in which VR could be used is where someone may die if mistakes are made.  VR has been used for teaching surgeons.  This allows them to practice without endangering a patient’s life.  The next potential use of VR is to show people places they can’t go, whether is it just a museum across the country, the bottom of the ocean, or all the way to Mars.  VR allows people to explore places they may never be able to go to otherwise.  Lastly, we can use VR for recruiting, whether it is just to get people to come into your booth at a convention to try a simulator or to show people the types of environments they may be working in.  It can be used as an attention getter.

Full immersion is one type of VR.  This type gives the user the full experience of an activity.  These activities can be in a room that is outfitted with screens and speakers to give the user the feel that everything is real.  It may also use a head-mounted display (HMD) with speakers and controls, allowing the user to sit or stand while in the VR.  Lastly is a simulator type. This can use the full room model or the HMD, but can add aspects like a chair or cockpit that moves while the user is moving the controls.  This gives the user the feeling of what each action may result in.

Non-immersive VR is a VR where one uses a computer or wide screen with surround sound to display what is happening.  This is one of the most common VR types.  One of the most known in this type are flight simulators.  They are also used in the construction industry to teach operators how to run different machines.

Lastly is collaborative VR. This is the fastest growing type of VR.  This type of VR is where virtual worlds are built online.  These worlds can be used for gaming, social aspects, or business and collaboration.   This type doesn’t at the moment offer full immersion, but it does offer collaboration.  This means that people miles apart can work together or socialize in this VR setting.