The introduction of VR has been revolutionary to the tech world. It has opened up possibilities deemed unfathomable previously and makes us ask questions that transcend the human experience. The evolution of Virtual Reality has answered questions we have always wanted to ask and allowed us to explore a new world that was always thought of as fictitious or fantastical.
Before we delve into this topic, let’s start with the basic question: What is VR?
VR has managed to create artificial interactions, environments, and events that are similar to real life and feel the same. The users are instantly transported to a pseudo-world of their choice simply by wearing the VR headset. This world is responsive and can be explored and controlled based on your choices. Moreover, these worlds provide you with a brilliant multi-sensory engagement, elevating your experience in every sense.
It has been a significant breakthrough in the gaming industry. For players who love good video games, casino games, or mobile casino games, VR could be the best thing that has ever happened. This implies that gamers are offered an interactive environment where they cannot only enjoy the game as their beloved characters but also manipulate the course of the game the way they want to.
However, VR doesn’t limit itself to the world of gaming. It also extends to providing elevated experiences of training, education, and travel. Teachers can educate students better with enhanced visuals, and travellers can explore their dream destinations in the comforts of their homes with zero expenses. The development of VR has helped the domain of content creation as well. Content creators are now highly in demand for the creation of creative and immersive environments that are brilliant enough to offer users otherworldly experiences.
If that’s not enough, you may be overjoyed to know that the applications of VR don’t just stop at STEM domains, but also extend to more arbitrary fields like philosophy and art. It can be used to explore and research more on how it affects the nature of consciousness, bodies, relationships, and beliefs.
The conversations around VR are not new. It first started with the head-mounted augmented reality (AR) display (The Sword of Damocles) invented by Ivan Sutherland in 1968. This sparked more conversations around virtual reality, leading us to where we stand today. Infamous companies like Sega and Nintendo did try their hand at creating their own virtual reality systems, but they weren’t as successful as companies like Oculus and HTC Vive, which in the 2010s brought forth powerful VR systems that provided users with engaging graphics and motion tracking technology.
Recently, Apple made headlines with the announcement of the release of its new VR system, Vision Pro. Currently, the efficient and handy models of VR systems have made it easier for users to enjoy them. But it has not always been the case. The previous versions of the headset have been bulky and inconvenient. The advancements in the tech field and the prioritization of the Mega-companies to produce consumer-based hardware have allowed the development of more convenient VR models.
There are many variations of the VR headsets on the market. Some of them engulf the user entirely into the environment, creating a clear distinction between reality and the pseudo-world. But then there are others, the original versions, also called the “augmented” headsets, such as the Microsoft HoloLens or the VR system created by Magic Leap. They come with a separate headset glass that allows you to view the real world, and it is combined with visual content using challenging optical techniques. However, the modern versions outperform all the previous versions by capturing the real world with cameras and then combining it with the pseudo-world to create an immersive experience.
Although VR has come a long way, there are still pressing technical, financial, and health issues that must be addressed. The technological limitations of VR may initiate health issues among users. Financially speaking, the VR system is reasonably expensive, and this may make it hard for most people to afford it. Fans and developers go on with the hope that more research and future improvements will negate these issues and offer players a gaming experience like never before.
