Many of us associate virtual reality (VR) with science fiction films like “Minority Report” when we talk about it. The reality is that this technology now seamlessly integrates into every aspect of our everyday life. Virtual reality will continue to be used in video games, healthcare, and education. But just what is it?
VIRTUAL REALITY: WHAT IS IT?
With images and things that seem genuine, a virtual reality (VR) environment gives the user the impression that they are completely engrossed in their surroundings. A virtual reality headset, helmet, or other equipment is used to see this world. VR enables us to learn how to conduct heart surgery, better our sports training to increase performance, and immerse ourselves in video games as if we were one of the characters.
Even while it can appear to be quite far in the future, its beginnings are not as recent as we would believe. Many people actually believe that the Sensorama, a machine with a built-in seat that played 3D movies, released smells, and produced vibrations to make the experience as lifelike as possible, was one of the earliest Virtual Reality gadgets. The innovation was created in the middle of the 1950s. Over the years that followed, software and technical advancements brought about a steady progression in interface design and in devices.
DISTINGUISHING VARIANCES WITH ENHANCED REALITY
Even though virtual reality is a technology that has been around for a while, many people are still not familiar with it. Another frequent misunderstanding is between augmented reality and virtual reality.
The primary distinction between the two is that, using a certain headgear, VR creates the reality in which we immerse ourselves. Everything we see is a part of a synthetic environment that has been created with visuals, audio, etc. It is entirely immersive. Contrarily, with augmented reality (AR), our own environment serves as the backdrop for the placement of various objects, pictures, and other things. Everything we see is in a real world, so wearing a headset might not be necessarily essential. The best and most well-known illustration of this idea is seen in Pokémon Go.
Mixed reality, on the other hand, combines the two realities. With the use of hybrid technology, it is possible to create experiences where the physical and the digital are almost indistinguishable, such as seeing virtual things in the real world.
VIRTUAL REALITY’S MAIN USE
I’ll stop talking about the idea that is predicting the future now. Which industries are now utilising virtual reality? Some of the fields that have already benefited from this technology are medicine, culture, education, and architecture. Virtual reality enables us to traverse barriers that would otherwise be unthinkable, from narrated museum tours to the dissection of a muscle.
VIRTUAL REALITY’S PROSPECTIVE FUTURE
IDC Research estimates that by 2022, investment in virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) will have increased by a factor of 21 and will total 15.5 billion euros. As part of their digital transformation strategies, businesses are prioritising VR and AR, with consumer expenditure in this field anticipated to surpass business spending by 2019. It is anticipated that by 2020, more than half of big European firms would have VR and RA initiatives.
The market, however, calls for more accessible applications that go beyond marketing, tourism, and leisure. Virtual interfaces also require improvements to reduce glitches like clipping and the side effects of VR like motion sickness.
Technology firms are creating wireless headsets with HD pictures, 8K resolution, fast CPUs, and the potential to include artificial intelligence in the near future to fulfil these needs. With more devices and bigger user populations being connected with virtually zero latency thanks to the most recent 5G standard, there are also exciting prospects for the future of VR.
These developments have made virtual reality a practical reality today, and much greater breakthroughs are anticipated in the future. Therefore, it is crucial for businesses to start creating their VR strategy in order to stay up with the quickly changing environment.