In this era of lightening fast technologies, Virtual Reality is a very new and trendy concept. In general, “Virtual” means non-existing and “Reality” means what we experience as human beings. But in technical terms, Virtual Reality is an artificial environment that is created with the software and presented in the way that the user accepts it as a real environment. In other words, Virtual Reality is the use of computer technology which creates the effect of an interactive 3D world in which the objects have a sense of spatial presence.
Even a decade back, you might have seen many movies like "Star Wars" and I remember one of the Backstreet Boys Song - "Larger than Life..". The concept has been there for a very long time. However, the with recent technological advancements, it seems the future is really now!
Even a decade back, you might have seen many movies like "Star Wars" and I remember one of the Backstreet Boys Song - "Larger than Life..". The concept has been there for a very long time. However, the with recent technological advancements, it seems the future is really now!
Education
Virtual Reality is used for teaching and learning concepts. Through this, students can interact with large groups of students within a three-dimensional environment. It represents the complex data in an accessible way so that students can learn things with fun and also interact with objects in this virtual environment in order to discover more about them. For Example, students can learn about a solar system where they can move planets, see around stars and track the progress of a comet.
Business
Virtual Reality is very helpful in the field of Business. It includes many things such as Virtual trips of a business environment; provide complex training sessions to new employees in a virtual environment, 2D/3D view of a product, detecting design problems at an early stage etc. They can test their products in a virtual environment without any risk.
Virtual Museums
Use of virtual reality in the museum and historical settings e.g. visitor centers, interactive exhibitions. Through interactive technologies, children get an amazing experience and encourage them to visit and take part in these activities.Video Games
Virtual Reality gaming is an entertainment environment where a person can interact with a game. They can detect person’s presence in a game through bio-sensing. These are small sensors which are attached to a data glove; suit so that they can transform your actions into appropriate responses on the screen.
Theme Parks
It makes head-mounted displays. They use high-definition movie screens, booming sounds and motorized seats to simulate adventures into space and beyond. This technology creates virtual reality roll coasters so it provides real-world coaster with a head-mounted display. Riders might be transported to the back of a dragon or other fantastical environments.Healthcare & Clinical Therapies
Virtual Reality is being used in various medical fields like clinical therapy, anxiety disorder treatment, pain management, phobia treatment, robotic surgery, surgery simulation etc. With the help of HumanSim System, doctors, nurses, and others can learn new skills in a virtual environment and also interact with a patient to detect its problems without harming them. So they get experience with a series of sensors.
Military
Virtual Reality is used in the every field of the Military i.e. Army, Navy and Air Force. This is particularly used for training soldiers for combat and dangerous situations and they have to learn how to react in these situations. Through virtual reality simulation, Soldiers learn many things without the risk of a death or a serious injury. For Example, flight simulators are used to teach flying skills and they learn how to deal with emergency situations. So there are many Military uses of Virtual Reality such as Battlefield Simulation, Virtual boot camp, Vehicle Simulation etc.
Construction
There is an extremely scope of Virtual Reality in the construction field. In the virtual environment, an organization makes a structure in 3D and views a number of factors without the time and cost of the building structure. It is also used to train construction workers and employees so that they can fit in the working environment.
Fashion
Virtual Reality can be used in a variety of ways in Fashion field. It designs VR software for building virtual fashion stores where people can do shopping in a real 3D virtual mall which is designed to resemble a modern shopping mall. Virtual Reality creates 3D avatars to help with clothes design and 3D fashion portfolio. It also helps to arrange fashion show in a virtual environment.
Sports
Virtual Reality is used to give training in many sports such as golf, cycling, skiing, athletics etc. Through this, we can measure the performance of the sportsmen. They can learn various strategies of sports in a virtual 3D environment. It can be used to design sporting clothes and equipment, e.g. running shoe design.
Virtual Reality devices/gadgets
Google Cardboard | Price - Range $14.99 to $29.99
It is a good, justifiable provide virtual reality experience at the best cheapest price. Just pop your Smartphone into a cardboard cutout. It well-equipped with gyroscopes and the displays required for a virtual reality headset.
Oculus Rift VR | Price - Approx $599
Oculus Rift is primarily responsible for bringing on the wave of virtual reality and it comes with a hefty price tag. A resolution of 1080x1200 per eye, a 90Hz refresh rate, a wide field of view, and integrated headphones for a 3D audio effect. It has also rotational and positional tracking system. The approximate price is $599.
Samsung Gear VR | Price - Approx $99.99
Samsung has launched own virtual reality headsets, named Gear VR. It is basically a way to pop in your Samsung Smartphone into it, strap on the headset and experience Virtual Reality. It has various features like 96-degrees of Field of view, support for proximity sensors and an ever-expanding behemoth of content.
HTC Vive | Price - Approx $799
This headset is designed to utilize room-scale technology to turn the room into 3D space via sensors. It allows the users to navigate naturally with the ability of motion tracked handheld controllers to graphically manipulate objects, interact with precision, communicate and getting experience environments. It has various features such as 32-sensors-powered 360-degree motion tracking, 110-degrees field of view, 2160 x 1200 combined resolution and 90Hz refresh rate
Microsoft HoloLens | Price Approx $3000
The Microsoft Hololens is an untethered holographic projection device. It doesn’t require any other third-party software, hardware or platform to operate it. It is a standalone device that could project holographic projections into thin air. It has a 120-degree field of vision and high-definition visuals which provide best holographic computing experience. it is used in various industries like Media & Animation, Mechanical, Healthcare, Architecture, Research, and Automation.
Razer OSVR | Price - Range $199.99 to $299.99
It is an open source platform. It is an ecosystem of hardware and software that aims to create standards for hardware and gaming. This company provides its own SDK for development. It has various features such as 5.5 inches Full HD OLED display, display resolution 1920 x 1080, a gyroscope, a compass and an integrated accelerometer.
Gaming Consoles with Virtual Reality
Sony Playstation VR
It is developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It is a home video game console. In this, the player wearing the headset acts separately from other players without the headset. Playstation VR works with either the standard DualShock 4 controller or the PlayStation Move motion controllers. It has 5.7-inch OLED panel, 360-degree vision, display resolution 1080p, 3.5mm headphone jack, 120 frames per second, PlayStation camera, and processor box which is used to enable the Social Screen video output to the television as well as process the 3D audio effect.
3D Virtual Reality VR Box with Bluetooth Joystick Gamepad
This product includes 3D VR GLASSES which is specially designed for Smartphone. It adds great effect so that you feel like your private 3D Cinema and bring great game experience. It is very easy to use by the children, students, travelers and the old age people etc. You just need to put your Smartphone into the relative slot of the 3D VR glasses and you can enjoy 3D movies or 3D games.
Ultragear IPEGA PG-9037 Bluetooth Gamepad with VR
This game controller compatible with Android Smartphone’s, iPhone, iPod and most Android games. It has a telescopic stand where you can be placed your Smartphone in the bracket up to the 6inch screen. With new mouse function, you can watch your smart TV or play the game on the large screen. Bluetooth Ver3.0 wireless transmission covers 6-8 meters wide range of control. It is compact, flexible, easy to control, and portable. It supports various games such as Wild Blood, Dungeon Hunter, Zombie, Shadowgun, Sonic CD etc.
Virtual Reality Table Tennis Video Game
This Virtual Reality Table Tennis Video Game can play on your TV just like you are playing on a table. Two players can play together. There are two Table Tennis bats and a game console with inbuilt games to play. It can be played by kids, youngsters etc. It is motion game and its capacity up to 4GB. It has 1USB port and it supports online connectivity.
Zebronics Gaming Virtual Reality Headset
- It supports all Android and iOS Smartphones with screen size up to 14cm (5.5inch). Feature includes:
- Ultra-immersive motion sensing game experience
- Focal length adjustable
- Powerful magnet trigger
- Compatible with Google Cardboard
- Enough size for wearing glasses, More Comfortable and Durable
- 360-degree views, games, video etc.
Future of Virtual Reality
- The future of Virtual Reality could be our next computing platform.
- It will take a while for Virtual Reality to gain traction like hyped technologies.
- It offers a new way of seeing our world.
- Virtual Reality could eventually impact all of the senses.
- The market potential of Virtual Reality could be huge.
