Virtual reality – what is it?

Everyone who uses the Internet or plays computer games has heard about virtual reality at least once. But what does it represent, what opportunities does it hide?

Virtual reality is a world that does not really exist, created with the help of technical means artificially. With the help of virtual reality systems and tools, a person, immersing himself in it, can perform the same actions as in real life, interact with the world around him. Simply put, BP is a simulated reality that creates the illusion of the user’s presence in the artificial world, his interaction with objects and objects of this world with the help of sensory organs – ears (hearing), eyes (sight), skin (tense), etc. Virtual reality is also called artificial, electronic, computer reality and is often confused with augmented reality. But augmented reality

Only complements the real world by adding elements of artificial to it, while the world of virtual reality is completely artificially created.

The term “artificial reality” first appeared in the late 1960s. One of the first virtual realities created is the Aspen Cinema Map, invented in 1977. In this virtual reality, you could walk around the city of Aspen, choose different ways to display objects, including in this virtual reality there was a winter and summer cityscape. The more famous and widespread concept of “virtual reality” was introduced by Yaron Lanier in 1989.

Virtual reality can be of several types: passive VR is only an image and its accompaniment by sound, a person in such VR does not control anything, the examined VR – in such VR there is a limited choice of sound and image scenarios, as well as human actions, interactive VR – the user chooses the scenarios himself, controls such VR.

Virtual reality devices

Full immersion in virtual reality and interaction with its objects is achieved only with the use of special devices. Such devices that provide full immersion in virtual reality and simulate human interaction with it with the help of all senses (eyes (vision), ears (hearing), tongue (taste), nose (smance), skin (tang), vestibular apparatus (feeling of balance and position in space, acceleration, sense of weight)) are called VR systems.

These include:

Image systems,

Sound systems,

Systems for simulating tactile sensations,

Management systems,

Systems of direct connection to the nervous system.

Virtual reality imaging systems

The image systems with which the image is generated and displayed in virtual reality include helmets and glasses (which is basically the same), as well as special monitors.

The virtual reality headset, more like virtual reality glasses, has one or more displays for image output, separately for the left and right eyes, a lens system that corrects the image geometry, as well as a system for tracking the position of the device in space.

A virtual retinal monitor transmits the image directly to the retina of the eye, it seems to hang in front of the eyes, in the air. This is more closer to augmented reality, because there is an overlay: elements of virtual reality are superimposed on real-world objects. But under certain conditions (for example, almost complete absence of light), the effect of presence in VR is possible.

Virtual reality sound systems

Orientation of the user with the help of hearing in virtual reality is provided by modern acoustic systems, thanks to which sound sources are localized. The use of various technologies that simulate sound in the real world (reflection of sound, passing it through obstacles, etc.) creates the effect of human presence, the sound is as close as possible to sounds in the real world.

Tactile sensation simulation and virtual reality control systems

Tactile sensation simulation systems include devices called Heptics force feedback. (feedback devices).

Management in BP takes place by contact and non-contact methods. When contacting, the user uses “substitutes” for the keyboard and mouse – steering wheel, pedals, pistol with the function of the target pointer. With the contactless method, the control is carried out by virtual reality gloves, as well as tracking the positions of the hands with the help of several video cameras. A virtual reality suit is also used for control, part of which are gloves, which tracks the position of the body in space, and can convey feelings of tactile contact, temperature changes.

Direct connection systems to the nervous system

Such systems (sensors) transmit data directly to the nerve endings and directly to the brain. But they are very expensive and do not fully ensure the quality of data transmission for full immersion in VR.

Application of virtual reality

Initially, virtual reality technologies were used only for military purposes – to train soldiers, simulate battles, but recently they have been successfully used in various fields. For example, virtual 3D reality in production allows you to teach professions where the use of real mechanisms and devices is risky or very costly (for example, in mechanical and aircraft construction, train driving, etc.).

In architecture, VR (virtual reality) is used to recreate future buildings and their elements, model the interior.

In medicine, VR helps to train the skills of surgeons, and real operations are also performed with the help of virtual reality devices.

BP’s capabilities in the field of games, entertainment and learning are limited only by imagination. The most common are all kinds of virtual reality attractions, virtual reality for PC: 3D games and simulators (for example, air and car simulators, real life simulators).

Despite the already impressive achievements in the field of virtual reality modeling, it is too early to talk about the full reproduction of the real world: full 3D virtual reality is not yet possible. Even the most modern VR devices, which provide the transmission of sounds and images, actions and tactile sensations, cannot yet provide the full effect of immersion in VR, which would completely repeat reality. But progress does not stand still, every year new technologies appear and devices for VR are improved, including virtual reality for a smartphone, and, who knows, maybe very soon there will be a virtual world indistinguishable from the real one.

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