One of everyone’s biggest dreams as children was the possibility of immersing ourselves in the world of our favorite video games, or being able to visit the wonders of the world from our homes.
Now, this utopia can become a reality thanks to virtual reality, a technology that can build entire digital worlds and make us delve into them.
In this article We will talk in depth about virtual reality and everything it can do for humanityas well as the various devices that you can use to live this experience.
What is virtual reality and how does this… not so new technology work?
Although we cannot say that it is a “new” technologyits “new” advances surprise everyone. It is constantly evolving both in the entertainment industry and in health. VR (acronym in English) is born from scratch, based on the recreation of a different and virtual world in which users are immersed until they lose the perception of reality and fiction.
The concept was first developed in the 90sand is defined as the modeling and simulation of an environment by means of a computer to immerse a user in a complete sensory experience, which, although not physical, is perceived as real.
History and evolution of virtual reality When was it invented and how is it evolving?
- Like almost all technological advances in history, Virtual Reality began in the framework of a war conflict: world war 2.
- The US Navy asked the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) design a system that would allow a real flight to be simulated, this would serve as training for its pilots and they would anticipate possible scenarios.
- Even in 1968 a helmet was designed that was actually made of , because by then there were not enough technological resources to recreate the entire scenario that the navy requested.
- In 1978, the MIT He updated his proposal and managed to make users feel like they were walking through the streets of Aspen, using real images of the place.
- Did you know that the first movie theater “4D” It was created in 1984. Although progress on this topic was slow, companies like Six Flags were already beginning to experiment and bring virtual reality to the general public.
- If you’re wondering when VR started to look like anything we knowthe answer is when the video game industry took possession of this trend to amaze us.
- the brands Nintendo and Sega they became the first manufacturers of VR-based video game consoles. The Sega VR included LCD screens and powerful headphones on its 1993 console. The downside is that it was not commercialized in a massive way, its cost was €200.
- The same thing Nintendo tried in 1995 with its Virtual Boy console, which was also based on virtual reality. But it was also a failure, even in Europe they could not launch the platform.
- We saw dozens of new consoles, video games and novel experiences. However, it was in 2012 when we saw a VR bet again at the hands of Palmer Luckey, with the proposed Oculus Rift. Then Sony released its PlayStation VR.
- During that period, in the field of medicine, sketches were made that helped doctors perform complex procedures, then there was an expansion in its use.
Infographic: Chronological History of Virtual Reality
What uses and applications does virtual reality have and how can we get the most out of this technology?
The uses and applications of reality are infinitewe are in “diapers” If we refer to the number of possibilities that this technology can offer us, it will soon be able to be compared to the boom in mobile phones. To give you an idea, With VR glasses we can travel to places that we would never have the possibility to gowe will be able to admire great masterpieces of architecture, drive a formula 1 or a fighter plane, a world of possibilities opens up in the field of medicine and education.
Of course we will see movies where we will really feel like the protagonists, watch 360 degree videostime travel will be possible thanks to virtual reality, video games will no longer be the same, the degree of interaction will multiply by 1000 thanks to virtual reality devices and applications and there will be more and more compatible products.
Below we list some of the applications and fields where the use of VR stands out:
Education
The main reason was to motivate the student and promote learning through dynamic classes. Let’s not confuse classes with distance classes. Distance was not necessarily the excuse to integrate VR in the classroom. Imagine being able to dissect a frog in the middle of class without having to sacrifice an animalor knowing what sound the lung makes when people breathe.
The VR boom in the classroom occurred after in 2012, video game manufacturers will take control and spread their use in other industries. How has the role of teachers changed? Rather than running a class and trying to get kids to imagine things, teachers were able to recreate things and facilitate knowledge. They became content creators, pedagogical consultants, mentors, content explorers and curators, and scholarly innovators.
Psychology
Although at first glance there does not appear to be a rational use of VR in psychologyWell, yes there is. For 10 years, technology has contributed to the treatment and approach of different mental illnesses, as well as fears and phobias. For example, a person survived a spectacular car accident, so he goes to therapy and as an alternative to his treatment, the specialist suggests immersing himself in a simulator and little by little tolerating the incident.
Suddenly a patient has a phobia of flying, and with the help of virtual lenses, he realizes that it is not a fear of heights that he has, but a fear that the plane will fail and crash. VR offers the advantage of recreating situations, playing discards and experimenting with sensations that can give real benefits.
Specialists assure that VR therapy reduces the number of necessary sessions that a patient needs to recover from a pathology. other use it’s brain training. Psychological therapy with Neurofeedbacka virtual exercise that serves to train the brain and develop skills such as memory and concentration.
Medicine and health
The main contribution of VR in health is through surgery. Doctors who use virtual glasses to train a procedure or surgeons who use robots to perform interventions while on another continent. Tasks that require pinpoint precision are easier to do with a mechanical hand while receiving programmed commands with the support of Virtual Reality.
One of the successes of HoloLens, of Microsoft, It happened in the health sector. Doctors who have at their fingertips all the information they need from the patient, this through a mixed reality. In Madrid, the pioneer center in its use is the Hospital Gregorio Marañón, which uses the Microsoft tool to save time and money, and gain accuracy. The main universities in the world use it in the training of their students, thus they test their knowledge and better develop their new skills.
Entertainment and video games
The sector that has contributed the most to virtual reality is entertainment and video games. To speak of successful projects, only the game “Grand Theft Auto V”, launched in November 2014, raised more than 800 million dollars in three days. FIFA 2018for example, raised more than 790 million dollars, while Call of Duty Black Ops IIIdid the same with 612 million dollars.
Seeing these collections, the most logical thing is that the developers try to generate more profits and that will only be done with more impressive video gamesin which players immerse themselves for hours.
And as we mentioned before, the manufacturers sony and nintendo they were pioneers in the development of this technology oriented to video games. What other contribution did they give to the sector? They spread interest in the Virtual realitythis was the sector that managed to make other professions realize the potential that exists and the benefits that it generates for humanity.
Software
Undoubtedly, the advancement of technology drives Virtual Reality and vice versa. Being able to create new shapes, better graphics, faster user response and better sound, developers are motivated to create more and more technology.
Today’s rendering pipelines are not the same as 10 years ago, for example. To create virtual glasses, it took at least 15 years of development. There are now grounds for a manufacturer to develop a prototype in just five years. 3D and animation programs are more compatible with each other than before, which means that there are better results in less time. We already have better “hardware” that support so much advance in programming.
architecture and engineering
It is one of the most benefited industries in terms of effectiveness, since it is not the same to design a house only with theoretical concepts and calculations that see how it will beknowing when it will be ready and what type of furniture it can accommodate. It is an effective way to design insurance and sell better, because the possibility of showing the client the real design of the house makes the difference in the purchase choice.
There are applications aimed at architects, engineers, designers, builders, developers and interior decorators. All these professionals make use of VR to create the project tailored to the client and to be able to make a satisfactory purchase.. And that along the way there are adjustments and the quality of the finishes is not the same as in the offer, that is another issue unrelated to VR.
Tourism
This industry appeals to the senses of travelers and potential investors. At the end of 2016, Australia made 360 degree films to show the different travel experiences that people have. Not intended to advertisethe Marriot hotel chain introduced in 2014 cabins that “teleported” its guests to tour the United States, thanks to the use of an Oculus Rift. The only limit is the investment capacity to make these recreations
What are the differences between augmented reality and immersive virtual reality?
Without a doubt, this is one of the questions we ask ourselves the most, since many times we can confuse both terms, while augmented reality mixes real scenarios with virtual objects overlapped with the real atmosphere.
We must know that there are generating devices on the market such as the PlayStation VR virtual glasses or the famous occulus rift with the strength of Facebook behind, other mixed models on the market where we can alternate VR with augmented reality They are the HTC Vive glasses and other models that will be fully augmented reality generators like the glasses Microsoft Hololens.
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