Virtual reality: applications, limitations, and future directions

VIRTUAL REALITY & ITS APPLICATIONS

Information Systems

This paper will describe the basic components of virtual reality. The paper will also provide a variety of practical applications for this technology in many industries. The paper is a brief summary and brief comparative analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of virtual technology. Virtual technology has been in existence for decades and as time passes, its integration in mainstream culture and everyday life increases. Overall, the paper is a concise introduction to the virtual reality technology, and the numerous implementations of the technology in our world.

Brief introduction

Virtual reality technology is computer-based technology that simulates real environments and imaginary environments. Virtual reality technology primarily consists of visual and tactile interfaces between the user and the computer system monitoring and operating the equipment. Virtual reality describes environments that are three-dimensional (3D), immersive, simulations, and very visual. Virtual reality technology is an example of integrated advanced technology in computer graphics, CAD software, and graphics hardware acceleration.

Virtual creates a different, though often similar version of the environment of reality, which Fox et al. describe as:

Virtual reality (VR) was originally conceived as a digitally created space that humans could access by donning sophisticated computer equipment (Lanier, 1992; Rheingold, 1991; Sutherland, 1968). Once inside that space, people could be transported to a different world, a substitute reality in which one could interact with objects, people, and environments, the appearance of which were bound only by the limits of the human imagination…A virtual environment (VE) is a digital space in which a user's movements are tracked and his or her surroundings rendered, or digitally composed and displayed to the senses, in accordance with those movements." (Fox et al., 2009,-Page 95)

Virtual reality technology provides humans the opportunity to explore worlds they could only imagine, or explore aspects of the known world in ways we are yet unable to reproduce in real life. This technology has profound potential to influence the evolution of the human species.

Examples of uses

As time goes on, the ways in which virtual reality technology is used expands constantly. There are many scientific and professional uses for virtual technology. Pilots of various kinds of aircraft and spacecraft use virtual reality technology to engage in simulations. In the fields of medicine, physicians and surgeons explore aspects of the human body. They can magnify or diminish body parts, tumors, organs, etc. so as to research and improve treatment of disease, injury, and infection. There are obvious uses for virtual reality technology in science and in gaming. Virtual reality is an expression of science and engineering; therefore, it is logical that there are scientific applications to virtual reality technology such as exploring the ocean, the sun, space, and layers of the Earth. Virtual reality has another obvious application in the leisure industries such as gaming. Users can play sports, go back to various historical periods, and more using virtual reality technology.

Advantages/Disadvantages

User of virtual reality technology could become hooked to the virtual world and end up preferring virtual reality to actual reality. In some industries, some professionals may accept virtual reality practice in exchange for actual experiential learning. This could be a liability especially in transportation, aviation, law enforcement, and the military.