Virtual reality has been discussed in tech circles for years. Now there are several solutions available on the market making it available for the large masses.
But what is VR really?
You simply have to test VR to understand what it is. But in short, you can say that virtual reality is a computer-generated world that you are completely engulfed in. It is about a realistic sense of presence in the computer-generated world. When you wear VR glasses you are visually separated from reality – you see, hear, and move in a completely fictional world.With the help of a pair of VR glasses that completely cover the eyes, we experience a completely different reality.
Now VR technology is being fully rolled out. VR is no longer just for enthusiasts: You will find 360-degree pictures and videos on Facebook, more and more mobile phones support the technology, and both VR glasses and 360 cameras are now available at an affordable price.
But if you thought VR was something new, you thought wrong. In fact, it is a 200-year-old idea
We have to rewind the tape until the year 1838 to find the first attempts to create a virtual reality.
It was then that British physicist Charles Wheatstone figured out that the human brain perceives two-dimensional images as three-dimensional when looking at two similar images through a binocular-like device, a so-called. stereo cabinets based on the same design principle as today’s low-budget VR glasses and Google Cardboard where you plug in your phone and use it as a screen
VR failed in the 90’s
The pioneers early saw the potential of virtual reality, but even if the will was there, it would take a long time for the technology to give the user a real-life experience.
Those who grew up in the 90s may remember the VR simulators that were located around various shopping centers. At about the same time, game producers such as SEGA and Nintendo also launched their own VR devices, which according to The Memo flopped due to far too high prices, too high expectations after much publicity in the media and because the user experience was not good enough.
VR failed first and foremost because it simply didn’t work. The machines did not have enough power to produce enough images per second and good optics were too expensive for private individuals.
Today’s VR equipment has relatively inexpensive optics that greatly degrade the image, but today’s computers are able to compensate for this digitally. It was previously impossible.
Now VR is finally here and it will be public property soon.
Why is VR coming now?
The development of high-resolution smartphones, accelerometers, gyroscopes, and magnetometers that record how you touch the phone are some of the key elements that VR will now have a commercial breakthrough.
This technology has been around for a long time and has been used, inter alia, in the military – but with mass production of these components, prices will fall sharply.
Another important factor is that many large players with thick wallets have invested heavily in VR technology. Facebook bought Oculus in 2014 for a staggering 200 billion Eur. Google is also investing heavily in VR, and both game developers and mobile manufacturers are in full swing with the development of both software and hardware.
What can VR be used for today?
We hear a lot about how VR will change our everyday lives and how the real-life VR experience feels – but if you buy VR equipment today, what is available then? It depends a lot on which headset you buy. Many may not know about it, but only Valve, the game developer who, together with HTC, has manufactured HTC Vive, which works to support all the headsets in the market. Oculus has blocked its content from competitors.
Of the content available right now, special games are popular: adventure games, exploratory games, racing games, shooting games, and games within the horror genre.
There is also content available in teaching and training, 360 films and the porn industry have also caught the eye of the technology. In addition, some players in the housing market have also been on the VR wave. Housing and product visualization is expected to be large, and according to Forbes, VR will revolutionize how we shop in the future.
But it’s not just buying an Oculus Rift or HTC Vive. If you do not have a powerful computer, you will hardly be able to open the games. If you have a gaming computer before, you can easily check if it is VR-ready with the help of a test on Steam
– It is shockingly few laptops that are good enough at the present time, but if you have a powerful gaming computer before, you may not need to upgrade it. If you build a computer yourself for around SEK 1500 EUR, you have a computer that is good enough for what is available today.
You have to keep this in mind
So far, very little research has been done on side effects from VR use. Some people feel angry and frustrated the first time they try VR – and that can be a little scary. There are also some who feel nauseous, he explains.
If you become nauseated then you should stop playing quite as promptly. Because if you already have nausea, it will only get worse if you continue to play – but it is most likely not dangerous.
It’s an adjustment period for many, but some may feel nauseous every time they try. It is simply the urinary instinct in us that causes some to react in this way. The brain constantly checks if the senses are right, and if something is wrong you can feel nausea.
Generally, it is not recommended that children under the age of 12 use VR, because the headset is usually designed for adults. Some glasses can adjust the distances between the lenses, but for young children the distance between the lenses may be too wide in any case. This means that the eyes are forced to look in each direction, which Oculus believes can cause discomfort and negative health effects.