PowerPoint Presentation

VIRTUAL REALITYTHE NEW REALITY

Karen Van IwaardenDeVry University 2012New Frontiers in Interactive Media Project

Welcome to my New Frontiers in Interactive Media Project. For my final project I have chosen to explore the world of Virtual Reality and what to expect in the future. 1

WHAT IS VIRTUAL REALITY (VR)?Definition:Virtual = nearReality = what we experience as humans

Therefore, virtual reality means near reality (Virtual Reality, 2009)

VR creates:Computer generated worldsImmersive environments

The definition of virtual reality is the combination of virtual which means near and reality which means what we as humans experience. So the definition of VR is near-reality

Virtual Reality is a form of technology which creates computer generated worlds and immersive environments. Both provide a way for people to explore and interact with worlds and environments they would never be able to, in the real world (Virtual Reality, 2009).

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VR WILL BE USED IN SO MANY WAYS?ArchitectureArtRehabilitationEducationEngineeringEntertainmentMedicineMilitarySex

Virtual Reality can be used in architecture, art, rehabilitation, education, engineering, entertainment, medicine, military and sex, to name a few. The presentation will take a look at each of these topics in relation to virtual reality or VR.3

Architecture

Art

Rehabilitation

Lets take a look at how Virtual Reality can be used architecture, art, and helping those with disabilities.

VR is already being used by architects allowing both the client and the architect to experience everything about a building before construction begins. This helps to discover problems or to make changes before the plan is put into production.

In the future, clients will be able to experience their future home or business in VR before the final plans go to productions. Not only will they be able to experience the design but also the textures, sounds and smells. Prototypes will be a thing of the past (Briggs, 2003).

We dont typically associate VR with Art but the future holds a unique experience for those who appreciate art. Consider the ability to navigate or interacting with a piece of art in a small world designed specifically for the art piece. We may even someday be able to become part of an art structure (Briggs, 2003).

For those with disabilities, VR will be the form of rehabilitation of the future. With VR, the disabled will learn how to navigate their wheel chairs in a virtual environment before going into the real world. VR will also be used to determine the accessibility of a building for the disabled.

VR will provide a way for the disabled to experience activities they may have never been able to experience in real life such as skiing, hang gliding and other sports (Briggs, 2003).

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Education

Engineering

Entertainment

Virtual Reality can be also be used in education, engineering and entertainment.

The future of education will provide students with the ability to learn different subjects in a virtual world. In chemistry class students could experience an actual explosion or in astronomy, students could travel into space and learn about galaxies while floating within them (Briggs, 2003).

VR is also being tested in the United Kingdom with a program called FearNot! This is an anti-bullying virtual learning program (Info NIAC, 2007-2011). Students experience bullying by a 3D virtual bully and they are able to learn how to react in different types of situations.

VR is also being utilized by engineers during the creation of new products. The new Boeing 777 was the first aircraft to be completely designed and tested in a VR environment before going into production.

VR will eventually eliminate tangible prototypes which will help companies to reduce costs. Engineers will also be able to collaborate with others around the world on designs within a virtually shared work space (Briggs, 2003).

When we think of VR in entertainment, I am sure the first thought that comes to mind is video games but the future of VR will be in more than just games.

Lets imagine for a moment transforming movies into interactive virtual worlds where a participant can interact with the characters and changing the plot based upon their reactions. VR could turn movies into forms of social interaction (Briggs, 2003) with the creation of a virtual network consisting of people interacting with the same movie at the same time. This would make every time you watch the same movie a new experience.

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Medicine

Military

Sex

Virtual Reality can be also be used in medicine, the military and even an often taboo subject such as sex.

Although VR is in its infancy when relating to medicine applications it will not be that way in the future. Medical students are already using VR to practice positioning x-rays prior to cancer treatments and virtual bodies are being used in place of real bodies as in the past (Briggs, 2003).

The future of VR in medicine will be in the area of dissecting virtual bodies to learn about the organs and how the body works. Surgery students will be able to practice a variety of surgical procedures on virtual bodies which will provide a variety of scenarios from which to experience and learn.

VR could also be used for guided visualization which would allow patients to use VR to visualize the part of their body that needs to be healed and focus their thoughts to assist with the healing process. In addition, VR could be used to practice relaxation techniques by allowing patients to travel to a peaceful, pleasant world (Briggs, 2003).

One of the first virtual reality applications for the military was the flight simulator and now this type of application is used for ships, tanks and training infantry on how to maneuvers (Briggs, 2003).

In the future, the military will use VR to simulate a variety of warfare situations so soldiers can practice before they are in a life and death situation. With video games becoming more and more real every day it shouldnt be long before VR warfare is the new reality.

Now on to the sometimes taboo subject of sex and VR. There may come a day in the future when someone can go into a virtual world and choose every attribute of their virtual partner before taking it to the next level.

VR sex will evolve into two options; stand alone or networked experience. This is just one aspect of VR in regards to sex. VR could also be used to treat sexual dysfunctions. In addition, VR could also be used for couples separated by a long distance to meet and be together in their own virtual world (Briggs, 2003).

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BRAIN CHANGESReactions after VRNausea or simulator sicknessLack of real world sensationsDream life disruptionSocial isolation or lack of connection with others

With the advanced capabilities of VR also comes down side or side effects caused by VR. For those who use VR to learn how to fly, either in the military or to become a commercial pilot there are side effects such as nausea or what has been deemed simulator sickness. There is also now way, at the present time, to replicate the feeling of acceleration someone feels when they are operating a plane. This is why pilots are not allow to fly until they have been away from simulators for a minimum of twenty four hours. The future may hold the addition of this sensation to simulators (Advameg, Inc, 2012).

There have also been reports of those who spend a good amount of time in VR who have dreams that dont follow the typical movie like flow of most dreams. Instead the dreams had more of a vertical flow with the person seeing themselves in front of them rather than seeing the dream through their own eyes (Advameg, Inc, 2012).

There is also the fear of those who spend to much time in VR will loose their connection with real people and end up isolating themselves socially. We already see this with some children who spend to much time on the computer or playing video games.

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VR WILL PROVIDE THE ABILITY TOShare dreamsTravel through historySave data with a flick of the wristSpend time with someone who is miles awayExperience life situations a disability will not allowChange the world as we know it today

VIRTUAL REALITY WILL BE THE NEW REALITY

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Works CitedAdvameg, Inc. (2012). Chapter 6 Which World Is Real? The Future of Virtual Reality. Retrieved December 13, 2012, from Science Clarified: http://www.scienceclarified.com/scitech/Virtual-Reality/Which-World-Is-Real-The-Future-of-Virtual-Reality.html

Briggs, J. C. (2003, November 13). The Promise of Virtual Reality. Retrieved December 12, 2012, from The Cyberpunk Project: http://project.cyberpunk.ru/idb/virtualreality_promise.html

Info NIAC. (2007-2011). Virtual Reality Might Be Used to Aid Bullied Children. Retrieved December 12, 2012, from Info NIAC: http://www.infoniac.com/science/virtual-reality-might-be-used-to-aid-bullied-children.html

The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. (1995). Virtual Reality: History. Retrieved December 11, 2012, from Expo/Theater/Virtual Environments: http://archive.ncsa.illinois.edu/Cyberia/VETopLevels/VR.History.htmlVirtual Reality. (2009). Virtual Reality. Retrieved December 11, 2012, from Virtual Reality: http://www.vrs.org.uk/

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