I wanted to make my final blog post about Virtual Reality (VR) since it has some pretty cool applications. Personally, I’ve always found it interesting from a gaming standpoint, but there is way more to it than that. It’s a pretty cool concept that’s been around for a while now, and it’s only getting more popular. In this post, I’m going to explain what VR is, how it’s been evolving over the years, and some of the exciting ways it’s being used today.
First off, let’s start with the basics. VR stands for virtual reality, and it refers to a technology that allows users to experience a computer-generated environment as if it were real. By wearing a VR headset, users can immerse themselves in a 360-degree environment and interact with it in various ways. Some VR headsets even include hand controllers, which allow users to manipulate objects within the virtual environment.
Only a few years ago, I remember thinking, “Wow, that sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie. How long has VR technology been around?” Surprisingly, VR has been around in some form or another since the 1960s. The first VR headset was created in 1968 by Ivan Sutherland, but it was incredibly expensive and required a massive computer to run. It wasn’t until the 1990s that VR technology started to become more accessible to the general public, with the release of devices like the Virtual Boy and the Nintendo Power Glove. Fast forward to today, and VR technology is more popular than ever. With the advent of more affordable and powerful computing devices, VR is becoming more accessible to everyday consumers. There are now a variety of VR headsets on the market, from the high-end Oculus Rift to the more budget-friendly Google Cardboard.
(Kinda creepy looking right?)
So, how is VR technology up and coming in the world and the market? Well, there are a few reasons for this. For one, businesses are starting to realize the potential of VR technology. VR can be used for a wide range of applications, from entertainment to education to healthcare. For example, some businesses use VR to create immersive training simulations for their employees. Others are using VR to create interactive product demos or marketing experiences.
While VR can be very useful for businesses, it’s also becoming more popular in the gaming industry. With VR, gamers can immerse themselves in their favorite games like never before, exploring virtual worlds and interacting with characters in new and exciting ways. And with the recent release of the Oculus Quest 2, a standalone VR headset that doesn’t require a PC or console to operate, VR gaming is becoming more accessible to a wider audience.
One area where VR is particularly promising is in healthcare. VR technology can be used to create simulations that allow doctors and nurses to practice procedures in a safe and controlled environment. Additionally, VR can be used to help patients manage pain or anxiety by creating calming virtual environments.
But perhaps one of the most exciting things about VR technology is the really new and innovative ways it’s being used. For example, some artists are using VR to create immersive art installations that allow viewers to explore their works in a completely new way. Also, some architects are using VR to create 3D models of their buildings, allowing clients to explore and interact with the spaces before they’re even built.
Overall, VR technology is an incredibly exciting development that has the potential to transform the way we interact with technology. Its immersive nature allows users to explore virtual environments and interact with them in new and exciting ways. As this technology becomes more accessible and more businesses start to realize its potential, we can expect to see even more creative uses of VR in the future.
So, whether you’re a gamer, a business owner, an artist, or just a curious tech enthusiast, VR is definitely something worth exploring. And who knows? Maybe one day we’ll all be living in a fully immersive virtual world like that movie Ready Player One. While that might still be a ways off, it’s clear that VR technology has come a long way since its early days, and it’s only getting better. So, strap on your VR headset and get ready to learn, game, create, and more!
Hey Alex, super interesting post! I personally don’t like VR as it makes my head hurt, but I think the idea of using it for school is a great idea. Like practicing a medical procedure and getting the opportunity to have real-world practice over VR. Also, VR has given you the capability of going into homes and seeing if you want to purchase a home without having to travel.
Hey Alex! I really enjoyed reading your blog post. Agreeing with connor’s comment, I think that VR is really cool, but it does make my head hurt/dizzy whenever I would try it out. I think the coolest thing about VR is that it having a meaningful impact whenever it comes to healthcare.
I liked that you started your blog post out by explaining what VR is and the history of VR. By doing this, you prepared your readers well for the rest of the post. I have never tried VR before, but I would love to soon. Like you mentioned, I think in the next decade VR will really take off in almost every industry. Businesses need to be ready to leverage this technology as well.
Hey Alex, this was a great post! As a kid, I always thought about how fun video games would be in a vr setting and now those thoughts are reality. I still haven’t had the chance to play it but it’s incredible to see how far technology has come. What’s even more interesting is that artificial intelligence is now being used in VR software which just goes to show that the possibilities are endless. VR can even be used in other sectors such as art and business, I can”t wait to see what next!
Hi Alex! This is a really cool blog topic. I got the chance to try Oculus over the summer and it was really interesting to try to play a game through the VR headset. I liked how you mentioned how many different uses VR headsets can have. It was nice to see that they were also helpful for medical professionals and with anxiety. Also, I think it’s a really productive for the architect example that you mentioned so that both the architect and the person purchasing the property can both make sure that everything is planned out how they would like it before starting the project. Great post!
I really enjoyed your blog this week, Alex! I’ve done my own research on VR for another class but I didn’t know that one of the first few attempts at VR came through Nintendo and Virtual Boy. It’s fascinating to think that we went from that to some very intricate headsets such as Microsoft’s HoloLens. I think that VR has a lot of potentials to disrupt so many industries. During my internship, we had a talk about VR and how it might fit in the consulting space. Other companies such as Accenture have included VR headsets as part of the welcome gifts and they tried to host a virtual conference. One of the major setbacks with VR is its ability to make the user dizzy after prolonged use of the technology. I think that if they tackle that problem with the technology, we will see it used for more commercial purposes soon enough.
Hey Fernando, that is so true! It seems like that is one of the biggest issue to it not being used more, but if we are able to stop people from getting dizzy from it, I’m sure VR tech will take off.
Hey Alex, I really enjoyed reading your post. I think the improvement of VR is best for society. It allows people to try new things for the first time without having to do them in reality. This is especially important for doctors, I believe. If all doctors are trained to do surgeries in virtual reality they run a lower risk of when it is time to do them on a real person. This blog was great and I can’t wait to see what is in store for VR in the future.
Hi Alex, this was a very interesting blog post! I personally have never tried using VR but it seems to have come a long way in the last 5 years. In the past, I mainly heard companies talking about how VR can be used for video games. Now, it’s crazy to see how VR technology can be used to make a positive impact in healthcare. A few of my friends have told me that it makes them dizzy, so I will be watching to see how they make changes to the technology to resolve this issue. Overall, this blog was very informative!
Hey Alex, Great Post! I tried VR for the first time a couple of weeks ago and it was very interesting to imagine how all of the things that could be integrated into VR would just fit in one little headset. I talked about VR in sports earlier this semester and it has allowed me to have my own ideas about how VR could go even further in the sports world. I’d say I’m more excited for VR than I am for AI in itself.
Hey Alex, I wrote about something similar a few weeks ago. It is crazy to think about how much it has developed and how long its been developing for. I had no idea that VR systems were being developed in the 50s and 60s, and now we have the Oculus! I wonder where this technology will be 10 years from now, and I’m excited to try it out!