Future is Here: Exciting Potential of VR
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams”
— Eleanor Roosevelt
Have you ever thought about how new technologies become popular? Only several decades ago people were using such “bricks” as Motorola 8500X. It was huge, looked brutal and its talk time was 1 hour only. The cost of the device was also impressive. Despite that, even such phones could solve communication problems. People used them as naturally as we use our cell phones. It took 36 years to transform this giant device into something portable, multifunctional, and affordable for everyone.
What I can see now is that VR technology moves the same path. Right now VR devices are also big, have a high cost, and have a bunch of other issues. However, VR is getting popular because it gives our generation advantages that were inaccessible to people earlier.
Training and Simulation
VR can be used to create immersive, realistic training experiences that allow us to practice skills and a set of actions in a safe and controlled environment. This is especially useful in such areas as aviation, military training, and medicine. For example, surgical procedure simulation allows doctors to get valuable experience and avoid mistakes during actual surgeries.
Improved Education
100 years ago people were also sitting in classrooms and teaching subjects. What has changed now? Almost nothing. However, I do believe that VR can overcome the old teaching methods and make education more engaging, effective, and fun. Imagine that you can learn history by observing historical events in VR, seeing everything from the first person. Want to learn a complex scientific concept? You can approach it in 3D, seeing everything from a bird’s eye view!
VR also allows us to be in places that are hard or impossible to reach for the average person. Traveling to remote locations, exploring space, or diving into the depths of the ocean. All these can be accessed via VR technology.
Enhanced Entertainment
New unique entertainment opportunities are on the go. Considering that you feel like being in a 3D environment, any game features are perceived as more realistic and immersive. Such a level of immersion is not possible with other forms of media because one feels like they are part of the story. For example, the VR movie “The Invisible Man” allows viewers to explore a virtual environment and discover hidden artworks.
Improved Therapy
It is possible to use VR as a tool in therapy to help people overcome phobias, PTSD, and many other mental health issues. For example, in exposure therapy, VR allows recreating a phobia from which a person suffers in a safe and controlled environment. Thus, a person will be able to step by step overcome their fears and negative thoughts.
Interactive Art
VR can become a new milestone in the evolution of art. Artists are able to create immersive installations that allow people to experience art interactively. For example, VR painting opens new possibilities by manipulating 3D space and adding layers and effects.
As we can see, VR technology has the potential to revolutionize a wide range of industries and activities, providing valuable benefits in education, training, entertainment, and beyond. Right now it has limited content compared to traditional media and is used in a specific domain only. However, It is only a matter of time before VR is going to reach mass market adoption. Virtual reality has definitely the potential to make our lives better. Are we ready for this?
