How Does Virtual Reality Work?

Virtual Reality or what we call VR is a technology that has been discovered long ago. Starting from the invention of the Sensorama engine in the early 1960s to the creation of the Oculus Rift headset, which paved the way for many VR headsets that you can find on the market today. What used to only start as science fiction has become reality, with VR technology that allows you to immerse yourself in an environment that is similar to reality or very fantastic through visual media.

Nowadays, we can experience the sensation of virtual reality through media such as games and applications or also through some videos on YouTube. This technology also makes its presence known in the film industry, with filmmakers incorporating virtual reality into documentaries and animated films so that viewers can feel a sensation similar to what is in film. Even Facebook and YouTube have also taken advantage of VR by developing 360 degree videos. Yep, in this case you can also use Google Street View or Maps.

In this article, we will discuss the workings of Virtual Reality and how people can make use of this technology, whether for entertainment, academics or for practical purposes in the real world. But first, let's discuss what exactly is the understanding of VR itself.

What is Virtual Reality?

Virtual reality or Virtual Reality allows users to explore and interact in three-dimensional environments generated by computers. Current technology uses VR headsets or multi-projection environments, and sometimes also appears in combination with visual aids or physical environments, to produce images, sounds and other sensations that are very realistic. Once inside an immersive environment, users can perform certain actions, such as moving around, manipulating objects, and utilizing other imaginary features found in this imaginative artificial world.

Beyond its technical aspects, virtual reality is considered a certain type of reality competition. The definition of this term comes from the word "virtual," which means close and "reality," which is related to our real-world experience. Both our senses and the parts of our brain that are involved in sensory perception determine our perception of reality. Therefore, when the brain is given artificial information, it can change our perception of reality. In other words, our perception is deceived as if what we see is reality.

How Does Virtual Relity Work?

At present, VR headsets accept input from two different sources: it can come from an HDMI cable connected to a PC or console or can also use a smartphone. The first applies to headsets such as the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift, while the second is used with Google Daydream and the Samsung Gear VR headset or the more popular version is the Google Virtual Box which is made of cardboard and lens. You can also connect other devices - such as head and hand tracking, controllers, and voice input - to your VR headset.

Once you are ready to use your VR headset, this is what happens inside:

When you use VR, there will be one or two screens per eye that receive two decoys, as well as an autofocus lens positioned between the headset screen and your eyes which can also be adjusted depending on eye movement and position. Its function is to do image focusing and reshaping for each eye, and tilt two 2D images to produce a stereoscopic 3D image that mimics the way our eyes look at the real world.

Some VR headsets have a minimum field of view of 100 or 110 degrees for a deeper VR experience which of course will cost more VR. As for the images produced by this device, a minimum frame rate of 60fps is needed to make it convincing without making users feel nauseous.

What is a Virtual Reality Headset?

VR Headset is a form of head-up display (HUD). They allow users to immerse themselves in an imaginary environment through a first person view.

The technology in this VR headset has features such as eye gaze tracking, infrared sensors, gyroscopes, and accelerometers which naturally move the user's perspective. Stereo sound (for cellular applications) and surround or 3D can also be applied to this headset. However, VR applications and headsets are having problems developing, with some users experiencing "virtual reality sickness" or VR motion sickness which is a disruption due to using VR and the most common symptoms are headaches, nausea, and vomiting.

Some of the most popular VR headsets on the market today :

• Samsung Gear VR - Gear VR uses Oculus VR technology and is compatible with Galaxy S6, S7 and Note 7 models.
• Oculus Rift - This headset has positioning technology for physical movement in 3D space, as well as a touch controller.
• HoloLens - Microsoft's VR Headset that offers 3D spatial sound, Wi-Fi connectivity, 120-degree spatial sensing system embedded in the camera (which is similar to the camera in the Kinect device), gyroscope, accelerometer, and transparent screen for both eyes.
• PlayStation VR - As the name suggests, PlayStation VR is compatible with Sony's PlayStation 4 game consoles that can be controlled using DualShock 4 PS4 and PlayStation controllers

What Are the Benefits of Virtual Relity?

Virtual reality exists in various fields, such as entertainment, marketing, education, and medicine, although games remain one of the most popular uses for technology. For example, military forces use VR for flight simulations, battlefields, and vehicles, as well as medical training and virtual training camps. This also helps them reduce training costs and safely re-create training conditions.

VR is widely used in mental health and medical training, and is used to treat post-traumatic stress, anxiety, phobias, and depression. in the field of medicine, it can allow an intern / beginner to study before carrying out surgeries and other procedures.

In the field of education, VR allows students to interact with each other in a 3D environment. Museums, solar systems and historical time periods that were previously not possible to visit are made possible with this technology. This technology can also encourage children with special needs to practice their social skills.

What Does Virtual Reality Look Like?

Ever wondered what an immersive and extraordinary environment is like? The video above is a historical video to re-create the gladiatorial match at the Roman Colosseum in ancient times. This allows users to roam around the stadium while learning about its history and how it was made as an example of history.

An example of a film with a sci-fi theme that uses the concept of VR is the Ready Player One film which won 1 oscar trophy and 51 nominations in 2018 ago.