Rohan, virtual reality (VR) is a computer-generated environment that appears and feels like a real one. The idea is to show you computerised scenes that adjust to your own movements. For example, when you look up, you see a computer-generated sky. When you look down, you see the ground.
In other words, when you move your head, the images immediately reposition themselves so that you are constantly looking at a different region of a three-dimensional scene. The intention is to mimic what happens when you move around in the real world.
To enter a VR world, you will have to wear a helmet-like device that has tiny computer screens, one in front of each eye. Each screen gives a slightly different view so as to imitate stereoscopic vision. Sensors attached to your body (like gloves and shoes) convey details of your movement to the computer, which then changes the graphics accordingly, giving you the feeling of moving through the scene, rather that just observing it from a distance. You can even pick up and manipulate objects that you see in the virtual environment.
As far as Bubbles, my parrot, is concerned, virtual reality is mainly about cool toys like helmets and gloves which take him right inside the computer screen to make him part of the latest video game.
WEB RESOURCES
The term "virtual reality" was coined by Jaron Lanier. This is a fabulous place to read about its origins.
In a virtual network, many users can be part of the same scene, regardless of their geographical location, each perceiving it from a personal point of view and interacting with each other in the virtual community.
Varying degrees of VR technology are now used in games like Quake II and Hell Haven, entertainment, medicine, space missions, military operations, design, education and marketing.
You can also use RediffSearch to find more information on Virtual Reality.
MORE LINKS:
-- Writing your own virtual reality programme
-- Virtual Reality Magazine
-- The Definitive Guide to Virtual Reality
-- Virtual Cities and Persistent Worlds on the World Wide Web
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