Virtual Reality

Have you ever wondered, if instead of watching a video with the breath-taking beauty of Mount Everest, you could actually experience it first hand as if you were standing right over it? Virtual reality makes this experience possible.

What is Virtual Reality?

Virtual Reality is a technological advancement that allows an individual to immerse himself in a computer simulated digital world with the help of various gadgets and devices designed for the same.

VR makes the experience as near to reality as possible. The VR devices alter the perception of reality by cutting our senses, such as sound, vision and balance, off from the environment we currently are in and introducing them to an alternate one. This leads to the brain comprehending the alternate environment as real.  

The same is achieved through a VR headset that covers the eyes, taking you from the confines of your room to anywhere in the vast expanses of the universe. The technology allows for some form of interaction and control to the user over the environment and the simulated world responds as per user’s actions.

Virtual Reality Technology

VR headsets are the prime hardware requirement for experiencing VirtualReality. These have some sort of display and a processor to drive the headset. In addition to these, technologies such as gyroscopes and motion tracking sensors might also be present.

The environment is simulated by making use of multiple high-resolution images in specific language tools designed for virtual reality simulations. Cameras specifically designed for VR may also be employed.

Virtual Reality Devices

The race for innovation in Virtual Reality has already begun with some of the biggest names of the technological industry already in it. There are multiple devices available that vary based on their features and manufacturers. Some of these are cheaper while others might be quite expensive. Some of these headsets are designed to work only with mobiles while others are designed to work with dedicated appliances and desktops. A few of the devices available today include:

Sony PlayStation VR

The Sony’s offering to the Virtual Reality market is limited only to the PS4 games. It can be paired with a camera and controller for providing a good experience. The hardware offers reasonable performance at a reasonable price.

HTC Vive / Steam VR

Though expensive, the HTC’s Vive is one of the most technologically advanced headsets in market. It requires a PC that has at least the minimum recommended configuration to run. It even includes a motion controller and maps the movement in to simulated world.

Oculus Rift

One of the earliest companies to foray into the virtual reality segment, the Oculus Rift is another headset that can be paired up with pc. It doesn’t have full body motion tracking but provides a 360-degree peripheral vision.

Samsung Gear VR

It is a headset that is designed for smart phones, specifically Samsung Galaxy series. It mainly works to render various games and applications. The headset includes motion sensing and has a separate handset controller.

Google Daydream

It is another headset that requires a smartphone to be paired up with for using it. It supports phones running the Google’s flagship android mobile operating system.

It is still early days for Virtual Reality, but with the innovation drive of the major industries behind it and the kind of response it is evoking from the people, virtual reality is on the path to go mainstream.