Virtual Technology (VR) is not just a trending topic anymore, rather it is a rapidly evolving technology which has transformed the way we interact with digital platforms. From entertainment and health care to education and even the workplace, the scope of Virtual Reality (VR) is immense. VR enables users to experience a world of their creation, providing it with enormous potential for both fun and practical use. This article details applications, challenges, latest trends in Virtual Reality and its future perspectives.
What is Virtual Reality (VR)?
- Virtual Reality (VR), as the name relates, is defined as an environment capable of giving a simulated experience which can be similar or completely different from reality.
- VR Headsets and other specialised equipment comprising full body suits, gloves and controllers are used to create a three dimensional environment for the user.
- Virtual Reality aims at creating a sense of presence that makes one feel that they are truly inside a virtual world.
- It is not just limited to creating a virtual world for fun, it has developed itself into a far more useful application enhancing roles in healthcare, education and other fields. Now let’s explore how VR has evolved over time.
The Development of Virtual Reality
- VR in itself is not a new idea; by the 1960s, Morton Heilig had developed his first prototype head-mounted display, which he called the “Sensorama”.
- However, it was not until the 1990s, with advances in computer technology and improved graphics, that the technology truly became popular.
- Since then, advances in hardware and software have made VR more accessible and practical for the general public.
- In the past 10 years, VR has improved by leaps and bounds. Devices like Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, and PlayStation VR have allowed gamers, educators, and companies seeking new ways to interact with their customers to enjoy immersive experiences.
- Moreover, the display resolution, field of view, and tracking accuracy have greatly enhanced user experiences.
- According to Statista, the VR market value is projected to reach $12.19 billion in 2024, from $4.84 billion in 2021, indicating strong growth and acceptance across industries.
- From prototypes to modern headsets, the progress of VR has been enormous. Let’s move ahead to know how VR technology operates.
How VR Works
- VR essentially combines hardware and software to create a digital simulation of reality. The most common hardware used today for VR is the head-mounted display (HMD), which allows the user to view stereoscopic visuals, providing a sense of depth and scale similar to one would experience in reality.
- The visuals generated are rendered in real time to account for user movements, creating an immersive illusion.
- Supporting hardware includes motion-tracking devices that detect head movements and translate them corresponding actions in the virtual environment.
- The devices play a key role in creating a sensation of presence—that is, being “inside” the virtual world.
- Controllers allow users to interact with the environment, while advanced systems feature gloves or full-body suits for enhanced immersion.
- On the software side, powerful graphics engines capable of rendering 3D realistic environments make the VR experience possible.
- Modern VR systems also incorporate artificial intelligence to enhance interactivity with users, thereby increasing the level of realism in simulations.
- The two technologies work together to allow a user to step into a game, visit far-off destinations, or conduct simulations in a controlled environment. Moving forward, let’s see its prime applications.
Virtual Reality Applications
The scope and the applications of Virtual Reality (VR) is enormous. With virtual reality becoming today’s future, the term and the process Metaverse is also coming into the picture. It is defined as the process where people in the form of avatars interact virtually for social and economic activities. It has been initiated and adopted in the United States. As per the PwC 2022 US Metaverse Survey, around 51% of the companies are in the process of integrating VR into their strategies or have successfully integrated into one of their business lines at least. This proves that VR is one of the most rapidly evolving technologies in the globe right now.
Retail & Consumer
- One of the most diverse fields where AR and VR can have a strong impact globally is retail and consumer.
- Amongst its diverse applications, the most famous use of VR at the moment is in entertainment and gaming.
- The concept of VR gaming has significantly expanded in recent years, with companies like Oculus, Valve, and Sony developing high-end headsets that offer customers an immersive gaming experience.
- Multiplayer VR games are on the rise, with social interactions enhancing the gaming experience by allowing users to interact with each other in shared virtual spaces.
- The technology also allows retailers and small businessmen to create engaging consumer experiences in a way that has never existed before. It can help retailers in understanding customer behaviour and related trends to enhance their business more effectively.
- It is also a useful tool for businessmen and architects in the real estate and construction industry. VR and AR can help them create virtual tours of buildings or apartments before they are rented out or sold.
- This technology can help both businesses and customers determine whether the product is right for them.
- According to a PwC report titled ‘Seeing is Believing’, published in November 2019, Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) can together have the potential to boost global GDP by 2030 by $204 billion USD in the Retail and Consumer sector.
Development, Education and Training
- The best prospect for VR technology lies in its application in the field of development and training.
- It provides an immersive learning environment that can help learners grasp complex concepts on science, engineering, and history easily.
- For instance, a student can learn about ancient civilizations and chemical reactions by immersing in a 3D environment.
- Therefore, it is a valuable tool in professional training, especially for the aviation, and military sectors. Pilots train in simulated cockpits and soldiers can rehearse their missions in a risk-free environment.
- According to a PwC report titled ‘Seeing is Believing’, published in November 2019, Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) can together have the potential to boost global GDP by 2030 by $294.2 billion USD in the Development and Training sector.
- Following Bar Chart and figures reveal the effectiveness in the application of VR in the training sector as compared to E-learning and Classrooms.
Healthcare
- Even in the medical field, VR is causing revolutionary changes. Surgeons can plan and practise detailed, complex surgeries using VR-based simulations. Moreover, patients also benefit from virtual reality therapies.
- Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) treats patients with PTSD, anxiety, and phobias by gradually exposing them to the source of their trauma or fear in a controlled environment.
- Additionally, VR is applied in pain management, particularly in the treatment of burns.
- According to a PwC report titled ‘Seeing is Believing’, published in November 2019, Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) can together have the potential to boost global GDP by 2030 by $350.9 billion USD in the healthcare sector.
■ Also Read: Beyond Pokémon Go: How Augmented Reality (AR) Technology is Shaping the Future of Entertainment
Product & Service Development
- As remote work becomes mainstream, VR helps bridge the gap between physical offices and remote teams.
- The technology is not only evolving in health care and education but it is also rapidly transforming product and service development.
- Companies adopt the technology for holding virtual meetings, team-building events, and collaborative projects.
- For instance, in the automotive industry, developers can develop designs faster and shorten product manufacturing timelines by developing them in a virtual world that feels like reality.
- For instance, Spatial and Facebook Horizon Workrooms offer shared virtual spaces where employees can collaborate in a more engaging and effective environment than a standard video call.
- According to a PwC report titled ‘Seeing is Believing’, published in November 2019, Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) can together have the potential to boost global GDP by 2030 by $359.4 billion USD in the Product and Service Development sector.
Process Improvement
- Both VR and AR have the capabilities to make a huge impact on process improvements, helping in improving processes in various sectors of development globally.
- Particularly AR has a more major impact in improving the processes in various fields by displaying the vital information in front of the technician, thus using that to the required effect.
- For instance, it can help a technician help in doing repair work faster by displaying the appropriate information in front of him, therefore increasing efficiency and helping in performing more tasks in the same timeline.
- According to a PwC report titled ‘Seeing is Believing’, published in November 2019, Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) can together have the potential to boost global GDP by 2030 by $275 billion USD in the Process Improvement sector.
- With applications in the diverse fields, let us take a look at the global impact of VR and AR in coming years.
Global Impact of VR & AR
- Both Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) not only have the power to enhance consumer experience but also have the power to boost up businesses and the economy.
- With its diverse applications, these technologies are poised to shape the future.
- According to the economic impact assessment conducted by PwC economists in the report titled ‘Seeing is Believing’, published in November 2019, AR and VR together have the potential to boost their global GDP contribution to $1.5 trillion USD by 2030.
- According to the report ‘Seeing is Believing’, in a comparative overview of AR and VR, AR is projected to have a bigger impact on the world economy by 2030.
- AR and VR both can help in enhancing job opportunities globally, creating more than 20 million jobs globally by 2030.
- Jeremy Dalton, Head of VR/AR, PwC UK has said in the ‘Seeing is Believing’ report, “Businesses, the economy and society are at a crucial stage in the adoption of virtual reality and augmented reality.”
- After analysing its social and economic impact, it’s time to assess the latest trends driving its growth globally.
Latest Trends in Virtual Reality
Looking forward, the future of VR is indeed promising. With more improvements in this field, the expectations for an increased sense of presence has also been rising with each passing day. With the latest trends, one can firmly believe that the future is indeed here. Some of the latest trends in Virtual Reality are mentioned as follows:
Standalone VR Headsets
Standalone VR Headsets are becoming popular due to their ease of operations, making them user-friendly. This VR headset does not require a PC or console, making them more accessible. for example, Oculus Quest 2.
Incorporation of 5G with VR
VR itself is a recent trend and requires high speed internet to function effectively. And with the arrival of 5G (5th Generation) Internet, the speed of data transfer for uploads and downloads or making streams have enhanced significantly. This makes it vital for Virtual Reality applications.
VR in the Metaverse
With tech giants like Meta (formerly Facebook) and Microsoft investing heavily in the Metaverse, the trend for VR is also evolving along with it, due to its crucial role in building and navigating Metaverse.
Despite its latest trends, the technology has to face major challenges as well, let us take a look at a few of them in the following section.
Challenges Facing Virtual Reality
While it promises many exciting possibilities, VR also faces a number of challenges. The most common challenges of VR are described below:
High Costs
The prohibitive cost of quality VR systems is the first barrier to its mass adoption. A complete setup with a powerful PC, VR headset, and accessories is quite expensive, making it not accessible for some potential consumers.
Technical Limitations
Motion sickness also arises in various experiences, mostly those that are movement-intensive. This discomfort, known as “cybersickness” occurs when a user sees something different from what their body is doing, developing a mismatch between perception and motion. Developers try to work around it, but still, it becomes a limitation to some users.
Privacy Concerns
Similarly, the world of VR has posed formidable privacy and security concerns. With more data collection from virtual reality experiences taking information from physical movement to emotional responses, what is done with it and how it is protected continues to raise concern. With these challenges, let’s explore the position of VR in the future.
The Future of Virtual Reality (VR)
With its applications across numerous fields as listed above, the future of Virtual Reality is certainly promising.
Integration with Businesses
The diverse application of Virtual Reality (VR) will allow it to integrate with businesses, allowing businesses to grow rapidly using VR technologies. Remote virtual training, which offers the same experience as in person training, is one of key advantages of VR’s integration with businesses.
Adoption with Artificial Intelligence (AI)
With Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) integration with VR, one can experience more user specific virtual environments, catering desired needs and producing relevant results.
Widening Healthcare Scope
With the development and application of VR in the future, the limits of healthcare treatment are definitely going to be pushed, expanding the range and diversity of treatment.
Growth in Metaverse
The application of Virtual Reality in the future can contribute to the growth of Metaverse as well. Since VR plays a key role in creating immersive digital environments, it will serve as the primary gateway for the growth of Metaverse as well.
The future indeed looks quite promising, still there is a deeper truth about the existence of life beyond these virtual environments.
The Reality Is Everything Around Us Is Virtual
In our pursuit of growth, development and financial stability, we have strayed far from the reality of the world around us as these material desires of name and fame have overshadowed us, blinding us on the path that leads to spiritual enlightenment.
The reality of this world is that everything we see around us is temporary and will be destroyed after a set period. This world belongs to Satan (Kaal Brahm), and we are living here in this cage called Earth, bearing the consequences of our sins and virtues. This world is like VR, transient, true life is found in the eternal abode.
Only Satlok Is Eternal
There is a place that never comes into destruction, nothing is virtual there, in fact everything there exists in abundance, providing food and other necessities for everyone. This place is called Satlok, the eternal realm of the Supreme God Kabir. Moreover, there is no death or old age in Satlok, after being born once and reaching a young age, souls remain forever young, as there are no diseases. This is because the body is made of only a single element, Noor (light) unlike the five elements of Earth. To reach Satlok, we need a Complete Saint.
A Complete Saint Can Take Us There
Only by seeking the refuge of a Complete Saint one can guarantee salvation and entry into Satlok. Currently, Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj is the Complete Saint guiding us the correct path and giving us the true method of worship to attain salvation, escape the Virtual Reality of Satan (Kaal Brahm) and secure a permanent place in Satlok, where we can become immortal forever.
To learn more visit www.jagatgururampalji.org or the ‘Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj’ YouTube channel.
Virtual Reality FAQs
Q: What is VR used for today?
A: Healthcare, Training, Military, Gaming and Education.
Q: What is Virtual Reality explain?
A: Virtual Reality is a three dimensional computer generated environment with objects and scenes similar to reality but not actually real.
Q: Who invented VR?
A: Morton Heilig
