Virtual Reality - Types, Applications & Advantages

Virtual Reality (VR) is an immersive technology that simulates a lifelike computer-generated environment, providing users with a profound sense of presence and the ability to interact with virtual objects and surroundings. Individuals can be transported to virtual realms and encounters that are visually and audibly convincing by donning a VR headset, which is often coupled with handheld controllers or alternative input devices. Virtual Reality is an ever-changing technology that transports users to new worlds and provides transformative experiences.

According to Statista, the global AR/VR market was worth US$ 28 billion in 2021 and is expected to be worth US$ 250 billion by 2028. According to Research and Markets, the total augmented reality and virtual reality market in India is expected to grow at a CAGR of 38.29% to US$ 14.07 billion by 2027, owing to increased smartphone penetration and widespread internet connectivity.

Virtual Reality and its Functioning

Virtual Reality origins can be traced back to the 1960s when computer scientist Ivan Sutherland developed a prototype head-mounted display (HMD) capable of displaying basic wireframe graphics. Since then, VR technology has advanced significantly. Virtual Reality is using computer technology to create a simulated environment that can be explored in 360 degrees. Unlike traditional interfaces, VR places the user inside the virtual environment to give an immersive experience.

• Components:
  • Hardware: Sensory Displays, Computer, Process Acceleration Cards, Tracking System, Input Devices.
  • Software: 3D Modeling, 2D Graphics, Digital Sound Editing, VR Simulation.
• Working: Virtual reality simulates a realistic three-dimensional environment using a combination of hardware and software.
  • VR technology is built on an end-to-end mechanism that replaces the natural environment with a convincingly realistic simulation.
  • This simulation is extremely realistic. Modern AI algorithms are commonly used to best adapt the digital world to the real world.
  • The task of these is to project new and familiar elements onto a mathematically defined surface. As a result, users are presented with a virtual world that appears to be deceptively real.
  • Real-time tracking of the user's movements and gestures is provided by the hardware.
  • To simulate a fully immersive experience, the software creates a digital environment using computer-generated graphics, audio, and other sensory inputs.

Types of Virtual Reality

Three types of virtual reality give different kinds of experiences to the users.

• Non-Immersive Virtual Reality: It is a type of virtual reality in which you control the activities within the experience using a computer. Non-immersive VR experiences include video games such as Warcraft and Dota.
  • In these games, interaction in the virtual environment is an indirect one, as one does not experience the sense of being actually in it, and the platform does not fully block your field of view.
• Semi-immersive Virtual Reality: Digital components overlay real-world objects in semi-immersive VR. As a result, these virtual elements can be used in the same way that real objects can.
  • Common examples are pilot training or the deepening of technical skills.
• Fully Immersive Virtual Reality: In a fully immersive Virtual Reality, users perceive only the virtual environment. During use, there is no fixed point of reference to the real world. Fully immersive VR technology is currently found primarily in the gaming industry.

Advantages of Virtual Reality

One of the primary significance of VR is its ability to create immersive experiences that can help individuals learn, practice, and explore in a safe and controlled environment.

• Time flexibility and location independence: Virtual Reality makes it possible to hold meetings, training sessions, or conferences in virtual rooms. This eliminates the need to travel to the respective locations.
• Supports the personalisation of virtual experiences: Haptic and auditory stimuli are important in this context. In the long run, VR should allow for the customization of the user experience. This would open up entirely new possibilities in the areas of marketing, entertainment, and education.
• Enhance Collaboration: VR could make collaboration in companies much easier. At the same time, employees from various locations would be able to meet directly in the digital space.
• Immersive Gaming Experience: Moreover, Virtual Reality technology has the potential to transform the entertainment industry, creating immersive gaming experiences that allow players to become fully immersed in a virtual world.

Applications of Virtual Reality

The following are some of the applications of virtual reality:

• Industries: VR simulations have a wide range of applications, including training simulation, prototyping, designing, and testing tools and objects.
  • Examples: Driving simulators, flight simulators for pilots, and combat simulators for military personnel are some of the most commonly used VR simulations in the industrial domain.
• Healthcare: Virtual Reality is making a significant impact in healthcare. In 2021, the FDA approved prescription-use EaseVRx for the treatment of pain reduction in adults.
  • The system uses cognitive behavioural therapy and other behavioural principles such as deep relaxation, attention-shifting, and others, to aid in the reduction of chronic pain.
• Education: VR headsets are also useful in blocking out visual and auditory distractions, allowing teachers to interact one-on-one with students.
  • For example: During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a surge in virtual learning, with many classes held via online meeting platforms.
• Social Interaction: Virtual Reality enables interaction with other users which provides an opportunity to create social connections. Users can participate in virtual cognition training to improve their social skills, such as emotion recognition, social attribution, and analogical reasoning.
• Travel and tourism: Users can enjoy immersive tourism in simulated environments based on real landscapes or locations with virtual tourism.
  • Virtual museum visits and navigating areas using apps such as Google Street View are examples of VR tourism.

Limitations of Virtual Reality

Even though virtual reality is a powerful and versatile tool, current VR technology has some obvious limitations and drawbacks.

• Privacy concern: A key VR privacy issue is the highly personal nature of the collected data i.e., biometric data such as iris or retina scans, fingerprints and handprints, face geometry, and voiceprints.
• Technological limitations: Because of the lack of standardisation, it is difficult to troubleshoot bugs and receive proper support for any issues. Other issues include Virtual Reality development software tends to take up a lot of data space on computers and has high power consumption.
• Cybersickness:Cybersickness is a phenomenon where users will feel symptoms similar to motion sickness (i.e., nausea, and dizziness) as a result of using a VR device.
  • A conflict occurs when there is an excessive mismatch between the motion a user perceives visually and the lack of the corresponding movement in their body.
• Accessibility: The cost of VR headsets and VR-ready computers on the market is still higher making this out of reach for most people.
• Security concern: If a hacker gains access to a VR headset's motion-tracking data, they can potentially use it to create a digital replica (also known as deep fakes) and thus undermine Virtual Reality security.

India and Virtual Reality

Over the last few years, nearly 260 startups focusing on the AR/VR segment have l been operating in India.

• Some of the startups focused on virtual reality are:
  • Look Mobility: World's first foldable VR headset.
  • AbsentiaVR: VR Headset.
  • Merxius: RealSim Editor or RED is a flagship product, such as Photoshop, for virtual reality.
  • Xenium: Live VR streaming for enterprise and education.
• Government Initiatives:
  • Consortium for VR/AR/MR Engineering Mission in India’ (CAVE): Indian Institute of Technology Madras launched the country’s first consortium for virtual reality called CAVE.
    • Main Objective: To enable members to create new advanced technologies and applications in Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, Mixed Reality (XR), and haptics together.