Shulou(Shulou.com)05/31 Report--

Virtual reality has always been one of the most important technological prosperity in modern times. Although the original idea dates back to the early 1980s, over the past few years, we have been hearing the same question over and over again: "is 201X the year of VR?" Due to the inherent limitations of our existing technology, virtual reality is still trying to achieve a breakthrough and become the mainstream.

Before digging into this topic, let's take a look at what VR should be, what it actually becomes, or at least what it promises.

What is virtual reality?

Virtual reality devices include headphones and other gadgets for projecting virtual images of people in the artificial world. The general idea is to be able to interact in virtual reality and with objects and other individuals who may share the same space as much as possible. In addition to the traditional VR goggles, many other items have been added to modern equipment, such as gloves and headphones.

The moment when virtual reality might be popular was in the 1980s and 1990s, when films like Johnny's mnemonic and the lawnmower caused a real craze. At the time, however, the technology was so rudimentary that it never succeeded in surpassing the infamous Nintendo Power Glove and other unreliable devices.

Today, the development of VR has brought a lot of promises, such as Oculus Rift, YouTube 360 video. And. Apparently, a completely immersive adult movie.

The difference between virtual reality and augmented reality.

Virtual reality should not be confused with augmented reality. VR tries to simulate reality through visual and auditory stimuli, while AR only enhances reality through digital projection, which is based on existing reality. AR typically consists of applications and software used on mobile devices to add virtualization elements to the real world. (learn more about augmented reality in augmented reality 101.)

Examples of augmented reality include pop-up 3D emails and text messages, virtual makeup mirrors and clothing color change applications. AR can be used to enhance realism, for example, by "virtualizing" 3D printers to build physical objects from 3D images.

VR provides credible reconstruction of real life for entertainment purposes, while AR adds virtual elements to the real world.

And the future potential.

VR has been in Silicon Valley for some time, but apart from the short-term entertainment provided by pokemongo, what else is the technology?

To be honest, the current hype about VR technology revolves around some interesting gadgets that can only turn into more things in the near future. One of the most popular virtual reality headphones is the Oculus Rift, which started its Kickstarter campaign before Facebook acquired it in 2014. Add Sony PlayStation VR and HTC Vive, and these devices have revolutionized the game scene. The addition of integrated hardware (such as motion control controllers) and the immersive experience make these headphones very popular among game players. But relatively small game libraries and prices are far from what ordinary people can really afford, which is currently preventing them from becoming mainstream.

However, virtual reality technology is more than a video game. Experts predict that the value of the VR department will reach 38 billion US dollars in the next 10 years. Retailers like Ikea began their first experiment, allowing customers to watch and move their new appliances or kitchens through virtual reality headphones and controllers. MarksSpencer launched its first virtual reality showroom, and Volvo designed a virtual driving experience with Google Cardboard headphones.

Will VR be the future of smartphones?

Influential people such as Mark Zuckerberg offer some interesting insights that current smartphone technology seems to be stuck in a technological stalemate. According to him, competition with Google and Apple has prevented Facebook from realizing its full potential in the virtual reality world.

The integration between smartphones and virtual reality is probably the most likely solution. Programming legends such as John Carmack, the father of Doom and Thor III Arena, are working on the development of Gear VR that could make smartphone VR a reality. It is too early to say whether VR will be the solution and future of the entire social network. However, this is definitely what Google Glass and Microsoft HoloLens expect.

Possible medical applications of virtual reality technology.

One of the latest trends in virtual reality technology is to use it to treat some diseases and disorders. A lot of medical research is under way on its possible applications outside of entertainment and media. Virtual reality headphones have been used to help phobias overcome fear in a controlled environment. Soldiers with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been receiving treatment since the Georgia Institute of Technology developed the first virtual Vietnamese VR in 1997. Other applications include pain management and social awareness training for people with autism.

Augmented reality, on the other hand, is currently used by surgeons at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Stanford Hospital and Stanford Healthcare Center for advanced 3D imaging. Doctors can better understand the anatomy of patients and help them replace valves during fine surgery.

Controversial aspects.

Like any other breakthrough discovery, virtual reality technology has no potential negative impact. Recently, there has been a fairly modern controversy because most virtual reality landscapes are almost inevitable.

The land will be concentrated in the adult entertainment industry. The world is still seen as a male-dominated world, and some form of equality has only recently emerged in the form of LGBT adult materials. However, a new technology may lead to little progress in this project, preventing it from taking a few steps forward. Larger companies are likely to focus on mainstream male content, forcing niche audiences to be initially squeezed out, if not ruled out.

Other possible disputes include social segregation and moral issues (mainly related to video game violence). Since violence in the form of fire fighting and armed fighting will occur in such a realistic and immersive manner, young or psychologically unstable consumers may be strongly affected. It is not clear whether the impact is negative or positive, but many developers must ensure that game content can still be seen as different from reality. However, striking the right balance between fiction and realism can be difficult because the sense of distance that usually provides a safety net for players may be lost.

Despite the hype, VR technology is still in its early stages of development. However, it is certainly a stubborn prodige, and we certainly hope to witness the moment when this promising invention will eventually surpass its first step.

Welcome to subscribe "Shulou Technology Information " to get latest news, interesting things and hot topics in the IT industry, and controls the hottest and latest Internet news, technology news and IT industry trends.