Using Virtual Reality During the Pandemic
For many of us, the first time that we might have heard of virtual reality was when it made headlines a few years ago. A number of companies came out with virtual reality headsets available to the public, and everyone was trying to get their hands on the headsets for gifts. Over the past five years, virtual reality has become a household name. It has existed for a long time before the late 2010s, but it wasn’t until recently that virtual reality technology has been available and accessible to everyday people.
Virtual reality (VR) comes in many different forms, but in general, VR enables the user to see and hear realistic sights and sounds. Before VR existed as we know today, it was discussed about in books and plays as a device of the far-away future. Some of the first VR-like technology that the world saw were immersive movies in the 1960s. These movies put the viewer in the position of another person and used scents and breezes to simulate the real experiences.
Photos: Sutherland, I. E. (1968)
Later in the 1960s, Professor Ivan Sutherland and his students created the first virtual reality headset. It was immobile and attached to the ceiling, but it created a basis for the VR that we know today. Inventors after Sutherland improved his headset to have depth perception, less wiring, and more realistic images. Today, there are more than 230 companies that produce virtual reality headsets.
VR has also played an important role in education and training for jobs. The military, pilots, and astronauts are a few of the professionals that use virtual reality for training. Practicing on a virtual machine makes the learning process more similar to what they might experience later in the real situation. Simulations are a lot safer, considering that even a small mistake or understanding could result poorly in real life. Looking to the design field, engineers use virtual reality to create 3D models of their products on their computers. Instead of trying to build their product over and over again, they are able to run tests and see what it might look like before building it.
In the medical field, VR is also used for educational purposes. Some doctors will film surgeries and operations through a camera attached to their heads and allow medical students to view the video through VR headsets later. Watching a surgery this way gives the student the ability to see the procedure up close. Many experts agree that in the near future, medical students will be able to practice on virtual patients with VR goggles. VR has also assisted doctors in helping their patients gain strength and mobility. During physical therapy sessions, wearing a VR headset can make physical activity fun for kids and adults alike! Playing a game is much more engaging than traditional methods.
Outside of career training, VR systems have grown increasingly popular for personal use. Just because we can’t meet in real life does not mean that we can’t meet new people at all! New VR technology has created spaces for people to interact with one another and make personal connections. For college events, I have used Remo, which is a software that lets you find a table in the room and sit with people. Once you sit at the table, your video camera turns on, and you can speak. There are also avatar-based virtual reality softwares, like AltspaceVR. Much like Remo, AltspaceVR lets you choose who you interact with by moving around the room, but it also allows you to personalize an avatar. Instead of sharing your video, only your voice is shared. Remo and AltspaceVR are fun alternatives to traditional video streaming platforms because they allow you to customize your experience. Both are accessible by computer.
Photo: AltspaceVR
During the pandemic, travel has become nearly impossible. All of us know the feeling of being bored in our homes, but it is even hard to escape to the grocery store. Over the past few months, VR engineers have been working hard to create virtual vacations. The German National Tourist Board has been one of the first organizations to start offering virtual tours and scenery. Of course, it would be hard for VR to replace what is normally involved in a real vacation, like talking to new people and trying new foods, but for the time being, virtual reality vacations can offer us some tranquility and beautiful views. Try it out here.
Though virtual reality has changed substantially over the past century, it is more important than ever that we use it to connect with others. When we can’t have normal face-to-face conversations and travel to new places, virtual reality can make our lives feel more normal. New softwares, including Remo and AltspaceVR, can help us network and make friends, and in the near future, virtual reality travel may become more available.
Vocabulary list:
realistic (adj.) - representing something that is similar to what would occur in real life; seeming sensible or accurate
immersive (adj.) - completely involves a person so that they feel a part of the experience; used to refer to video games and virtual reality
simulate (v.) - production of a computer model; creating something as seemingly real as possible
immobile (adj.) - unable to move
perception (n.) - how we experience an event through our senses
mobility (n.) - the ability to move around easily, without difficulty
avatar (n.) - a character that represents a person online
tranquility (n.) - the feeling of peace and relaxation
Bridgette Lang is an undergraduate student studying International Relations at Boston University. On campus, she helps run a collegiate Model United Nations Conference and manages finances for BU College Democrats. In her free time, Bridgette enjoys traveling, trying to learn Spanish, and visiting with her friends and family back home in Pennsylvania.