Virtual reality: Difference between revisions - VR & AR Wiki - Virtual Reality & Augmented Reality Wiki

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==Introduction==

'''Virtual Reality''' or '''VR''' is a computer-simulated artificial multisensory 3D environment that can mimic the properties and imagery of the physical world, be completely based in fantasy, or a mix of both. The system uses position-tracking and responds to the user’s inputs. In VR, the senses are temporarily fooled into believing that the artificial environment is real. The goal of a true VR experience is to create [[presence]] - the feeling of physically being somewhere else, of being in another reality <ref name=”0”> Bierbaum, A.D. (2000). VR Juggler: A Virtual Platform for Virtual Reality Application Development. Masters of Science Thesis, Iowa State University, Iowa</ref>.

'''Virtual reality (VR)''' is the experience of having a computer generated environment immerse the user. It involves technology that uses computer-generated environments to simulate a physical presence in a virtual world. The system uses position-tracking and responds to the user’s inputs.

Virtual Reality is an interactive and immersive medium that can be used to create unique experiences that are unattainable elsewhere. VR has the power to transform [[games]], [[films]] and other forms of media. Some enthusiasts call VR the "ultimate input/output device" or the "last medium" because any subsequent medium can be created within VR, using only software <ref name=”0”></ref> <ref name=”6”></ref>.

Virtual Reality is an interactive and immersive medium that can be used to create unique experiences that are unattainable elsewhere. VR has the power to transform [[games]], [[films]] and other forms of media. Some enthusiasts call VR the "ultimate input/output device" or the "last medium" because any subsequent medium can be created within VR, using only software. <ref name=”0”></ref> <ref name=”6”></ref>

While [[Augmented Reality]] enhances the real world with digital content, Virtual Reality completely replaces the real world with a virtual one, creating a brand new digital environment for the users to explore. <ref name=”0”></ref> <ref name=”6”></ref>

While [[Augmented Reality]] enhances the real world with digital content, Virtual Reality completely replaces the real world with a virtual one, creating a brand new digital environment for the users to explore <ref name=”0”></ref> <ref name=”6”></ref>.

~~{{Creative Commons text attribution notice|cc=zero|url=https://www.xvrwiki~~.~~org/wiki/Virtual_reality}}~~

==Main characteristics==

'''Interactive -''' The user’s input controls the system and guides the behavior of the VR experience, while also modifying the virtual environment. This type of interaction engages the user, connecting him to the application in a more natural way since the environment responds directly to the stimuli. <ref name=”0”></ref>

'''Interactive -''' The user’s input controls the system and guides the behavior of the VR experience, while also modifying the virtual environment. This type of interaction engages the user, connecting him to the application in a more natural way since the environment responds directly to the stimuli <ref name=”0”></ref>.

'''Immersive -''' An immersive experience has to provide a sense of presence as well as a sense of engagement. Immersion can be divided into three different aspects:

'''1.''' According to Bierbaum (2000), “For a VR application to be immersive, it must be perceptually immersive by providing ‘the presentation of sensory cues that convey perceptually to users that they’re surrounded by the computer-generated environment.’” Therefore, the VR must provide the user with an all-encompassing sensory input. <ref name=”0”></ref>

'''1.''' According to Bierbaum (2000), “For a VR application to be immersive, it must be perceptually immersive by providing ‘the presentation of sensory cues that convey perceptually to users that they’re surrounded by the computer-generated environment.’” Therefore, the VR must provide the user with an all-encompassing sensory input <ref name=”0”></ref>.

'''2.''' The second aspect of immersion is the sense of presence. This implies that the VR experience must give the user the sense they are “in” the virtual world. <ref name=”0”></ref>

'''2.''' The second aspect of immersion is the sense of presence. This implies that the VR experience must give the user the sense they are “in” the virtual world <ref name=”0”></ref>.

'''3.''' The final aspect is engagement. It is the degree “to which the user has a sense they are deeply involved in the environment.” <ref name=”0”></ref>

'''Multisensory -''' providing a virtual experience that uses multiple human sensory systems increases the level of immersion. While current VR systems cannot provide a full range of stimuli to all human senses, it is expected that in the future this problem will be solved and the VR experience will be completely or almost indistinguishable from reality. The more senses are involved in the VR experience, the higher the degree of engagement and, consequently, this results in a greater sense of presence. <ref name=”0”></ref>

'''Multisensory -''' providing a virtual experience that uses multiple human sensory systems increases the level of immersion. While current VR systems cannot provide a full range of stimuli to all human senses, it is expected that in the future this problem will be solved and the VR experience will be completely or almost indistinguishable from reality. The more senses are involved in the VR experience, the higher the degree of engagement and, consequently, this results in a greater sense of presence <ref name=”0”></ref>.

'''Synthetic -''' The environment is artificial, created by a computer in real-time. <ref name=”0”></ref>

'''Synthetic -''' The environment is artificial, created by a computer in real-time <ref name=”0”></ref>.

==Hardware Technologies==

===Head-mounted Display===

VR is created by '''[[head-mounted display]]s''' (HMDs) such as the [[Oculus Rift]]. HMDs utilize [[stereoscopic displays]] and specialized [[lenses]] along with [[#Motion Tracking|motion tracking hardware]] to give the illusion that the user is physically inside the virtual world.

VR is currently created by '''[[head-mounted display]]s''' (HMDs) such as the [[Oculus Rift]]. HMDs utilize [[stereoscopic displays]] and specialized [[lenses]] along with [[#Motion Tracking|motion tracking hardware]] to give the illusion that the user is physically inside the virtual world.

To create the illusion of depth, a display is placed very close to the users' eyes, covering their entire field of view. Two images that are very similar but have different perspectives are channeled into each eye to create [[parallax]], the visual phenomenon where our brains perceive depth based on the difference in the apparent position of objects.

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===Motion Tracking===

A HMD [[tracking|tracks]] the movement of ~~the user's~~ head and updates the rendered scene based on its ~~position~~ and ~~orientation~~. This process is similar to how we look around in real life. There are 2 types of tracking: [[rotational|rotational tracking]] and [[positional tracking|positional]].

HMD [[tracking|tracks]] the movement of your head and updates the rendered scene based on its orientation and location. This process is similar to how we look around in real life. There are 2 types of tracking: [[rotational|rotational tracking]] and [[positional tracking|positional]].

[[Rotational tracking]] tracks the 3 rotational movements: pitch, yaw, and roll. It is performed by [[IMUs]] such as [[accelerometer]]s, [[gyroscope]]s and [[magnetometer]]s.