Virtual reality is the creation of a realistic environment presented to our senses in way that is like a real experience.

1. Name of the topic - Virtual Reality
Name of the Contributor: Arnab Sadhu
Department: Computer Science and Engineering
Date: 26/12/2018
Summary: Virtual reality is the creation of a realistic environment presented to our
senses in a way that we experience it as real. Technologies are used to achieve this goal, hence
it is a technically complex feat that has to account for our perception and cognition. The
technology is becoming cheaper and widely spread because both of its entertainment purpose
and serious uses. We can set our expectation to have many more groundbreaking uses of the
technology in near future and perhaps a elementary way in which we communicate and work
thanks to the possibilities of virtual reality.
Key Points
• What is virtual reality
• How is virtual reality achieved
• Necessity of virtual reality
• Applications
The definition of virtual reality is very straight forward. The meaning of virtual is near
and reality is the things we experience as human beings. So the term ‘virtual reality’ basically
means ‘near-reality’.
Everything that we know around our existence comes by way of our senses i.e., our entire
knowledge of reality is simply a mixture of sensory evidence and our brains sense-making
mechanisms for that evidence. It stands to reason then, that if one can present his or her
senses with made-up information, the insight of reality would also change in response to it.
Then a version of reality can be presented in front that isn’t really there, but it would be
perceived as real from one’s perspective. Hence in technical terms, Virtual reality is a three-
dimensional, computer generated environment which can be explored and interacted with by a
person. That person becomes part of the virtual world or is engrossed within the atmosphere
and whilst there, is able to operate objects or perform action sequence. The set of systems
that are used to create virtual reality are headsets, omni-directional treadmills and special
gloves. These are used to excite our senses together to create the illusion of reality which is
not there. Since our senses and brains are evolved to provide us with a finely synchronized
and intermediated experience, virtual reality technology needs to take into account our phys-
iology as well. As for instance, the human visual field does not look like a video frame. We
have (more or less) 180 degrees of vision and although not always consciously aware of the
peripheral vision.
If an application of virtual reality attains the combination of hardware, software and sensory
synchronicity, it achieves the sense of presence as well i.e. the subject feels like they are really
present in that atmosphere.
The potential entertainment value of virtual reality is clear. Immersive films and video games
are good examples. Along with these, Virtual reality has many other, more serious, applica-
tions as well like, architecture, sport, medical science, arts etc. In situations where it is too
dangerous, expensive or impractical to do something in reality, virtual reality is the answer.
From medical applications trainee surgeons to trainee fighter pilots, virtual reality lets us take
virtual risks with the purpose of gaining real world experience.
There are many different types of virtual reality systems but they carry similar characteristics
such as the ability to allow a person to view three-dimensional life-size images and they modify
according to the person’s moves around their environment. The target is to achieve a seamless
connection between the person’s head and eye movements and the appropriate response, e.g.
alteration in perception. This ensures that the virtual environment is realistic and enjoyable
at the same time. A virtual environment should provide the suitable responses in real time
while the person discovers their surroundings. The purpose is to get a natural, free-flowing
form of communication which will result in a remarkable experience.
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