Virtual reality

Description:

Virtual reality is a virtual world created by a computer. It provides a simulated environment which people can enter and leave at any time. Virtual realities can go from visual only to gravity and sound enabled environments.

The most common virtual realities are training simulations like racing, jumping with parachute and flying. But the technique can also be used for completely different purposes like DNA manipulation.

Virtual realities require enormous processing power to reach a level of detail that feels natural. In the past this made virtual reality a business only for specialized manufactures like SGI. With the increased computing power virtual reality is now more widely available.

Enablers:

• Need for training

• Increasing graphical computing power

• Data-intensive Computing

Inhibitors

• Economic depression – Virtual reality is still considered more of a luxury and demands are highly affected by economic trends.

• Limited computing power

Paradigms:

• Virtual reality should be the de facto standard for training simulations as it provides a cheap and easy alternative to real life training

• Virtual reality should be used very carefully as it can cause people to lose their connection with reality.

Web Resources:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_reality