How Virtual Reality (VR) Works and How It Changed Over Time

These images make the world look three-dimensional, just like things do in real life. When you move your head, the world in the headset moves with you, so it feels like you’re really there. Some VR systems also have controllers to help you interact with the virtual world, like picking up objects or pressing buttons.

VR also includes sound, which makes the experience feel even more real. You can hear sounds coming from different directions, like footsteps or voices. Some VR systems even use vibrations or other sensations to give you a feeling of touch. This makes it feel like you’re actually part of the virtual world, not just watching it on a screen. 

The Idea of VR has been around for a long time, starting in the 1960s with a very basic system created by a scientist named Ivan Sutherland. It wasn’t good quality, and it was big and heavy. In the 1990s, VR appeared in video games and arcades, but the technology still wasn’t great. The equipment was uncomfortable, and the graphics weren’t realistic.

In the 2000s, VR improved and started being used in industries like medicine and aviation for training. But it wasn’t until the 2010s that VR headsets became affordable and easy to use at home. 

In 2016, the Oculus Rift was released, allowing people to enjoy VR gaming and explore virtual worlds from their own homes. Other companies, like Sony, also started making VR systems that were lighter, more comfortable, and had better graphics. 

Today, VR is used in many fields, not just gaming. It’s used in education, healthcare, and even real estate. The technology keeps improving, with more realistic graphics and better experiences. 

In the future, VR could let us meet people in virtual worlds, travel to new places, or experience things we can’t do in real life. VR has come a long way, and it will continue to change how we play, learn, and connect with the world around us.

Src: Science Direct

Author: Rwema Jules Roger