Artificial gets life, The virtual reality

 

VIRTUAL REALITY (VR)

INTRODUCTION

Imagine a situation where all experiments can be performed and all

realities of learning are made available e.g visiting past events. How

pleasant can such an experience be and make teaching and learning

less abstract.

Have you heard of Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR)?

What do you know about this exceptional trend in technology?

No need to panic if you have little or no knowledge about the topic at

hand. In the next 10 minutes we will walk you through this powerful

trend in technology, enormous features and how it is changing the

education sector. 

 

Definition of virtual reality

: an artificial environment which is experienced through sensory stimuli (such as sights and sounds) provided by a computer and in which one's actions partially determine what happens in the environment

also : the technology used to create or access a virtual reality.

Virtual Reality (VR) is a computer

generated environment that lets you experience a different reality. A VR headset fits around your head and over your eyes, and visually separates you from whatever space you are physically occupying. Images are fed to your eyes from two small lenses. Through VR you can virtual hike the Grand Canyon, tour

the Louvre, experience as if you were

part of it, and immerse yourself in a

video game without leaving your couch.

 

VR and AR influences you to think and feel like you are really living

inside a totally believable virtual world. It is a two way conversation:

as you react to what you see, what you see reacts to you in the event

that you turn your head around. What you see or hear in the VR

changes according to your new point of view.

VR immerses the user in an environment while AR, enhances their

environment. Although this technology trend has primarily been

used for gaming thus far, it has also been used for training, e.g.

virtual ship, a simulation software used to train U.S. Navy, Army and Coast Guard ship captains, sports, health sectors, business etc.

BRIEF HISTORY ABOUT VIRTUAL REALITY AND

AUGMENTED REALITY

Virtual Reality technology was invented in 1957 by Morton

Heilig with his partners. His multimedia device called the

Sensorama is considered one of the earliest VR systems.

However, the term ‘virtual reality’ was coined much later in 1987

by researcher Jaron Lanier. Over the years, there have been

massive advancements in this technology backed by numerous

software and hardware technologies.

Currently, VR is mainly seen as a gaming experience but the

potential future applications are totally up to the imagination.

 

 AUGMENTED REALITY IN EDUCATION

Virtual reality can be used to enhance student learning and

engagement. VR education can transform the way educational

content is delivered; it works on the promise of creating a virtual

world (real or imagined) and allows users not only see it but also

interact with it.

 Being immersed in what you are learning motivates you to fully

understand it. It will require less cognitive load to process the

information.

 

Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality can be used to

simulate scientific experiments to enhance practical aspects of

learning



Virtual field trips can be applied for learning and many

schools use virtual reality examples e.g. goggle expedition to

transport students to far away and even inaccessible parts of the

planet. With this simple headset, they can actively explore

anything.

 

REFERENCE LIST

Helsel, S. Virtual Reality and Education. Educational Technology , May 1992, 38 42

https://www.simplilearn.com/top technology trends and jobs article

https://xd.adobe.com/ideas/principles/emerging technology/virtual reality wil

https://www.g2.com/articles/history of virtual reality

Pantelidis, V. (1993). Virtual Reality in the Classroom. Educational Technology,

33 (4), 23 27. Retrieved June 16, 2021, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/44428033

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