Applying virtual reality

Virtual reality (VR) immerses a user within a simulated three-dimensional environment. Still in its infancy, much remains to be done, but the field shows great promise. Computer processing speed, graphics, networks, and specialized peripherals all play a part in creating believable applications. In a full VR implementation, the user wears specialized goggles that substitute small video displays for the lenses, one for each eye. The displays become the “lenses” onto a simulated world. The head-mounted display containing the goggles detects head movement and updates the user's view accordingly; the user has the impression of looking around, even moving within, the simulated environment. The sensory experience can be further enriched with sound, or a data glove to simulate contact between the user and simulated objects. In a partial VR implementation, a computer's video display becomes a window onto the simulated environment, and no external gear is required. In a networked environment, people can be immersed in the same simulation, each perceiving it from their own point of view