How Does VR Work?

Virtual Reality is unique in that it places the user inside of a digital content experience. VR displays tailored content designed to work with stereo vision. In general, Virtual Reality calls into question the typical assumptions made by software designers, developers, and end users.

The most obvious difference between Virtual Reality and traditional displays is the way graphics are presented to a user. The graphics are not automatically better or worse for Virtual Reality’s sake, but the presentation itself is fundamentally different from the flat experience that has been relied on for years. Creating an illusion for the user, while allowing the user to participate in defying their perception of the world, is central to VR. Virtual Reality exists in the same way as any magic trick: fooling the senses into believing.

VR works by rendering the same scene from two very slightly different angles, also known as stereoscopy. A VR headset is predominately just a very specific monitor. What really tricks the brain is the precise head-tracking, which moves your perspective in the game exactly how your head moves in real life. Therefore, you get both 3D vision, and the ability to look around naturally.

It is like running two 1080p displays (Oculus Rift and HTC Vive), adding a second perspective to the world, then additionally warping said perspectives to adjust the focus and give a natural peripheral view.

Ok, thats the technical stuff out the way, ready to try it out for yourselves? Hire Virtual Reality with us today and see for yourselves.

What Can VR be Used for?

There is a whole world of opportunity for VR; a hope to be able to touch and smell the things in the images we’re seeing in the near future.

As VR has evolved, we have seen it used in many places such as for advertisements, training, TV programmes and tours of venues.

Some beneficial ways it has been used include:

  • Military Training – It could be used for training medics, soldier training and battlefield simulation to give soldiers experience and extra training. Soldiers can be taught how to react in certain situations and can prepare them for dangerous situations. www.vrs.org.uk
  • Healthcare – Surgeries can be taught and experienced, however VR can also be used to benefit the patient, it can be used to help stroke and brain injury victims, physical therapy and more. Dentists can also be taught this way, different patients with medical histories can come in and if a student does something wrong the patient reacts.
  • Education – There is a large range of potential for teaching and learning through Virtual Reality. For example it could be used for Virtual school visits to museums, galleries and zoos, however it can also be used for mechanics and surgeons.
  • Space – NASA has used Virtual Reality for training and improving the quality of life for astronauts on long term missions.
  • Skilled Trades – Training doesn’t have to include spending money on materials, and tasks can be repeated as many times as the learner needs.
  • As we can put on the headset and not leave our chair, we can actually go everywhere, however it isn’t all training and learning, there are many situations where VR has been used for everything else!
  • Travel Organisations – Experiencing destinations we maybe would like to go or are thinking of going can be seen through a headset. Travel organisations are able to show clients their chosen destinations before they decide to go, giving a completely different experience when we are booking holidays!
  • Music Videos – One particular music video, Duke Du Mont – As Long as I Got You, features a young man at home with a cup of tea, having a headset delivered, he puts it on and he is partying on the beach in Thailand! Now that’s impressive.
  • Sports – You can virtually be at a sports game or match you’re not able to attend and even get a 360-degree view of the stadium.
  • Concerts and Shows – Users all over the globe could be transported to their favourite bands’ performance or show, which is on the other side of the world. This is ideal if you don’t like crowds as you can watch from the comfort of your own sofa. Coldplay released a Virtual Reality experience in 2014.
  • Paul McCartney gave a free virtual 360 of his concert.
  • Shopping – A whole new experience of shopping can be created. There could be a Virtual version of an entire store allowing users to look around.
  • Marketing and Advertising – We think that one of the most common uses for VR at events in 2016 will be for advertising products, movies, fashion and music. Makers of the movie Interstellar created an experience where users feel as though they are in the cockpit of the spaceship from the movie. Another example comes from the Sundance Film Festival; an outdoor brand set up a Virtual Reality experience where users could trek across mountains whilst wearing their brand of hiking shoes.
  • Crime – Crime scenes could be recreated for a better understanding of what went on, or a jury could be Virtually taken to the crime scene.
  • Public Speaking – Audiences can be created to prepare for speeches and reduce stage fright.
  • Overcoming Fear – Users can be exposed to the things they fear, in a safe environment, their fear is thought to likely lessen over time.