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	+
	+	== Etymology ==
	+	The term "Virtual Reality" is a compound word that combines "virtual" and "reality". "Virtual" is derived from the Latin word "virtus" meaning "excellence" or "power", while "reality" comes from the Latin word "res" meaning "thing". The term was first introduced in the 1980s to describe computer-generated simulations that simulate a user's physical presence in a virtual environment. The concept of virtual reality has its roots in the art world, with artists experimenting with anamorphic art in the 16th century. In the 20th century, the idea of virtual reality began to take shape, with the first working VR machine being created in 1957. The term gained popularity in the 1980s with the rise of computer technology and the development of the first immersive VR systems. Today, virtual reality is used in a variety of applications, from gaming to medical training to military simulations.
	+
	+	== History ==
	+
	+	=== 20th century ===
	+
	+	Virtual reality technology has a long and fascinating history, with numerous precedents for suspending disbelief in an artificial world in artistic and entertainment media preceding virtual reality. Illusionary spaces created by paintings or views have been constructed for residences and public spaces since antiquity, culminating in the monumental panoramas of the 18th and 19th centuries. Panoramas blurred the visual boundaries between the two-dimensional images displaying the main scenes and the three-dimensional spaces from which these were viewed, creating an illusion of immersion in the events depicted.
	+	In the 20th century, many breakthroughs led to the creation of the modern virtual reality devices we use today. For example, the Cinerama widescreen film format, originally called Vitarama when invented for the 1939 New York World's Fair by Fred Waller and Ralph Walker, originated in Waller's studies of vision and depth perception. Waller's work led him to focus on the importance of peripheral vision for immersion in an artificial environment. His goal was to devise a projection technology that could duplicate the entire human field of vision.
	+
	+	Sensory stimulation was a promising method for creating virtual environments before using computers. After releasing a promotional film called This Is Cinerama (1952), cinematographer Morton Heilig became fascinated with Cinerama and 3-D movies. He studied human sensory signals and illusions, hoping to create a "cinema of the future." By late 1960, Heilig had built an individual console with a variety of inputs—stereoscopic images, motion chair, audio, temperature changes, odors, and blown air—that he patented in 1962 as the Sensorama Simulator, designed to "stimulate the senses of an individual to simulate an actual experience realistically."
	+
	+	During the 1950s and '60s, there were several breakthroughs in computing, especially in 3-D interactive computer graphics and vehicle/flight simulation. Project Whirlwind, funded by the U.S. Navy, and its successor project, the SAGE (Semi-Automated Ground Environment) early-warning radar system, were crucial in developing virtual reality technology.
	+
	+	In the mid-1960s, Heilig extended the idea of Sensorama to a multiviewer theatre concept patented as the Experience Theater and a similar system called Thrillerama for the Walt Disney Company. The first head-mounted display was invented in 1968 by Ivan Sutherland, called the "Sword of Damocles" due to its bulky size and weight.
	+
	+	In the 1970s, virtual reality technology began to make significant progress. The term "virtual reality" was coined by Jaron Lanier in 1987, and he founded VPL Research, which developed and sold virtual reality equipment. In the 1990s, virtual reality technology became more widely available to consumers with the release of devices such as the Virtual Boy by Nintendo.
	+
	+	In the 21st century, virtual reality technology has advanced rapidly, with more sophisticated hardware and software being developed. The introduction of smartphones has made it easier for people to access virtual reality experiences through apps and games. The development of more affordable and portable virtual reality headsets, such as the Oculus Rift and the HTC Vive, has allowed people to experience immersive virtual reality in their homes.
	+
	+	Virtual reality technology has a long and rich history, with numerous breakthroughs and milestones leading to the creation of the modern virtual reality devices we use today. The technology has come a long way since its inception, and it continues to advance rapidly.
	+
	+	=== 21st century ===
	+
	+	Virtual reality technology has experienced significant advancements during the 21st century. The following is a chronological summary of the major developments in VR technology:
	+	#2010 - Palmer Luckey designed the first prototype of the Oculus Rift, which boasted a 90-degree field of vision that was previously unseen in the consumer market at the time. Luckey eliminated distortion issues arising from the type of lens used to create the wide field of vision using software that pre-distorted the rendered image in real-time.
	+	#2012 - The Rift was presented for the first time at the E3 video game trade show by Carmack.
	+	#2013 - Valve discovered and freely shared the breakthrough of low-persistence displays which make lag-free and smear-free display of VR content possible. This was adopted by Oculus and was used in all their future headsets.
	+	#2014 - Facebook purchased Oculus VR for what at the time was stated as $2 billion but later revealed that the more accurate figure was $3 billion. This purchase occurred after the first development kits ordered through Oculus' 2012 Kickstarter had shipped in 2013 but before the shipping of their second development kits in 2014. ZeniMax, Carmack's former employer, sued Oculus and Facebook for taking company secrets to Facebook. The verdict was in favor of ZeniMax, settled out of court later.
	+	#2016 - The HTC Vive and Oculus Rift were released, marking the beginning of consumer VR devices. Both headsets featured separate 1K displays per eye, low persistence, positional tracking over a large area, and fresnel lenses.
	+	#2019 - The Oculus Quest was released, the first standalone VR headset with six degrees of freedom (6DoF) tracking. This means the user can move freely in a virtual environment without being tethered to a computer.
	+	#2020 - The COVID-19 pandemic led to an increase in the use of VR technology for remote work, education, and socializing. This has led to the emergence of new use cases for VR technology.
	+
	+	In addition to advancements in hardware, there have also been significant improvements in graphics and processing power, which have allowed for more immersive VR experiences. Overall, the 21st century has seen the emergence of consumer VR devices, improvements in graphics and processing power, and new use cases for VR technology.
	+
	+	== Concerns and challenges ==
	+
	+	=== Health and safety ===
	+
	+	Virtual reality (VR) technology can have various health and safety concerns associated with its prolonged use. Some physical effects of using VR include motion sickness, eye fatigue, headaches, and discomfort. Additionally, users may experience twitches, seizures, or blackouts, and there is a risk of tripping over or colliding with real-world objects. Children are advised against using VR headsets due to their heavy weight and discomfort. VR may also cause symptoms similar to motion sickness and can lead to nausea, vomiting, sweating, and fatigue. To minimize these risks, VR systems come with consumer warnings, and users should take regular breaks to avoid prolonged use.
	+
	+	On the psychological front, VR may cause disorientation, apathy, and other symptoms similar to motion sickness. Women are more affected than men by VR-induced symptoms. To minimize these risks, it is recommended that users take regular breaks and discontinue use if they experience any discomfort.
	+
	+	Despite these risks, VR technology is used in healthcare to improve patient outcomes. For example, VR is being used to treat phobias, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is also being used in pain management, physical therapy, and medical training. VR technology can provide a safe and controlled environment for patients to confront their fears and to learn new skills. Additionally, VR can help reduce the need for pain medication and can assist in physical rehabilitation. Overall, while there are potential health and safety concerns associated with VR technology, its use in healthcare has shown promising results in improving patient outcomes.
	+
	+	==== Children and teenagers in virtual reality ====
	+
	+	Virtual reality (VR) devices have become increasingly popular among children and teenagers. While VR technology has many benefits, there are also concerns and potential risks associated with prolonged use of these devices, particularly for young users. Studies show that young children may respond cognitively and behaviorally to immersive VR in ways that differ from adults, potentially making the experience very vivid and real for children. Additionally, excessive usage of immersive technology may compromise children's ability to maintain the rules of the physical world, particularly when wearing a VR headset that blocks out the location of objects in the physical world.
	+
	+	One of the main concerns with VR is the impact it may have on the physical and cognitive development of young users. Studies suggest that children may experience higher levels of presence and "realness" of a virtual environment than adults, potentially leading to confusion between the virtual and physical worlds. Furthermore, VR may cause physiological arousal and aggressive thoughts, but not hostile feelings, in children, which could affect their attitudes and behavior.
	+
	+	Parents and guardians need to monitor and limit the usage of VR devices by children and teenagers. One way to do this is by setting time limits on VR and ensuring that the child takes regular breaks to avoid eye strain and other physical discomforts. Parents and guardians should also be cautious about the content children and teenagers are exposed to while using VR devices. There is a risk of exposure to violent or inappropriate content, which may harm their emotional and mental well-being. It is important to ensure that VR content is age-appropriate and suitable for the child's developmental stage.
	+	Moreover, parents and guardians should educate themselves about the features and potential risks associated with VR devices. They can also supervise the child while using the device and engage in conversations with the child about their experiences with VR. By doing so, they can help the child develop a better understanding of the difference between the virtual and physical worlds and encourage responsible and safe use of VR devices.
	+
	+	In conclusion, while VR technology has many benefits, there are also potential risks associated with prolonged use of these devices, particularly for young users. Parents and guardians should be cautious about allowing children and teenagers to use VR devices and should monitor and limit their usage. They should also ensure that the content is age-appropriate and supervise the child while they are using the device. By doing so, they can help ensure the safety and well-being of young users.
	+
	+	=== Privacy ===
	+
	+	Virtual reality technology poses significant privacy concerns due to the persistent tracking required to function in VR systems. This tracking makes the technology highly vulnerable to mass surveillance, increasing the potential for information gathering on personal actions, movements, and responses. VR devices collect various data types, including eye-tracking, which can indirectly reveal a user's ethnicity, personality traits, fears, emotions, interests, skills, and physical and mental health conditions. This data can be used to create detailed user profiles, which can be sold to advertisers or used for targeted marketing. Sharing personal information in a virtual environment can also lead to potential risks such as identity theft, cyberbullying, and harassment. To protect user privacy, VR device manufacturers should implement strong privacy policies and data protection measures to ensure users have control over their data. Users should also be cautious about the types of information they share in virtual environments and use privacy tools such as VPNs (virtual private networks) to encrypt their online activities.

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:42, 16 December 2022
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−	'''~~Content coming soon~~'''	+	'''Virtual Reality''' is the computer-generated simulation of a three-dimensional image or environment that can be interacted with in a seemingly real or physical way by a person using special electronic equipment, such as a helmet with a screen inside or gloves fitted with sensors.
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		+
		+	==See Also==
		+	*[[Artificial Intelligence (AI)]]
		+
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		+
		+	==References==
		+	<references />

Virtual Reality - Revision history

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