Virtual_Reality's_Impact_on_Our_World

Virtual Reality's Impact on Our World Nichole Clement-Ramirez Ashford University INF 103 Benjamin Perez November 12, 2012 Virtual Reality's Impact on Our World Have you ever wanted to be someone else or see things that are not possible in real life' Technology has made this possible for millions of people to create new worlds and explore places in our earth that the common person has never been able to see before. This technology is called Virtual Reality and it has made millions of people’s dreams come true. People can be whoever they want there are no social or geographical barriers it is a place with no limits. This technology original purpose was to help people deal with information more easily. For many years this technology was only for the experts or the people who can afford the costly applications and equipment but now the general public has access and it has been benefitting society in the areas of education, law enforcement, medicine, business and industries. In this essay we are going to look at exactly how this Virtual Reality technology has changed these important elements of our society. Virtual reality is an environment, which is computer-simulated, and the simulation could be that of an imaginary world, or a real one. In other words you can create a custom world which is similar to the actual world you physically live in or a make believe world which has stimulations that are not real or possible in the physical world “Virtual reality environments are mainly three-dimensional “visual experiences” that are “displayed either on a screener through special or stereoscopic displays,” and enhanced by sensory information such as sounds that emanate from headphones or speakers” (Gajera, n.d., p. 3). Now there are so many things out there that enhance the three-dimensional experience such as gloves, body suits, goggles and the list goes on. Virtual Reality has significant value for remote communication environments which can provide a virtual presence or with the use of telepresence and telexistence or a virtual artifact by using a key board and mouse or a multimodal device such as a glove, the Polhemeus, and omnidirctional treadmill. Creating a lifelike experience for the purpose of training exercises for medical students, combat soldiers or pilots is limited due to technical limitations like processing power, image resolution, and communication bandwidth; however, in time new technology will emerge and the limitations will be overcome as processor, imaging, and data communication become more advanced. There is also draw back to this technology there are studies that show Virtual Reality can weaken the sense of reality based upon the physical world. A person can potentially isolate themselves from the outside world and physical contact with their family and friends. Withdrawing to an online environment may become a way of avoiding real-life problems rather than trying to solve them. Critics of cyberspace also claim that people often misrepresent who they really are online for example, a child molester can pretend to be another child or a friend to a teen in order to meet them face-to-face and act out their sexual fantasies. This is not an uncommon behavior anymore many pedophiles have used the internet or the virtual world as an outlet or place to advocate their sexual preferences for children. Pedophiles often join children’s websites and teen chat rooms with the intent on creating an intimate online relationship with a minor. The more technology has advanced the harder it has become to monitor and protect our children from online predators. Many new departments have emerged to fight cyber crime and white collar crime within law enforcement. Places like Second Life are places where people are not obligated to the same moral boundaries and law as the real world. Some people see it a place to safely act out fantasies, they use cyberspace as an outlet to participate in activities that are high risk, dangerous and even illegal. Should our society limit these activities online is up to the future justice system. One day our laws will hopefully catch up to our advanced technologies. “The more realistic the virtual world the machine creates, the more imprisoned we are in our imaginations. As our embodied selves, we interact with a world we know only in part, and which operates independently of our desire. In contrast, the virtual worlds we encounter in the Phantom at are human constructions. Fabricated from our dreams, they are worlds in which nothing can be hurt or destroyed because nothing really exists. In short, they are worlds in which nothing really matters.” (John Gray, 2003, p.23) Virtual Reality -enhanced communications will allow people with restricted mobility, which are confined to their homes, or are physically limited due to a handicap to interact more with the outside world, because they will use avatars and improved technology to assist them on the Internet. They will not be limited or judged because their limitation is not exposed. People with learning disabilities will be able to share their outlook on life and experiences, using social networks and cyberspace as their sole form of communication. Social networks have helped many people find other people with common interests and concerns, as well as share information, experiences and advice The medical community uses virtual reality to enhance the lives of the disabled and even therapy to help people overcome phobias. “ VRMC currently uses virtual reality exposure therapy (3-dimensional computer simulation) in combination with physiological monitoring and feedback to treat panic and anxiety disorders. These conditions include specific phobias such as fear of flying, fear of driving, fear of heights, fear of public speaking, fear of thunderstorms, claustrophobia, agoraphobia, arachnophobia, social phobia, panic disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder due to motor vehicle accidents.”(Prof. Dr. Brenda K Wiederhold, 2012, para. 2) Virtual Reality has also been successful in surgical simulation training, three-dimensional anatomy and surgery planning and therapy for injured hands. VR is also being used to enhance lives of the elderly in a project called the Naviga project. “The Naviga project (2009–2012) is an European initiative funded by the Eurostar R&D program, whose main objective is to provide these collective tools, devices and methods to enjoy personal autonomy and a better quality of life, to do that, within the project we are developing an integrated technological platform to provide for example Internet access through a computer or TV.” (Paez, Aparicio, De Buenaga, & Padron, 2012, p. 3) It is possible that virtual reality will help extend life, prevent premature degeneration of mental activity, and improve and help the elderly feel useful and in a better frame of mind. Virtual reality and education is a fun new way to introduce children to exotic fieldtrips and educational support. Now children can get an education from home with virtual public schools. VR will let children explore the world without ever having to leave their classroom or their home. Alicia Sanchez, a research scientist at the University of Central Florida, in Orlando, Fla., says, "We did this because we knew that there was a problem locally and nationally with reading and education, and we thought that we could find a very cool, high-tech way to solve that problem." Virtual field trips use the most updated technology for computer simulation to create immersive, multisensory interactive experiences with real-world environments like a beach or rainforest. Virtual Reality can improve almost every industry ranging from business, architecture, entertainment, and science in general. More and more companies are realizing they have much to gain from virtual reality. Virtual reality is both simple and fun to use, and people of all ages can learn how to use it. Architects have found that virtual reality can be useful in visualizing and testing what their buildings will look like before they are constructed. People that are planning large projects like to be able to see what they are paying for before the construction begins. For example, when designing a home for a person in a wheel chair, designers could walk through the house ahead of time to gain insight on how accessible things like door knobs, locks, and cabinets are. Being able to see what your house will look like before you actually build it could help you save time and money from costly mistakes made in the future. “In 1961, Mortin Heilig, a filmmaker, patented Sensorama, a totally mechanical virtual-reality device (a one-person theater) that included three-dimensional, full-color film together with sounds, smells, and the feeling of motion, as well as the sensation of wind on the viewer’s face. In the Sensorama, the user could experience several scenarios, including a motorcycle ride through New York, a bicycle ride, or a helicopter ride over Century City. The Sensorama was not a commercial success, but it reflected tremendous vision, which has now returned with computer-based rather than mechanical virtual-reality systems” (Hamit, 1993; Rheingold, 1991 The entertainment industry has evolved impressively with virtual reality technology. Universal Studios, has developed virtual reality amusement rides like the new Harry Potter ride. This ride incorporates virtual reality and other new technology. Another virtual theme park, Atlantis Cyberspace will incorporate entertainment with education. Virtual Reality has helped us to extend our perception and imagination in all aspects of life. It surpasses all previous media, and entertainment expectations and experiences. In this essay we looked at exactly how this Virtual Reality technology has changed and affected all aspects of our society. All technology has the potential to be used for the betterment of our society or it can be used to destroy it. Virtual Reality can and will eventually be part of everyday life in the future we are just seeing the beginning of its potential. Large numbers of people all over the world are communicating on social networks, own a cell phone, laptop, or I pad so for a person to use web based virtual reality is very realistic. How that will affect us in the long run only time will tell. References Hamit, F. (1993). Virtual reality and the exploration of cyberspace. Carmel, IN: Sams. John Gray, “Faith in Political Action Is Dead: It Is Technology That Expresses the Dream of a Transformed World,” New Statesman , June 23, 2003, p. 23. Paez, D. G., Aparicio, F., De Buenaga, M., & Padron, V. (2012, April 30, 2012). Personalized Health Care System with Virtual Reality Rehabilitation and Appropriate Information for Seniors. sensors. Retrieved from www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/12/5/5502/pdf Prof. Dr. Brenda K Wiederhold. (2012). Cyber psychology and cyber therapy. Retrieved from http://www.vrphobia.com/ Rheingold, H. (1991). Virtual reality. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.— (1993). The virtual community. homesteading on the electronic frontier. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley. Science Daily. (2005). Virtual Reality Field Trips Psychologists, Human-Factors Engineers Design Computer-Generated Educational Outings. Retrieved November 12, 2012, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/videos/2005/1011-virtual_reality_field_trips.htm