Virtual Reality
The definition give to virtual reality or VR Wikipedia is “a simulated experience that can be similar to or completely different from the real world.”. This technology is used in many fields like entertainment, education, medical, military and many other. The devices which has implemented virtual reality, lets the users interact with virtual environment and move around in it. Currently virtual reality headsets or multi-projected environments are used in standard virtual reality systems. These VR headsets are consisting of a head-mounted display with a small screen in-front of the eyes. This shows an artificial world to the user. This effect can be also created by implementing large rooms with multiple large screens. This technology is mostly used in cinema.
Global Market
VR technology is used in mostly used in gaming and entertainment industry but this has been used for training and educational uses like training surgeons, airline pilots and scientists. Examples: Marketing-Lowe’s Holoroom How To, Bousin: The Sensorium, Adidas: Delicatessen, Toms: Virtual Giving Trip, DP World: Caucedo Facilities Tour and TopShop: Catwalk VR Experience. Healthcare- VR surgery, Relaxing patients, medical and healthcare conferences, helping physicians experience life as elderly, speeding up recovery in physical therapy. Education- Virtual Field Trios (Mars), Museum experience, Virtual labs, tutoring. And military- Flight simulation, battlefield simulation, medical training, vehicle simulation and virtual boot camp. Fashion industry- virtual fashion shows. There are so many examples for VR applications. Few are described below.
Beat Saber Game
Beat Saber Game is a unique virtual reality rhythm game. The user’s goal is to slash the beats as they are coming to you. The beats are represented by small cubes. The music is composed perfectly to fit the hand-made levels. Each cut gives a great sound and visual effect. This is an addictive VR game.
Video URL: https://youtu.be/-TOjQaI51Lw
Half-Life Alyx
Half-Life: Alyx is one of the best VR games ever introduced. It is first person shooter game. Players have to interact with the environment and fight enemies. To this the players have to use gravity gloves to manipulate objects. This VR game is developed by a company names “Valve”.
Video URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1SwlsZMUWE
Virtual Desktop
Virtual Desktop is a preconfigured the images of operating systems and applications in which the desktop environment is separated from the physical device used to access it. This gives the facility for the user to access the virtual desktop remotely over a network. Video URL:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62W00S6yNkA
VR Cave
Canada’s largest publicly available VR cave build by SimuTech is used for autonomous vehicle technologies. This is used to test, prototype and research parts and full-size vehicles — large trucks. This aims at small and medium sized businesses that can’t afford this type of VR cave equipment. Watch video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDx3H8jobO4
The Body VR
This is an example for the VR application in educational field. This app brings you on a journey inside a human cell. This educated you about how the blood cel ls work to spread oxygen throughout the body and how the organelles fight against deadly viruses. Watch video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PYmRfPlWyQ
Local Market
In the local market in Sri lanka, you can find many games with VR technology. This technology haven’t dive through the other fields yet. Here are some places where the locals can engage in VR games.
VRx Colombo
- Here, you can interact e=with so many latests VR games including Beat Saber. Watch Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRSNPVvHfOQ
Gamers Crib Negombo
VR World Gaming Café K Zone Moratuwa
- Rs.150.00 for a one VR game and Rs.80.00 per 30min VR gaming experience. Watch video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5r91IdLJjI
VR Gaming Marino Mall
- Here you can play VR games for Rs.100- Rs.300. Watch video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyexByUDSlc&t=430s
VR Zone KCC
- Watch video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Allr8KiNqI
Few Sri Lankans own full VR kit as they are expensive and it also need a powerful graphic card to operate. So, most Sri Lankans best choice to interact with the VR world is to visit a VR game zone
