Whatever Happened to Virtual Gaming?
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It’s been popularized in movies, television and literature, and it’s often been touted as the next thing in gaming. So…why has it remained on the back burner of video gaming for almost a decade? Whatever happened to virtual gaming, anyway?
Virtual Reality Facts
In pop culture, virtual reality often takes on sinister overtones to become a frightening, humanity-destroying device rather than a tool for lighthearted play. The gear associated with virtual reality -- head pieces, digitally-enabled gloves, masses of wire and software -- seems daunting enough to cast the whole idea in a somewhat evil light. But what is virtual reality, really?
Virtual reality is a somewhat loosely applied term, the use of which often causes confusion and misunderstanding. What this technology does -- or is supposed to do -- is take users (figuratively) into a three-dimensional world that has been digitally created via computer.
Headgear with small screens fit directly over the eyes so viewers find themselves surrounded on all sides by created images. Headphones fit over the ears to give the individual a direct feed to virtual sounds. A glove which allows the user to explore the virtual world may also be placed over one hand.
This technology works to give users the feeling that they’re inside the world being displayed -- a true virtual reality. While inside this virtual reality, individuals are not supposed to remain aware of their actual reality. With the senses swamped by this virtual world, the real one is meant to fade away -- at least, until the game experience is over.
Next: Virtual Reality Fears >>
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