Virtual reality, often abbreviated as VR, is a technology[1] that simulates a user’s physical presence in a digital environment. Originating as a term in the mid-1400s, the concept of VR has evolved significantly, with notable milestones including the development of the first head-mounted display and the Sensorama. Technological advancements over time have allowed VR to expand from medical and military applications to consumer[2] use. Today, VR is widely employed across multiple industries such as healthcare, architecture, education, and entertainment. Despite facing challenges such as the closure of research labs and hardware development struggles, the field has seen significant innovations. Key aspects in VR technology include display resolution, image latency, and field of view, all crucial in creating immersive experiences. Various tools and technologies, like Virtual Reality Modelling Language (VRML), WebVR, and photogrammetry, are used to develop VR experiences. Hardware considerations for VR production often involve high frame rates, smartphone-based displays, and omnidirectional cameras.
Virtual reality (VR) is a simulated experience that employs 3D near-eye displays and pose tracking to give the user an immersive feel of a virtual world. Applications of virtual reality include entertainment (particularly video games), education (such as medical, safety or military training) and business (such as virtual meetings). VR is one of the key technologies in the reality-virtuality continuum. As such, it is different from other digital visualization solutions, such as augmented virtuality and augmented reality.
Currently, standard virtual reality systems use either virtual reality headsets or multi-projected environments to generate some realistic images, sounds and other sensations that simulate a user's physical presence in a virtual environment. A person using virtual reality equipment is able to look around the artificial world, move around in it, and interact with virtual features or items. The effect is commonly created by VR headsets consisting of a head-mounted display with a small screen in front of the eyes, but can also be created through specially designed rooms with multiple large screens. Virtual reality typically incorporates auditory and video feedback, but may also allow other types of sensory and force feedback through haptic technology.