We know the world through our senses and perception systems. In school we all learned that we have five senses: taste, touch, smell, sight and hearing. These are however only our most obvious sense organs. The truth is that humans have many more senses than this, such as a sense of balance for example. These other sensory inputs, plus some special processing of sensory information by our brains ensures that we have a rich flow of information from the environment to our minds.
Everything that we know about our reality comes by way of our senses. In other words, our entire experience of reality is simply a combination of sensory information and our brains sense-making mechanisms for that information. It stands to reason then, that if you can present your senses with made-up information, your perception of reality would also change in response to it. You would be presented with a version of reality that isn’t really there, but from your perspective it would be perceived as real. Something we would refer to as a virtual reality.
So, in summary, virtual reality entails presenting our senses with a computer generated virtual environment that we can explore. It truly is a unique experience.
We use the very latest (only released Octoboer 2024) Meta Quest VR Headsets which are widely regarded as the best. The Headset fits neatly over your head including glasses if you wear them. The headset is very easy to adjust and wear. You will also hold on to 2 ergonomically molded had controllers which weigh virtually nothing. These act as your virtual hands allowing you to climb ladders, open books, pick up objects and much more. The experience is largely intuitive but we will be there to help if you are stuck. We recommend every 20 to 25 minutes taking a short break and in our Introduction we have built into the schedule short breaks and feedback time.
Types of VR expeience you will encounter;
If you are interested this is the technical explanation
Immersive: The user feels like they are actually in the computer-generated world.
Non-immersive: The user still interacts with the environment, but doesn't feel as present in the virtual world.
Semi-immersive: The user is partially immersed in the virtual world, and is less aware of what's happening in reality.
Augmented reality (AR): A type of VR that adds a digital layer to the real world.
Mixed reality: A combination of VR and AR, where both virtual and real visuals are incorporated.
It is worth noting that during the introduction I have chosen several short films or clips produced in 3D using 360 degree backdrops where you sit back and watch as if you are in the cinema. These experiences are equally as powerful, moving and fun as when you interact in the game or experience.
If you have any further information regarding VR or our introduction course please contact via email.