 is the use of computer technology to create a simulated environment. VR places the user inside an experience.){kind=link}
Last updated on July 14th, 2020 at 04:16 am
VirtualReality is a very popular term these days when it comes to movies or gaming experience. Let’s have a brief know-about dive in the technological aspects of VR to it better.
What is Virtual Reality?
Virtual Reality (VR) is the use of computer technology to create a simulated environment. Unlike traditional user interfaces, VR places the user inside an experience. Instead of viewing a screen in front of them, users are immersed and able to interact with 3D worlds.
Virtual reality is a way to create a computer-generated environment that immerses the user in a virtual world. When we put on a VR headset it takes us to a simulated set-up making us completely aloof from the actual surroundings.
How does Virtual Reality works?
The primary key of virtual reality is simulating the vision. Every headset aims to perfect their approach to creating an immersive 3D environment. Each VR headset puts up a screen (or two – one for each eye) in front of eyes. Thus, eliminating any interaction with the real world. Two autofocus lenses are generally equipped between the screen and the eyes that adjust based on individual eye movements and positioning. Either a mobile phone or HDMI cable connected to a PC is used to render the visuals on the screen
Requirements:
To create a truly immersive virtual reality simulation there are certain prerequisites –
- a frame rate of minimum 60fps
- an equally competent refresh rate and minimum 100-degree field of view (FOV) (though 180 degrees is ideal).
The frame rate is the rate at which the GPU can process the images per second, screen refresh rate is the pace of the display to render images. On the other hand, FOV is the extent to which the display can support eye and head movement.
If either of these doesn’t work as per the standards the user can experience latency i.e. too much time gap between their actions and the response from the screen. We need the response to be less than 20 milliseconds. This is to trick the brain which is achieved by combining all the above factors in the right proportion. Another issue that needs to be catered here is to prevent tearing (cybersickness). This results due to the inconsistency between the frame rate and refresh rate. If the GPU’s fps is more than the screen refresh rate then the image can become distorted. To counter this issue, we limit the framerate to the monitor’s refresh rate this done using a tech called Vertical Sync (VSync).
Other Elements of the VR Technology:
Most Important, other elements are also required apart from visuals, to make a Virtual Simulation look real-
The Impact of Sound:
Sound effects, when synced with the visuals, can create very engaging effects. By using a headphone and 3D sound effects the user’s belief in the virtual environment is assured. While crafting sound effects due care needs to be taken about the consistency between the graphics and the sound. If you start playing horror music in the background of a fairy tale movie it will just put the user off.
Eye and Head Tracking:
Eye and head tracking can be ensured using laser pointers, led lights or mobile sensors. In mobile, we use the accelerometer to detect three-dimensional movement, a gyroscope for angular movement and magnetometer to identify the position relative to the Earth. If we need to achieve a very high accuracy then cameras and sensors can be installed in the room where you would use the headset. Although this is a much costlier setup as compared to using basic phone sensors.
Things to know about VR-
Video Courtesy- ” Thought Café “
Besides this, you can view our video and blog collections in the Video Section & Blog Section of the website.
Abhijeet is a 4th-year Undergraduate Student at IIT Kharagpur. His major inclination is towards exploring the science behind the things of our day-to-day life.
-
Abhijeet Mahatohttps://www.scilynk.in/author/abhijeet-mahato/
-
Abhijeet Mahatohttps://www.scilynk.in/author/abhijeet-mahato/
-
Abhijeet Mahatohttps://www.scilynk.in/author/abhijeet-mahato/
-
Abhijeet Mahatohttps://www.scilynk.in/author/abhijeet-mahato/
