Introduction of VR Glasses into Our Lives and Their Usage Areas
Virtual reality (VR) technology has been a part of science fiction movies for many years. But since the early 21st century, this technology has developed rapidly and integrated into different areas of our lives. VR glasses emerged as one of the most important parts of this revolution. VR glasses, which first began to appeal to large audiences in the gaming and entertainment world, today we see that they have a much wider usage area. So, how did VR glasses enter our lives and in what areas are they used today?
Historical Development of VR Glasses
The foundations of VR technology date back to the 1960s. “Sword of Damocles”, one of the first basic devices developed by Ivan Sutherland, appeared as a type of head-mounted display device. However, the technology of this period was far from offering the user a sufficient feeling of virtual reality. In the early 1990s, giant game companies such as Sega and Nintendo began to take the first commercial steps regarding the virtual reality concept, but these attempts failed due to cost and technology limits.
Towards the end of the 2000s, with the advancement of technology, virtual reality glasses became more accessible. In particular, the company called Oculus Rift, which was funded on Kickstarter in 2012, became the pioneer of modern VR glasses. Following the success of Oculus, many technology giants have launched their own VR solutions. Thus, virtual reality devices began to reach a wide audience.
Usage Areas of VR Glasses
World of Games and Entertainment:
We see that one of the most well-known and common areas of use of VR glasses is the gaming world. Thanks to VR technology, players can experience completely immersive experiences where they feel like they are in a game. At the same time, the use of VR continues to increase rapidly in entertainment areas such as virtual movie theaters and concerts.
Training and Simulation: Virtual reality has also become a revolutionary tool in education. Virtual reality technology allows for safer and more cost-effective simulations in complex and dangerous environments, such as pilot, surgeon, or military personnel training. By using VR, trainees can actively engage in realistic scenarios without the risks and high costs associated with real-world training.
Health and Therapy:
VR glasses have opened the door to many innovations in the field of health. During physical rehabilitation, patients perform various exercises in a virtual environment, making the treatment process more enjoyable.
Social Interaction and Meetings: With the COVID-19 pandemic, remote working and virtual meetings have increased dramatically. VR glasses make people feel like they are physically in a room during virtual meetings. Projects such as Facebook’s “Metaverse” predict that a large portion of social interactions in the future will take place in the virtual reality world.
Design and Engineering:
VR glasses have begun to be used as an important tool in fields such as engineering and architecture. Engineers and designers examine their projects in 3D in virtual environments. You can test prototypes and even collaborate. This has become a technology that allows projects to be developed faster and errors to be detected at early stages.
The Future of VR
Today, VR glasses can be considered a technology that is still in the development stage. As hardware and software improves, lighter, more ergonomic and more powerful VR will come to market. These glasses will combine with augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR) technologies to offer richer and more realistic experiences.
VR glasses quickly entered our lives and now serve many fields, including entertainment, education, health, and engineering.
