Virtual reality headsets have gained popularity with individuals who want to take video gaming to the next level. Not only that, virtual reality headsets allow you to go places and experience phenomena that might not be possible without spending a lot of money or going into dangerous situations.
You might remember a toy known as a “View-Master” that you could insert a cardboard reel of pictures into and peer at them for a 3-D rendering. Children and adults alike could spend hours looking at photos of far-away places and other items of interest, being totally immersed in virtual surroundings.
While today’s virtual reality headsets are high-tech and offer more realistic immersion into places and situations, the idea is very similar to the simple viewers of yesteryear that people still enjoy. Virtual Reality Headsets use technology known as stereoscopy. A stereoscope works by providing a situation where the eyes see two different views, but the result is a three-dimensional environment that makes it appear as if the headset wearer is there.
Modern virtual reality headsets (glasses or goggles) may be used with gaming systems, laptops or smartphones and, allowing for a real-life experience.
Imagine your headset taking you through a virtual walk down a street in a city you want to visit, the virtual headset working with your laptop or smartphone, helps you experience the area from different perspectives. If you want to know what a room looks like in a hotel in that city, a virtual tour could take you into the hotel to explore its amenities before making a reservation.
Virtual reality headsets are also helpful for training professionals. For example, the technology can simulate a dangerous situation that might be encountered by a first responder.
These experiences are just the tip of the iceberg for virtual reality applications. Expect the popularity and use to grow as the technology improves.
