There are several key terms that are commonly used in discussions of virtual reality (VR).

What is Virtual Reality?

Virtual reality (VR) is a technology that allows users to experience and interact with a computer-generated environment as if it were real. This is typically achieved using a headset, which is a device that covers the user’s eyes and ears, and provides a fully immersive experience.

The headset usually contains a screen that displays the virtual environment, and may also include sensors that track the user’s head movements, allowing them to look around the virtual world in a natural way.

Some VR systems also include hand-held controllers, which allow the user to interact with the virtual environment and perform actions such as picking up objects or navigating through menus. The goal of VR is to provide a realistic and engaging experience that immerses the user in a virtual world, and makes them feel as if they are actually there.

Virtual reality headset:

This is a device that covers the user’s eyes and ears, and provides a fully immersive VR experience. The headset typically contains a screen that displays the virtual environment, and may also include sensors that track the user’s head movements.

Immersion:

This refers to the degree to which the user feels like they are part of the virtual environment. A highly immersive VR experience is one that feels very realistic and makes the user feel as if they are actually there.

Head tracking:

This is the ability of a VR system to track the user’s head movements, and adjust the display accordingly. This allows the user to look around the virtual environment in a natural way, as if they were actually there.

Hand-held controllers:

These are devices that allow the user to interact with the virtual environment. They may take the form of handheld devices, such as joysticks or gamepads, or may be integrated into the VR headset itself.

Latency:

This refers to the amount of time it takes for the VR system to respond to the user’s actions. A low latency VR system is one that responds quickly, providing a smooth and realistic experience.

VR content:

This refers to the media that is used to create the virtual environment. VR content can take many forms, including 3D models, audio files, and video footage.

There is a wide range of VR content available, including games, movies, and other types of interactive experiences.

Some examples of VR content include:

• Virtual Reality Games: VR games are designed to be played using a VR headset, and typically allow users to interact with the game world in a natural and intuitive way. VR games can be action-packed and thrilling, or slow and contemplative, depending on the game’s design and mechanics.
• Virtual Reality Movies: VR movies are typically short films that are designed to be viewed using a VR headset. These movies often use 360° video technology to create a fully immersive experience, allowing viewers to look around the scene and feel like they are part of the story.
• Interactive Virtual Reality experiences: VR interactive experiences are typically non-game experiences that allow users to explore and interact with a virtual environment in a meaningful way. These experiences can range from virtual tours of museums and historical sites, to simulations of exotic locations or futuristic worlds.
• Educational Virtual Reality content: VR educational content is designed to teach users about a particular topic or subject in a fun and engaging way. This can include VR experiences that simulate scientific experiments, historical events, or other educational subjects.
• Social Virtual Reality: Social VR refers to VR experiences that allow users to interact with other people in a virtual environment. This can include VR games that allow players to team up and play together, as well as VR social networks and other types of virtual communities.
• Live Virtual Reality events: VR live events are real-world events that are streamed live in VR, allowing viewers to experience the event as if they were there in person. This can include concerts, sports events, conferences, and other types of live events.

What is 360° Video:

360° video is a type of video that allows viewers to look around a scene in a full 360-degree field of view. This is achieved by using multiple cameras to capture the video from different angles, and then stitching the footage together to create a single, seamless video. When viewed using a VR headset or other device, 360° video allows viewers to look around the scene as if they were actually there, giving them a sense of presence and immersion.

360° video can be used to create a wide range of immersive experiences, from virtual tours of museums and historical sites, to 360° videos of concerts or sports events. Unlike traditional videos, which only allow viewers to see what the camera is pointing at, 360° video allows viewers to explore the scene in any direction, making it a powerful tool for creating engaging and immersive experiences.

What is 3DOF Virtual Reality?

3DOF (three degrees of freedom) virtual reality (VR) refers to a type of VR system that only allows users to look around the virtual environment.

This means that users can rotate their head to look in different directions, but they are not able to move through the virtual world. 3DOF VR systems are typically less immersive and realistic than 6DOF (six degrees of freedom) systems, as they do not provide the same sense of presence and freedom of movement.

Some examples of 3DOF VR systems include VR headsets that only track the user’s head movements, as well as smartphone-based VR systems that use the phone’s built-in accelerometer to track head movements.

These systems are typically less expensive and more portable than 6DOF systems, but do not provide the same level of immersion.

What is 6DOF (six degrees of freedom) virtual reality:

6DOF (six degrees of freedom) virtual reality (VR) refers to a type of VR system that allows users to experience a full range of motion in a virtual environment. This means that users are not limited to just looking around the virtual world, but can also move through it in any direction.

This is in contrast to 3DOF (three degrees of freedom) VR systems, which only allow users to look around the virtual environment, but not to move through it. 6DOF VR systems are typically more immersive and realistic than 3DOF systems, as they provide a greater sense of presence and allow users to fully explore the virtual world. Some examples of 6DOF VR systems include VR headsets that track the user’s head and hand movements, as well as VR treadmills that allow users to walk or run through the virtual environment.