Styliani Theodorou (25254210)

Activity 1

Virtual reality is a new technology that relates to a specific experience that a human can have with a computer-generated world. The term virtual reality has been used extensively to describe any form of interaction or use with technology. However the accurate description of this term differs from that of other, ‘older’ technologies such as the telephone, written letter and film.

Virtual reality requires the human to be immersed in the technology. This means that certain senses are cut off from the real world as one is placed in an artificial space that simulates reality. By having our senses manipulated into ‘feeling’ the artificial space, we are able to interact with the technology and not just use it.

Although we are immersed in technology while watching a film, we are not placed within the film’s space to experience the artificial world ourselves. What makes virtual reality revolutionary is the ability to place the viewer within an artificial space or allowing them to view a simulation of themselves in the virtual space. This applies to the notion that writing a letter is a form of virtual dialogue or talking on the telephone can be a form of cyberspace. While this may be true, these technologies are not virtual realities, as they do not immerse the human in a new space that is disconnected from reality. They may be able to interact, but not to the extent where the bodily senses are manipulated to feel to be present in or experience the virtual space.

Only highly progressive technologies are able to create these virtual realities. The more progressive and sophisticated the software, the more ‘real’ the virtual space will feel to the human. This requires a great amount of specific information to create the technologies required for virtual reality. A doctor who performs an operation through virtual reality needs the technology to precisely imitate his or her hand movements without a delay in time.

This simulation of reality is what makes virtual reality revolutionary and unique from other technologies. It immerses a person in a new world while cutting him/her off from actual reality allowing them to interact and experience this virtual space. This requires such sophisticated use of information beyond a domesticated computer’s ability.