Virtual Reality

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Will Virtual Reality Impact Tourism?

Visiting foreign countries can truly change peoples lives. Whether its rural folk seeing thriving metropolises or hot climate citizens witnessing snow for the first time, being in a new environment can take your breath away. The use of graphics in gaming has skyrocketed. From the revolution of Pong 40 years ago, blades of grass and drops of rain have become routine for triple AAA titles. If we can imagine the difference in graphics rendering in 40 years, will a $100-$200 VR headset rival the thousands we spend on flights and accomodation overseas? If we could graphically render a building twice as tall as the Eiffel Tower, why go see the Eiffel Tower? Could virtual reality be a substitute, or threat, to global tourism?

  • Hasn't this been happening since the mid-2000s? – T. Palomino 4 months ago
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Envisioning VR: A wider look at the uses of Virtual Reality

Most of what we see to see in the media relating to VR technology seems to all come back to videogames. Certainly it’s one of the most obvious applications for the technology, having been brought up in numerous futeristic sci-fi scenarios, but what about outside of that? What are its other uses, perhaps in museums, cinema, or even the classroom? The ‘Scotland VR’ app might be a good place to start.

  • I know Concordia University's been working on VR and its multiple uses, Google as well. It could be worth a look. – JennyCardinal 7 years ago
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  • I think there's massive uses for VR outside of video games, or even general entertainment purposes. VR has massive potential in the education field, and I have seen some really interesting AR applications that allow people to examine anatomy/physiology in 3D space. I think I also saw something about using VR to explore battlefields during history lessons. Any kind of visual information seems like it could be more efficiently studied in VR/AR, especially as it adds an interactive third-dimension. I wouldn't be surprised if the military started using it for training purposes (if they aren't already). It's definitely a fascinating topic. – Ben Woollard 7 years ago
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  • Not only, I am using VR for presentations in design, to show the space, to immerse people in it and to actually be in the space, not just to see it on paper. – aichabrinley 7 years ago
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  • VR has been used in aerospace industry to visualize simulated airflow around the aircraft. Due to the time-dependent and 3D nature of the airflow, VR is a perfect technology to visualize the it. – yigu8115 7 years ago
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Testing the Narrative: Virtual Reality as Supplementary Content

Examine how shows like Stranger Things and Mr. Robot incorporate virtual reality content as supplements to their series. Will we see more of it? When will virtual reality stand on its own? Looking at how VR has exploded in recent years (Facebook buys Oculus for 2.3 billion) and how VR’s growth in the video game sector is creating a wider base of VR headset owners, which could benefit TV shows adopting VR content.

  • It would be wise to cite examples of how VR has expanded not just for television content but for video games as well. – BMartin43 7 years ago
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Ethics of VR: Exploring the Limits of Digital Immersion

Many companies are seizing the opportunities presented by the growth and accessibility of virtual reality technology. The pornography industry is producing immersive experiences and violent games will feel more real than ever before. What are the limits of these technologies, especially for commercial use? Are we disconnecting people from the ethics of their society by immersing them in social constructs designed around amoral decisions?

  • Another interesting angle the writer could pursue: is there any psychological evidence that links immersive simulations like this with a decrease in sensitivity? I.E., does shooting a person or raping a person in a VR make a person more less psychologically disposed to committing those crimes? Might participating in this kind of play change the way they subconsciously view these crimes in society, or empathize with victims of these crimes. Basically, will we need to be screening for VR hobbies in our jurors in the near future? – ealohr 7 years ago
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Can VR ruin or help the concert going experience?

There you are in the front row at a concert for your favorite band. The guitars pierce the air. The drums pound through your chest. You can almost touch the lead singers guitar. And then your door bell rings, shaking you out of the intimate show. Virtual Reality is quite possibly on the verge of becoming the new video game phenomenon. The possibilities with VR are endless. One of the topics being discussed are concert experiences held in VR. There is sure to be many who watch a concert on their VR in the comfort of their own house. But to many, that isn’t a concert experience. Will this trend take off with music fans? Will artists agree to stream live shows on a VR?

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    What VR means to Gaming.

    With a lot of buzz surrounding VR (Playstation VR, Oculus, etc.), what do you think will happen to traditional console gaming and traditional pc gaming? Do you think that VR will be so revolutionary that the majority of gamers will move on from a controller or mouse and keyboard? Or do you think that VR will fall by the wayside like motion controls (Move, Kinect, Wii)?