Virtual Reality's Purpose Extent

          Have you ever wondered what technology truly offers to benefit our life?  People think technology and tend to associate it with video games or Hollywood motion pictures. Just to clarify technology has affected every single aspect in life, especially our personal lives.  VR (Virtual Reality) has been changing over the years and is becoming not only a very entertaining source but also very educational. Today VR is used for more than imaginary worlds created in the movies. VR is transforming the way we perceive and the way we project things. In education VR permits a whole lot more information and content in the same place, without even taking that much space. Take EON experience for example, it provides virtual 3D learning experiences for students. Also, VR is the most innovative way the government is using for military trainings, doctors in medicine practice and instructors in a classroom. This kind of advanced technology is great for these sorts of areas in life because it provides a way of creating multiple scenarios with endless action and reaction possibilities.

           In the Navy VR is used to simulate different environment scenarios, as well as in the Army. This is good because it will bring with it different outcomes, which will serve as more than a practice for military personnel, as an experience and moment to remember in real situations. However the Navy still needs a more advanced technology within virtual reality because sometimes they deal with some circumstances that might not yet be able to even construct or develop. The Oculus Rift has been mentioned in some of the previous posts in this blog. Now, is going to be mentioned to describe what it is used for other than gaming.  It has already been used for pilot training and bomb disbarment simulations.  Learn here for what else is being used and thought for. NORTHROP GRUMMAN developed and built a VR system called VIPE (Virtual Immersive Portable Environment). "VIPE Holodeck provides a high-fidelity immersive environment that provides a series of mission-centric uses, including simulation and training, mission rehearsal and data visualization”. Other than for 3D gaming, this is used as a training environment and simulation center for the DoD (Department of Defense). See the video for more surprises!

          This is a great path for living in a better and safer world. How can we make it safer? First of all it is a safe way because it is only imaginary, in other words it is a “make believe” created environment that is only meant for the trainee to feel like they are in the given situations. Secondly, this is a better because it is one great practice experiences were no one might actually get hurt. Plus, it looks like is much less complicated than to literally go through a real live practice. This product is not only for soldiers, but also for local policemen and firefighters.  Most of the resources agree that this sort of training reduces costs and maximizes their time value. It is amazing how something that started as a gaming and just for fun evolution of technology turns out to be very beneficial in real life.  This virtual reality system serves a true purpose; at least that is how it is described now. A system that is no longer time wasting or solely for entertainment purposes, but for real life situations or experiences that can help shape and mold people’s character. Learn more of how this innovative technologic program helps the human race. 

Live the Virtual Reality

          Can you imagine to physically be playing a videogame?  Palmer Luckey did, and came up with a wonderful and most advance piece technology that allow us not only to play a game, but also to literally be inside of the game. This technology is known by the name of virtual reality, because is not just something you get to play on a TV in front of your, it is a real virtual world in which you get to step in and be part of. Now let us imagine something else; what is we could feel this experience throughout Hollywood movies as well? The film industry has consecutively adapted the modern ways to develop special effects in the movies. Special effects are those amazing moments that  “aw” audiences and surprises them, making them more interested and intrigued about the film. 

          The evolution of technology and modern ways to construct certain projects has undoubtedly changed how we can create special effects in the film industry. At first a film’s special effect could have been created, for example, by exploiting sound and lighting effects on set or by managing and controlling the actor’s or actress’s physical appearance throughout make-up.  Although these old techniques are still practiced, most of the modern special effects in feature films are developed by computer animation and usage of green screens. It may seem that I am talking about the same thing, but the truth is that I am not. Sure, computer animation is also used now for developing excellent video games, but when it was discovered and created, it’s primary objective was to make the visual elements on a screen “pop out”, thus what we now know as a three-dimensional picture (3D).  This technology is now used in both industries, gamming and film, because part of what they want to do is almost the same mission, to develop a product that we can be able to experience right next to us, physically and emotionally, not just visually.

          As we have been able to see throughout the years of modern technological advancements and evolution, the film industry and the gamming industry have been able to create a product that allows people to experience a 3D visual, through the use of special made glasses and special made screen, that will make the image come right out of the screen in front of you. Some pioneers in computer graphics animation have definitely thrived in that field contributing more in depth their own accomplishments and perfecting them every time. Is true that each and every one of these pioneers added something different towards what is now called computer animation; every single one of them developed a piece of the technology, and without it, it would not be complete. Ed Catmull and Paul Debevec are two of these pioneers that kept working on their projects until they reached the most appropriate results. Ed Catmull developed what is called texture mapping and with out it, there would have probably be none three-dimensional elements and projections in the industry. Texture Mapping is the base that makes 3D imaging and projecting possible. The video is an example of the very first digital rendering image and 3d computer animation: A computer animated hand. Paul Debevec is responsible for image rendering in different environments and is why animators are now capable of creating a panoramic picture 3D light-map scene. This means that you would not have to physically be at the scene, instead you can create it. Paul Debevec, in his TED speech he brings forward what he works on, in developing digital images on a computer. Imagine both of the industries working together to bring forward a real virtual world where you get to be inside a movie, instead of a game. Would you try a piece of equipment that will let you be part of a movie, as if you were acting in it?