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Virtual Reality - What It Is And How It Works - Essays

Virtual Reality - What It Is And How It Works

Imagine being able to point into the sky and fly. Or perhaps walk through space
and connect molecules together. These are some of the dreams that have come with
the invention of virtual reality. With the introduction of computers, numerous
applications have been enhanced or created. The newest technology that is being
tapped is that of artificial reality, or "virtual reality" (VR). When Morton
Heilig first got a patent for his "Sensorama Simulator" in 1962, he had no idea
that 30 years later people would still be trying to simulate reality and that
they would be doing it so effectively. Jaron Lanier first coined the phrase
"virtual reality" around 1989, and it has stuck ever since. ...

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with a piece of machinery known as the computer.
This is done with several computer-user interfaces used to simulate the senses.
Among these, are stereoscopic glasses to make the simulated world look real, a
3D auditory display to give depth to sound, sensor lined gloves to simulate
tactile feedback, and head-trackers to follow the orientation of the head.
Since the technology is fairly young, these interfaces have not been perfected,
making for a somewhat cartoonish simulated reality.

Stereoscopic vision is probably the most important feature of VR because in
real life, people rely mainly on vision to get places and do things. The eyes
are approximately 6.5 centimeters apart, and allow you to have a full-colour,
three-dimensional view of the world. Stereoscopy, in itself, is not a very new
idea, but the new twist is trying to generate completely new images in real-
time. In 1933, Sir Charles Wheatstone invented the first stereoscope with the
same basic principle being ...

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Virtual Reality - What It Is And How It Works. (2004, January 16). Retrieved February 16, 2026, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Virtual-Reality-What-It-How-Works/1569

"Virtual Reality - What It Is And How It Works." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 16 Jan. 2004. Web. 16 Feb. 2026. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Virtual-Reality-What-It-How-Works/1569>

"Virtual Reality - What It Is And How It Works." Essayworld.com. January 16, 2004. Accessed February 16, 2026. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Virtual-Reality-What-It-How-Works/1569.

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PAPER DETAILS

Added: 1/16/2004 08:00:34 PM
Category: Computers
Type: Premium Paper
Words: 752
Pages: 3

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