Did you know that the idea of entering other worlds and altering yours is older than you think? Here we tell you some things you should know about virtual and augmented reality

The concepts of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) seem to be new themes that have gradually become one of the hotbeds of greatest interest for the technology industry, mainly for the video game industry. However, the idea of modifying the world around or virtualizing it is longer than can be believed and has been in development for more than 50 years.

Leer en español: Sumergirte en otros universos o ampliar tu mundo es posible

One of the first attempts to create a sensory experience through technology was made by Philco Corporation. This was a pioneer American company in the production of electronic devices, which in the 50s created the first visualizer to be placed on the head, called Headsight. This device consisted of a screen and a tracking system incorporated in a closed-circuit television, and its function was to train soldiers and military personnel in high-risk work, so it was not a product open to the public. In 1968, Ivan Sutherland created what is now considered the first virtual reality device: the head-mounted display, also known as HDM. This was a heavy and impractical device that could only project static images in 3D and that although it was innovative it did not have a great economic or social impact.

For the decade of the 90’s, both Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality had been developed and used in various fields of research, such as medicine, computing, aviation, among others. To illustrate, virtual reality is a technology that was used in simulators of aircraft handling and ferries from agencies such as NASA, which noted the potential of the virtual world to such an extent that today a large part of it training is based on this concept.

Now, it has been given a broader and more diverse sense of Augmented and Virtual Reality. Video games have brought this technology to the average consumer, generating a totally new experience that has never been seen in this field. To continue, it is necessary to first differentiate between the concept of Augmented Reality and that of Virtual Reality.

On the one hand, Augmented Reality is a modification to our reality that is done through a device such as a cell phone camera. A clear example is “Pokemon Go”, a cell phone game that revolutionized the technological world with its own version of Augmented Reality in which our world was shared by the creatures of the successful animated series. Another good example is the recently announced game “Jurassic World Alive”, in which we share the world with the dinosaurs characteristic of this cinematographic saga.

On the other hand, Virtual Reality is the immersion IGNORE INTO a world totally created by computer in which the user interacts as a character in this fictional world. Nowadays, the most common way to use this technology is through the games of consoles and computers that, apart from creating completely virtual worlds with glasses, have added a sensory device to recreate the hands of users in these worlds. Some creators have limited themselves to games whose main objectives are climbing a mountain, playing chess, boxing, walking or attending a bakery. However, franchises of horror and adventure games such as the recent “Resident Evil 7 VR” or “Skyrim VR” have made use of these virtual reality devices to significantly improve the player’s relationship with the environment within the game. Activities such as riding a horse, firing a weapon or simply talking to a character, have been completely reconverted thanks to Virtual Reality, making the user feel immersed both in the story and in the place where it operates.

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Other developers have taken this concept to the next level by creating games in which the main objective is to lead a normal life, such as the controversial “Sims VR” announced earlier this year. In this, all the gameplay is based on developing daily activities such as working, watering plants and meeting people in the bar, all within the reality that develops the game. Other games like “VR Kanojo” seek to eliminate the barrier that separates the player with the character. This game recreates a relationship with a virtual woman who will do any activity that the player wants, among which are studying or watching videos on the computer, with the dress and appearance that the player wants, and with interactions between both during those actions. The Oculus Rift helmet for computers or the PlayStation VR glasses for PlayStation 4 are some of the devices that can be obtained today in any technology store to access Virtual Reality from these devices.

However, the concepts of Augmented and Virtual Reality have not been developed only in video games. Companies like Google are developing these technologies so that through the use of Virtual Reality you can make tours around the world from the comfort of home. Also, the already recognized Google Glass have proven that it can be given a practical use to Augmented Reality.

Medicine in countries such as the Netherlands, the United States or Sweden is making use of these technologies to treat patients with cognitive or physical disabilities. Recently, Virtual Reality devices have been implemented to help in the improvement of patients in a vegetative state, or to help athletes overcome a physical injury. In July of this year, NASA will be participating in the Virtual Reality Observatory 2018 that will be held in Spain, allowing us to see how much the space research is interested in the development of this type of technology.

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However, not everything is positive for Virtual Reality and Augmented. It is still necessary to clarify its limitations and the real impact that these technologies can have on the lives of the users. Some game developers have stressed that violence in virtual reality can be dangerous and countries like England have already set their sights on the mental and physical health problems that may arise from the use of these devices. These are technologies that are far from their full development, but that have demonstrated significant potential in entertainment, science, technology and knowledge.

Latin American Post | Carlos Díaz

Translated from “Sumergirte en otros universos o ampliar tu mundo es posible”