VR & AR Technologies
Whenever I think of Virtual Reality (VR) or Augmented Reality (AR), I immediately think of video games. This type of technology has forever changed the way that the gaming sector. It has created 3D, realistic images with sound and sensations that stimulate the users’ experiences. Creating a virtual reality where a user can step into a “different world” is such a cool concept to me. Games created on VR have allowed users to interact in real-world environments with the use of hand controllers and headsets and open space. For example, a popular VR game is ‘Pokemon Go’ and it allows players to use a smartphone camera to track your surroundings through a virtual map.
But something I didn’t know and learned from this week’s content was how VR and AR have been used for more than just gaming. According to Dom Barnard’s “History of VR — Timeline of Events and Tech Development,” VR has been used for tactical advantages in military training. I thought this was such an awesome way to incorporate technology in this way because it is the military. You can’t really train against a common enemy or threat in real life, so using VR to safely train soldiers to handle high risk situations and effective communication is such a good use of implementing connected play in a way.
Another article that stood out to me this week was Beth McMurtrie’s “Virtual Reality Comes to the Classroom.” It proves how the encouragement of VR in the classroom is setting students up for the future. “These are the job skills students are going to need. They’re entering fields where these technologies are being used.” More and more jobs and careers are requiring digital literacy now and making sure that they are using the tools that are available to them can get them there. Many educators are embracing VR in their classrooms, but there is still a debate up for questions about cost or negative feedback from administrators. But the benefits of implementing this type of technology provides students with immersive learning experiences through creativity. This can be a motivation for students to be engaged and participate more in classrooms. It also creates a different learning style for students.
Technology has advanced so much and has led to so many windows of opportunity to use in education. I believe that VR, AR, and MR will expand and be used in so many other avenues. In the past decade, it has been invested in so much already. I believe that it will also continue to be implemented in businesses like smartphones and tablets. Giving users a different experience and satisfactions. Manufacturing, education, and training are just a few of what I believe will completely change in the next decade. The impact of COVID-19 has actually sped up the process of implementing in the medical industry. According to IDTechEx’s “Augmented and Virtual Reality: Technology of the Future, Today,” doctors have been wearing Microsoft Hololens headsets while working through the pandemic and caring for patients. “COVID has put the spotlight on this hands-free, interactive technology…There will be a need for this technology in many new use cases, which previously did not require hands-free, or remote capabilities.” This type of technology is starting to be implemented, but I am confident that it will change industries in the future.
