What is Virtual Reality and How VR Technology Works| Top 15 Best VR Headsets

Virtual reality (VR) technology is one of the most famous technologies of the present era, which allows users to experience things that may be difficult to try in the real world or maybe completely fictional.

Virtual Reality: Types and Features.- How does virtual reality work - Top 15 best virtual reality headsets.

What is Virtual Reality and How VR Technology Works| Top 15 Best Virtual Reality Headsets and Glasses

What is Virtual Reality?

Virtual reality (VR) is a term that applies to computer simulation of environments. With the help of virtual reality, you can experience living in a non-existent reality. 

You may realize that virtual reality is about a simulated environment, but there is much more to simulating reality in a computer-generated 3D world. 
The user needs to employ several sensory technologies in order to create and enjoy a virtual world. 
These sensory technologies and virtual reality devices may be special glasses, computers or smartphones, headphones, motion sensors, etc.

In the past, virtual reality was an elusive dream but with huge technological advances, virtual reality has become the natural alternative to computer and mobile screens, especially when it comes to video games and watching movies and videos in a completely different way than usual to make you feel like you are part of a game or movie!

Virtual reality is becoming more accessible to a large segment of people, especially when you don't need to spend too much money to try it. 
This is now possible after companies specialized in this field developed VR-powered glasses at a fairly reasonable price.

Types of Virtual Reality 

Jacobson (1993a) suggests that there are 4 types of virtual reality (VR): 

(1) Immersive Virtual Reality

(2) Desktop Virtual Reality

(3) Projection Virtual Reality

(4) Simulation Virtual Reality

Today, three main types of virtual reality are used to change the world around us such as semi-immersive virtual reality, fully immersive virtual reality and non-immersive virtual reality. 

Semi-Immersive Virtual Reality

Semi-immersive virtual reality focuses on simulating certain properties and their effects, such as gravity, extreme speed, or particular particles. Simulation is done through special Simulators.

This type of virtual reality allows users to experience virtual 3D environments but their connection to real-world surroundings remains intact and they can control physical objects in the real world.

Fully-Immersive Virtual Reality

Fully-immersive virtual reality is the presentation of an artificial environment in which the user does not feel the real world. He feels part of the imaginary world he sees through glasses. 

Actually, this type of virtual reality device transforms real-world surroundings into virtual environments in such a way that the user is able to fully engage with the created environment. 
The user controls his fantasy world with special gloves to embody the imagination and bring it closer to the truth.

Non-immersive Virtual Reality 

This type of virtual reality is mainly computerized system without the feeling of being immersed in the virtual world.

How Virtual Reality Technology Works

The most important part of VR technology is the glasses and VR headsets that are placed on the head in the form of a helmet almost called a helmet-mounted display (HMD). 

HMD is a screen mounted on the user's head that obscures it from the real physical world and displays an imaginary digital world in place. 
Once the Helmet-mounted display (HMD) is turned on, the user controls the movement through special tools such as gloves and tactile gloves and remote controls to move in his virtual world according to his desires.

The various virtual reality devices display the scenes according to the movement of the eye, through a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) connection that transmits the image to the screen, with a fixed tracking system that ensures the user to benefit from a 360-degree viewing experience.

Virtual Reality also includes an infrared eye-tracking system, which tracks eye movement, and several wireless sensors that create a sense of movement in the virtual environment.

In order to keep up with evolution, VR companies are seeking to develop their own products and glasses to the point of providing an unforgettable integrated experience. 
VR devices can be easily used at home and are constantly improved by developers.

How Do You Get Started in Virtual Reality?

Integration into the VR experience is an important criterion in its success, as the user must feel that he is truly within that virtual world. To improve that sense, he uses many techniques and concepts, including:

Virtual Reality Content: The elements in the scenes, their sizes, materials, and all design details are important to a good VR experience.

VR Remote Controller: Some glasses have buttons to control the experience, and additional devices are attached to some types of glasses, such as those that are attached to the hands and track their movement, where signals are taken from them to get interactions such as firing from a gun, for example.

VR Display: The display is a part of the glasses that is specialized in displaying images separately for each eye. In some types of glasses, the display is using a mobile phone that supports virtual reality technology and installs a virtual reality program.

VR Lenses: Virtual reality glasses include lenses placed in front of the eyes to improve vision so that the environment looks real, which is important to protect the eyes as well.

Fields of View (FOV): The ideal field of view here is, of course, 360 degrees, since the head cannot turn around this degree, content is sometimes created with a 100-120 degree rotatable which helps improve integration.

VR Frame Rate: The frequency of images within the field of view. The larger the rate, the greater the immersion in the experiment, and the frame rate is about 60 - 120 fps for powerful and effective experiments.

VR Motion Tracking Sensors: When entering a virtual world you need to be able to sense the moment you move the head and its destination, as well as move your hands and body, and sometimes it is associated with VR PlayStation devices.

VR Dynamic 3D Audio: Providing and distributing sound in 3D through glasses or external speakers is a very important part of improving the sense of integration into virtual reality.

Applications of Virtual Reality

Here are some amazing uses of virtual reality (VR) today:

• Work collaboration in the workplace
• Sports and athletic training
• Creating ideas and forecasting trends
• Tourism and learn about countries and regions
• Education and general culture
• Entertainment and games
• Architecture and construction
• Experience difficult experiments in reality (space travel or underwater)
• Medical student's training
• Medicine and surgical procedures
• Spine and pain management
• Managing and treating anxiety disorder
• Training on social cognition to manage autism

Top 15 Best Virtual Reality Headsets

The most famous virtual reality headsets and glasses are:

1. Sony PlayStation VR
2. HTC Vive
3. Oculus Quest
4. Oculus Rift
5. Oculus Go
6. Nintendo Labo VR Kit
7. AuraVR Pro
8. Samsung Gear VR
9. Google Daydream View
10. Google Cardboard
11. LG 360 VR
12. Microsoft HoloLens
13. Xiaomi Mi VR Play
14. Lenovo Mirage Solo with Daydream
15. Pansonite 3D VR Glasses

Conclusion

Until now, scientists are still making major advances in virtual reality technology. 
In the coming years, this technology will witness major changes for the better, and its use in various fields such as medicine, military professions, education, and various sciences will become easier and more enjoyable as well!.