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107 Virtual Reality Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

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Virtual reality (VR) technology has become increasingly popular in recent years, offering users a fully immersive and interactive experience in a digital environment. With the rise of VR applications in various industries such as gaming, education, healthcare, and entertainment, the possibilities for exploring this technology are endless. If you are looking for inspiration for your next essay on virtual reality, here are 107 topic ideas and examples to get you started:

• The history and evolution of virtual reality technology
• The impact of VR on the gaming industry
• Virtual reality as a tool for education and training
• The use of VR in healthcare for medical simulations and therapy
• Virtual reality and its potential for treating phobias and anxiety disorders
• The ethical implications of using VR in therapy and treatment
• Virtual reality and its role in shaping the future of remote work
• The benefits of using VR for virtual meetings and conferences
• Virtual reality as a tool for creating immersive art and experiences
• The use of VR in architecture and design for virtual walkthroughs
• Virtual reality and its impact on the tourism industry
• The potential of VR for creating virtual travel experiences
• The use of VR in sports training and performance analysis
• Virtual reality and its role in enhancing the shopping experience
• The use of VR in marketing and advertising campaigns
• Virtual reality and its potential for storytelling and narrative experiences
• The impact of VR on social interactions and virtual communities
• Virtual reality and its role in preserving cultural heritage and history
• The use of VR in environmental conservation and awareness campaigns
• Virtual reality and its potential for creating virtual reality theme parks
• The benefits of using VR in disaster response and emergency training
• Virtual reality and its role in enhancing the learning experience for students
• The use of VR in virtual field trips and exploration
• Virtual reality and its impact on mental health and well-being
• The potential of VR for creating virtual reality concerts and music experiences
• The use of VR in virtual reality therapy for PTSD and trauma survivors
• Virtual reality and its role in creating virtual reality escape rooms
• The benefits of using VR in virtual reality fitness and exercise programs
• Virtual reality and its impact on the future of entertainment and media
• The use of VR in virtual reality film production and storytelling
• Virtual reality and its potential for creating virtual reality museums and exhibits
• The ethical implications of using VR in creating virtual reality experiences
• Virtual reality and its role in enhancing virtual reality sports broadcasts
• The benefits of using VR in virtual reality shopping and retail experiences
• Virtual reality and its impact on the future of virtual reality fashion and design
• The use of VR in virtual reality art installations and exhibitions
• Virtual reality and its potential for creating virtual reality music festivals
• The impact of VR on virtual reality theater and live performances
• Virtual reality and its role in enhancing virtual reality travel experiences
• The benefits of using VR in virtual reality culinary experiences
• Virtual reality and its impact on the future of virtual reality documentaries
• The use of VR in virtual reality wildlife conservation and awareness campaigns
• Virtual reality and its potential for creating virtual reality amusement parks
• The ethical implications of using VR in creating virtual reality horror experiences
• Virtual reality and its role in enhancing virtual reality fashion shows
• The benefits of using VR in virtual reality sports training and analysis
• Virtual reality and its impact on the future of virtual reality education
• The use of VR in virtual reality language learning and immersion programs
• Virtual reality and its potential for creating virtual reality historical reenactments
• The impact of VR on virtual reality meditation and mindfulness practices
• Virtual reality and its role in enhancing virtual reality team-building exercises
• The benefits of using VR in virtual reality cooking and culinary classes
• Virtual reality and its impact on the future of virtual reality wellness and self-care
• The use of VR in virtual reality gardening and nature experiences
• Virtual reality and its potential for creating virtual reality pet adoption events
• The ethical implications of using VR in creating virtual reality animal encounters
• Virtual reality and its role in enhancing virtual reality painting and art classes
• The benefits of using VR in virtual reality dance and fitness classes
• Virtual reality and its impact on the future of virtual reality social events
• The use of VR in virtual reality team-building and leadership training
• Virtual reality and its potential for creating virtual reality networking events
• The impact of VR on virtual reality educational games and simulations
• Virtual reality and its role in enhancing virtual reality storytelling and narrative experiences
• The benefits of using VR in virtual reality cultural exchange programs
• Virtual reality and its impact on the future of virtual reality language learning
• The use of VR in virtual reality cooking and culinary experiences
• Virtual reality and its potential for creating virtual reality wildlife conservation programs
• The ethical implications of using VR in creating virtual reality empathy experiences
• Virtual reality and its role in enhancing virtual reality mindfulness and meditation practices
• The benefits of using VR in virtual reality wellness and self-care programs
• Virtual reality and its impact on the future of virtual reality mental health support
• The use of VR in virtual reality pet therapy and animal encounters
• Virtual reality and its potential for creating virtual reality music therapy programs
• The impact of VR on virtual reality art therapy and creative expression
• Virtual reality and its role in enhancing virtual reality dance therapy programs
• The benefits of using VR in virtual reality drama therapy and role-playing exercises
• Virtual reality and its impact on the future of virtual reality storytelling and narrative therapy
• The use of VR in virtual reality group therapy and support groups
• Virtual reality and its potential for creating virtual reality trauma therapy programs
• The ethical implications of using VR in creating virtual reality therapy experiences

Whether you are interested in exploring the potential of virtual reality in education, healthcare, entertainment, or other industries, there are plenty of exciting topics to delve into. With these 107 virtual reality essay topic ideas and examples, you can start brainstorming your next essay on this innovative technology and its impact on society.

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Essays on Virtual Reality

Essay on Virtual Reality

Students are often asked to write an essay on Virtual Reality in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Virtual Reality

Introduction to virtual reality.

Virtual Reality (VR) is a technology that transports us to a simulated world. It uses a headset to provide a 3D, computer-generated environment.

VR in Entertainment

VR is popular in entertainment. It is used in games and movies to give a realistic and immersive experience.

VR in Education

In education, VR is used to create interactive lessons. It helps students understand complex concepts easily.

VR in Training

VR is also used in training, like pilot training or medical simulations. It provides a risk-free learning environment.

VR is a revolutionary technology, making our experiences more immersive and learning more effective.

250 Words Essay on Virtual Reality

Virtual Reality (VR) is a simulated experience that can be similar or completely different from the real world. It is a technology that creates an immersive, three-dimensional environment, providing a sense of presence and the ability to interact with the environment.

The Science Behind VR

Virtual Reality operates on the premise of creating a sensory experience for the user. It achieves this through stereoscopic display, parallax, and tracking movements. The display is split between the eyes, creating a 3D perspective. Parallax provides depth cues, and tracking movements adjust the user’s view in real-time.

Applications of VR

The potential applications of VR are vast and varied. In gaming, VR creates immersive experiences that transport players into the game’s world. In medicine, VR is used for therapeutic purposes and surgical training. In education, it provides an interactive learning environment, enabling students to understand complex concepts more easily.

The Future of VR

The future of VR is promising. With advancements in technology, the line between the virtual and real world will blur. It could lead to a new era of communication, with VR meetings and conferences becoming commonplace. Furthermore, the integration of artificial intelligence with VR could result in even more immersive and personalized experiences.

Virtual Reality is a groundbreaking technology that has the potential to revolutionize many aspects of our lives. As the technology continues to evolve, the possibilities are limitless. It is an exciting field that holds immense promise for the future.

500 Words Essay on Virtual Reality

Virtual Reality (VR) is a computer-based technology that provides an immersive, interactive experience taking place within a simulated environment. It is an artificial realm, constructed by software, which can either replicate the real world or create an entirely new one.

The Mechanics of Virtual Reality

VR operates by stimulating our senses in such a way that we are deceived into believing that we are in a different setting. This is achieved through a VR headset that provides a stereoscopic display, creating a 3D world by presenting slightly different images to each eye. Additionally, head-tracking sensors monitor the user’s movements and adjust the images accordingly, maintaining the illusion of reality.

Applications of Virtual Reality

The applications of VR are vast and extend beyond entertainment and gaming. In the medical field, VR is used for therapy and rehabilitation, surgical training, and to visualize complex medical data. In education, VR provides immersive learning experiences, making abstract concepts tangible. In the realm of architecture, VR allows for the exploration of virtual building designs before their physical construction.

The Impact of Virtual Reality on Society

VR has the potential to profoundly impact society. It alters the way we interact with digital media, transforming it from a passive experience to an active, immersive one. However, it also raises ethical considerations. As VR becomes more immersive, the line between virtual and physical reality could blur, leading to potential issues around cyber addiction and the devaluation of real-world experiences.

The Future of Virtual Reality

The future of VR is promising, with advancements in technology continually pushing the boundaries of what is possible. Future VR systems may include additional sensory feedback, like touch or smell, to further enhance the immersive experience. Also, the integration of AI with VR could lead to more personalized and adaptive virtual experiences.

In conclusion, VR is a powerful technology with the potential to revolutionize many sectors. Its immersive nature offers unique opportunities for learning, exploration, and experiences. However, as with any technology, it comes with its own set of challenges and ethical considerations. As we continue to develop and integrate VR into our lives, it is crucial to navigate these issues responsibly to harness its benefits fully.

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Essays on virtual reality

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Home — Essay Samples — Information Science and Technology — Virtual Reality — Virtual Reality In The Real World

Virtual Reality in The Real World

• Categories: Virtual Reality

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Words: 2649 |

14 min read

Published: May 19, 2020

Words: 2649 | Pages: 6 | 14 min read

Table of contents

Introduction, getting started with vr, 360-degree videos, vr headsets and cost comparisons, real world applications, vr in education, vr in healthcare.

• Understand and distinguish between the VR, AR, MR and ER concepts
• Describe the technology/devices required to develop and consume the content
• Affordability and Cost comparisons
• Applications in retail, auto and hospitality industries with an in-depth view into Education and Healthcare as use cases.

Extended Reality

Virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality.

• Ford uses VR to test elements of new cars saving around $8mn per year. Audi uses VR to enable customers to configure and customize vehicles. BMW Uses Virtual Reality to Build Prototypes
• Airbus uses VR to demo planes to customer
• The Weather Channel has been using mixed reality to great effect with its reporting on Hurricane Florence, showing how the water may rise and swallow buildings and cars in its path.
• Sotheby’s international Realty uses VR to host open houses to sell luxury homes
• The North Face takes users to virtual Yosemite National park
• Marriot designed a temperature controlled virtual phone booth that allows its customers to visit its properties in Hawaii and London
• Ikea Place app that lets users test out potential pieces of furniture in their homes before purchasing
• Gap’s Dressing Room AR application that lets customers try out clothes
• Live Nation allows customers to stream concerts via VR headsets, allowing more people to be present for live events.
• American football quarterbacks use virtual reality to train themselves on reading defensive schemes before the play and reacting to blitzes.
• While VR is finding its place across a varied set of applications, this paper looks in detail education and healthcare as two use cases and how VR is transforming these spaces.

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When covering virtual reality research paper topics, you have to discuss both the advantages and disadvantage of the technology. Otherwise, your analysis would be skewed and unbalanced. Also, take a stance before even starting your writing session and make sure it is clearly reflected in your thesis statement and introduction. Also, to make your argumentative paper more substantive, make sure to provide evidence from the latest industry reports. This is especially important in light of the fact that virtual reality is on the cusp of creating a paradigm shift in the gaming and entertainment industries.

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Virtual Reality (Essay Sample)

Virtual reality is a computer technology that utilizes virtual reality headsets, sometimes in integration with actual spaces or multi projected surroundings to produce realistic sounds, images, and other sensations that trigger user’s actual presence in a virtual surrounding. A person utilizing the virtual reality tool is able to look around the fake universe and with high standard movement in it and socialize with virtual items. The virtual reality equipment is head mounted goggles fitted with a screen and placed in front of the eyes. Presentation may include sounds, audio through headphones, or speakers. This essay seeks to describe virtual reality and its significance in today’s life.

The exact beginning of virtual reality is argued partially because of how hard it has been to forge a meaning for the idea of an alternative being. Components of virtual reality arrived as early as in the 1860s. French inventive scriptwriter Antonin Artaud took the idea that fantasy was not different from reality, recommending that viewers at a play should exclude distrust and view the drama as reality. The initial source to the more present picture of virtual reality appeared from science fiction. The 1935 short narrative ‘Pygmalion’s spectacles’ by Stanley G. Weinbaums explains a goggle formed virtual reality setup with holographic data of imaginary adventures.

Virtual reality is important in modern life as it is used in many fields. One of the areas that utilize this cutting edge technology is video gaming. Many head mounted devices were released in 1990 for video gaming. Nintendo developed and released virtual boy and Virtual I-O developed and released iGlasses. Other companies that developed VR head sets are Cybermaxx which was behind Victormaxx and Forte Technologies which was behind the development

Of VFX1 Headgear. The best feature that the VR device has is the creation of fictional characters for playing games in the real world. The system has grown popular in modern online games such as the Vendetta Online by Guild Software Company.

Much has been expressed about virtual reality but the truth is that, it is widely used in many fields apart from video games. In cinema and entertainment, the virtual reality motion picture created for VR allows viewers to view a 360 degree surrounding in every section. Skybound and Fox Searchlight Pictures use VR cameras to make films and series that are responsive in VR. In social science and psychology, scientists and psychologists use virtual reality to research and recreate interactions in a contained environment. Research investigating emotions, perceptions, and physiological reaction within virtual reality demonstrate that controlled virtual surroundings can change how a person feels or reacts to stimuli. In clinical therapies and health care virtual reality helps in treating patients with anxiety disorders and phobias. Studies show that the Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy is combined with other behavioral therapy the symptoms of patients reduce.

In conclusion virtual reality is a computer technology that utilizes virtual reality headsets, sometimes in integration with actual spaces or multi projected surroundings. The virtual reality is designed to produce realistic sounds, images, and other sensations that trigger user’s actual presence in a virtual surrounding. A person utilizing the virtual reality tool is able to interact with the universe that is created. The exact beginning of virtual reality has been a debate and its components arrived as early as in the 1860s. Virtual reality is a cutting edge technology that is used in many fields today such as video gaming, health care and clinical therapies for patients, cinema and entertainment.

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Assessing virtual reality’s value as an ‘empathy machine’.

Lisa Messeri

Virtual reality can transport people, through headsets and joysticks, into immersive, imaginary worlds where they can explore alien planets, battle zombies, or even play minigolf.

But Yale anthropologist Lisa Messeri isn’t so much interested in the emerging technology’s ability to create fantastical worlds for gamers as she is in its supposed promise to help us better understand, and thereby improve, our own.

In her latest book, “ In the Land of the Unreal: Virtual and Other Realities in Los Angeles ” (Duke University Press), Messeri examines a community of Los Angeles-based storytellers, artists, and tech innovators focused on using virtual reality (VR) to remedy societal ills by generating empathy toward marginalized communities. However, technology alone can’t solve complex social problems, Messeri explains, even as such fantasies nonetheless persist.

Messeri, an associate professor of anthropology in Yale’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences, recently spoke to Yale News about fractured realities, VR as an “empathy machine,” and whether donning a headset can really help anyone know what it’s like to walk in another’s shoes. The interview has been edited and condensed. 

In the book, you discuss fractured realities and the unreal. What do those terms mean? 

When I began this project, I got a little nervous because it seemed as though, given the topic of virtual reality , I’d have to say something about the nature of reality, which seemed like a daunting task given millennia of humans pondering this question. I started playing with the term “unreal,” as opposed to the real. The point was to be very clear that the unreal is not reality’s opposite. Rather, what the unreal signals is a moment when reality’s multiplicity demands attention. The reality I experience is different from the reality you experience, which is different from the reality of someone in a war-torn country.

But often people, especially those occupying positions of privilege, embrace the idea that we’re all inhabiting a common reality, a common world. The unreal marks moments when that common reality no longer seems viable or present, when that idea of a common reality is fracturing. In a way, the book is about what it means to accept that fractured realities structure our social world and how VR simultaneously accepts the existence of these fractured realities, but then sets itself up as a tool for knitting them into a common reality by functioning as what its promoters call an “empathy machine.”

What does it mean to use VR as an ‘empathy machine?’

I was observing innovators and storytellers who were interested in using VR to tell impactful stories about the world, often from the perspective of people with identities or from communities that have been historically marginalized, with the goal of inducing a strong, empathetic reaction.

For example, in the introduction I describe experiencing “Carne y Arena (Virtually Present, Physically Invisible),” a VR project written and directed by Oscar-winning director Alejandro González Iñárritu that places the viewer among a group of migrants crossing the Mexican border into the United States. That project, which was the first VR experience selected for screening at the Cannes Film Festival, exemplifies the aspirations of many of the people who were the subject of my ethnographic work, who were attempting to use VR to solve — or at least bring attention to — societal problems. 

You focus specifically on the VR community in Los Angeles in 2018. Why that time and place?

People in LA were using VR as a documentary, non-fictional storytelling device that could bridge differences and (it was imagined) allow people of privilege to enter the worlds of those with less privilege, which would in turn cultivate empathy, create a better world, etc. As a scholar trained to think critically about science and technology, particularly when social goods are being promised, I was immediately apprehensive and curious about this idea. Los Angeles was where a lot of this kind of work was happening.

My research was also a conversation about how women could lead this re-emerging field of virtual reality. And again, a lot of the women who were being cited as leaders in the field were based in Los Angeles.

But this was also a time when Trumpism was finding its stride and the idea of alternative facts had entered the national discourse. It became very important to me to write about virtual reality at a moment when the alternative realities of Trumpism were part and parcel of American daily life. Los Angeles – and particularly Hollywood – helped make Trump a household name. Being in a place so capable of manufacturing stories and worlds for both benign entertainment and with unintended political consequences struck me as an important location for understanding VR.

You embedded with a start-up called Embodied Labs. How did it approach using VR as an empathy machine?

I worked with a whole bunch of companies and communities, including at the University of Southern California, the Technicolor Experience Center, and with several start-ups and other endeavors. Carrie Shaw invited me into her company, Embodied Labs, which was using virtual reality as a tool for helping caregivers better understand the experiences that their elderly clients were enduring, such as problems that arise with our minds and bodies as we age.

I was interested in Embodied Labs because I had various critiques of VR as an empathy machine. For one, there are its evident racial problematics: in embodying another’s life world, you inevitably erase the agency of the often minoritized perspective that the well-meaning viewer is trying to engage and empathize with. I was curious whether I could find a story about a project that was working within the ethos of the empathy machine, but doing so in a way that I could endorse and that scholars could learn something from.

What distinguished the company’s work from other VR applications focused on generating empathy for others?

In the end, what I felt distinguished Embodied Labs from other start-ups in this space is that it was using VR as a tool to assist or augment the work of people working as caregivers, which has the potential to benefit both parties in an existing social relationship. These were caregivers who are quite familiar with the experiences of their elderly clients. And that’s very different than instances when VR is being used to replace the need to engage with other humans.

What’s your verdict on VR as an empathy machine? Will it make the world a better place?

It’s not inconceivable that VR could be a tool that further helps inform us about things happening in the world. But the idea that it can somehow, on its own, fix societal problems represents a mindset that too often accompanies emerging technologies. In the book, I note that VR is not only an emerging technology, but also a cinematic technology used to tell stories. This distinction allows us to consider the potential for VR as a cinematic technology to be used for telling engaging and impactful stories, but VR in and of itself is not going to fix the world.

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Virtual Reality Versus Augmented Reality Essay

Advantages of virtual reality, disadvantages of virtual reality, comparison between virtual reality and augmented reality.

Virtual Reality (VR) refers to a high-end user computer interface involving real-time interactions and stimulations that use several sensorial channels which include visual, auditory, tactile, smell and taste. Virtual Reality should not just be taken as a high-end user interface or a medium.

This is because it includes applications that help in providing solutions to problems in different areas for instance in military, medicine and engineering. The ability of a given application to provide a remedy to certain challenges depends on human imagination (Burdea & Coiffet, 2003).

On the other hand, Augmented Reality (AR) aims at supplementing the real world with a virtual world instead of replacing it altogether. In order to achieve this, Augmented Reality makes use of objects generated by a computer and appears to coexist together with the real world (Klopfer, 2008). Many researchers are interested in Augmented Reality for different reasons.

Some of the reasons include enhancing the perception and interaction with real world and undertaking improvement of different tasks in the world. Augmented Reality can also be applied in different areas such as in the medical practices, commerce, engineering, design and inspection, entertainment as well as military field. Classifying the AR system can be done basing on display, tracking and application viewpoint.

According to Yeon Ma and Choi (2007), there are quite a number of positive implications associated with virtual reality. For instance, VR can be used in the medical field during simulated surgery. It can be used train medical students and new doctors.

The use of flight simulators in the military field can serve as an effective way of providing realistic and advanced situations when undertaking military training. Yeon Ma and Choi (2007) are unanimous that in businesses and corporations, virtual Reality provides a convenient form of communication and at the same facilitates a faster collection of data.

Certain stereoscopic displays and computer screens are used to display virtual reality environments. Headphones and speakers can also be used to boost simulation of the environment (Burdea & Coiffet, 2003). In fact, this amounts to one of the merits of a virtual reality environment.

Moreover, advanced virtual environments can now incorporate a force feedback system that provides some of tactile information. This latest integration of virtual reality environment is mainly made use of in gaming applications. The medical field has also benefited greatly from this new mode of a virtual reality environment. The whole system is heptic in nature (Burdea & Coiffet, 2003).

Another merit of a virtual reality set up is that individuals in remote locations can indeed facilitate some virtual presence of each other through telexistence and telepresence modes. A wired glove or the ordinary mouse and key board components of a computer can be used as virtual artifacts in this case in order to enable remote communication between two or more parties.

In a virtual reality set up, the new environment created can be made to appear like a real world. On the other hand, a virtual reality environment can be significantly altered to resemble the world with slight differences. A case example of this type of virtual reality is the Virtual Reality games (Burdea & Coiffet, 2003).

The main disadvantage of Virtual Reality is with regard to the technology needed to carry out a natural or an immersive experience. it has been found out that for a relatively long period of time, the procedure has remained unsuccessful. Some of the systems that allow articulated presence or provide the expected feedback are at times clumsy. This increases the chances of causing problems when using the system.

Another disadvantage of Virtual Reality relates to the negative social impacts caused by immersive environments to the people and the psychological effects that result from the process due to prolonged usage (Yeon Ma & Choi, 2007).

In terms of demerits, it has proved to be cumbersome to develop a virtual reality environment with high-fidelity. Some of the factors that limit this possibility include communication bandwidth, image resolution, and processing power.

Differences between Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality are based on the level of immersion of the system. A major difference between the two is that a Virtual Reality system aims at reaching a fully immersive virtual environment and uses factors generated by a computer.

This is the environment where the user performs his or her task. On the other hand, an Augmented Reality aims at combining both the virtual and real world. This is mainly aimed at assisting a given user to perform a task from a physical setting (Johnson & Sasse, 1999).

Another difference between the two is that Virtual Reality usually limits the physical movement of the user, whereas Augmented Reality requires the system to be portable especially when dealing with the outdoor augmented reality systems.

However, it is pertinent to note that Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality share some common features. For example, they both share three dimensional images and interactivity and can be applied in similar fields (Yeon Ma & Choi, 2007).

Burdea, G., & Coiffet, P. (2003). Virtual Reality technology . Hoboken, N.J: J. Wiley Interscience.

Johnson, C., Sasse, M. A. (1999). International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction & Interact: Human-computer interaction . Amsterdam: IOS Press.

Klopfer, E. (2008). Augmented Learning: Research and Design of Mobile Educational Games .New York: MIT Press.

Yeon Ma, J. & Choi, J.S.(2007). The Virtuality and Reality of Augmented Reality . London: Academy Publisher.

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IvyPanda. (2019, June 14). Virtual Reality Versus Augmented Reality. https://ivypanda.com/essays/virtual-reality-versus-augmented-reality/

"Virtual Reality Versus Augmented Reality." IvyPanda , 14 June 2019, ivypanda.com/essays/virtual-reality-versus-augmented-reality/.

IvyPanda . (2019) 'Virtual Reality Versus Augmented Reality'. 14 June.

IvyPanda . 2019. "Virtual Reality Versus Augmented Reality." June 14, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/virtual-reality-versus-augmented-reality/.

1. IvyPanda . "Virtual Reality Versus Augmented Reality." June 14, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/virtual-reality-versus-augmented-reality/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Virtual Reality Versus Augmented Reality." June 14, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/virtual-reality-versus-augmented-reality/.

Finding the beat of collective animal motion

Virtual reality experiments have illuminated the rhythmic glue that could keep animals moving in synchrony.

Across nature, animals from swarming insects to herding mammals can organize into seemingly choreographed motion. Over the last two decades, scientists have discovered that these coordinated movements arise from each animal following simple rules about where their neighbors are located. Now, scientists studying zebrafish have shown that neighbors might also be moving to the same beat. The team revealed that fish swimming in pairs took turns to move; and, they synchronized the timing of these movements in a two-way process known as reciprocity. Then, in virtual reality experiments, the team could confirm that reciprocity was key to driving collective motion: by implementing this rhythmic rule, they could recreate natural schooling behavior in fish and virtual conspecifics. The study published in Nature Communications was led by scientists from the Cluster of Excellence Collective Behaviour at the University of Konstanz and the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior in Germany (MPI-AB).

The results provide further mechanistic detail to our understanding of how animals self-organize into moving collectives. "We show that it takes two fish to tango," says first author Guy Amichay, who conducted the work while a doctoral student at MPI-AB. "Fish are coordinating the timing of their movements with that of their neighbor, and vice versa. This two-way rhythmic coupling is an important, but overlooked, force that binds animals in motion."

The synchrony of the swarm

Animals moving in synchrony are the most conspicuous examples of collective behavior in nature; yet many natural collectives synchronize not in space, but in time -- fireflies synchronize their flashes, neurons synchronize their firing, and humans in concert halls synchronize the rhythm of clapping.

Amichay and the team were interested in the intersection of the two; they were curious to see what rhythmic synchrony might exist in animal movement. "There's more rhythm to animal movement than you might expect," says Amichay, who is now a postdoctoral researcher at Northwestern University, USA. "In the real world most fish don't swim at fixed speeds, they oscillate."

Using pairs of zebrafish as a study system, Amichay analyzed their swimming to describe the precise pattern of motion. He found that fish, although moving together, did not swim at the same time. Rather they alternated such that one moved, then the other moved, "like two legs walking," he says.

The team then looked into how fish managed to alternate. They generated a computational model with a simple rule of thumb: double the delay of your neighbor.

The rule of reciprocity

The next step was to test this model computationally, or in silico . They set one agent to beat with fixed movement bouts, like a metronome. The other agent responded to the first by implementing the 'double the delay' rhythmic rule. But in this one-way interaction, the agents did not move in the alternating pattern seen in real fish. When both agents responded to each other, however, they reproduced the natural alternation pattern. "This was the first indication that reciprocity was crucial," says Amichay.

But reproducing natural behavior in a computer was not where the study ended. The team turned to virtual reality to confirm that the principle they uncovered would also work in real fish. "Virtual reality is a revolutionary tool in animal behavior studies because it allows us to circumvent the curse of causality," says Iain Couzin, a Speaker at the Cluster of Excellence Collective Behaviour at the University of Konstanz and a Director at MPI-AB.

In nature many traits are linked and so it is extremely difficult to pinpoint the cause of an animal's behavior. But using virtual reality, Couzin says it is possible to "precisely perturb the system" to test the effect of a particular trait on an animal's behavior.

A single fish was put into a virtual environment with a fish avatar. In some trials the avatar was set to swim like a metronome, ignoring the behavior of the real fish. In these trials the real fish did not swim in the natural alternating pattern with the avatar. But when the avatar was set to respond to the real fish, in a two-way reciprocal relationship, they recovered its natural alternating behavior.

Turn-taking partners

"It's fascinating to see that reciprocity is driving this turn-taking behavior in swimming fish," says co-author Máté Nagy, who leads the MTA-ELTE Collective Behavior Research Group at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, "because it's not always the case in biological oscillators." Fireflies, for example, will synchronize even in one-way interactions.

"But for humans, reciprocity comes into play in almost anything we do in pairs, be it dance, or sport, or conversation," says Nagy.

The team also provided evidence that fish that were coupled in the timing of movements had stronger social bonds. "In other words, if you and I are coupled, we are more attuned to each other," says Nagy.

The authors say that this finding can drastically change how we understand who influences whom in animal groups. "We used to think that in a busy group, a fish could be influenced by any other member that it can see," says Couzin. "Now, we see that the most salient bonds could be between partners that choose to rhythmically synchronize."

• Behavioral Science
• Virtual Reality
• Video Games
• Artificial Intelligence
• Computer Modeling
• Virtual reality
• Pigeon intelligence
• Computer animation
• Experimental economics
• Grid computing
• Herding dog
• Uniform distribution (continuous)

Story Source:

Materials provided by Max-Planck-Gesellschaft . Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference :

• Guy Amichay, Liang Li, Máté Nagy, Iain D. Couzin. Revealing the mechanism and function underlying pairwise temporal coupling in collective motion . Nature Communications , 2024; 15 (1) DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48458-z

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Strange & offbeat.

The Reality of Bigfoot: Analyzing Evidence and Belief

This essay about Bigfoot explores the ongoing debate between believers and skeptics regarding the existence of this legendary creature. It examines various pieces of evidence, including the Patterson-Gimlin film, footprint casts, and eyewitness accounts, while also considering the cultural significance of Bigfoot in indigenous traditions. The essay highlights the lack of concrete proof and the role of cognitive biases, concluding that Bigfoot’s allure lies in the interplay of belief, culture, and human imagination.

How it works

In the enigmatic world of cryptozoology, few figures ignite the imagination like Bigfoot. Also known as Sasquatch, this elusive creature has cemented its place as an enduring symbol of mystery, folklore, and controversy. For decades, both enthusiasts and skeptics have sifted through various pieces of evidence—from blurry photographs to firsthand accounts—in a relentless quest to unveil the truth behind this legendary being. Yet, amidst the clamor of belief and skepticism, what truly lies at the heart of the Bigfoot phenomenon?

At the core of the Bigfoot mystery is a complex interplay between evidence and conviction.

Advocates present a diverse array of purported proofs, including footprint casts, eyewitness sightings, and even video footage, as compelling evidence of Bigfoot’s existence. They often emphasize the sheer volume of eyewitness testimonies from credible sources, ranging from experienced outdoorsmen to everyday citizens, as bolstering the case for this creature’s reality.

A central piece of the debate is the Patterson-Gimlin film, captured in 1967, which allegedly shows a female Bigfoot striding through the forests of Northern California. Despite decades of analysis, this footage remains a contentious focal point, with supporters hailing it as definitive evidence while skeptics question its authenticity due to its grainy nature and the lack of conclusive scientific validation.

Footprint casts also play a significant role in the Bigfoot narrative. Proponents argue that the unique morphology and large size of these prints defy conventional explanations, suggesting the presence of an unknown primate species. However, skeptics counter with claims of hoaxes, misidentifications, and natural phenomena, undermining their value as solid evidence.

Beyond physical traces, eyewitness accounts are a cornerstone of Bigfoot belief. Stories of close encounters with the creature are abundant, often accompanied by detailed descriptions of its towering height, shaggy fur, and strong odor. While some dismiss these accounts as fabrications or misunderstandings, others argue that the sincerity and consistency of these testimonies deserve serious consideration.

In addition to anecdotal evidence, Bigfoot proponents highlight its cultural and historical significance. Indigenous cultures across North America have long revered Sasquatch as a sacred being, deeply embedded in their oral traditions and spiritual beliefs. These cultural narratives, supporters argue, add further credibility to the existence of Bigfoot as more than a mere modern myth.

Nevertheless, skeptics remain vigilant in their examination of Bigfoot evidence. They point to the lack of concrete physical proof, such as DNA samples or remains, as a significant weakness in the Bigfoot narrative. Despite numerous expeditions and scientific inquiries, no definitive evidence has surfaced, leading many to dismiss the creature as a product of folklore and misidentification.

Moreover, skeptics emphasize the role of cognitive biases and psychological factors in fostering belief in Bigfoot. The human tendency to perceive patterns in randomness, known as pareidolia, may lead individuals to interpret ambiguous stimuli as evidence of Bigfoot. Additionally, the influence of suggestion and social reinforcement within Bigfoot communities may sustain belief even in the absence of empirical evidence.

In the digital age, the proliferation of online communities and media platforms has further fueled the Bigfoot debate. Internet forums, podcasts, and documentaries offer a space for enthusiasts to share their experiences and theories, broadening the reach of Bigfoot belief while also attracting scrutiny from skeptics and scientists.

In conclusion, the true nature of Bigfoot remains elusive and fiercely debated. For believers, the evidence is persuasive, pointing to the existence of a mysterious creature lurking in the wilderness. For skeptics, the absence of concrete evidence and the prevalence of alternative explanations cast doubt on Bigfoot as anything more than a cultural phenomenon.

Ultimately, the truth behind Bigfoot may lie not solely in empirical evidence but in the interplay of belief, culture, and human imagination. Whether Bigfoot exists as a tangible entity or as a product of myth and misinterpretation, its enduring appeal underscores the power of mystery in shaping our perceptions of the natural world. As long as the forests remain vast and the unknown persists, the legend of Bigfoot will continue to captivate and perplex both believers and skeptics alike.

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The Reality of Bigfoot: Analyzing Evidence and Belief. (2024, May 28). Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/the-reality-of-bigfoot-analyzing-evidence-and-belief/

"The Reality of Bigfoot: Analyzing Evidence and Belief." PapersOwl.com , 28 May 2024, https://papersowl.com/examples/the-reality-of-bigfoot-analyzing-evidence-and-belief/

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PapersOwl.com. (2024). The Reality of Bigfoot: Analyzing Evidence and Belief . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/the-reality-of-bigfoot-analyzing-evidence-and-belief/ [Accessed: 29-May-2024]

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In the tech world and beyond, new 5G applications are being discovered every day. From driverless cars to smarter cities, farms, and even shopping experiences, the latest standard in wireless networks is poised to transform the way we interact with information, devices and each other. What better time to take a closer look at how humans are putting 5G to use to transform their world.

What is 5G?

5G (fifth-generation mobile technology  is the newest standard for cellular networks. Like its predecessors, 3G, 4G and 4G LTE, 5G technology uses radio waves for data transmission. However, due to significant improvements in latency, throughput and bandwidth, 5G is capable of faster download and upload speeds than previous networks.

Since its release in 2019, 5G broadband technology has been hailed as a breakthrough technology with significant implications for both consumers and businesses. Primarily, this is due to its ability to handle large volumes of data that is generated by complex devices that use its networks.

As mobile technology has expanded over the years, the number of data users generate every day has increased exponentially. Currently, other transformational technologies like  artificial intelligence (AI),  the  Internet of Things (IoT ) and  machine learning (ML)  require faster speeds to function than 3G and 4G networks offer. Enter 5G, with its lightning-fast data transfer capabilities that allow newer technologies to function in the way they were designed to.

Here are some of the biggest differences between 5G and previous wireless networks.

• Physical footprint : The transmitters that are used in 5G technology are smaller than in predecessors’ networks, allowing for discrete placement in out-of-the-way places. Furthermore, “cells”—geographical areas that all wireless networks require for connectivity—in 5G networks are smaller and require less power to run than in previous generations.
• Error rates : 5G’s adaptive Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS), a schematic that wifi devices use to transmit data, is more powerful than ones in 3G and 4G networks. This makes 5G’s Block Error Rate (BER)—a metric of error frequency—much lower. 
• Bandwidth : By using a broader spectrum of radio frequencies than previous wireless networks, 5G networks can transmit on a wider range of bandwidths. This increases the number of devices that they can support at any given time.
• Lower latency : 5G’s low  latency , a measurement of the time it takes data to travel from one location to another, is a significant upgrade over previous generations. This means that routine activities like downloading a file or working in the cloud is going to be faster with a 5G connection than a connection on a different network.

Like all wireless networks, 5G networks are separated into geographical areas that are known as cells. Within each cell, wireless devices—such as smartphones, PCs, and IoT devices—connect to the internet via radio waves that are transmitted between an antenna and a base station. The technology that underpins 5G is essentially the same as in 3G and 4G networks. But due to its lower latency, 5G networks are capable of delivering faster download speeds—in some cases as high as 10 gigabits per second (Gbps).

As more and more devices are built for 5G speeds, demand for 5G connectivity is growing. Today, many popular Internet Service Providers (ISPs), such as Verizon, Google and AT&T, offer 5G networks to homes and businesses. According to Statista,  more than 200 million homes  and businesses have already purchased it with that number expected to at least double by 2028 (link resides outside ibm.com).

Let’s take a look at three areas of technological improvement that have made 5G so unique.

New telecom specifications

The 5G NR (New Radio) standard for cellular networks defines a new radio access technology (RAT) specification for all 5G mobile networks. The 5G rollout began in 2018 with a global initiative known as the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3FPP). The initiative defined a new set of standards to steer the design of devices and applications for use on 5G networks.

The initiative was a success, and 5G networks grew swiftly in the ensuing years. Today, 45% of networks worldwide are 5G compatible, with that number forecasted to rise to 85% by the end of the decade according to  a recent report by Ericsson  (link resides outside ibm.com).

Independent virtual networks (network slicing)

On 5G networks, network operators can offer multiple independent virtual networks (in addition to public ones) on the same infrastructure. Unlike previous wireless networks, this new capability allows users to do more things remotely with greater security than ever before. For example, on a 5G network, enterprises can create use cases or business models and assign them their own independent virtual network. This dramatically improves the user experience for their employees by adding greater customizability and security.

Private networks

In addition to network slicing, creating a 5G private network can also enhance personalization and security features over those available on previous generations of wireless networks. Global businesses seeking more control and mobility for their employees increasingly turn to private 5G network architectures rather than public networks they’ve used in the past.

Now that we better understand how 5G technology works, let’s take a closer look at some of the exciting applications it’s enabling.

Autonomous vehicles

From taxi cabs to drones and beyond, 5G technology underpins most of the next-generation capabilities in autonomous vehicles. Until the 5G cellular standard came along, fully autonomous vehicles were a bit of a pipe dream due to the data transmission limitations of 3G and 4G technology. Now, 5G’s lightning-fast connection speeds have made transport systems for cars, trains and more, faster than previous generations, transforming the way systems and devices connect, communicate and collaborate.

Smart factories

5G, along with AI and ML, is poised to help factories become not only smarter but more automated, efficient, and resilient. Today, many mundane but necessary tasks that are associated with equipment repair and optimization are being turned over to machines thanks to 5G connectivity paired with AI and ML capabilities. This is one area where 5G is expected to be highly disruptive, impacting everything from fuel economy to the design of equipment lifecycles and how goods arrive at our homes.

For example, on a busy factory floor, drones and cameras that are connected to smart devices that use the IoT can help locate and transport something more efficiently than in the past and prevent theft. Not only is this better for the environment and consumers, but it also frees up employees to dedicate their time and energy to tasks that are more suited to their skill sets.

Smart cities

The idea of a hyper-connected urban environment that uses 5G network speeds to spur innovation in areas like law enforcement, waste disposal and disaster mitigation is fast becoming a reality. Some cities already use 5G-enabled sensors to track traffic patterns in real time and adjust signals, helping guide the flow of traffic, minimize congestion, and improve air quality.

In another example, 5G power grids monitor supply and demand across heavily populated areas and deploy AI and ML applications to “learn” what times energy is in high or low demand. This process has been shown to significantly impact energy conservation and waste, potentially reducing carbon emissions and helping cities reach sustainability goals.

Smart healthcare

Hospitals, doctors, and the healthcare industry as a whole already benefit from the speed and reliability of 5G networks every day. One example is the area of remote surgery that uses robotics and a high-definition live stream that is connected to the internet via a 5G network. Another is the field of mobile health, where 5G gives medical workers in the field quick access to patient data and medical history. This enables them to make smarter decisions, faster, and potentially save lives.

Lastly, as we saw during the pandemic, contact tracing and the mapping of outbreaks are critical to keeping populations safe. 5G’s ability to deliver of volumes of data swiftly and securely allows experts to make more informed decisions that have ramifications for everyone.

5G paired with new technological capabilities won’t just result in the automation of employee tasks, it will dramatically improve them and the overall  employee experience . Take virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), for example. VR (digital environments that shut out the real world) and AR (digital content that augments the real world) are already used by stockroom employees, transportation drivers and many others. These employees rely on wearables that are connected to a 5G network capable of high-speed data transfer rates that improve several key capabilities, including the following:

• Live views : 5G connectivity provides live, real-time views of equipment, events, and even people. One way in which this feature is being used in professional sports is to allow broadcasters to remotely call a sporting event from outside the stadium where the event is taking place.
• Digital overlays : IoT applications in a warehouse or industrial setting allow workers that are equipped with smart glasses (or even just a smartphone) to obtain real-time insights from an application. This includes repair instructions or the name and location of a spare part.
• Drone inspections : Right now, one of the leading causes of employee injury is inspection of equipment or project sites in remote and potentially dangerous areas. Drones, which are connected via 5G networks, can safely monitor equipment and project sites and even take readings from hard-to-reach gauges.

Edge computing , a computing framework that allows computations to be done closer to data sources, is fast becoming the standard for enterprises. According to  this Gartner white paper  (link resides outside ibm.com), by 2025, 75% of enterprise data will be processed at the edge (compared to only 10% today). This shift saves businesses time and money and enables better control over large volumes of data. It would be impossible without the new speed standards that are generated by 5G technology. 

Ultra-reliable edge computing and 5G enable the enterprise to achieve faster transmission speeds, increased control and greater security over massive volumes of data. Together, these twin technologies will help reduce latency while increasing speed, reliability and bandwidth, resulting in faster, more comprehensive data analysis and insights for businesses everywhere.

5G solutions with IBM Cloud Satellite  

5G presents significant opportunities for the enterprise, but first, you need a platform that can handle its speed. IBM Cloud Satellite® lets you deploy and run apps consistently across on-premises, edge computing and public cloud environments on a 5G network. And it’s all enabled by secure and auditable communications within the IBM Cloud®.

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