A Virtual World: Exploring Virtual Reality’s Reach
This is a writing sample from Scripted writer Cathryn Moore
The use of virtual reality is best known for gaming platforms, but it also has a growing market in technology, education, travel and more, with demand rising each year. Reports estimate the global market size will reach $435.36 billion by 2030, with training, research and medical needs fuelling this growth.
Virtual reality was not initially intended as a gaming platform. Instead, it was developed for use in military and medical training, flight simulation, and car design. In 2010, the first generation of gaming VR headsets as we know them became available to the public. This ignited a new craze in gaming, with headsets fast becoming the must-have item.
There are an estimated 171 million people worldwide using VR headsets. Many of these will be for gaming, but what other areas are benefitting from the improved technology?
Learning institutions are successfully using virtual reality as a teaching tool. By using an immersive virtual reality experience, students can see and experience things that are impossible in real life. School-age children can explore the solar system, experience life as an Ancient Greek or see the inner workings of the human body. Medical students can practice surgical procedures and astronauts can train for space missions in a safe, controlled environment.
There are medical benefits to VR technology too. Treatment of PTSD with virtual reality graded exposure therapy shows some success in reducing the severity of symptoms in active combatants. Studies have also shown that using VR for mindfulness and meditation practices can benefit mental health by constructing tailored environments specific to the person, targeting the areas that will help that individual. Health and fitness can be improved through VR with many apps already available to guide you through workouts, sports, yoga and more.
Armchair tourism is also on the rise with the ability to explore the world through the headset. You can visit the Great Wall of China or the Eiffel Tower. You can swim with sharks and climb Mount Everest or visit a virtual reality theme park. There is an app that offers reenactments of pivotal moments in human history, or if you fancy something more relaxed, why not visit a museum or art gallery? The British Museum and The Louvre both offer VR tours of their collections, along with many others.
With the opportunities for exploration, education and new experiences growing every day, virtual reality is becoming an invaluable tool. With each upgrade in technology, new possibilities become reality.
Written by:
Cathryn has been writing since 2008 when her first article was published. Since then, she has been writing from her home in Devon, England, while working in hospitality and finance. She has a thirst for knowledge that makes researching a topic enjoyable and she loves building an article to find the best way to communicate the information. Her qualification as a proofreader ensures her work is error-free and her experience in different industries gives her a wide knowledge base.
