Kim.E - IsNotSo.com | 6 min read | Words: 1501

What is ? Virtual reality are two words we hear more and more of nowadays. I dare assume that many of us have a vague idea of what this technology actually is, and to be honest, prior to experiencing the XIS7 Virtual Reality World a few months ago, I was also oblivious to the wonders of this amazing technology. ➠� � AUDIO BOOK

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In today’s age of the internet, reliable information is instantly available so a lack of knowledge is an excuse and ignorance is a personal choice. However, I do believe that unless you belong to a generation that grew up with the Internet and personally experienced online gaming, virtual reality has not yet had an impact on your life so the need to explore this topic was more than likely unnecessary. Until now!

Virtual reality is a physical and emotional immersion into a three-dimensional environment.

The Oxford dictionary defines virtual reality as a computer-generated simulation of a three- dimensional image or environment that can be interacted with in a seemingly real or physical way by a person using special electronic equipment such as a helmet with a screen inside or gloves fitted with sensors. Well, that seems understandable, although I am doubtful as to whether you are able to truly grasp what is meant unless you have personally experienced VR, so allow me to elaborate. Before my first virtual reality experience, I had no expectations although I admittedly assumed it would be similar to watching a 3D movie in the cinema. How wrong I was? Once Fabio had positioned the VR glasses on my head and had placed a control in each hand, I was totally immersed in a beach scene with grass swaying at my feet. Waves gently crashed on the beautiful beach stretched before me. A breeze rustled the palm leaves and although everything was silent, my ears imagined what my eyes vividly saw. It was pure bliss!

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"Do you wanna go up?", Fabio asked. "Sure!" Before I knew it, I was surrounded by clouds and endless blue skies which was amazing until my gaze wandered below. "Put me down!", I screeched. Even though both my feet were on the floor in , I was overwhelmed by the frightening sensation of being suspended in the air and this feeling was so realistic that all my senses and perception were bluffed. My next experience of suspension from the top of a high mountain was less intimidating, yet just as scary. Yes, I would do it again! It was an exhilarating and extremely authentic experience!

Virtual reality is not a new technology. It has been around for decades.

My fascination led me to do some research on this technology and what I discovered surprised me. What many do not know is that virtual reality has been around for decades and although basic in comparison to the advanced technologies of today, the first experiences were in a flight simulator called the Link Trainer that Edwin A. Link patented in 1929. The United States Army Air Force made use of this technology to train 500,000 pilots in bad weather conditions and to prepare them for combat in WWII. (Naval Air Station Fort Lauderdale Museum) In 1962, Morton Heilig, a filmmaker, patented the . This cabinet immersed people into a realistic experience with all their senses stimulated while they watched one of the six films he had produced. (Wikipedia) In 1968, the first that was connected to a computer and not a camera was created by Ivan Sutherland, a computer scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. This headset was called the `Sword of Damocles´ and was a heavy contraption that was suspended from the ceiling. Besides having to be strapped in, the headset was too heavy for a person to wear comfortably. (Virtual Reality Society) Ivan Sutherland was also known as the father of computer graphics.

Companies soon realised the potential of virtual reality in the gaming and entertainment industry.

Improvements and breakthroughs continued throughout the years although the use of this technology was generally reserved for companies and institutions that either had the funds or the financial investors to take the research and development of this technology to the next levels.

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NASA first made use of virtual reality to train astronauts in 1989.

The Group launched a range of arcade games and machines in 1991 that could have more than one player enjoy real-time games with joysticks and stereoscopic visors. The VR headset was released for the console in 1993. This headset had head tracking with inertial sensors, liquid crystal display screens in the visors and stereo headphones. (Wikipedia)

Virtual reality has been used in medicine since the 2000s. The first VR surgery was held on the 14th April 2016, in the Royal London Hospital (Business Insider) In 2007, Google Maps and Google Earth provided everyone with a virtual representation of their surroundings.

By 2014, the potential of virtual reality was obvious when Google introduced Google Box, Samsung Electronics released the Samsung Gear VR, and Facebook bought Rift. Headsets became cheaper and computers were able to handle this technology far better than in the 90s. Companies invested large amounts to implement virtual reality in the gaming and entertainment industry because that was and still is where lots of money is to be made.

By 2016, at least 230 companies including Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Sony and Samsung either invested in or had their own teams working on VR technology. (Wikipedia)

Virtual reality worlds exist. Such a world is called a .

Fast forward to 2020! General awareness will become inevitable especially as we enter a new decade and virtual reality (VR), (AR) and (XR), which is a combination of both, will become the key technology trends in 2020. According to Forbes, spending on these technologies will increase by 78,5% this year.

This technology will become a major part of daily life and will shift from the gaming and entertainment industry to mainstream and commerce. Businesses realise the potential of virtual reality, especially with a generation of consumers thirsty for online experiences. Virtual reality worlds are known as and actually exist nowadays. It is not only possible to visit such worlds but real estate property can also be purchased in these metaverses. Just as it is in the real world, this real estate is an investment that becomes more valuable as prices increase and property becomes scarce.

The XIS7 Virtual Reality World has real estate that can be purchased to design and create online shops that will give consumers realistic shopping experiences from the comfort of their home. The XIS7 Virtual Reality World is not only for businesses but for anyone who wishes to build up their own business, design their own office for potential customers, hire out their spaces or just have a personal space to meet up with friends that may be scattered around the world. Just when you thought you were starting to understand virtual reality, I bring metaverses into the picture. No worries! I have written an interesting article with a lot of information to give you an idea of what a metaverse is and how it will benefit everyone in the future.

For further XIS7 information, please follow these links: Website Products Explanation video in German

I would love to hear from you. Write to Kim.E: [email protected] TalkTECH articles written by Kim.E - IsNotSo: What is Virtual Reality? What is Virtual Real Estate? What is a Metaverse? Global Solution? 5th Revolution

TalkTECH audible videos from Kim.E - IsNotSo: What is Virtual Reality? What is Virtual Real Estate? What is a Metaverse? A Global Solution? Is this your virtual dream house? Why is this everything but a dream house? 5th Revolution

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Disclaimer: #1: This article serves the purpose of providing the reader with information without the intention to discriminate, promote or influence the opinions of others. The writer, Kim.E from IsNotSo, has written from her perspective and level of knowledge which makes her neither a professional nor an amateur. Kim.E from IsNotSo, does not own responsibility for the accuracy of the information she has researched. It is the sole responsibility of every reader to pursue and explore their own channels of information to either confirm or reject what they have read.

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