Simulation training has been a popular form of training for some time now. The ability to recreate an immersive reality environment and navigate it for the purposes of learning has proven valuable to companies and individuals. So let’s start there, what is an immersive reality?nnImmersive reality is the presentation of an artificial environment, partially or entirely, that replaces a users’ real-world surroundings convincingly enough that they are able to suspend disbelief and fully engage with the created elements. Examples of this technology are commonly referred to as Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, Mixed Reality, and Simulations. We’ll be going through each of these types of immersive realities at length on our blog and observing their effect on training. Today we’ll explore the foundations of immersive reality and explain the difference between the various types of immersive reality technologies.
Virtual Reality
Virtual reality (VR) is an experience taking place within a simulation, which can be similar to or completely different from the real world. Applications of virtual reality can include entertainment and educational purposes. Currently, standard virtual reality systems use either a virtual reality headset or multi-projected environments to generate realistic images, sounds, movements and other sensations that simulate a user’s physical presence in a virtual environment. VR headsets consisting of a head-mounted display have a small screen in front of the eyes, blocking the user’s real-world surroundings. VR can also be created through specially designed rooms with multiple large screens, putting the user physically inside a virtual world. A person using virtual reality equipment is able to look around the artificial world, move around in it, and interact with virtual features or items.
Augmented Reality
Augmented reality (AR) is a type of immersive reality technology that blends what the user sees in their real surroundings with digital content generated by computer software. The additional software-generated images with the virtual scene typically enhance how the real surroundings look in some way. AR systems layer virtual information over a camera live feed into a headset, smart glasses, or simply on a screen giving the user the ability to view three-dimensional images. Augmented reality’s growing market presents an opportunity and an alternative channel for digital marketing, giving the opportunity to show plans and presentations of future endeavors and benefits.
Mixed Reality
Mixed reality or Merged Reality (MR) is the merging of the real world and virtual worlds to produce new environments and visualizations where physical and digital objects co-exist and interact in real-time. This technology offers users the ability to interact with digital objects in the same way as virtual reality while retaining the physical environment of real-world surroundings.n
Simulated Reality
Simulations are a form of virtual reality that is as truly immersive as the actual reality, enabling an advanced lifelike experience and sensations. Simulations replicate most sensations during the experience such as wind, smell, and physical movement, most commonly used in pilot and astronaut simulators. It is most likely to be produced using a brain-computer interface and quantum computing.n
Immersive Reality Is Everywhere
These day immersive reality experiences can be found all over. Virtual reality is most commonly used in entertainment applications such as video gaming. Consumer virtual reality headsets were first released by video game companies in the early-mid 1990s, but the machines we’re large and very expensive. Yet in the 2010s, next-generation commercial headsets were released by Oculus (Rift), HTC (Vive) and Sony (PlayStation VR), setting off a new wave of virtual reality development. Augmented reality is popularly used in advertisements and film, as well as 3D cinema, to augment what is seen on screen by the characters or viewers with and without the use of classes. The first immersive art worlds were created in the 1970s and when commercially available technology became more widespread, more artistic programs were produced including feature films. AR is also seen as a promising platform for e-commerce, particularly to challenge traditional “brick and mortar” retailers by being able to display products in a more lifelike format. Simulations are often found in theme parks, arcades, museums, and shopping malls
Immersive Reality Training
immersive realities offer a cost-effective tool to study or train, replicating actions and interactions in a controlled environment. They can simulate real workspaces for workplace occupational safety and health purposes, educational purposes, and training purposes. It can be used to provide learners with a virtual environment where they can develop their skills without the real-world consequences of failing. Virtual training offers a method to increase retention and recall by allowing users to experience and navigate the exact conditions they would in real life. Supplementing traditional training with virtual training environments offers avenues of realism while minimizing cost and mitigating risk. In medicine, for example, simulated VR surgical environments can provide effective and repeatable training at a low cost, allowing trainees to recognize and fix errors as they occur.Virtual training appeals to the senses, making it easier to remember things because the user has dealt with multiple senses during the experience. The technology is cost-effective and provides better results but the challenge is in the development of the content. eCubed Training provides custom development of VR, AR, and MR training experiences for industrial professions. Contact us now for a free consultation!