Vr Immersion and the Next Step

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But the advancement of such technology and the path to reaching true immersion may also enable a new type of disconnect with reality may overstep a dangerous boundary caused by this revolutionary technology and cause lasting damage. In the past, some people have become disconnected from the real world and has caused harm to themselves and other people being influenced by television or video games, a danger that may be caused by mental problems but also spurred by immersive technology. Today players can choose to race at 200 miles per hour, fight imaginary dragons and wizards, try and catch the biggest fish in the pacific, fly in the skies of Azerath on your latest mount and of course, but perhaps most the worrying, learn how to aim and shoot an AK-47 at an police officer while robbing a bank, all in the comfort of their own home. Most notably, Adam Lanza, the perpetrator in the Sandy Hook Elementary Shooting was blamed by some for having played violent video games in which, in addition to his mental condition, led him to kill over twenty eight people including himself. It is cases like this, which undoubtedly are mostly allegations of the media but still contain shards of truth, that are the most worrying. If certain people can be triggered by only 2D images on a normal screen, how will recent developments in virtual reality, a technology that is so much closer to true immersion, going to affect them.

As for the future of immersion, fully body tracking devices with laser scanners are already in development, devices like the Power Glove in concept but many times better in execution have already been announced. Immersion education, military training or medical applications have already been tested with great results. It’s possible to soon see these technologies in every home. Much like the launch of the personal computer, or the mice, or the smartphone, VR technologies are going to be a staple peripheral in interacting with the rest of our electronics in the near future.

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