Overview
Listening to Ivan’s speech about the very first approach to virtual reality back in the 1960s, I was surprised to find out how it all started. When I hear the words “Virtual Reality”, I often think about the future or something far ahead of our present time because of the innovative technology or tools involved in VR. Even today, I’m amazed by how far the world of VR has come, and I can see how it is becoming more prevalent in our lives.
Additionally, the article written by Mark Riboldi called “Controlled immersion: a special 3D/VR collaboration” was a great resource to see the whole timeline of virtual reality (referencing a variety of films that predict how VR will be utilized in the future). Starting from how we perceive what is reality — Allegory of the Cave to how we can utilize VR in a way that will help to improve the quality of our lives and change our perception of the world — Using VR to treat PTSD, phobias and etc.
Were you aware of these histories?
To be honest, no. It was my first time finding out about the history of VR and I was surprised by the amount of impact VR had on our lives as it has the ability to play or experiment with reality. When Ivan told the story:
“A camera was mounted on the roof, and two people were playing catch on the roof. As the observer watched the ball going back and forth, suddenly one of the players threw the ball at the camera. And the observer ducked.” — Ivan Sutherland
This was the moment of realization where changing reality sparked an idea for the group of people who were experimenting with the ethereal cube (including Ivan). When the observer ducked, it proves how real the experience was, how it made the individual feel uncomfortable and unsafe when in reality he was just sitting in the office. I think the beginning of this journey proves the main purpose of VR:
“VR…connects humans to other humans in a profound way that I’ve never seen before in any other form of media. And it can change people’s perception of each other. And that’s how I think virtual reality has the potential to actually change the world.” — Mark Riboldi
What do you find most fascinating about the timeline of Virtual Reality development, either scientifically or speculatively?
Scientifically, I think Virtual Reality’s ability to affect a human’s emotion and change one’s perception is the most fascinating throughout the timeline of VR development. It began by stimulating an emotion, such as the observer’s sense of fear or unsafeness, and it is now advanced into a tool that could be utilized to change someone’s mental trauma or tried to put people in different perspectives.
Of course, whether it is using VR for the treatment of vertigo and PTSD, or drawing our attention to unconscious biases like racism, it is possible that VR does have the ability to change our perception of the world around us, that the knowledge we gain from this technology can be transformative. — Mark Riboldi
The possibilities and the potential that VR has in this world is greater than I can imagine. Virtual games, augmented reality cameras for measurements, virtual military training tools, are only a few out of many ways of how VR is impacting the world as of today beneficially and I am thrilled to see how it will evolve and grow to change everyone’s lives in the future.
