Virtual Reality Technology: The Impact of Practice and Research

Virtual reality technology is a computer-generated environment that simulates real surroundings and experiences and allows users to interact in a fully immersive way. The technology has been around for a while, but it’s only starting to gain mainstream popularity recently. The military uses the technology for training purposes and scientists to help study the brain. Virtual reality is being used for home entertainment as well as gaming, and the potential for this technology is huge!

VR Technology as Applied in Various Industries

VR technology has taken the world by storm in the last decade, with many people now able to afford VR headsets, such as the Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, and PlayStation VR. But it is much more than games, as researchers are beginning to discover applications for various industries.

VR technology has been applied in the realm of:

• Entertainment

As stated earlier, this technology has been around for a while, but it has gained a lot of good reputation in recent years as VR goggles have become increasingly affordable. Virtual Reality is typically used for video game purposes, but it can also extend into other creative outlets, including film, television, and even live music. VR film, for example, gives viewers the ability to view a film in a way that they’ve never experienced before.

VR technology has been a hot topic since Samsung debuted its first VR headset, the Gear VR, in 2015. Since that time, this technology has made considerable leaps in video resolution, head tracking, and overall consumer-friendliness. That said VR isn’t cheap-the Oculus Rift alone currently costs $599. However, the opportunities for such tech are staggering.

• Military

Since its first big impact in the entertainment world, virtual reality technology has excited many. The ability to experience virtually anything through “augmented reality” allows users to see and interact in a digital environment. This tech was also employed in the field of the military as its impact in the field can be immense. Although VR technology is still relatively new, it has already improved the lives of millions of people worldwide. The Department of Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has used virtual reality technology to train soldiers in realistic combat scenarios.

By using virtual reality, the soldiers can experience the combat situations they would face in the real world before they are actually in combat. This can help them reduce injuries and save lives.

• Education

VR technology has been increasingly applied to the field of education in recent years. Educators and students alike love using this tech to help teach and learn. It allows educators and students in one part of the world to virtually travel to another location and interact with people in that location. The technology is powerful, allowing students to engage with historical places, faraway places they cannot physically visit without leaving the classroom. Also, computer Graphics, Math, and Science students are often taught using VR-based programs.

• Healthcare and Medicine

Virtual reality is a technology that immerses a user in a simulated environment. In the medical field, this immersion can be used to treat certain illnesses and injuries. One such illness is phantom limb pain, which happens when a patient loses a limb but continues to experience sensations in the missing limb. Guerilla VR, a UK-based startup, has developed a VR treatment to help patients overcome this sensation.

Virtual reality is transforming healthcare and medicine. It has the potential to provide new forms of therapy, training simulations, emergency simulations, and medical treatment information. VR can even help improve patients’ conditions and quality of life. Therapists can incorporate VR technology in their treatment for special clients that may require added support. A mental health professional can look for VR therapy platforms that can provide the VR devices with quality content as well as provide assistance to learn how to operate them.

Can We Expect More from VR Technology Through the Coming Years?

VR technology hasn’t fully reached mainstream adoption, but it’s already holding its own in terms of innovation and growing user base. When Oculus VR launched in 2012, nobody expected the technology to resonate with consumers in the way it’s currently doing. However, it has matured over the past few years, and 2017 marked the highest consumer adoption of the technology we’ve seen yet. So, can we expect more? Absolutely.

If Technology Is Efficient in the Classroom – Why Some Students Don’t Like It So Much?

Technology in the classroom is nothing new. Kids today have grown up with technology at their fingertips. Teachers are using technology in the classroom in a variety of ways, from providing students with interactive digital resources and materials to using educational apps to help kids retain information. So, why does every kid seem to hate technology in the classroom?

Technology has changed the way we learn—and the way we teach. Technology has made the learning experience more engaging and interactive, whether that means using software to foster group collaboration and critical thinking, using simulations and virtual reality to make nursing concepts come alive, or implementing a flipped classroom model that allows educators to show the relevant parts of a video lesson before a student’s head out to practice.

6 Disadvantages of Technology in the Classroom

Technology in the classroom has its benefits, but there are also drawbacks.

1. Students Don’t Like It

As a student, you probably don’t like it. In fact, many students would rather do homework by hand. Students don’t like learning using new technologies because it’s new. Students don’t like learning using new technologies because it takes them out of their “zone” of learning. Students don’t like learning using new technologies because they are used to having to sit at a desk with a pen and pencil to complete their homework.

2. Students can’t focus

Students get easily distracted. Too many temptations of social media, texts, music, etc.

3. Students don’t understand the technology

Students aren’t computer savvy enough to understand technology in the classroom, so when they ask for help with technology, their teacher can’t always help them.

4. Students don’t complete assignments often 

Students don’t complete their assignments because they don’t like the “digital” assignments. Many teachers still prefer paper assignments.

5. Students get bored

Students get bored because of the slow pace of learning. They may not see the relevance of learning things constantly.

6. Students aren’t motivated

Students aren’t motivated because they don’t think they need to learn them.

Technology has changed the way people learn and interact. Teachers can now use interactive whiteboards in their classrooms to make lessons more engaging. Laptops have replaced textbooks, and digital cameras have replaced film cameras. But a new study finds that many students dislike educational technology.

For years, technology has become increasingly prevalent in classrooms across the country. Having computers in classrooms has been shown to have a positive effect on students, but teachers and administrators still face a challenge in engaging each student in learning. Unfortunately, some students are just not as engaged as a classroom full of computers may be.

The next generation enters the classroom, and with them, they bring with them an array of experiences—there are some who thrive on technology, and there are those who experience difficulty when learning with technology. So, the question is, why? Is it because students are unwilling to learn with technology or that technology is inefficient?

Technology is advancing in almost every field today, and education is no exception. Technology has changed the way we learn, and it’s created new opportunities for education. But, as technology advances, we must also face the reality that many students do not like it. According to an article by “The Balance,” many teachers find that students find it difficult to learn with technology. “The difficult part is teaching students a new way of learning,” one teacher said.

Increasing student achievement depends greatly on teachers’ abilities to motivate students. Teachers can use a variety of strategies, but one of the best ways to engage students is through the use of technology. Teachers can use technology in a variety of ways, engaging students in task-based learning, increasing student engagement, and creating virtual classrooms.