Augmented and Virtual Reality Integrating Into Our Daily Lives
When I first heard about augmented and virtual reality I thought they were the same thing. I thought it was those large goggle looking eye covers and that's what it was. Reading more about it I can see that it's much more. From video games to apps on your phones, even now reading about it I have found that Amazon used augmented reality in their app for you to see the product in your living space. Reading I have learned that augmented reality “lets the user experience the real world, which has been digitally augmented or enhanced in some way”(Overby, 2019). This is exactly what Amazon is doing, they are letting the user use the real world but augments it so you can see the digital product in your room as if it was real. As for the difference between augmented and virtual reality, virtual reality “removes the user from that real-world experience, replacing it with a completely simulated one” (Overby, 2019). This is where I didn't know the difference between the two where virtual reality totally takes you away from the space you are in but for augmented reality, it incorporates enhanced media within the space you are in. I see the importance between the two because now doing research on them they are two different types of reality.
If anyone has seen Ready Player One, you'll know that the destruction of the world is due to virtual reality. As I don't think that we will come to this I do think that virtual reality will play a large roll in our lives in the future. The fact that we can put on VR headsets and be in a totally different world is amazing. Due to technology around VR and AR being limited and expensive right now, I can see it being extremely profitable once the price drops. Just like with any other technology like cell phones, cameras, TVs, laptops, and even projectors once it is at a reasonable price it will slowly work its way into our daily life. I can see in the future it making its way into classrooms and other types of learning settings as well.
Digging deeper into the case studies of Wellness VR and Dental offices using VR, I can see how these two will be extremely beneficial for the future. For the Wellness VR, I know that if my grandma was still around she would've extremely benefited from this technology. Being that she sat in her room most of the time and had both Dementia and Alzheimers, the VR would help relax her and give her the ability to interact and have brain stimulation while the nurses weren't around. I do hope that VR becomes more affordable in the future because nurses can’t interact with them all day so having “optional guided meditations, performances and learning experiences” (Visual) when the nurses aren't around, this is a great option. Another way VR can be helpful is in dental offices, where people may be nervous about procedures or even cleanings. For myself, I have never been a fan of the dentist since I was little, especially when I was little I would squirm and probably wasn’t the best patient for cleanings. VR would help decrease fear and increase comfort while at the dental office. While laying in the chair, patients can watch a relaxing video as they are getting their teeth cleaned or having a procedure. One challenge that may come with VR in both of these settings is that it’s a new technology and will be a challenge for some to use. It's an added future that will take time to get used to implementing into these situations. People may not know how they work and will take extra time out of their work to help integrate VR into nursing homes and even dental offices.
