The document discusses virtual reality (VR), explaining its definition, mechanisms, and current and future applications across various fields. It highlights the immersive technology's ability to simulate physical presence and outlines career opportunities in VR that intersect with disciplines such as computer science, engineering, and fine arts. Next steps for involvement in VR development include acquiring hardware and learning relevant software tools.

1. VIRTUAL REALITY:
IMAGINING THE FUTURE
Chris M. Collins
University of Cincinnati

2. Chris M. Collins | @fleep
Center for Simulations & Virtual
Environments Research (UCSIM)
UCIT Research & Development,
Division of Innovation & Partnerships,
UC Office of Information Technologies
University of Cincinnati
chris.collins@uc.edu
(513) 556-3018
http://ucsim.uc.eduIT@UC
UC Information Technologies

3. SESSION OVERVIEW
• What is Virtual Reality
• How the tech works
• Now & Future uses
• Career opportunities
• Student devs @ UC
• Next steps
FUN FACT: Facebook bought Oculus
VR for $2 Billion in 2014.

4. IMMERSIVE TECHNOLOGIES
Immersive technologies blur the lines
between
the physical world and the digital world,
creating a sense of immersion or presence.

5. IMMERSIVE TECHNOLOGIES
VIRTUAL
REALITY

6. IMMERSIVE TECHNOLOGIES
VIRTUAL
ENVIRONMENTS

7. IMMERSIVE TECHNOLOGIES
AUGMENTED
REALITY

8. IMMERSIVE TECHNOLOGIES
GESTURE
INTERFACES

9. IMMERSIVE TECHNOLOGIES
HAPTIC
INTERFACES

10. WHAT IS VIRTUAL REALITY
VIRTUAL REALITY
is technology that
simulates physical
presence in a virtual
environmentYOU!

11. HOW DOES IT WORK?
TRICKING THE EYE
Head-Mounted
Displays (HMDs)
like the Oculus Rift
trick your eyes into
seeing 3D by using
lenses and screens.
Image Credit: Oculus VR. “VR Sickness, The Rift, and How Game Developers Can Help”.
https://www.oculus.com/blog/vr-sickness-the-rift-and-how-game-developers-can-help/

12. HOW DOES IT WORK?
TRICKING THE EYE
Most HMDs are
constructed very
similarly – the
difference is in the
quality, price, and
complexity of
components.
Image Credit: MIT Technology Review. “10 Breakthrough Technologies”.
https://www.technologyreview.com/s/526531/oculus-rift/

13. HOW DOES IT WORK?
TRICKING THE EYE
The software on the
display can be
optimized to make
the experience
comfortable – or
nauseating!
Image Credit: MIT Technology Review. “10 Breakthrough Technologies”.
https://www.technologyreview.com/s/526531/oculus-rift/

14. HMD PRICE OPTIONS
GOOGLE
CARDBOARD
$10 - $20
DIY or KIT
SONY
GEAR VR
$99
Must use a
Samsung
Phone/Tablet
OCULUS VR
RIFT (CV1)
$650
Pre-Order
now available
HTC
VIVE
$700????
Pre-Order
starts Feb
29th

15. WHY USE VIRTUAL REALITY?
Virtual Reality is exciting
because it can take us
any where
any when
any place we you can
imagine.

16. ENTERTAINMENT
Image Credit: Vice. “How to Get Back Into Video Games”.
http://www.vice.com/read/how-to-get-back-into-video-games-000

17. ENTERTAINMENT
Image Credit: Vice. “How to Get Back Into Video Games”.
http://www.vice.com/read/how-to-get-back-into-video-games-000

18. ENTERTAINMENT
Image Credit: Virtual Reality Reporter. “Will Cinematic VR Disrupt the Film Industry?”.
https://virtualrealityreporter.com/virtual-reality-cinema/

19. SCIENTIFIC VISUALIZATION

20. EDUCATION

21. TRAINING
Image Credit: NASA

22. HEALTH CARE

23. VR A GROWING INDUSTRY
Image Credit: KZero. “Consumer Virtual Reality market worth $5.2bn by 2018”.
http://www.kzero.co.uk/blog/consumer-virtual-reality-market-worth-13bn-2018/

24. VR A GROWING INDUSTRY
Image Credit: Cornerstone Media. “Augmented & Virtual Reality to Change How Business Operates”.
http://www.cornerstonemedia.com.au/blog/augmented-virtual-reality-to-change-how-business-operates

25. CAREER PATHSVirtual Reality will touch all
disciplines.

26. VR requires science AND art.

27. SKILLS & MAJORS
 COMPUTER SCIENCE
 ENGINEERING
 IT & PROGRAMMING
 MATH
 FINE ARTS
 GRAPHIC DESIGN
 ARCHITECTURE
 MARKETING

28. UCSIM STUDENT DEVELOPERS

29. UCSIM STUDENT DEVELOPERS

30. UCSIM STUDENT DEVELOPERS

31. UCSIM STUDENT DEVELOPERS

32. UCSIM STUDENT DEVELOPERS

33. NEXT STEPS
• Get a VR HMD
• Graphic Design & Textures:
PhotoShop or GIMP
• 3D Modeling: Blender
• Audio Engineering: Audacity
• VR Applications: Unity

34. VIRTUAL REALITY:
IMAGINING THE FUTURE
Chris M. Collins
University of Cincinnati