Virtual realities complete and improve our life

Little by little, we have become familiar with concepts such as virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality, immersive experiences and extended reality. The common thing to all reality appendages is that digital, in different ways, is starting to complete and modify our world and the way we relate to him. It also generates a before and after in the consumption of audiovisual content.

While the devices evolve and become more accessible until they are part of our daily lives, companies in the technology sector are dedicated to explore in this world of parallel realities to discover new ways of application and creation.

The role that is being acquiring in health, education or industry is a real revolution. And the biggest one is that it allows you to break through physical boundaries, body is not a limitation.

Because of that, healthcare centers are incorporating virtual reality among targeted services, for example, at the elderly. It is wonderful to see how a person over 80 can remember and feel emotions beyond his room, or visit places he has never seen, thanks to RV devices. They are also revealing as tools of great value in rehabilitation. It is corroborated by studies carried out by specialists in neuroscience such as Mavi Sánchez-Vives, ICREA research professor at IDIBAPS (Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer) and member of the European Human Brain Project, which has new technologies as a great partner to analyze the behavior of the brain, in addition to the effects of VR on a physical, cognitive and behavioral level, and its possible applications in therapies.

The challenge is that other senses, not just sight, can complete the experience. The sensors are becoming more sophisticated and ensure that, in fields such as sports training or training in professional skills, the results are increasingly better and closer to the objectives set. Using virtual reality or augmented reality in industrial training processes, companies have the advantage of eliminating occupational hazards for their workers, in addition to that they can be performed from anywhere, reducing costs and optimizing execution time.

In the case of education, learning through experience thanks tot the possibilities provided by new technologies facilitates understanding and assimilation of concepts and makes it more participatory and motivating. The class environment breaks it boundaries and students and teachers can already connect from anywhere, also favored by the advent of 5G technology. This elimination of latency is a great advance for the successful application of the new realities.

Perceptions, senses, sometimes rebel against these new forms of interaction, but devices are rapidly evolving to counteract possible problems and improve functionality: glasses, helmets, controls, applications, armchairs, screens… even slippers!

The audiovisual market is another area that is seeing the immersive concept as an opportunity to offer new sensations to the public. We need the excitement in our lives and the spectacularity that these technologies offer allow us a complete experience. As participate in history when it comes to fiction or empathize with other people’s situations and stories. Video games have been the advance and now we are all on that path, excited with all the possibilities offered by virtual realities. A stimulation of our creativity that turns it into a powerful tool of artistic expression.

The challenges are many and if a little more than two years ago there seemed to be skepticism in the application of this technology outside of leisure and events, the acceleration that is acquiring its development and the interest it awakens is now unquestionable. It is important to have means and spaces for experimentation, to share knowledge and to grow together. We have the talent and the desire, as well as a demand that grows every day.