What Is Virtual Reality (VR)?

Virtual reality (VR) technology is used to simulate an immersive artificial world that can mimic or transcend reality. Virtual reality has many use-cases, encompassing entertainment, sales, education and training. 

To fully experience virtual reality, viewers need a virtual reality headset. These are typically developed by companies such as Oculus, Sony, or HTC and incorporate technologies that help create a sense of immersion in a parallel digital world. 

Specially designed lenses provide a sense of depth and dimensionality even where there is none. Cameras and/or sensors on the outside track the user’s movements and responses, as well as hand-held controllers. 

In VR, the display is split between both eyes to create a stereoscopic 3D effect with stereo sound. Together with the technologies and input tracking previously mentioned, these work to create an immersive and wholly believable experience.

Note that some virtual reality headsets have a computer built inside of them that can itself  run or stream software. However, most of the time headsets have to be connected to a separate computer in order to support sophisticated and compute-intensive VR applications.