Virtual reality is a simulated 3D environment experienced through a headset. It replaces your surroundings with a computer-generated world. You look around and the view changes. You move and the world responds. It can feel real enough to trigger fear, joy, and presence. The technology has been promised for decades. It is finally arriving.

VR headsets use lenses and screens to create stereoscopic images. Sensors track head movement. Controllers track hands. Some systems use room-scale tracking so you can walk around. Haptic gloves and vests add touch feedback. The goal is immersion. The better the immersion, the stronger the experience.

Uses of VR

• Gaming: immersive worlds and interactions
• Training: flight simulators, surgery practice
• Therapy: exposure therapy, pain distraction
• Social: virtual meetings and hangouts
• Design: architectural walkthroughs

VR is not for everyone. Headsets can cause motion sickness. They are heavy and expensive. They isolate you from the room. But for training, therapy, and certain games, VR offers something no other medium can. The sense of presence is powerful.