Virtual Reality

Virtrax (Virtual Random Access) is an evolving website for virtual reality applications. The edges of an object differentiate it from the world. The geometry of these edges also gives perceptual cues about its three-dimensionality. The edges around an object create its outline and are the link between interaction among things (including overlap, scale, and parallax) and the internal angle of the object. The interior dimensions of an object bridge the outer boundaries of the object and its inner surfaces and textures. Together, the outer and inner edges of an object influence perceptions about its 3D size, location, orientation, and movement. The page on perception of distance in virtual reality environments discusses additional topics.

A major growth area for virtual reality uses is the practice of medicine. Virtual reality is used in numerous ways for diagnosis, treatment, education, and research. Virtual-reality uses help doctors to identify and remove malignant tissue. Medical automation ("medibotics") with Virtual Reality interfaces enable microsurgical operations with more precision than conventional surgical methods. Virtual Tomography (VT) integrates several Computerized Tomography (CT) or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans of body organs and systems with simulated kinesthetic interfaces. Endovascular interventionalists use 3D images to direct placement of various catheters within blood vessels. VR-based methods for treating phobias also has interesting notes.

Virtual reality can be used for medical instruction and study. With virtual visual and kinesthetic systems, interns and residents can find out how patients with unusual ailments look, feel, and respond to healing -- absent the risks of harming real patients. Advanced kinesthetic systems enable interns and residents to not only observe experts in practice, but also to have their hands virtually guided by the recorded motions of expert practitioners. In medical study, Virtual Reality is used for modeling at the molecular scale and drug discovery, genomics modeling and direction, and other virtual biology applications. Linked page virtual reality enhanced surgery also has useful information.

Humans make connections with computers through different means. Even just viewing a computer display and entering data on a keyboard is an interaction. Nonetheless, human to computer interactions only attain the amount of Virtual Reality (VR) if they are immersive, interactive and higher-order by design. Virtual reality is an enveloping computer-simulated world within which humans interface with computer-generated elements in a way governed by enough artificial intelligence that the interaction appears real. The site on advanced interactions and virtual reality may also be of interest.