By Noah Moster
Virtual reality.
If you had told someone from just 40 years ago that we’d be crafting entire worlds to interact with using just the typical VR set or even just a smartphone and a cardboard case, you’d probably be tested for drug use. However, VR has taken the world by storm, and it’s undoubtedly here to stay by the looks of it. So why not utilize it for education and learn how it works?
Today, we’ll explore virtual reality through three distinct dimensions: the example program as an outside observer, the learning program for starting in the VR field, and finally, powerful software to develop a personal (or professional) career in virtual reality! Strap your goggles in, make sure your surroundings are clear of obstacles, and prepare yourself for a swim in the sea of technology!
1. Google Arts & Culture
Link to Website: https://artsandculture.google.com/story/how-to-take-a-virtual-field-trip/QgUxjvlk7ChgnQ
Let’s start with a simple question: What is virtual reality? Virtual reality is a simulation of any environment using immersive technology to transport the viewer into the target space mentally. When thinking about VR, one’s mind often focuses on fantastical areas, such as a cyborg pirate ship or perhaps a creaky abandoned amusement park with killer clowns. However, virtual reality can just as easily personify places that may exist but that the viewer will likely never see, such as Mars or the Himalayan Mountains.
The Google Arts and & Culture department has found an engaging way to encapsulate this approach with their virtual field trips explicitly designed for the classroom. This website showcases firsthand the possibilities available in the VR sphere to those who drive themselves to produce and present their craft to the world, and it serves as an example of just the beginning of the advancements this field will hold for those working within.
2. Unity Learn VR Development
Link to Course: https://learn.unity.com/pathway/vr-development
But you’ve already clicked on this blog post, and you likely don’t need to be espoused about the benefits of gaining more in-depth knowledge of the technological tools of creation. What you likely want to know is: how? How can students start honing their skills with regard to virtual reality?
Look no further than the VR Development course for Unity Learn. Unity is a very popular engine for video game creation. In the mutual interest of growing more creators in their community, they have constructed a mission-centric training module to help those trying to learn and break the mold of VR experiences. This website will help you understand the basics of virtual reality and its terminology. As a bonus, it even has a link at the bottom for potential job opportunities in the field, which you should check out regardless of whether or not this is just a passion or a profession.
Something to be said is that this module will (obviously) utilize the Unity program, so if you aren’t familiar with it, you might want to take a look at this website, which has a similar learning course for the Unity Editor (link to website: https://learn.unity.com/pathway/unity-essentials).
3. Blender
Link to Website: https://www.blender.org/
Okay, you’ve seen where VR can take you and started figuring out the basics. Now, you decide on the next step in creating a virtual sphere: interactivity or realism. Unity is excellent software for making interactive experiences, and if you’re the type of person who inundates yourself deep into one program rather than having a comparatively shallow knowledge of many applications, you’ll likely want to stick with it for the long haul and learn everything you can.
Blender is a strong competitor if you are more interested in crafting a more narrative-driven environment or desire more authenticity in, say, the walking animations of a character or the facial reactions. The common consensus is that Blender can handle the complexity that Unity may struggle with sometimes. That’s probably because Blender focuses on the 3D animation aspect, which is less suited for making games such as films or scenes. However, both have roughly equal value in the market, so it’s up to you what knowledge you’ll want to cultivate.
Virtual reality is ever-expanding. This article may not even be accurate in two or three years, but that’s how fast the industry is changing. Fortunately, with those whirlwinds of progression come opportunity, and opportunity is the perfect ally to the prospective amateur. Just remember that, above all else, what matters is that you’re learning and growing. With one learned failure comes a thousand potential successes. And as long as you’re enjoying your journey, it doesn’t matter what you make, only that you’re proud of what you’ve accomplished! So get working! Your future’s waiting for you.
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