In the last technology used on the continuum, we explore virtual reality and its level of interactivity. Virtual reality is when a virtual environment is created using purely virtual objects and experienced through a head-mounted display (HMD), such as an Oculus or HTC Vive headset. Things may appear to look real, when they are in fact, 3D created objects with some kind of hyper-realistic material on them. Virtual reality can be used for many applications such as gaming, training and educational purposes. Popular mentions of the word virtual reality include Metaverse, Facebook and Oculus.

 VR technology is at the end of the continuum, as it is a complete simulation with no real elements. The user is in the virtual environment through the use of an avatar, with no trace of the real world. Virtual reality can mimic real life and feel very realistic by blending many mediums including audio and video, but it is completely fabricated. Users in virtual reality will be transported to the virtual space and feel like they are there – giving them a high degree of presence.

 The first step for a VR experience is to create the virtual environment – which can be done using a game engine, like Unity 3D. Unity allows for the creation of virtual environments that can be interacted with. From creating a virtual experience of an art gallery to a completely playable game, the possibilities are endless.

 The first step in creating the virtual environment is to build the overall architectural structures – as seen in the following tutorial.

Virtual reality compared to the other forms of media spoken about in the Capturing Reality series is one of the most immersive forms of media. With the user being able to be in the environment captured, experiencing things rather than only being able to solely hear or see them, creates a more immersive experience.

 By the end of the series, we will be able to act as one of the students that we have been seeing throughout the posts. The VR experience will allow us to view what the students have been seeing and will give us a better understanding of classrooms in COVID-19. In the next tutorial, we will be adding to the existing room created in this tutorial. Now that the initial structure is built, we will be able to add more detail including windows, chairs, desks and more to recreate the classroom. With adding in 3D objects, we have the choice of creating them using the shapes in the program or importing them using the asset store. Once all have been imported, we can then change the material of the objects to a colour of our choice, or also import materials using the asset library. Many assets can be found online for free, and are very easy to install and use on a project when your account is linked.

 Stay tuned for the following posts, as we complete our journey through the reality-virtuality continuum, exploring the day of a BMPD student.

Part 5 – With Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter in Crisis, A New Generation of Apps Emerges

by Ariel Aarenau | Feb 23, 2023

With Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter each in a state of disrepair, it should be no surprise that competitors are not just emerging but taking off. The first and most prominent competitor is TikTok, an international version of Douyin, which was released in the Chinese market in September 2016. TikTok was then released worldwide following a merger of its parent company with Musical.ly on August 2, 2018.

Part 4 – A Little Birdy Told Me Twitter Is Lost

by Ariel Aarenau | Feb 16, 2023

I write this post amidst ongoing chaos at Twitter HQ. It is November 21, 2022, and a few dozen more Twitter employees have flown away from the nest. Elon Musk is the company’s “Chief Twit”, and his latest decision to reinstate former President Trump’s Twitter account has the world chirping. Since Musk’s ownership, Twitter has shed 60% of its employees between layoffs and attrition, cut 80% of its contractors, and experienced a humiliating Twitter Blue product reconfiguration.

Part 3 – Can We #ThrowbackThursday Our Way to the Old Instagram?

by Ariel Aarenau | Feb 9, 2023

Founded in 2010 by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, Instagram was an instant success. The app reached over one million users just two months after its release and reached ten million users in its first year. In some respects, its success should have been anything but a surprise: Mark Zuckerberg was an early courter, Jack Dorsey was an avid user, and Marc Andreessen and Chris Sacca had advised from the sidelines.