Virtual reality or the generally used term VR is a three dimensional (3D) real like environment made by the help of computer generated simulation, that allows a person to interact within it using electronic devices such as specialized goggles and screens. There are a lot of softwares that helps us in making these 2D or 3D images or models. You might have heard of VR in gaming, where people wear these goggles to ‘transport’ themselves into the gaming world and experience it as if it is actually happening to them.
But the real question is why make such simulations and how can it be the future of science? In simple terms it is used for better visualization. Visualization is simply displaying of data so that it is easily understandable like in the form of charts and graphs, but with the use of technology we are able to make this more efficiently on computers rather than drawing it ourselves. Softwares like ‘Blender’ can be used to make these computer simulated accurate diagrams and 3D models enhancing our understanding of the subject under study. Moreover, there have been many studies that show how these interactive features improve focus as it is more engaging. As our main topic of interest is biology, I will be talking about visualization by the help of virtual reality in various fields of biology like life sciences, biological research and medicine.
How do doctors explain to their patients what procedure they will be going through if they do not understand medical jargon? This is when a biomedical visualization specialist comes in where through pictures, animations, and models they explain to the patient what is going to happen and help us get rid of the gap. Biomedical visualization specialists have the skills in design with knowledge in biomedical science creating scientifically accurate models to even correctly diagnose people with complex diseases.
We have seen visualization used in the past and one of the many examples is the use of posters and handouts in West Africa when the Ebola virus broke out in 2014. Through these posters they communicated visual information on how to be treated as quickly as possible using the care facilities provided.
If you are interested I would encourage you to take online courses available for biomedical visualization for free of cost which are very informative.
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