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Virtual reality has been a focus of intense research and development almost since scientists made their first attempts at computer graphics back in the 1940s and 50s, but it wasn’t until the 1990s that 3D computer graphics became advanced enough to even begin the work of creating the computer simulated environments necessary for virtual reality to step out of the pages of science fiction and become a real technology.
Now, in 2016, virtual reality has found myriad applications ranging from virtual tours to video gaming. It should come as no surprise, then, that universities around the country are beginning to harness the power of this amazing technology.
Recruiting
In an attempt to remain competitive in an increasingly digitally-oriented society, colleges have begun to offer “virtual” tours to prospective students at college fairs through VR devices such as the Samsung Gear VR, by mailing out inexpensive Google cardboards, or by simply offering virtual tours that can be viewed through a web browser.
By allowing students to experience the school campus through virtual reality, universities are helping students narrow their list of prospective colleges and decide on which universities they would like to visit in-person.
Virtual reality in higher education isn’t limited to bringing new students into a university, though.
Immersive Education
Because virtual reality is, by its very nature, immersive, the technology can help students gain a better understanding of new cultures and become more fluent in a second language. Military applications of virtual reality have paved the way for privatization of virtual reality technology, which in turn led to the development of an immersive educational strategy based on research conducted for the military that can effectively teach new skills and knowledge more quickly and with better fluency than traditional educational methods.
Virtual reality in higher education today ranges from simulators that help students gain practical hands-on experience as they gain knowledge in their chosen field to innovative software programs that help immerse a student in a new language and culture.
In the Future
While there have been major breakthroughs in the field of virtual reality research, the technology is still in its infancy. In the future, virtual reality devices will be controlled through the users’ thoughts and provide sensory feedback directly through manipulation of the users’ neurophysiology.
It would not be a stretch to assume that the average university of tomorrow will be fully equipped with virtual reality headsets to help give students a firsthand experience of historical events, or practical hands-on experience to medical students operating on a virtual patient long before a real patient is introduced who would be depending on their expertise.
Virtual Reality in higher education is quickly becoming the norm, and in the future it is very likely that universities, trade schools, and even elementary and high schools will use virtual reality to augment traditional educational strategies. Even today, with virtual reality still in its infancy, universities are already using VR in recruitment drives and in the classroom in courses that would benefit from total immersion in the subject matter, such as in language courses and flight simulators.
