Even though virtual reality is quite an appealing concept, there are still concerns that need to be taken into account. For instance, a lot of people wonder if their body can cope with long-term exposure to virtual reality. The answer to this question is not a simple yes or no by any means. However, some experts lean toward a negative for the time being.
Human Bodies And VR Don’t Always Mix Well
To put this question into a different perspective, our human bodies have never experienced anything that even closely resembles virtual reality. It is not in league with preparing your body for a food challenge or holding down your lunch while going on a crazy roller coaster. Virtual reality is about much more than that, as the number of external impulses can cause a sensory overload in the brain.
One has to keep in mind the virtual environment can prove to be very challenging to get used to. We have zero control over the things happening around us, including how the camera is positioned. In fact, some of the more professionally created VR experiences may induce an unexpected physical reaction in the player’s body.
One game in particular lets users rescue a cat from a ledge that is hovering over the city below. Even though our brains should know this is a fake environment, the experience feels so real people will effectively tremble and sweat. Some people will even exhibit clear signs of vertigo, even though their feet are touching solid ground in the real world.
It is virtually impossible to prepare for scenarios like these, that much is evident. This is also why some of the VR content can best be experienced while sitting down, as doing so will avoid involuntary physical reactions. Virtual reality has a way of messing with our vestibular system, which can force the player’s body to respond in a highly sensitive manner. Although this is not a lethal consequence – strictly speaking – it is a big concern to take into consideration.
To overcome this problem, VR developers will need to figure out a way to balance the relationship between our eyes and the vestibular system. For now, our eyes drift in VR, while our body remains anchored to the real world. This “disconnect” triggers – sometimes violent – reactions in our body. This particular aspect will need a lot more dedicated research before VR can become a mainstream trend. Unfortunately for enthusiasts, there is no way to prepare oneself for a VR experience right now.
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