Starting this month, the Virtual Reality Research Group (VR-ReG), an RSO branching off of the Association for Computing Machinery, will be hosting free monthly Virtual Reality demonstrations for any and all students in the hallway outside of the entrance to the Zahnow Library from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. the first Thursday of every month.
During these demonstrations, students will be able to sit down, strap on some virtual reality goggles and experience what virtual reality can bring to the table.
This bare basics demonstration illustrates what can be done with the technology and provides students with a unique look at the future.
The demo includes viewing the world from space, taking part in some dinner time inside of a hut in a small Asian village and experiencing various aspects of nature.
These demonstrations will feature the Oculus brand of virtual reality technology, which is one of the more popular versions of the machinery at this time.
VR-ReG encourages tech-savvy Cardinals to come out to discuss and create excitement about new technology as well as help spread the word about what is possible with virtual reality.
“We do demonstrations like this for virtual reality to show people what technologies are coming out and how great it is,” said Kevin Kargula, Treasurer and Secretary of the Association for Computing Machinery, or ACM. “(ACM) will also be hosting several other events to try to bring enthusiasm into the field (of computer sciences).”
When thinking of virtual reality a general audience will initially think of how it is applied to its potential in the video game industry, but VR-ReG is adamant about showing off some alternative, more important applications that are possible with virtual reality technology.
“We’re trying to figure out what we can do with virtual reality to make it more applicable to things outside of video gaming,” Kargula said.
According to Kargula, these more practical applications include teaching future doctors how to perform surgery as well as training for police officers and firefighters that would be much less risky in a virtual world.
“You could (show VR to a) surgeon (who) could practice in a ‘video game’ how to do a surgery, and there’s new technology to come with the VR to show hand movements and that way they can use a scalpel (in) this virtual reality,” said Kargula.
Kargula goes on to say that the art world is another area in which VR-ReG is looking to apply this technology. Applications such as using the virtual world to sculpt a 3D model or even hosting real art galleries in a virtual world are some of the things that the organization is interested in.
VR-ReG is currently working with Art Professor Mike Mosher to develop a virtual art museum which will be hosted and promoted at Professor Mosher’s own museum opening sometime within the next month.
