Virtual Reality Technology

In the coming decades, the technology that enables virtual and augmented reality will improve beyond recognition. Within a century, world-renowned philosopher David J. Chalmers predicts, we will have virtual worlds that are impossible to distinguish from non-virtual worlds. But is virtual reality just escapism? In a highly original work of 'technophilosophy', Chalmers argues categorically, no: virtual reality is genuine reality. Virtual worlds are not second-class worlds. We can live a meaningful life in virtual reality - and increasingly, we will.

Extended reality (XR for short) - which encompasses virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality - is one of the biggest business trends of today. It refers to the use of technology to create more immersive digital experiences that are promising to transform many businesses and industries. In this book, best-selling author, strategic business advisor, and respected futurist Bernard Marr explains the role of XR in providing innovative businesses solutions for companies of varying sizes and across different industries.

The author of The Internet of Things presents his latest book. 

In this audiobook, we will look at what virtual reality is, how it started, and how we use it today. We will also look at some of the fields it is disrupting, creating, and destroying. We will discuss the differences between virtual reality and augmented reality, and we will look at the economic drivers behind their development.  

From iconic books like Neuromancer to blockbuster films like The Matrix, virtual reality has long been hailed as the ultimate technology. But outside of a few research labs and military training facilities, this tantalizing vision of the future was nothing but science fiction. Until 2012, when Oculus founder Palmer Luckey - then just a rebellious teenage dreamer living alone in a camper trailer - invents a device that has the potential to change everything.

Virtual reality is able to effectively blur the line between reality and illusion, pushing the limits of our imagination and granting us access to any experience imaginable. With well-crafted simulations, these experiences, which are so immersive that the brain believes they're real, are already widely available with a VR headset and will only become more accessible and commonplace. But how does this new medium affect its users, and does it have a future beyond fantasy and escapism? In Experience on Demand, Jeremy Bailenson draws on two decades spent researching the psychological effects of VR and other mass media to help listeners understand this powerful new tool.

In our rapidly evolving digital age, where reality often intertwines with the virtual, a question emerges: could our very existence be a part of a grander digital construct? "Simulation Theory for Beginners" dives headfirst into this profound question, exploring the enigmatic simulation hypothesis in depth.

Herman Narula argues that it is all of these things. His vision of the metaverse, deeply rooted in history and psychology, looks to the Egyptians, whose conception of death inspired them to build the pyramids, to modern-day sports fans whose fantasy leagues are as competitive as the real thing, and finds that humanity has always sought to supplement our day-to-day lives with a rich diversity of alternative immersive experiences.

In Defying Reality, David M. Ewalt traces the story of virtual reality from ancient amphitheaters to Cold War military laboratories, through decades of hype and failure, to a 19-year-old video game aficionado who made the impossible possible. Ewalt looks at how businesses are already using this tech to revolutionize the world around us, and what we can expect in the future. Ewalt offers a unique perspective on VR. With firsthand accounts and on-the-ground reporting, Defying Reality shows how VR will change our work, our play, and the way we relate to one another. 

Composed from exhaustive research and hundreds of personal interviews, the Stay Awhile and Listen series divulges the fated meeting that brought the two Blizzards together, the clashes that tore them apart, and their transformation from grassroots democracy to corporate empire. At the center of it all - Diablo, a hack-and-slash adventure through the darkest recesses of Hell that changed online gaming forever.

The biggest revolution in history is unfolding right before our eyes. The new internet is upon us, blending two worlds—digital and physical. Today’s dreams are tomorrow’s reality. Science fiction is now science fact—made possible through blockchain technology. Welcome to Web3, where everything changes. Global changes like economies, currencies, governments, and education. And personal changes like identity, sex, communication, and health.

Are you ready for the next evolution of the internet? Do you want to get involved in the Metaverse craze, but don’t know where to start? Have you been dabbling in this space for a while, but you still feel like you’re missing something? To be a part of the future, it’s important to stay educated on the latest and most innovative trends. Whether you choose to invest, build something in the Metaverse, or just keep your eye on it from the sidelines, this audiobook is perfect for those wanting to know more about the phenomenon.

As the metaverse develops, conversations around the topic have been cluttered and opaque. What is the metaverse? Why is the metaverse important? And what will the metaverse look like? The Metaverse: A Professional Guide sorts the sense from the nonsense, giving experts insights and guidance on how to navigate the burgeoning world of immersive technologies. By the end, you will have a firm grasp of the metaverse and all the contingent technologies that link to its foundations.

As Web 2.0 matures and grows to Web 3.0—a decentralized layer atop the present web infrastructure—it's worth reflecting on the early days of the Internet more than 25 years ago. If you're old enough, you may remember the fear and doubt that gripped everyone back then. If you want your small business to survive the next 10 years, you must make a change. By failing to update your business' operations, you are losing market share, earnings, and prospects to your competitors. It also gets more difficult to adjust and will wind up costing more in the long run...if you get that far.

VR Third Wave offers tips on VR as a tool for enlightenment as well as fun. VR enlightenment doesn't mean floating Buddhas or explicitly religious symbols. The Third Wave is about enhancing everyday existence, feeling more deeply connected to the world, a heightened sense of reality. VR is a tool for mindfulness and personal development. As a "way" or practice, VR touches spiritual and metaphysical depths

In The Metaverse Handbook: Innovating for the Internet's Next Tectonic Shift, a duo of experienced tech and culture experts delivers a can't-miss guide to participating in the most promising new technology since the advent of the web. Through dozens of metaverse creator case studies and concise, actionable insights, you'll walk away from this book understanding how to explore and implement the latest metaverse tech emerging from blockchain, XR, and web3.

In Step into the Metaverse, Dr. Mark van Rijmenam delivers a startlingly insightful discussion about how the world as we know it will fundamentally change as the physical and the digital worlds merge into the metaverse, impacting the everyday experiences of people, companies, and societies. The author maps out the extraordinary opportunities and challenges facing business leaders, consumers, regulators, policymakers, and other metaverse stakeholders trying to navigate the future of the Internet.

Heralded as the most significant technological innovation since the smartphone, virtual reality is poised to transform our very notions of life and humanity. Though this tech is still in its infancy, to those on the inside, it is the future. VR will change how we work, how we experience entertainment, how we feel pleasure and other emotions, how we see ourselves, and most importantly, how we relate to each other in the real world. And we will never be the same. Peter Rubin, senior culture editor for Wired and the industry's go-to authority on the subject, calls it an "intimacy engine".

This is a short book on why virtual reality technologies will completely transform society as we know it. Provides vivid details about how and why VR will overtake smart phones and other devices....

You've probably heard that the metaverse—a word that seemingly went from nonexistent to everywhere—is the next big thing in technology. What is it? Written by a leading futurist, Metaverse For Dummies unravels the mysteries of the metaverse, for the curious and for anyone looking to get in on the ground floor. Discover how to carve out your niche in the metaverse with easy-to-understand breakdowns of the major technologies and platforms, a guide to doing business in the metaverse, and explorations of what meta means for sports, education, and just about every other area of life.