Virtual Reality (VR) is exactly what it sounds like it is.

VR provides the opportunity to experience something that seems like a reality. It emulates things and experiences that happen in real life. The difference is that VR is not real life and it occurs in a virtual manner. It is helpful for those who desire to have experiences to which they do not have access. It is also helpful for experiences that may be dangerous.

Examples of Virtual Reality

A common example is that of war games. Many mothers (and fathers) may not want to see their young sons and daughters join the military, but virtual reality gives these same kids (young adults) the opportunity to experience it. That experience can happen without the danger of injury or death.

Basically, VR gives the opportunity to experience a reality without the reality. This allows individuals to make a decision whether they want to follow that path in the real world.

Many people grew up watching a form of virtual reality on Star Trek. That is where they introduced the holodecks. The holodecks presented a full immersion virtual reality experience. It was also beyond its years in capability. Anything and everything seemed to fit within the scope of the holodeck. It could be a picnic by the edge of a lake from 400 years ago to a New York penthouse in the 1940s.

More Discussion About Virtual Reality

Virtual Reality allows one to be someone they are not. This is helpful for those who may be suffering from disabilities. VR allows them to run and play in ways that possibly they cannot in real life. It can give them a sense of purpose in their VR world, providing them with the opportunity to live as they desire.

At the same time, VR can create an environment where players can meet other players and develop a sense of community. The benefits of the community extend beyond Virtual Reality.

Virtual reality can help with emotional pain. It also allows an individual to use the environment to slowly move past a painful breakup and practice relationship skills that may be used in the real world. By participating in VR with other people, they can practice those skills in a semi-real-time, be honing much-needed skills in the real world.

VR goes beyond fun and games. It is used in teaching people how to fly planes and drive cars. There is even a sense of VR in Hollywood movies. Anywhere where a virtual sense of something can replace the real, there is the opportunity for virtual reality.

Think about it. The sky is the limit and, virtual reality exists in that sky, too. It gives sky divers the opportunity to overcome the fear of falling. It also helps with the fear of jumping and the fear of heights.

Finally, another use for virtual reality is to help to overcome those fears. VR provides opportunities for practicing the confidence that also helps a person in real life.

There is an interesting marriage between reality and the virtual world. It is fitting that virtual reality recognizes that in the very term that is used to describe it.

As many things that have the term, “bundle” in them, there is a likelihood that you can save money when purchasing bundles. This applies if done correctly, with virtual reality (VR) bundles, as well.

However, you need to know what you are doing when it comes to bundles. You can be “taken” by a bundle that you do not need. This happens with well-meaning vendors and with scammers. That doesn’t mean that every bundle is put together with the intent to separate you from your hard earned cash. However, even the most well-meaning vendor is capable of putting together a bundle that you, as the buyer, do not need.

What Does That Mean?

Well, let’s say you went to the local fruit market. There you purchased a bag of apples, a bundle of bananas, and a chocolate drink. Now, you go to the local grocery store and you see a basket that has apples, bananas, peaches, and pears. It also has a special bonus of a chocolate drink. Is that bundle worth the purchase? Well, maybe if you have a house full of fruit lovers, but the reality is that you have already purchased most of those items!

What to Consider When Looking at a VR Bundle

Consider what it is you are purchasing. Sometimes the easiest way to do that is to sit down and make a wish list. The list contains the VR equipment you would purchase individually.

Pretend that money is not an object and list all of the items that you want for your VR setup. Then, after you make the list, put it in order of importance. So, maybe you do not need the high-tech headset and can settle for something a little lesser to save money, so put the cheaper one a little higher on your list and the more expensive one a little lower on your list.

After you have put your list in order, lightly cross off the items that are less essential. This gives you the core list of basics for your system. Remember, you can always look for a bundle that has more or even purchase the extra items in addition to your bundle. Another thing you need to do is ensure that all of your items are compatible. You don’t want to mix and match if items don’t work together.

Finally, ask yourself if you are able to live with an older VR system if that means saving some money. If you buy used equipment, eBay is a viable option for a used bundle.

Next Steps

Now, you are ready to start price shopping and comparing those prices from store to store to find the best that you can find. While you are going through your comparison shopping, be sure to watch for things like warranties, etc. So, you may be able to save money at one store, but it may not come with a warranty or the shipping may cost almost as much as the bundle.

Keep these things in mind and be sure to take notes so that you can come to the best buying decision that makes your VR heart happy as well as your real pocketbook and cash supply.

You wouldn’t think it, but it is possible.

What is that?

Injury while enjoying your favorite Virtual Reality excursion. Seriously.

You could probably sit down and brainstorm a bunch of different possibilities that could happen, in just a few minutes. In fact, if you have spent any time participating in virtual reality, you have probably had some of these not-so-fun experiences while playing. It could be as simple as a few bumps and bruises, or even worse.

So, you really should consider what to avoid so that you don’t harm yourself (or others) and also consider what you can do to help make the physical side of things more endurable.

In virtual reality (VR), it is ok if you have some bumps and bruises in the virtual part, while shooting at your enemy in a war game, flipping an automobile in a car chase, doing your favorite stunt in the next Hollywood hit movie, but those are supposed to remain within the virtual reality environment and not really happen in real life.

The problem is that people often get so involved in what they are playing that they forget that it is a computer-generated environment and actually do physical harm themselves. One common way of doing this is to forget that they might be standing while playing their favorite VR game. If that is the case and they are physically moving around, they could fall over, they could run into walls, they could trip over items in the room or any myriad of possibilities (including bopping Granny in the face as she walks into the room with your sandwich).

Steps to Secure Your Safety

So, the first rule of thumb would be for you to sit down while playing VR. You can still participate in all of the virtual activities of standing, running, jumping, flipping, tumbling, or whatever you want to do in your virtual reality. Just make sure you are sitting down in the real world, ok?

Another suggestion, while you are sitting down, is to get a wheelie chair. It is the type that you would use in an office. Ensure that the floor is smooth, or use a rubber mat. Again, like you would use in an office so that your chair easily moves.

Unless you really need the ability to lean forward, get a high-back chair. In that way, you can get comfortable for your entertainment. You may be spending quite a few hours playing VR. You don’t want back aches from too much time without back support. Besides, you could always lean forward in your high-back chair or have another stool in the room (not too near to where you are playing) ready for when you need it.

Don’t forget to ensure that your room is devoid of excess objects or furniture. Be sure to do a quick sweep (or vacuum) of the room prior to your VR games. Do this especially prior to any marathon virtual reality event. If you have regular flooring, it is probably time for a Swiffer moment (affiliate). This will ensure you have picked up any fluff and gathered up any gravel. That helps to get rid of anything that is not-so-fun to land on during your games.

Just like the visual is very important in virtual reality, so is the sound. You want to feel the sound, not just hear it.

Think about listening to your favorite song on a “tinny” replication of a sound box (think radios of the 1950s, if you can). Now, compare that to walking into a movie theater and not only hearing the sound of the movie but feeling the rhythm as it permeates through your body. That is a sound experience!

You can get a similar sound experience with good speakers (assuming you do not annoy your neighbors too much). But, why not get that experience with a good headset? Why not feel your way through the virtual experience? It is already a virtual reality experience, right?

Have you ever watched a TV show or a movie and you notice that the soundtrack is “off?” You see the lips moving before or after you hear the person speak. If it is a streaming movie from Netflix or Hulu, you can restart the box and the TV and hope that the two (visual and audio) sync up properly. Usually, it ends up being in the file and it isn’t quite right. It can be frustrating.

Now, imagine that experience in virtual reality. Talk about annoying to the Nth degree! Not only does this adversely affect your virtual reality experience, but it may affect HOW you play your games and take action within the VR experience. If you are dependent on the exact moment of sound in order to take the next action, you will not be able to perform well and this may affect scoring or at least enjoyment. You certainly don’t want your cohorts to get an edge on you, do you?

An Example Sound Solution

Fortunately, there is what is called a SoundBox (affiliate), especially from the Okra vendor. As Okra brags, their device helps to line up that sound with your eyes, so that you have a perfectly aligned virtual reality experience.

No longer are we talking about sound engineering at the basic 101 level. No longer are we wondering whether someone was able to line up the audio track with the movie track. Now we are talking about an experience that is so in sync that it is as if it was born that way. After all, YOU were born that way, with your ocular capabilities. You also have your aural capabilities in sync with each other and well-integrated, allowing you to experience life in the full 360-degree experience that you are supposed to experience.

So, why not expect that with virtual reality? If it is virtual, it is only virtual to the extent that you can bring that reality to the forefront. You are looking for your entertainment pleasure. You shouldn’t have to sacrifice that rhythm of life that is the sound that permeates your being. At least, not while you are seeing and physically experiencing this alternative reality. So, go enjoy the SoundBox that you were meant to enjoy!