Is Virtual Reality Safe?: Staying Safe with VR
With a growing interest in virtual reality, especially with the release of the affordable VR Headset — the Oculus Quest 2, there have also been rising concerns.
Is Virtual Reality safe? As Virtual Reality enters the mainstream with new applications and video games being released monthly, this question has, no doubt, entered the minds of many people. The answer to this question is “mostly yes”. However, there are a few measures you should take to keep your Virtual Reality experience safe and fun.
Stay Seated or Static
Though we see many images of people standing using virtual reality, it is safest when one is sitting, and if not sitting, at least not moving around too much. Staying sitting down drastically reduces the risk of falling over, bumping into objects, and overall body-based disorientation. By keeping your body in a similar position throughout the experience you also may even find it more of a pleasant experience with less possibilities of getting “motion sickness”. Most VR software development companies take note of this and so many experiences are created to keep one static so they are not too disoriented. ARSOME Technology’s driving simulator, for example, is advertised always in a seating position and recommended to be used this way. This is often done with the consumer in mind, as companies’ worst nightmare would be for a consumer to be injured through a product.
Create a Safe Playing Environment For VR
Creating a safe playing environment is especially important if you are using VR software that requires or advises moving around. This is a point often stated in the documentation and is an important point not to ignore. Clearing your space of any hard objects, and creating an environment with the least possibility of injury is already important in your day to day life. With a headset on, you are often oblivious to your surroundings, both in sight and audio, so it is even more important to take note of things you may bump into or trip over. You wouldn’t keep your eyes glued to a screen when crossing a street because of the dangers of that environment so take measure to avoid a dangerous environment in your own home when your eyes are actually glued to a screen.
Take Breaks
Breaks are very important when using virtual reality technology. This should be no surprise as there is already information detailing some of the issues with not taking a break from our near and dear cellular devices and computers. In fact, “the makers of the most popular VR headsets, the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, recommend taking ‘at least a 10 to 15 minute break every 30 minutes, even if you don’t think you need it.’” By taking breaks, you can ensure that you’re giving your mind and body the rest it needs and the ability to differentiate between the real world and the virtual one. As the technology improves and expands, this may even become more important, especially for those with escapism coping mechanisms. We know it’s fun, and can be hard to put down, but keep close tabs on yourself and when necessary, hang your headset up or put it down.
Educate Yourself With The Fine Print
You’ll find that the fine print often includes “warning” information. Most of us like to ignore and skip over the fine print, but even for something as widely known and accessible as Virtual Reality, the fine print can still come as a surprise. Whether you’re looking at a game or a new headset that came out, you’ll find that there are different notices and things to look out for in the fine print. Read the booklet, the webpage or whatever you have to to ensure that you’re having the safest and most pleasurable experience.
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All in all, virtual reality is an extraordinarily unique way to experience and share experiences with other human beings. It’s the closest thing to actually doing an activity and often can be much more safe than the activity itself. This is especially relevant for technical industries such as welding, transportation, and warehousing where injuries can be prominent and sometimes deadly. Just like everything, it’s important to act in a way that is best for your health and safety. With these few tips, I hope you’re able to make the best decisions for yourself when exploring the wonderful and exciting virtual reality scene.
ARSOME Technology is an Augmented & Virtual Reality company based in Manchester, Connecticut. ARSOME Technology is a highly established and driven company that works for and with companies interested in bringing an AR, VR, or Mixed Reality experience to their businesses. Contact us at ARSOME.com to learn more.
Written by Lola Oretade, Marketing Manager at ARSOME Technology
