The first time I truly experienced virtual reality was in class this past Wednesday. Before signing up for our class, I had watched a few 360 videos on YouTube, but they always seemed so unrealistic, and I had never put on a pair of goggles and been transported into a scene.

I tried a few different devices including the HTC Vive and Google Cardboard, among others. My favorite story to be immersed in was about Henry the Hedgehog. While I don’t think I felt 100% physically present in the scene since it was animated and I was only able to view the scene, it was a really cool way to watch a short film. If I wanted to, I could look around and watch the main action of the scene from the corner of my eye instead of straight on. Something I had never experienced before. Even though I didn’t feel completely present since I was unable to interact fully with the scene, I feel like my emotions were slightly heightened since it felt as if I was in the room with Henry.

While watching the story of Henry the Hedgehog, I noticed that the screen lagged a bit if I accidentally moved out of sight from the sensor, or turned all the way around in my seat. I was wired in and seated, which definitely reminded me that I was just an observer in the short film. I could lean forward though, which allowed me to be curious and explore my surroundings in Henry’s home. However, I believe that it would have felt more realistic if I was able to walk around.

I really enjoyed trying the various devices found in the Innovation Lab and observing my classmates try them as well. No matter what device was tried, every person in the room seemed to be in awe of what they were experiencing. I know that for me, everything I tried brought an even bigger grin to my face. Virtual Reality is a different experience than what I’m used to, but I look forward to learning more about it over the course of this semester.