Skip to content
Know.itKnow.it
Create an animated lesson
On request

This article is free to read. Creating a lesson uses your daily or stored credits; review the language and settings before starting.

What is virtual reality (VR)?

TechnologyLesson on requestFree to read

Quick answer

Virtual reality (VR) is a computer-generated, immersive 3D environment you experience through a headset, making you feel present inside a simulated world. It tracks your head and hands so the view responds as you move. A headset shows a slightly different image to each eye for 3D depth.

Key things to understand

  1. A headset shows a slightly different image to each eye for 3D depth.
  2. Sensors track your head (and often hands) so the view updates as you move.
  3. It creates 'presence' — the feeling of really being there.
  4. Used in gaming, training, design, therapy, and education.

People also ask

What's the difference between VR and AR?
VR replaces your view with a fully virtual world; AR (augmented reality) overlays digital things onto the real world.
How does VR feel 3D?
Each eye sees a slightly different image, and motion tracking updates the view instantly, mimicking real depth and movement.
What is VR used for?
Gaming, training simulations, architecture, therapy, and immersive education.