virtual reality


An artificial environment created with computer hardware and software and presented to the user in such a way that it appears and feels like a real environment. To “enter” a virtual reality, a user dons special gloves, earphones, and goggles, all of which receive their input from the computer system. In this way, at least three of the five senses are controlled by the computer. In addition to feeding sensory input to the user, the devices also monitor the user’s actions. The goggles, for example, track how the eyes move and respond accordingly by sending new video input.

To date, virtual reality systems require extremely expensive hardware and software and are confined mostly to research laboratories.

The term virtual reality is sometimes used more generally to refer to any virtual world represented in a computer, even if it’s just a text-based or graphical representation.

Read Also:

  • virtual router

    (n.) An abstract object managed by VRRP that acts as a default router for hosts on a shared LAN. It consists of a Virtual Router Identifier and a set of associated IP addresses across a common LAN.

  • Virtual Server

    A server, usually a Web server, that shares computer resources with other virtual servers. In this context, the virtual part simply means that it is not a dedicated server– that is, the entire computer is not dedicated to running the server software. Virtual Web servers are a very popular way of providing low-cost web hosting […]

  • virtual tape library

    A VTL, or virtual tape library, is an archival backup solution that combines traditional tape backup methodology with low-cost disk technology to create an optimized backup and recovery solution. It is an intelligent disk-based library that emulates traditional tape devices and tape formats. Acting like a tape library with the performance of modern disk drives, […]

  • virtual teletype

    Abbreviated as VTY, virtual teletype is a command line interface that enables users to connect to the daemon using the Telnet protocol. To connect to a VTY users must setup and use a VTY password. VTY offers three user modes including the following; VTY View Mode for read-only interaction. VTY Enable Mode for read-write interaction. […]

  • virtual tour

    A panoramic view or video simulation of an existing place that can be viewed online, often for travel or vacation-related research. A virtual tour is usually a collection of panoramic images that are played in sequence to view like a moving video with added sound and text effects, or a virtual tour may use models […]


Disclaimer: virtual reality definition / meaning should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. All content on this website is for informational purposes only.