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Introduction to Virtual Reality

Approx. 13 hours to complete

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Course Summary

This course provides an introduction to Virtual Reality (VR) and its potential applications. Students will learn about the history of VR, various VR technologies, and how to create a VR experience using Unity.

Key Learning Points

Learn the history and potential of Virtual Reality technology
Gain hands-on experience creating a VR experience using Unity
Understand the different types of VR technologies and their applications

Job Positions & Salaries of people who have taken this course might have

- USA: $80,000 - $140,000
- India: INR 5,00,000 - INR 20,00,000
- Spain: €30,000 - €60,000
- USA: $80,000 - $140,000
- India: INR 5,00,000 - INR 20,00,000
- Spain: €30,000 - €60,000
- USA: $60,000 - $100,000
- India: INR 3,00,000 - INR 10,00,000
- Spain: €20,000 - €40,000
- USA: $80,000 - $140,000
- India: INR 5,00,000 - INR 20,00,000
- Spain: €30,000 - €60,000
- USA: $60,000 - $100,000
- India: INR 3,00,000 - INR 10,00,000
- Spain: €20,000 - €40,000
- USA: $90,000 - $130,000
- India: INR 6,00,000 - INR 18,00,000
- Spain: €40,000 - €70,000

Learning Outcomes

Understand the basics of VR technology and its potential applications
Create a VR experience using Unity
Explore possible career opportunities in the virtual reality field

Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course

Basic programming knowledge
Access to a computer capable of running Unity software

Course Difficulty Level

Beginner

Course Format

Online
Self-paced

Similar Courses

Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality
Introduction to Augmented Reality and ARCore

Related Education Paths

Notable People in This Field

Tony Parisi
Jaron Lanier

Related Books

Description

This course will introduce you to Virtual Reality (VR). The course will teach you everything from the basics of VR- the hardware and the history of VR- to different applications of VR, the psychology of Virtual Reality, and the challenges of the medium.

The course is designed for people who are new to VR as a medium. You may have experienced some virtual reality before, and may have some hardware- but this course is suitable to individuals who have never experienced VR and those who do not have much hardware- we will explain Mobile VR as well as devices such as the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive. Introduction to Virtual Reality is the first course in the Virtual Reality Specialisation. A learner with no previous experience in Virtual Reality and/or game programming will be able to evaluate existing VR applications, and design, test, and implement their own VR experiences/games using Unity by the end of the specialisation.

Outline

Virtual Reality- Hardware and History
Welcome to the Virtual Reality Specialisation!
Welcome to Introduction to Virtual Reality!
Introduction to Week 1
What is VR and How is it Different from Other Media?
Displays | CAVE and HMDs
Head Tracking
Controllers
Choosing your VR Device
HMD | Oculus Rift
HMD | HTC Vive
HMD | Sony PlayStation VR
HMD | Mobile VR | Google Cardboard and Samsung Gear
CAVE VR Systems
Part 1 | VR in the Analogue Age
Part 2 | VR in the Digital Age
Course blog
HMD | Windows Mixed Reality
HMD | Oculus GO
HMD | Oculus Quest
Where to Download VR Apps
Summary | How To Choose Your VR HMD
VR History
VR HMDs and VR History

VR Applications
Introduction to Week 2
Introduction to the VR Technical Framework
360 Video and Model Based VR
Being Someone Else
Sports
News and Documentary Films
Scientific Data Visualisation
Medical Training
Physical Rehabilitation and Psychotherapy
Further Reading on 360 Video
Being Someone Else
VR in Sports
VR in News and Documentary Films
Medical Training
VR in Physical Rehabilitation and Psychotherapy
Enhancing Our Lives with Virtual Reality
VR Applications

The Psychology of VR: the Three Illusions
Introduction to Week 3
A Brief History of VR
Levels of Immersion in VR Systems
Sensorimotor Contingency (SC)
Sensorimotor Contingency in VR
Why Do We Need Immersive VR?
Introduction to the Three Illusions
Introduction to Place Illusion (PI)
Does Immersion Cause PI?
Introduction to Plausibility Illusion (Psi)
Necessary Conditions for Psi
Break of Presence
Presence, Immersion, PI, and Psi
The Pinocchio Illusion
The Rubber Hand Illusion
Psychological Effects of Embodiment Illusion
Visual-Tactile and Visual-Motor Synchrony
The Technical Setup of VR Embodiment
Changes in Attitude, Behaviours, and Cognition
Self-Counselling and Treating Depression
Comparing CGI and 360 Video
The Future of Embodiment in VR
The Three Illusions
The Technical Setup of VR Embodiment
Changing Bodies Changes Minds: Owning Another Body Affects Social Cognition
Embodiment in Self-Counselling and Treating Depression
The Three Illusions of Virtual Reality

Challenges in Virtual Reality
Introduction to Week 4
Realism | Graphics
Realism | Animation
Navigation
Nausea
Meeting Other People
Haptic Feedback
Basic Concepts in 3D Computer Graphics
Simulation Sickness
Thank You and Course Blog
Challenges in VR

Summary of User Reviews

Learn the basics of virtual reality with Coursera's Introduction to Virtual Reality course. Students have praised this course for its interactive and engaging content, as well as its knowledgeable instructors.

Key Aspect Users Liked About This Course

The interactive and engaging content has been praised by many users.

Pros from User Reviews

Instructors are knowledgeable and easy to follow.
Course provides hands-on experience with virtual reality technology.
Content is well-organized and easy to understand.
Course is a great introduction to the field of virtual reality.
Provides a strong foundation for further study in virtual reality.

Cons from User Reviews

Some users have found the course to be too basic.
The course may not be challenging enough for experienced VR developers.
Some users have reported technical difficulties with the course materials.
There is little emphasis on the business applications of virtual reality.
The course may not be as comprehensive as some users would like.

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