Silent Winter evening, and Sara sat alone in her dimly lit apartment, missing her family more than ever. She had moved to a new city for work a year ago, leaving behind her parents, sisters, and her beloved pet cat, Minu. This would be the first Eid she would spend away from home.

Tears rolled up in Sara’s eyes as she scrolled through old photos and videos on her phone. She longed for the warmth of her family’s embrace and the joyous chaos of holiday gatherings. The ache of loneliness seems unbearable.

But just as she was about to close her laptop and surrender to her solitude, she received a call from her elder sister, Rabeya. Her excitement was clear as she exclaimed, “Sara, I have a surprise for you!”

Curious and interested, Sara smiled, kept aside her sadness and asked, “What’s the surprise, sis?”

Rabeya said, “Open up your parcel that came to you now.”

Sara received an unexpected package at her doorstep. Inside the box was a brand-new VR headset along with a heartfelt letter from her family. The letter explained that they had all received VR headsets, too, and they were going to celebrate Eid together in a virtual world. 

“Put on your VR headset and join me in the virtual world. I promise you won’t be lonely this Eid celebration.”

With a few clicks, she was transported into a dazzling virtual realm. She found herself in a lively, busy market that reminded her of the ones she used to go to during Eid in her hometown. The aroma of traditional sweets and savory dishes flowed through the air, and the sound of joyful laughter and greetings surrounded her.

As she navigated through the virtual bazaar, she came across her family members’ avatars, each one accurately reflecting their appearance and personalities. Her parents greeted her with warm smiles, and her siblings hugged her, just as they used to do in real life. The familiarity of their voices and the sight of their avatars brought tears of happiness to Sara’s eyes.

The day of Eid arrived in the virtual world, and Sara’s family had organized a virtual prayer session. They stood side by side, avatars joining in prayer, their voices mirroring with spiritual devotion. It felt as if they were sharing the same prayer mat, even though they were miles apart in the physical world.

Following the prayer, Sara’s family gathered around a beautifully set virtual dining table. Traditional dishes from their homeland adorned the table, and the family began to enjoy the Eid feast together. Sara marveled at how real everything felt, the taste of the food, the laughter, and the heartfelt conversations.

After the meal, they virtually exchanged gifts, as is customary during Eid. Sara received a beautifully wrapped virtual package that, when opened, revealed a stunning piece of jewelry from her mother. She, in turn, presented her family with heartfelt virtual gifts she had prepared in advance.

The day continued with storytelling, reminiscing about old Eid celebrations, and playing traditional games in the virtual world. It was a day filled with love, joy, and a profound sense of togetherness, despite the physical distance that separated them.

As the virtual Eid celebration drew to a close, Sara’s family gathered for a group photo, capturing the smiles and happiness of the day. They promised to make this virtual tradition a part of their future Eid celebrations, even when they could be together in person again.

Sara removed her VR headset, her heart overflowing with gratitude and love for her family. While they were physically apart, the magic of virtual reality had allowed them to bridge the gap and create cherished memories together on this special Eid day. It was a celebration that Sara would forever treasure, reminding her of the unbreakable bonds of family and the incredible ways technology can bring loved ones together, no matter where they are in the world.

After indulging ourselves in a real life scenario of VR, 

Now let’s focus on the pros or uses of virtual reality:

1-The most remarkable aspect of VR is its ability to immerse users in a digital environment. By donning a VR headset, individuals can step into virtual worlds, complete with 360-degree views, spatial audio, and realistic interactions. This level of immersion is unparalleled and can be a game-changer in various fields. 

2- It has enormous potential in education. It allows students to experience historical events, explore distant planets, or dissect virtual organisms, making learning more engaging and interactive. Difficult ideas become easier to understand and grasp, helping people comprehend them better. 

3- VR has proven to be a valuable tool in healthcare. It is used for exposure therapy, helping individuals overcome phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and anxiety disorders. Additionally, VR can assist in pain management, distraction during medical procedures, and rehabilitation exercises. Also in medical education, students can practice critical operations through VR.

4- Virtual Reality gaming has taken the gaming industry by storm. Gamers can now fully immerse themselves in virtual worlds, interact with characters, and experience adrenaline-pumping adventures. This level of immersion brings a new dimension to entertainment. 

5- Architects and designers benefit from VR by creating and exploring 3D models of buildings and interiors. This technology provides a more in-depth understanding of designs, enabling better decision-making and client presentations. 

6- In a world where remote work is increasingly common, VR can facilitate more captivating and productive remote collaborations. Teams from different corners of the globe can meet in shared virtual spaces, fostering creativity and productivity. 

7- It can transport people to distant or inaccessible places, allowing them to explore and appreciate the world’s wonders. This has the potential to revolutionize tourism and make exploration more accessible to all. 

8- VR can improve accessibility for individuals with disabilities. It provides alternative means of experiencing and interacting with digital information, ensuring that technology is more inclusive.

Every good thing has its worst side also. 

Here discussing some cons of VR:

1- High-quality VR equipment can be expensive. VR headsets, controllers, and the computers required to run VR experiences can be out of reach for many individuals. The high cost makes it hard for many people to use it.

2- One of the most common drawbacks of VR is motion sickness. Some users experience discomfort, nausea, or dizziness when exposed to rapid or poorly optimized VR experiences. This can limit the duration of VR use and affect the overall experience.

3- VR is great at making you feel like you’re inside it, but it can also make you feel isolated. Users may become disconnected from the physical world, which can result in social isolation and a disconnection from reality, particularly if VR is used excessively.

4- Extended use of VR can lead to health issues such as eye strain, headaches, and posture problems. When you come out of that reality of what you cherished, it brings depression, frustration. It happens if you mentally believe those realities seriously and get addicted to using it. The long-term effects of frequent VR use on mental health are still being studied, and caution is advised.

5- Even though VR has improved, there aren’t as many really good VR things to do or watch as there are regular things. People can run out of fun stuff to do in VR, and the people who make VR stuff have a tough time making things that are super interesting.

6- VR technology is continually evolving, but it still has technical limitations. Factors like screen resolution, field of view, and tracking accuracy can impact the overall VR experience. Cutting-edge technology is often reserved for high-end devices, leaving budget options with reduced capabilities.

7- Room-scale VR experiences, which provide the most immersive interactions, require a significant physical space. Not everyone has access to the necessary room size, limiting the potential for certain VR experiences.

8- VR technology is advancing rapidly, which means users may find themselves needing to upgrade their equipment frequently to access the latest experiences and features. This can be costly and uninteresting for users.

In conclusion, Virtual reality is a super cool technology that can change lots of things we do and how we do them. It’s great for learning, health, fun, design, and teamwork. Besides, it can also be tricky because it can be expensive, make some people feel sick, and have health effects we’re still learning about. 

To make the most of VR, we need to use it wisely, keep studying it, and make it better with new tech.

Writer

Fariha Zannat

Intern, Content Writing Department

Requin BD