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Prof Marco Gillies
and
Prof Sylvia Xueni Pan
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
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.
Register for this course and see more details by visiting:
OpenCourser.com/course/j77cy9/introduction
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What's inside
Syllabus
Virtual Reality- Hardware and History
In this week, we’ll cover the basics of VR. We’ll start by sharing a definition of Virtual Reality, and exploring VR hardware, and then you’ll see demonstrations of a range of VR Head Mounted Devices. In the latter part of the week, you will hear more about the history of Virtual Reality and finish the week by drafting your ideas for a VR application.
Read more
Syllabus
Virtual Reality- Hardware and History
In this week, we’ll cover the basics of VR. We’ll start by sharing a definition of Virtual Reality, and exploring VR hardware, and then you’ll see demonstrations of a range of VR Head Mounted Devices. In the latter part of the week, you will hear more about the history of Virtual Reality and finish the week by drafting your ideas for a VR application.
Read more
VR Applications
This week, you’ll learn more about the different applications of VR- from news and documentaries, to sports, therapy, and games. You will also learn more about the VR Technical Framework, and will have the opportunity to share your thoughts on VR applications with your peers.
The Psychology of VR: the Three Illusions
In this week, Professor Mel Slater will take us through the Three Illusions. We’ll discuss Place Illusion, Plausibility Illusion, and Embodiment Illusion, with some interesting tricks along the way!
Challenges in Virtual Reality
Good to know
Good to know
Know what's good ,
what to watch for , and
possible dealbreakers
Introduces learners to Virtual Reality (VR), including hardware, history, applications, psychology, and challenges
Taught by professors Marco Gillies and Sylvia Xueni Pan, who are researchers in the field of Virtual Reality
Develops a strong foundation for understanding VR, making it suitable for beginners
Covers a wide range of VR applications, from news and documentaries to sports, therapy, and games
Examines the psychology of VR, including the Three Illusions: Place Illusion, Plausibility Illusion, and Embodiment Illusion
Explores challenges in VR, such as latency, motion sickness, and social interaction
Save this course
Save Introduction to Virtual Reality to your list so you can find it easily later:
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Reviews summary
Vr fundamentals: a comprehensive guide
learners say this introductory course on Virtual Reality covers its history, fundamentals, and applications. The course helps you understand VR systems and provides insights into why certain things work and don't work in VR. Topics covered include Displays, Interfaces, Controllers, VR App Design, and Psychology of VR. Many students enjoyed the interactive learning through discussions, assignments, and guest lectures.
Assignments encourage students to apply concepts and think critically about VR.
"The assignments were fun."
"I really enjoyed the course and the opportunity to understand better the field of Virtual Reality."
"This course was well structured and helped me understand the basics and the theory part of virtual reality."
The course includes high-quality videos, articles, and tutorials.
"The whole course was amazing."
"The course is highly recommended by me."
"I really enjoyed this course and learned alot about VR."
VR's ability to make users feel like they are actually in a virtual environment.
"It explains the history of VR and its fundamentals in sufficient depth while also providing quality reading material."
"Having Prof Mel Slater explaining the theory behind Immersion, Place Illusion, Plausibility Illusion and Embodiment Illusion was the highlight for me."
Students' assignments are graded by their peers, which can lead to inconsistent and unfair оценки.
"The only disagreeable thing about obtaining a final grade is the having to be "judged by your peers" aspect."
"The fact that they use the peer grading system is very faulty."
"FAULTY GRADING SYSTEMThe course is good."
Some of the course content is outdated and may not reflect the latest developments in VR.
"The course was awesome, but when it comes to be peer reviewed, the process then becomes too slow"
"The only bad thing is the lack of practical activities but a great course specially for begginers"
"The course is good for theoretical basics of VR, though the reading material was bit boring and not up to date."
Activities
Be better prepared
before
your course. Deepen your understanding
during
and
after
it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered
in Introduction to Virtual Reality with these
activities:
Review Basic Physics Concepts
Show steps
Review basic physics concepts related to VR, such as optics, light, and motion, to strengthen foundational understanding for the course.
Browse courses on
Physics
Show steps
-
Summarize key concepts from high school physics textbooks or online resources
-
Solve practice problems related to optics, light, and motion
Review game programming fundamentals
Show steps
Review basic game programming concepts to prepare for the course.
Browse courses on
Game Programming
Show steps
-
Revisit basic concepts of programming in C#
-
Create a simple 2D game using Unity
-
Read through the Unity documentation
Follow YouTube tutorials on VR development
Show steps
Enhance your understanding of VR development by following YouTube tutorials that provide step-by-step guidance and practical examples.
Show steps
-
Search for YouTube tutorials on VR development using keywords such as "VR development Unity" or "VR game development"
-
Select a tutorial that aligns with your learning goals and skill level
-
Follow the steps in the tutorial and complete the exercises
-
Experiment with different techniques and concepts covered in the tutorial
Six other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all nine activities
Solve VR design challenges
Show steps
Practice designing VR experiences by completing a series of challenges.
Browse courses on
VR Design
Show steps
-
Design a VR experience for a specific purpose
-
Create a prototype of your design
-
Get feedback on your prototype and iterate on your design
Participate in online discussions with other VR enthusiasts
Show steps
Engage with a community of VR enthusiasts to exchange ideas, ask questions, and gain diverse perspectives on VR-related topics.
Show steps
-
Join online forums or discussion groups dedicated to VR
-
Participate in discussions, share your thoughts, and ask questions
-
Collaborate with other members on VR projects or ideas
Create a VR application using Unity
Show steps
Develop valuable hands-on experience by creating a VR application using Unity, which will reinforce your understanding of VR concepts and Unity's capabilities.
Browse courses on
Unity
Show steps
-
Design the user interface and user experience for the VR application
-
Create 3D models and textures for the VR application
-
Implement the game logic and physics for the VR application
-
Test and debug the VR application
Create a VR experience prototype
Show steps
Build a VR experience to apply your knowledge and skills.
Browse courses on
VR Development
Show steps
-
Plan your VR experience
-
Create the assets for your experience
-
Develop your experience in Unity
-
Test and iterate on your experience
Practice VR App Design
Show steps
Solidify the fundamentals of Virtual Reality app design by performing guided repetitive exercises.
Show steps
-
Understand VR UI principles
-
Design a VR menu system
-
Develop a VR navigation system
-
Test and iterate on VR prototypes
Create a VR Experience Demo
Show steps
Reinforce learning by creating a tangible VR experience that demonstrates your understanding of VR concepts.
Show steps
-
Conceptualize your VR experience
-
Develop the VR environment
-
Implement VR interactions
-
Test and refine your VR experience
-
Share your VR experience with others
Review Basic Physics Concepts
Show steps
Review basic physics concepts related to VR, such as optics, light, and motion, to strengthen foundational understanding for the course.
Browse courses on
Physics
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Summarize key concepts from high school physics textbooks or online resources
- Solve practice problems related to optics, light, and motion
Review game programming fundamentals
Show steps
Review basic game programming concepts to prepare for the course.
Browse courses on
Game Programming
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Revisit basic concepts of programming in C#
- Create a simple 2D game using Unity
- Read through the Unity documentation
Follow YouTube tutorials on VR development
Show steps
Enhance your understanding of VR development by following YouTube tutorials that provide step-by-step guidance and practical examples.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Search for YouTube tutorials on VR development using keywords such as "VR development Unity" or "VR game development"
- Select a tutorial that aligns with your learning goals and skill level
- Follow the steps in the tutorial and complete the exercises
- Experiment with different techniques and concepts covered in the tutorial
Six other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all nine activities
Solve VR design challenges
Show steps
Practice designing VR experiences by completing a series of challenges.
Browse courses on
VR Design
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Design a VR experience for a specific purpose
- Create a prototype of your design
- Get feedback on your prototype and iterate on your design
Participate in online discussions with other VR enthusiasts
Show steps
Engage with a community of VR enthusiasts to exchange ideas, ask questions, and gain diverse perspectives on VR-related topics.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Join online forums or discussion groups dedicated to VR
- Participate in discussions, share your thoughts, and ask questions
- Collaborate with other members on VR projects or ideas
Create a VR application using Unity
Show steps
Develop valuable hands-on experience by creating a VR application using Unity, which will reinforce your understanding of VR concepts and Unity's capabilities.
Browse courses on
Unity
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Design the user interface and user experience for the VR application
- Create 3D models and textures for the VR application
- Implement the game logic and physics for the VR application
- Test and debug the VR application
Create a VR experience prototype
Show steps
Build a VR experience to apply your knowledge and skills.
Browse courses on
VR Development
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Plan your VR experience
- Create the assets for your experience
- Develop your experience in Unity
- Test and iterate on your experience
Practice VR App Design
Show steps
Solidify the fundamentals of Virtual Reality app design by performing guided repetitive exercises.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Understand VR UI principles
- Design a VR menu system
- Develop a VR navigation system
- Test and iterate on VR prototypes
Create a VR Experience Demo
Show steps
Reinforce learning by creating a tangible VR experience that demonstrates your understanding of VR concepts.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Conceptualize your VR experience
- Develop the VR environment
- Implement VR interactions
- Test and refine your VR experience
- Share your VR experience with others
Career center
Learners who complete Introduction to Virtual Reality will develop knowledge and skills
that may be useful to these careers:
Game Designer
Game Designer
A "Game Designer" may not program games, but they help design the game and associated levels. VR is increasingly a major component of game design, so Game Designers can benefit from a course that teaches them about VR hardware, history, applications, and even the psychology behind it. This course covers it all.
Game Developer
Game Developer
Many video games today incorporate Virtual Reality components. To be competitive "Game Developer" professionals should have a clear working understanding of VR's possibilities and limitations. This course helps build a foundation in VR that is perfect for Game Developers looking to add VR features to their games. It also introduces the VR Technical Framework, a technical foundation specifically for games.
Interaction Designer
Interaction Designer
Because VR applications are inherently interactive, professionals who design interactions for VR applications, known as "Interaction Designers" can benefit from this course. It covers not just VR hardware and history, but also applications and psychology.
Software Engineer
Software Engineer
"Software Engineers" may work to design, develop, and test software for a variety of purposes. Those who work on projects that utilize VR would especially benefit from a better understanding of the VR Technical Framework, as well as Virtual Reality hardware, history, and applications.
User Experience Designer
User Experience Designer
"User Experience Designers" are responsible for user interfaces, such as menus and dashboards in applications. VR applications are increasingly common, so UX designers who work on these apps would benefit from the clear understanding of VR hardware, history, applications, psychology, and challenges that this course teaches.
Data Analyst
Data Analyst
The data collected from VR applications is useful for designing better VR experiences. "Data Analyst"s who work on VR projects can benefit from a deeper understanding of VR hardware, history, applications, and design challenges to better interpret VR data.
Project Manager
Project Manager
While "Project Manager"s need not know all the details of VR projects, having some knowledge of VR hardware, history, applications, and challenges can help them plan and manage resources more effectively.
Researcher
Researcher
"Researchers" who focus on VR hardware, applications, or challenges could benefit from a course that teaches them more about VR history, psychology, and design in addition to hardware and applications.
Technical Writer
Technical Writer
"Technical Writers" who focus on VR hardware, applications, or challenges could benefit from a course that teaches them more about VR history, psychology, and design in addition to hardware and applications.
Operations Manager
Operations Manager
"Operations Manager"s who work on VR projects would benefit from a clear understanding of VR hardware and applications. This course also teaches them about the psychology and challenges of VR, helping them manage VR applications in production.
Quality Assurance Tester
Quality Assurance Tester
"Quality Assurance Testers" who work with VR projects would benefit from a clear understanding of VR hardware and applications. This course also teaches them about the psychology and challenges of VR, helping them test for and assess different user behaviors.
Product Manager
Product Manager
"Product Manager"s who work on VR products could benefit from a course that teaches them the history, applications, and challenges of VR in addition to the hardware. This can help Product Managers better design and manage VR products.
Business Analyst
Business Analyst
"Business Analyst"s who work on VR projects would benefit from a course that teaches them the history, applications, and challenges of VR in addition to the hardware. This can help Business Analysts better design and manage VR projects.
Information Architect
Information Architect
"Information Architect"s who work on VR projects would benefit from a course that teaches them the history, applications, and challenges of VR in addition to the hardware. This can help Information Architects better design and manage VR projects.
UX Researcher
UX Researcher
"UX Researchers" who work on VR projects would benefit from a course that teaches them the history, applications, and challenges of VR in addition to the hardware. This can help UX Researchers better design and manage VR projects.
For more career information including salaries, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/j77cy9/introduction
Reading list
We've selected seven books
that we think will supplement your
learning. Use these to
develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a
deeper understanding of the topics covered in
Introduction to Virtual Reality.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the psychology of VR, including the three illusions of VR and the impact of VR on human behavior. It is written by one of the leading researchers in the field.
This handbook covers a wide range of VR topics, including hardware, software, applications, and human factors. It valuable reference tool for anyone working in the field of VR.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the metaverse. It covers topics such as the history of the metaverse, the different types of metaverses, and the potential applications of the metaverse. It valuable resource for anyone who is interested in learning more about the future of the metaverse.
Provides a practical guide to designing VR systems. It covers topics such as hardware selection, software development, and human factors. It valuable resource for anyone who is interested in developing VR applications.
Provides a comprehensive survey of the field of VR. It covers topics such as history, applications, hardware, software, and human factors. It valuable resource for anyone who is interested in learning more about VR.
Provides a comprehensive overview of VR applications and technology. It covers topics such as medical applications, training applications, and entertainment applications. It valuable resource for anyone who is interested in learning more about the practical uses of VR.
Save
Provides a non-technical overview of VR. It covers topics such as the history of VR, the different types of VR, and the potential applications of VR. It valuable resource for anyone who is interested in learning more about VR.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/j77cy9/introduction
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Effort
4 weeks of study, 3-5 hours/week
Level
Introductory
Via
Coursera
Institutions
University of London
Goldsmiths, University of London
Instructors
Prof Marco Gillies
Prof Sylvia Xueni Pan
Language
English
Transcripts
Español
Français
Português
Deutsch
Italiano
中文
العربية
한국어
日本語
हिंदी
Nederlands
Svenska
Pусский
Türkçe
Polski
Ελληνικά
українська мова
magyar nyelv
Bahasa Indonesia
ไทย
қазақша
اُردُو,
فارسی
বাংলা
tiếng Việt
پښتو
آذربایجان دیلی
This course belongs to a
collection
called
Virtual Reality. It's comprised of five courses:
- Introduction to Virtual Reality (viewing)
- Building Interactive 3D Characters and Social VR
- 3D Interaction Design in Virtual Reality
- Making Your First Virtual Reality Game
- 3D Models for Virtual Reality
Good to know
Introduces learners to Virtual Reality (VR), including hardware, history, applications, psychology, and challenges
Taught by professors Marco Gillies and Sylvia Xueni Pan, who are researchers in the field of Virtual Reality
Develops a strong foundation for understanding VR, making it suitable for beginners
Covers a wide range of VR applications, from news and documentaries to sports, therapy, and games
Examines the psychology of VR, including the Three Illusions: Place Illusion, Plausibility Illusion, and Embodiment Illusion
Explores challenges in VR, such as latency, motion sickness, and social interaction
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