Our senses enable us to experience the world in incredible detail. An often overlooked sense that humans possess is that of proprioception, which is our ability to sense movement, action, and location in space. This sense lets us deftly navigate the world around us and craft tools and spaces that work for our purposes. Humans are good at creating things, buildings, and even entire environments. Our hands are indispensable tools that enable us to create these things. It goes without saying that this is an integral part of our physical world, but did you know that this can also extend to virtual worlds? Let’s see how.

3D graphics have been around since the 1960s. Computed-generated imagery and visual effects let us create things that are often not possible in the real world, such as giant green ogres and fairytale worlds. However, for the longest time, we’ve been looking at 3D graphics though flat 2D screens. 3D movies are perhaps an exception to this. However to many, 3D movies have mostly been a gimmick, with the effect only scratching the surface of what is possible. Years of evolution have enabled us to work with 3D, tangible objects and environments. But for a large part of the information age, we interacted with digital content using only a very limited subset of our vast range of human capabilities. It doesn’t have to be this way.

Here is where virtual reality (VR) can shine. For the first time, people can enter the 3D worlds they create and experience them as if they were inside them. One of the coolest things about VR is its ability to create the feeling of “being there”, or presence in a virtual world. This adds a whole new level of immersion in the virtual worlds.

However, it doesn’t stop there. VR is not just a tool for people to experience 3D worlds, but to actually create them. Traditionally, artists create 3D content on regular screens. But when you think about it, isn’t it counterintuitive to create 3D content on a 2D screen? You do not get a natural sense of depth or scale of the 3D content that you create. With VR, you can step into your 3D world and get a more first-hand experience in the creation process. You can shape objects, apply materials, and adjust lighting, all while being present in the world you're creating. This is not only more intuitive but also allows for quick iteration throughout the creation process.

Another capability that VR gives us is the ability to virtually collaborate in real-time with others. Whether you are in the same room or on different sides of the globe, you can work together in a shared virtual space with others. With co-creation, you can work together much like how you would work around a table or a shared physical object. VR's impact even goes beyond traditional 3D artistry. It can redefine how we think about and work with information, as it adds a spatial and temporal dimension to how information can be displayed. It can be used to map out concepts spatially, revolutionizing brainstorming sessions and potentially reshaping how we communicate ideas.

There are many software platforms out there that are experimenting with immersive creation and authoring in VR. The one that the XR team at Terrific Minds is most excited about is Resonite, formerly known as Neos. This is a social VR platform that lets you work together as a team while in VR, building up prototypes and entire interactive experiences in real time. Gravity Sketch is another tool, which helps to to create 3D models using intuitive sculpting tools. Tools like these also make it really easy for a person without much technical knowledge to pick up a VR headset and start creating 3D content, without the steep learning curve that tools like Unity entail.

Virtual reality does not need to be a replacement for physical experiences and real human interaction, but it is positioning itself as a promising medium that can enrich our lives by adding a new dimension to how we interact with digital content.