3 definitions
for virtual reality
From WordNet (r) 2.0 :
virtual reality
n : a hypothetical three-dimensional visual world created by a
computer; user wears special goggles and fiber optic
gloves etc., and can enter and move about in this world
and interact with objects as if inside it
From Jargon File (4.3.1, 29 Jun 2001) :
virtual reality n. 1. Computer simulations that use 3-D graphics and
devices such as the Dataglove to allow the user to interact with the
simulation. See cyberspace. 2. A form of network interaction
incorporating aspects of role-playing games, interactive theater,
improvisational comedy, and `true confessions' magazines. In a virtual
reality forum (such as Usenet's alt.callahans newsgroup or the MUD
experiments on Internet), interaction between the participants is
written like a shared novel complete with scenery, `foreground
characters' that may be personae utterly unlike the people who write
them, and common `background characters' manipulable by all parties. The
one iron law is that you may not write irreversible changes to a
character without the consent of the person who `owns' it. Otherwise
anything goes. See bamf, cyberspace, teledildonics.
From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (27 SEP 03) :
virtual reality
(VR)
1. Computer simulations that use 3D graphics and
devices such as the data glove to allow the user to interact
with the simulation.
2. A form of network interaction incorporating aspects
of role-playing games, interactive theater, improvisational
comedy, and "true confessions" magazines. In a virtual
reality forum (such as Usenet's news:alt.callahans
newsgroup or the MUD experiments on Internet and
elsewhere), interaction between the participants is written
like a shared novel complete with scenery, "foreground
characters" that may be personae utterly unlike the people who
write them, and common "background characters" manipulable by
all parties. The one iron law is that you may not write
irreversible changes to a character without the consent of the
person who "owns" it, otherwise, anything goes.
See bamf, cyberspace.
[{Jargon File]
(1995-01-30)