虛擬現實的4種迷人應用

Virtual Reality （VR） headsets are now being used in many industries as a way of training people or providing a new way to experience things. Here are four ways in which virtual-reality technology is being used.

目前，虛擬現實（VR）頭顯設備廣泛應用于多種行業，其主要用于訓練或提供一種新的體驗方式。以下是VR技術的4種應用。

Theater audiences can already enjoy 3D movies， but with apps like Oculus Cinema， users can be even more deeply immersed in their movie experiences. They can watch movies on a huge virtual screen， something like their own personal theater， or even watch as if they were inside the movie itself， surrounded by the imagery and sound effects. And if you are a sports fan， the virtual reality platform company LiveLike VR has built a virtual stadium so you can have the thrill of game day experiences with your friends， right from the comfort of your couch.

電影觀眾已經能體驗3D電影帶來的樂趣，但如果再配合Oculus Cinema 這類應用，使用者將擁有更深入的沉浸式觀影體驗。觀眾可以通過VR頭顯設備投射出的巨大虛擬屏幕觀看影片，好似擁有一個個人專享的影院一般，畫面、聲效縈繞，仿佛身臨其境。如果你是體育迷，你和朋友舒服地窩在沙發里也能體驗到比賽現場的刺激;而這只需要通過虛擬現實平臺公司LiveLike VR所創建的虛擬球場應用便可實現。

The health care industry has been a big adopter of virtual reality tech， with some institutions using the computer-generated images for diagnosis and treatment. Virtual reality simulations， such as those created by software companies Surgical Theater and Conquer Mobile， use actual diagnostic images from CAT scans or ultrasounds to construct 3D models of a patients anatomy. The virtual models help both new and experienced surgeons determine the safest and most efficient way to locate tumors， place surgical incisions or practice difficult procedures ahead of time.

Beyond surgery， virtual reality could also serve as a cost-effective and engaging tool for rehabilitation. Stroke and brain injury victims across Europe can now use an immersive virtual-reality therapy created by MindMaze to regain motor and cognitive function faster than with traditional physical therapy， according to the company.

醫療衛生一直以來都是VR技術的主要應用領域，一些機構利用電腦生成的圖像進行診斷和治療。Surgical Theater 和 Conquer Mobile 等軟件公司研發的VR仿真模擬軟件使用CAT掃描或者超聲波診斷圖像來生成患者身體構造的3D模型。虛擬模型可以幫助新手或有經驗的外科醫生找到最安全、最有效的方法來定位腫瘤和手術切口位置，或是提前練習有操作難度的手術流程。

除了應用于手術，VR同時也是一種高性價比康復工具，對病患頗具吸引力。MindMaze公司稱，在歐洲，中風及腦損傷患者現在可以使用其研發的沉浸式VR療法來恢復運動和認知能力，使用這種療法的恢復速度要比傳統的物理治療更快。

Scientists at NASA have a tough mission： to search for life on other planets. Thats why they look to cutting-edge virtual reality technology to control robots on Mars and to provide astronauts with a way to de-stress. At NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory， researchers connected the Oculus Rift with motion-sensing equipment from the Kinect 2 sensor and Xbox One game console to control a robotic arm with the operators gestures. The setup could one day be used to control rovers or other instruments millions of miles away， according to NASA. By adding a Virtuix Omni treadmill to the setup， researchers were also able to simulate a walk on Mars to prepare astronauts for a potential human landing.

美國航空航天局的科學家面臨一個艱巨的任務，即搜尋其他星球上的生命。因此，他們希望用前沿的VR技術控制火星上的機器人，并為宇航員提供一種解壓方式。在美國航空航天局的噴氣推進實驗室，研究人員把Oculus Rift和Kinect 2 傳感器上的運動傳感設備以及Xbox One游戲主機連接起來，利用操作者的手勢控制機械臂。美國航空航天局稱，這套設備未來可能被用來控制巡視器或其他幾百萬英里以外的設備。如果把Virtuix Omni 跑步機與這套設備連接，研究者也可以模擬在火星表面行走，為未來人類登陸火星做準備。

Virtual reality can also act as a therapeutic tool for those who experience debilitating stress， including post-traumatic stress disorder （PTSD）， and panic disorders or phobias， researchers say. Virtual reality tech could provide a safe environment for patients to come in contact with the things they fear， while remaining in a safe， controlled environment.

研究者稱，VR技術也可以作為一些嚴重壓力疾病的治療工具，比如創傷后應激障礙，以及驚恐性障礙或恐懼癥。VR技術可以給患者提供一個安全可控的環境，讓他們接觸自己恐懼的事物。

Word Study

immerse /?'m??s/ v. （使）沉浸于

She immersed herself in her work.

mission /'m??n/ n. 任務;使命

Her mission in life was to work with the homeless.

simulate /'s?mjule?t/ v.模仿;模擬

The scientist developed one model to simulate a full year of the globes climate.