虛擬現實技術的九大妙用

A year-long study conducted by Duke University discovered huge benefits of virtual reality technology for paraplegics. Patients wearing VR headsets tasked to move through a stadium as a soccer player were able to regain some brain functions associated with moving their legs. Of the eight patients tested， each regained some control and four were upgraded from full paraplegics to partial paraplegics.

Virtual reality technology holds enormous potential to change the future for a number of fields， from medicine， business， and architecture to manufacturing.

虛擬現實技術潛力巨大，將會改變從醫療、商業、建筑到制造業等眾多領域的未來。

1. paraplegic [?p?r??pli?d??k] n. 截癱者；下身癱瘓患者

幫助癱瘓病人恢復身體機能

美國杜克大學開展的一項為期一年的研究發現，虛擬現實技術能給癱瘓病人帶來巨大福音。戴上虛擬現實頭盔的患者通過模擬足球運動員在操場上奔跑，即可恢復一部分涉及腿腳活動的大腦功能。參加試驗的八位患者中，每一位患者都恢復了部分身體機能，其中四位患者從全癱好轉為半癱。

想象一下，只需戴上一副眼鏡，你就可以身臨幻境，來一場虛擬卻又真實的感官體驗。這就是虛擬現實（Virtual Reality，縮寫為VR）。虛擬現實技術的發展不僅僅會帶來電子游戲方面的變革，更重要的是，它在其他領域也大有用處，將在許多方面改變未來。

To Train Medical Students

Virtual reality provides medical and dental students a safe and controlled environment to practice surgeries and procedures， allowing them to make mistakes without having any impact on an actual patient， and prepare for any unexpected situations. Performing a "hands-on" procedure and being able to interact with a virtual patient lets students develop their skills， which they can later apply to the real world.

To Treat Pain

Doctors are using "distraction therapy" through virtual reality to help people handle pain while they undergo treatments such as physical therapy. A 2011 study on military burn victims revealed that SnowWorld—a VR game that allows users to throw snowballs at penguins while listening to Paul Simon—has proven more effective than morphine2） in pain management.

To Treat Anxiety Attacks

More than 40 million adults in the U.S. experience anxiety. The VR game Deep—"a digital version of a diaphragmatic exercise3）"—looks to help those individuals deal with fear and anxiety with the use of a belt that monitors breathing. The game puts the user into a natural setting and guides them through deep belly breathing exercises—calming users in about five minutes.

To Help Children and Teens with Autism Develop Social Skills

Professors at the University of Texas in Dallas have created a program that uses virtual reality to help children with autism develop social skills. Putting kids， teens and young adults in social scenarios such as job interviews or blind dates4） with avatars5）， they learn how to pick up on6） social cues7） and respond appropriately. By monitoring brain waves throughout the program， professors noticed increased activity in areas connected to social understanding.

To Help in Business

Look out video chat， virtual reality is here. Businesses are beginning to employ virtual reality in a number of ways： to reduce costs， lessen business travel， conduct interviews， give tours， forecast trends and hold meetings. Rather than traveling for a conference or meeting， or interviewing a candidate "face to face"， companies are using virtual conference rooms. Businesses that have dangerous products or are in the early stages are using virtual reality to test safety and functionality without risking the health of employees.

培訓醫學生

虛擬現實技術能為醫學生和牙科學生提供一個安全可控的環境，用來練習手術、熟悉流程。在這樣的環境中，他們即便犯錯，也絲毫不會殃及實際患者，此外還能學習處理各種突發情況。通過“動手”操作并與虛擬患者進行互動，學生可以提高他們的醫療技能，日后再將其應用到現實世界中。

緩解疼痛

醫生們正在借助虛擬現實技術，運用“分心療法”幫助患者緩解物理治療等療法中產生的疼痛。2011年的一項對軍隊燒傷患者的研究顯示，已有證據證實虛擬現實游戲《冰雪世界》（這種游戲的玩法是玩家邊聽保羅·西蒙的歌，邊朝企鵝投擲雪球）對疼痛的緩解效果比嗎啡更好。

治療焦慮癥

美國有4000多萬成年人受到焦慮癥的困擾。虛擬現實游戲《深海》是一種數字化的腹式呼吸訓練，它試圖借助一條可以監測呼吸的腰帶來幫助這類人群應對恐懼和焦慮。游戲會將玩家帶進一處以自然景色為背景的環境中，引導他們進行深度的腹式呼吸練習——大概不到五分鐘就會讓玩家平靜下來。

幫助自閉癥兒童和青少年提高社交技能

美國得克薩斯大學達拉斯分校的教授們開展了一個項目，利用虛擬現實技術幫助自閉癥兒童提高社交技能。他們將兒童、青少年和年輕人置于設有虛擬人物的社交場景（比如求職面試或相親）中，讓他們學習如何識別社交暗語并做出適當的回應。通過對該項目參與者全程進行腦電波監測，教授們發現這些自閉癥患者與社交認知相關的大腦區域變得更為活躍。

輔助商業運轉

視頻聊天要小心了，虛擬現實來了！很多企業正開始多方位利用虛擬現實技術：降低成本、減少差旅、組織面試、安排參觀、預測趨勢、召開會議等等。一些企業已經用上了虛擬會議室，企業人員不必長途跋涉去參加大小會議或是“面對面”面試求職者。經營危險品的企業或是初創企業正在借助虛擬現實技術測試產品的安全性和功能狀況，而無需危及員工的健康。

To Better Model Architects&apos； Designs

Virtual reality will benefit key players in the construction space such as architects and designers. The tool allows a user to virtually inhabit spaces in three dimensions. Computer-generated images will replace hand-drawn renderings8）—ultimately reducing time spent reworking layouts and drawings， effectively reducing costs and increasing safety.

Simulating9） the real world will not only allow designers to more easily create buildings and spaces—from lighting to flooring10） to foundations—but it will also let designers test out environments before actually building them. For example， they can realistically understand how quickly someone is able to exit the building in the case of an emergency.

To Test Car Safety and Drive Sales

Virtual reality gives cars engineers the ability to test the safety of vehicles in a virtual setting before actually manufacturing them. Aside from11） the building process， large car companies such as Ford， Volvo and Hyundai use virtual reality in sales as well by having potential customers use a VR headset to test drive vehicles.

To Plan Your Next Vacation

You&apos；ll soon be able to "try before you fly" destinations through virtual reality. Travelers looking to book their next trip can observe a destination， hotel or city to see what it has to offer. For example， patrons12） in a U.K. mall were able to experience a helicopter flight around New York City or a boat ride around the Statue of Liberty.

幫助建筑師改進設計

虛擬現實技術將惠及建筑領域的重要從業人員，比如建筑師和設計師。通過虛擬現實技術，用戶可以體驗一下在三維空間居住的感覺。電腦制圖將會取代手工繪制的透視圖，最終減少對設計和繪圖進行修訂所要花去的時間，同時有效降低成本，增加安全性。

模擬現實世界不僅能讓設計師更加方便地設計建筑和空間（包括照明、地板、地基等），還能讓設計師在項目真正動工之前考察多方情況。例如，他們可以實際了解在緊急情況下人員可以多快地撤離建筑物。

測試汽車安全和試駕銷售

虛擬現實技術能讓汽車工程師在汽車實際生產前就在虛擬環境中測試車輛的安全性。除生產環節外，諸如福特、沃爾沃、現代等大的汽車企業還可在銷售中引進虛擬現實技術，讓潛在客戶戴上虛擬現實頭盔進行試駕。

規劃旅行

用不了多久，你就可以通過虛擬現實技術“試游”一下度假目的地了。打算出游的朋友可以借助虛擬現實技術視察一下目的地、酒店或城市，看看那里都提供什么。例如，在英國一家購物中心，顧客就能“乘直升機”暢游紐約或是“坐船”觀賞自由女神像。