Virtual Reality, New Edition: Simulating and Enhancing the World with Computers

In this update of the 1998 iteration, a freelance writer delves into the past, present, and future worlds of virtual reality (a term coined in 1988), and explains VR basics for mimicking reality. Illustrations depict VR mechanisms and display equipment. A glossary decodes such terms as "3DOF" and "Virtual Visual Environment Display." Annotation (c)2003 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Library Journal

Virtual reality, "a form of computer technology that creates the effect of immersing its user in a three-dimensional, computer generated artificial world," has taken giant strides in the five years since the previous edition of this title. Writing for middle and high school students, as well as general readers, Grady, a science journalist, examines the history of virtual reality beginning with the development of stereoscopes in the 1830s. He also discusses virtual reality's uses as a training/teaching tool and in design, medicine, and business applications. Approximately 45 black-and-white photographs, tables, diagrams, and graphs help to illustrate the topics covered, and an easy-to-understand glossary defines the italicized words in the text. With a bibliography, index, and list of academic, business, and general information web sites, this text will prove useful to anyone interested in the possibilities of virtual reality. Recommended for both school and public libraries; other titles written for students and general readers on the subject are rather out of date.-Nora Harris, Harris Indexing Svc., Novato, CA Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.