virtual reality
noun/ˈvɜː(ɹ)tʃuəl ɹiːˈælɪti/
Etymology Calque of French réalité virtuelle. virtual + reality
1
Computing, Engineering, Mathematics, Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Sciences A computer technology that simulates a real or imagined environment so that the user can interact with it as if physically present.
2
Broadly, Dated A text adventure or multi-user dungeon.
- When a player like Shotton's interviewee controls a persona in a MUA and becomes absorbed to such an extent that he is oblivious to the real world, concentrating only on the virtual reality, then the player and his persona fuse; he 'becomes' his persona in that MUA. As far as the player is concerned, things are happening not to the persona but to he himself. He can do things that are impossible in the real world, and be whoever he wants to be. That's the attraction.1990 December 23, Richard Bartle, Interactive Multi-User Computer Games:
- In the virtual reality, text is all there is. If you see `Blackbriar chuckles.' then that is the closest you're going to get to a real chuckle in this environment.1993 April 7, Blackbriar, “Re: Invisibility, "MOOrape"”, in parcftp.xerox.com/pub/MOO/contrib/mail mailing list:
3
Obsolete Something conjectured which is effectively coming into existence.
- Derived terms
- full-dive virtual reality
- Related terms
- augmented reality, real reality, extended reality, metaverse, 🥽