Digital Transformations in the Challenge of Activity and Work

3Virtual Reality: Definitions, Characteristics and Applications in the Workplace

In the context of the Factory of the Future, industries are implementing a number of technologies to improve their production, and to be more innovative and competitive. Virtual reality is one of these technologies. The objective of this chapter is to introduce this technology and explain how it can be used, both generally and in industries. We propose to use definitions of virtual reality that are commonly accepted by the scientific community. In this chapter, therefore, we define virtual reality from three angles: its purpose, its potential functionalities and its technical characteristics. We then present the various devices that constitute a virtual reality system: visual presentation devices, motion and position capture devices, proprioceptive and cutaneous feedback devices, and sound input and presentation devices. The final parts of the chapter are devoted to the applications of virtual reality. We begin with general applications (video games, art, tourism, education, vocational training, design, therapy, research). The last part of the chapter deals with applications of virtual reality in industry, giving examples of use for design and training.

3.1. Introduction

Industries are now entering a new industrial era, referred to as the Industry of the Future or the Factory of the Future. In this context, French companies are seeking, by increasing their level of dematerialization and implementing ...