Video game technology continues to better and better, and recently it seems that the only way for games to get more realistic is to immerse the user into the experience through virtual reality. Virtual reality technology and VR headsets drop the player straight into the action, allowing them to throw real punches at an opponent in a boxing game, run away from zombies in a post-apocalyptic warzone, or carefully cross a beam suspended fifty stories above the virtual ground.
This virtual technology can provide users with a one-of-a-kind digital experience, but for a growing number of individuals, they are feeling the real world effects of what happens when the brain thinks it has more unimpeded area then it actually does. More and more people are going from the VR to the ER as as result of the immersive technology, and it is prompting more medical professionals to talk about the dangers a virtual reality and how to stay safe when putting on a VR headset.
VR Injuries Become More Common
If you’re on TikTok, Twitter or any social media platform that thrives on viral media, then you’ve probably seen some of the clips of people getting injured or close to it while they are immersed in a VR experience. And if you haven’t, then you need only watch this clip to get a better idea of what Emergency Room doctors are dealing with on a more regular basis.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VXMFBoTJFU
While the above video was uploaded with the intentions of making viewers laugh, it’s clear that many of the people wearing the headsets in these videos weren’t laughing. Because they are fully invested in the technology, oftentimes they are swinging, punching or jumping with full force and little reason to prepare for an upcoming impact. Bruised egos are common, but so too are fractures and stitches.
If you’re interested in buying a virtual reality headset and checking out what VR technology has to offer, you need to be smart about how you work to keep yourself and any other players safe. For starters, virtual reality technology is best experienced in a large recreational space where any potential objects have been removed. That means desks, tables, chairs and tripping hazards are out of the way. If any obstacles can’t be removed, they need to be accounted for and covered with padded materials if possible.
You also need to take time to learn the technology and allow your brain to understand that you don’t need to run across the room in real life in order to run in VR. Don’t jump into complex games right away. Let you and any guests get the hang of VR before they embark on any intense or nerve-wrecking games. If you have feel like you’re no longer in a safe location, remove the headset and get back towards the open space. It can save you a major hospital bill.
And finally, if you’re watching someone who is wearing a VR headset, make sure you have a system for helping them understand if things are getting unsafe. Don’t just sit there filming until they smash their head on the TV. Speak up if things get dangerous or develop a routine to safely get their attention. Put your phone down and help prevent a trip to the emergency room.
You might not really be in danger from that virtual zombie or tiger, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t real world obstacles to your health when you’re wearing a VR headset. Be smart, set up a safe location and intervene if things are starting to get dangerous. Otherwise you might end up on our operating table!