IMPLEMENTATION OF LOW-COST VR SYSTEMS IN IMMERSION EDUCATION AND THEMATIC TRAINING

Virtual and haptic technologies are virtual reality solutions used in many areas of life. The potential of VR solutions is still growing due to, among others: introducing new hardware, software updates, building VR applications using open source tools. The use of VR in education and training should be aimed at achieving the right level of immersion and interaction, providing a large number of signals replacing sensory impressions (touch, sight, hearing) from the real world. Of course, it is important to convey substantive content in a comfortable and easy way. Educating or training people using VR causes them to be involved in solving complex problems, experiencing the physical properties of virtual objects. Many research centers and companies are working on interactive training tools. It is important to maintain the reality of virtual situations, the safety of educated/trained persons and the correct operation of the VR system (calibration, configuration). Bearing in mind the possibilities of VR systems in teaching and the costs of VR equipment, the author decided to: compare professional VR systems with low-cost systems, propose a low-cost VR station for learning / training at home, examine the level of immersion of individual VR system solutions and the degree of effectiveness of virtual learning/training groups of respondents. As a result of the analysis, it is found that a high level of immersion and the quality of the virtual environment affect greater efficiency of learning/training. Low-cost VR systems have limitations that create an ideal environment for virtual learning/training, but for home use they are sufficient. There are many benefits of using VR in learning and training, including: unlimited learning time, access to virtual subjects, workstations, process simulations.