Training / Educational: Arguably the most useful use of VR, and already in practice today in aviation and military training. VR training can be brought to the home, work place or schools with many different activities, from simple programmes like learning to drive or practising your golf swing, to more advanced aspects such as school lessons or oil rig training for example.
Imagine a history lesson that takes you to a virtual Nazi Germany, or the time when the Romans ruled the earth. Even better, watching dinosaurs roam the jungles, with the old classic T-Rex versus Triceratops battle. Naturally this is not a time machine (if it was, the people from the future would be coming back to tell us about it), rather computer generated virtual worlds, which can be developed to bring history to life, changing the face of education forever. Who knows, maybe those truants who like to hang out in Tesco car parks or stay at home and play Halo might actually like the idea of going to school!
Relaxation: Take a virtual holiday on an empty exotic beach and relax to the sound of the waves or watch a volcano erupt, or do both without actually leaving your home. Whatever relaxes you and takes away the stresses of real life, there'll be something for you. Purists will say it's not as good as actually being there and perhaps they're right, but it'll certainly cut out the travel and accommodation expenses and the fears of flying or picking up the latest newsworthy disease, plus you can go on holiday every day and afterwards have a nice cup of tea in your own lounge.
Perhaps soldiers or astronauts can use it to cure homesickness or feelings of nostalgia while on far away missions in space or abroad. Some may say this could make the nostalgic person feel worse as there's no place like the real home. I say who needs to go to war or travel space when you have a VR machine that lets you do it safely at home!
Dreams: What are your dreams? What could you never possibly achieve in the real world? Score a goal at Wembley? You like the idea of skydiving, but are too scared of heights? Do you want to follow in the footsteps of Neil Armstrong and walk on the Moon? Ever wanted to kiss a girl? The possibilities are endless and with VR your dreams could come true.
Although VR is a major part of our technological future, much of this feature is based on imagination and speculation, but the emerging technology (some of which is covered here) of today is pointing us in the right direction. Everyone has their own ideas what they'd want to do with a Virtual Reality machine; this is just the beginning of what it could offer. When VR does become a form of entertainment in the household, technology as we know it now will be classed like the ZX Spectrum is today.