This is the first question our teacher asked us when we started this project. Here are some of the things that we thought virtual reality is:

- a computer created world following the physical laws of the real world
- an interactive environment
- a 3-D interactive environment
- exactly like a real place except created with technology
- an imaginary place that looks real

After we did some research into virtual reality, we found out a bit more:

" Virtual Reality is another cyber-technology. It is the science of creating an artificial environment with powerful computer systems." That's the way " Megatech Cyber Space" defines it. That's a book published by Crabtree Publishing. VR has its origins in the 1965 work of a U.S. researcher named Ivan Sutherland. He said that a television screen was a window through which you could see a virtual or almost real world. This began the concept of VR Virtual Reality can have many meanings and is sometimes referred to as a collection of technologies. There are many different kinds of virtual reality. We are focussing on a type of virtual reality called Desktop VR. This kind of VR can be done on standard computers. It is a moving "3-D screen environment" which you can navigate with the keyboard and/or mouse. With desktop computers from Apple becoming more powerful and cheaper it is possible for schools to use VR technologies to enhance projects. It is easy enough for elementary school children to master.

Why use Virtual Reality in Schools?

Virtual reality panoramas and objects add a new dimension to projects in school.

It provides a new level of viewing and exhibiting artwork. Our grade made clay busts in art class. In computer class, everyone then made their busts into virtual reality objects. This allowed us to exhibit our art busts on the web without using too much space as each of us took 36 photographs of our bust, each from a different angle.

We can create virtual reality panoramas of field trips. Not only does this allow us to recall our trip, but it allows other students who did not take the trip to view the scenery and feel like they actually were there.

A project like the school virtual tour will be useful for people who cannot come to the school, to get a more detailed view of some of the places of interest in the school. Also, prospective parents and students can see the school if they cannot take the real tour. Also alumni can keep track of the changes in the school.

A program called Bryce4 allows you to create imaginary and natural landscapes and fantasy worlds on the computer. You can put in a tree, or water, or something non-realistic. It is a interesting and powerful program, and we all love to use it. Although Bryce isn't the easiest program to learn it is quite an experience to be able to generate 3D landscapes and objects.

Using VR we hope to create a close approximation of the real thing to be viewed on the computer and to share another dimension of our projects within the school community and on the Internet.

How we created virtual tours - Our recommendations

How we created virtual reality objects -- Our recommendations