Watching the Netflix series "3 Body Problem" was a revealing experience. Though presented as futuristic sci-fi, the show mirrors current global issues. Characters use standalone virtual reality headsets to simulate and respond to extraterrestrial challenges faced by the San Ti Ren, which are beings from another planet. These VR simulations immerse them in scenarios, heightening the urgency and horror, prompting the question: How far is this from our reality?
If fictional characters can use VR to navigate extraterrestrial challenges, why cannot we use existing VR technologies to prepare our first responders for the real-world “three-body problem” of climate-driven disasters, conflicts, and pandemics? These issues collectively threaten planetary health, and today’s VR technology holds transformative potential in addressing these three global scourges of our time.
VR stands out as a cost-effective and sustainable solution to these pressing issues. This technology is not new: Its roots trace back over 50 years to 1968 when American computer scientist Ivan Sutherland and his student Bob Sproull introduced the Sword of Damocles, the first head-mounted VR display. The technological strides from this rudimentary system to today’s sophisticated systems showcase a remarkable journey of innovation, expanding the boundaries of training and preparedness.