This course is part of the Virtual Reality Specialization

4.7
stars
1,714 ratings

Dr Sylvia Xueni Pan +1 more instructor

92,428 already enrolled

Offered By

University of London

Goldsmiths, University of London

Virtual Reality SpecializationUniversity of London

About this Course

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This course will introduce you to Virtual Reality (VR). The course will teach you everything from the basics of VR- the hardware and the history of VR- to different applications of VR, the psychology of Virtual Reality, and the challenges of the medium.
The course is designed for people who are new to VR as a medium. You may have experienced some virtual reality before, and may have some hardware- but this course is suitable to individuals who have never experienced VR and those who do not have much hardware- we will explain Mobile VR as well as devices such as the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive.

Introduction to Virtual Reality is the first course in the Virtual Reality Specialisation. A learner with no previous experience in Virtual Reality and/or game programming will be able to evaluate existing VR applications, and design, test, and implement their own VR experiences/games using Unity by the end of the specialisation.

Flexible deadlines

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Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

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Course 1 of 5 in the

Virtual Reality Specialization

Beginner Level

Approx. 13 hours to complete

English

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Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Course 1 of 5 in the

Virtual Reality Specialization

Beginner Level

Approx. 13 hours to complete

English

Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?

Try Coursera for Business

Instructors

Instructor rating

4.79/5 (476 Ratings)

Dr Sylvia Xueni Pan

Senior Lecturer, Department of Computing

Goldsmiths, University of London

119,861 Learners

5 Courses

Prof Marco Gillies

Professor

Computing Department, Goldsmiths, University of London

485,330 Learners

16 Courses

Offered by

University of London

The University of London is a federal University which includes 17 world leading Colleges. With extensive experience in distance learning since 1858, University of London has enriched the lives of thousands of students, delivering high quality degrees across the globe. Today, University of London is a global leader in flexible study, offering degree programmes to over 45,000 students in over 190 countries, delivering world-leading research across the world. To find out more about University of London, visit www.london.ac.uk

Goldsmiths, University of London

Championing research-rich degrees that provoke thought, stretch the imagination and tap into tomorrow’s world, at Goldsmiths we’re asking the questions that matter now in subjects as diverse as the arts and humanities, social sciences, cultural studies, computing, and entrepreneurial business and management. We are a community defined by its people: innovative in spirit, analytical in approach and open to all.

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Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Content Rating96%(20,244 ratings)

Week1

Week 1

4 hours to complete

Virtual Reality- Hardware and History

4 hours to complete

15 videos (Total 78 min), 7 readings, 1 quiz

15 videos

Welcome to the Virtual Reality Specialisation!4mWelcome to Introduction to Virtual Reality!1mIntroduction to Week 147sWhat is VR and How is it Different from Other Media?5mDisplays | CAVE and HMDs3mHead Tracking5mControllers5mChoosing your VR Device5mHMD | Oculus Rift1mHMD | HTC Vive3mHMD | Sony PlayStation VR4mHMD | Mobile VR | Google Cardboard and Samsung Gear2mCAVE VR Systems8mPart 1 | VR in the Analogue Age7mPart 2 | VR in the Digital Age16m

7 readings

Course blog10mHMD | Windows Mixed Reality10mHMD | Oculus GO10mHMD | Oculus Quest10mWhere to Download VR Apps10mSummary | How To Choose Your VR HMD10mVR History10m

1 practice exercise

VR HMDs and VR History30m

Week2

Week 2

4 hours to complete

VR Applications

4 hours to complete

9 videos (Total 33 min), 7 readings, 2 quizzes

9 videos

Introduction to Week 248sIntroduction to the VR Technical Framework5m360 Video and Model Based VR6mBeing Someone Else4mSports3mNews and Documentary Films2mScientific Data Visualisation3mMedical Training2mPhysical Rehabilitation and Psychotherapy3m

7 readings

Further Reading on 360 Video10mBeing Someone Else10mVR in Sports10mVR in News and Documentary Films10mMedical Training10mVR in Physical Rehabilitation and Psychotherapy10mEnhancing Our Lives with Virtual Reality10m

1 practice exercise

VR Applications30m

Week3

Week 3

4 hours to complete

The Psychology of VR: the Three Illusions

4 hours to complete

22 videos (Total 105 min), 4 readings, 1 quiz

22 videos

Introduction to Week 31mA Brief History of VR4mLevels of Immersion in VR Systems10mSensorimotor Contingency (SC)2mSensorimotor Contingency in VR4mWhy Do We Need Immersive VR?4mIntroduction to the Three Illusions4mIntroduction to Place Illusion (PI)6mDoes Immersion Cause PI?4mIntroduction to Plausibility Illusion (Psi)3mNecessary Conditions for Psi4mBreak of Presence2mPresence, Immersion, PI, and Psi2mThe Pinocchio Illusion2mThe Rubber Hand Illusion2mPsychological Effects of Embodiment Illusion7mVisual-Tactile and Visual-Motor Synchrony13mThe Technical Setup of VR Embodiment2mChanges in Attitude, Behaviours, and Cognition9mSelf-Counselling and Treating Depression5mComparing CGI and 360 Video4mThe Future of Embodiment in VR2m

4 readings

The Three Illusions10mThe Technical Setup of VR Embodiment10mChanging Bodies Changes Minds: Owning Another Body Affects Social Cognition10mEmbodiment in Self-Counselling and Treating Depression10m

1 practice exercise

The Three Illusions of Virtual Reality30m

Week4

Week 4

3 hours to complete

Challenges in Virtual Reality

3 hours to complete

7 videos (Total 26 min), 3 readings, 2 quizzes

Reviews

4.7

451 reviews

5 stars
77.66%
4 stars
18.60%
3 stars
2.21%
2 stars
0.58%
1 star
0.93%

TOP REVIEWS FROM INTRODUCTION TO VIRTUAL REALITY

by ICJun 14, 2018

Being a non-techie, I find this course quite easy to understand. The required readings are academic papers and I took some time to understand them but it is good quality readings.

by MMOct 2, 2020

The 4th week was really interesting and the assignments were fun. However, other lectures were a bit boring and the material was quite obvious, so giving it 4 weeks is too long.

by MAMay 13, 2020

The course is highly recommended by me. Learned so many things at once. All the lecturers are too good in illustrating a complex issues and now my basic ideas about virtual reality is clear and wider.

by SROct 2, 2022

As a person had not any knowledge about the Virtual Reality, this course would be great. And, it was helpful in particular, reading and additional parts help to you increase your knowledge.

View all reviews

About the Virtual Reality Specialization

This specialisation from the University of London will introduce you to virtual reality.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.

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Introduction to Virtual Reality

About this Course