Tariq Nelson

In the early 1990s, some in the computer industry thought that virtual reality would be a big thing. It never materialized. However, some computer scientists have apparently improved the technology. The next thing you know, there will be a holodeck in every home.

Armchair travellers wearing the device will be able to hear the roar of lions on safari, smell the flowers of an Alpine meadow or feel the heat of the Caribbean sun on their face - all from the comfort of their sitting room.

The device will also allow people to greet friends and family on the other side of the world as if they were in same room, and to immerse themselves in fantasy worlds.

It will even allow students to explore history - and find out what it was really like to live in Ancient Egypt, Rome or Greece.

Scientists have been developing virtual reality devices for nearly two decades. But until now, most have only been able to recreate sound and vision.

Filed under: Changing World