Virtual environment

A computer-generated simulation of a three-dimensional space that users can navigate and interact with, typically rendered visually through screens or head-mounted displays. Virtual environments range from simple 3D spaces to complex simulated worlds used in gaming, training, education, social interaction, and rehabilitation. The heavy reliance on visual rendering makes most virtual environments inaccessible to blind and low-vision users, as the physical and auditory cues present in real-world navigation — ambient sounds, surface textures, air movement, sound shadows — are largely absent. Making virtual environments accessible requires fundamentally rethinking how spatial information is conveyed, moving beyond visual metaphors to incorporate spatial audio, haptic feedback, sonification, and echolocation mechanics that enable non-visual navigation and spatial cognition.