9781422275108

Cool Careers in Science

Creating imaginary worlds Virtual, augmented, and mixed realities The most popular training paths

Reality Developers

ALTERNATIVE REALITY DEVELOPERS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE SCIENTISTS COMPUTER GAME & APP DEVELOPERS DRIVERLESS VEHICLE DEVELOPERS DRONE PILOTS ENTERTAINMENT ENGINEERS FORENSIC SCIENTISTS PROFESSIONAL HACKERS RENEWABLE ENERGY WORKERS ROBOTICS DEVELOPERS

Cool Careers in Science

Reality Developers

ANDREW MORKES

MASON CREST PHILADELPHIA MIAMI

Mason Crest 450 Parkway Drive, Suite D Broomall, Pennsylvania 19008 (866) MCP-BOOK (toll-free)

Copyright © 2020 by Mason Crest, an imprint of National Highlights, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission from the publisher.

First printing

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HARDBACK ISBN: 978-1-4222-4293-3 SERIES ISBN: 978-1-4222-4292-6 EBOOK ISBN: 978-1-4222-7510-8

Cataloging-in-Publication Data on file with the Library of Congress

Developed and Produced by National Highlights, Inc. Interior and cover design: Jana Rade, impact studios Interior layout: Annalisa Gumbrecht, Studio Gumbrecht Production: Michelle Luke Proofreader: Susan Uttendorfsky

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Table of Contents

CHAPTER 5: The Future of Alternative Reality and Careers . . . . . . . . . . . 83 Photo Credits . . . . . . . . . . . 92 Further Reading & Internet Resources . . 93 Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94 Educational Video Links . . . . . . . 96 Author Biography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 CHAPTER 1: Alternative Reality and Career Paths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 CHAPTER 2: Terms of the Trade . . . . 31 CHAPTER 3: Preparing for the Field and Making a Living . . . . . . . . . . 49 CHAPTER 4: Key Skills and Methods of Exploration . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

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Introduction

CAREERS IN SCIENCE OFFER GOOD PAY, THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP PEOPLE, AND OTHER REWARDS

Where would we be without science? Well, we’d be without computers, smartphones, and other cutting-edge technologies. Crimes would take longer to solve without modern forensic analysis techniques. More of our private information would be stolen by hackers. We’d be stuck relying on environmentally unfriendly fossil fuels instead of using renewable energy. And life would be less fun because we wouldn’t have drones; awe-inspiring and physics-defying roller coasters; the apps that we use to help us to stay fit, find directions, and get the news; and the computer and video games that we play for hours and hours. Job markets are sometimes strong and sometimes weak, but a career in science (which, for the purposes of this series, includes the related fields of technology and engineering) is almost a sure path to a comfortable life. The following paragraphs provide more information on why a career in science is a great choice. Good pay. People in science careers earn some of the highest salaries in the work world. Median annual salaries for those in computer and mathematical careers in the United States are $84,575, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (USDL). This is much higher than the median earnings ($37,690) for all careers. Additionally, those in life, physical, and social science occupations can earn $64,510, and those in engineering careers earn $79,180. Science

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professionals who become managers or who launch their own businesses can earn anywhere from $150,000 to $300,000 or more. Strong employment prospects. There are shortages of science workers throughout the world, according to the consulting firm ManpowerGroup. In fact, engineering workers are the third most in demand occupational field in the world. Technicians rank fourth, and computer and information technology professionals rank sixth. There’s a shortage of software engineers in more than twenty countries, including in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Japan, and the United Kingdom, according to the recruitment firm Michael Page. Other science careers where there is a shortage of workers include electronics engineers (nineteen countries), electrical engineers (sixteen countries), data analysts (eleven countries), and hardware engineers (six countries), among other workers. The USDL predicts that employment of computer and information technology professionals in the United States will grow by 13 percent during the next decade. Career opportunities for those in life, physical, and social science occupations will grow by 10 percent. Both of these career fields are growing faster than the average for all careers. The outlook is also good for engineering professionals. Employment is expected to grow by 7 percent during the next decade. The strongest opportunities will be found in renewable energy and robotics. By 2026, the USDL predicts that there will be more than 876,000 new jobs in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields. Rewarding work environment and many career options. A career in science is fulfilling because you get to use both your creative and practical sides to develop new technologies (or improve existing ones), solve problems, and make the world a better place. There’s a common misconception that science workers

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spend most of their time in dreary, windowless laboratories or offices. While they do spend lots of time in the laboratory or offices, they also spend time in the field, testing, troubleshooting, and trying out their inventions or discoveries. Some science professionals launch their own businesses, which can be both fun and very rewarding. Job opportunities are available throughout the United States and the world. Science professionals play such an important role in our modern world that there are jobs almost anywhere, although many positions are found in big cities.

IS A CAREER IN SCIENCE RIGHT FOR ME? Test your interest. How many of these statements do you agree with?

___ I am curious about how things work.

___ My favorite classes in school are computer- and science-related. ___ I like to learn about scientific breakthroughs.

___ I enjoy writing computer code.

___ I like to invent things.

___ I have a good imagination.

___ I like to use technology to solve problems.

___ I like to build electronics and other things that require electricity.

___ I like to build and fix things.

___ I enjoy doing science experiments.

___ I am good at math.

If many of the statements above describe you, then you should consider a career in the sciences. But you don’t need to select a career right now. Check out this book on a career as an alternative reality developer, and other books in the series, to learn more about occupational paths in the sciences and related fields. Good luck with your career exploration!

Introduction 9

WORDS TO UNDERSTAND

artificial intelligence: the simulation of human intelligence (perceiving, reasoning, learning, problem-solving, etc.) by machinery and computer systems augment: to enhance or add to something reality: the state of things as they actually exist revenue: money earned from the sales of goods or services virtual: something that is not real, but that is created by a computer or other methods Silicon Valley: a region that is located at the south end of San Francisco Bay in California that is the home to many startup and global technology companies

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Chapter 1

ALTERNATIVE REALITY AND CAREER PATHS

THE WORLDS OF ALTERNATIVE REALITY If you’ve played the game Pokémon Go , used Snapchat Lenses, played games on a Wii, or worn a special headset to see a different world, you’ve used a form of alternative reality . But the term “alternative reality” is really just a general name for various types of different 3–D realities that can be created with the help of computers, cameras, animation software, sensors, 3–D audio, and other technology. In fact, there are three types of alternative realities that are used for entertainment purposes, in educational settings, and in the workplace. They are virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR). Let’s take a look at these three specialized areas to learn about their similarities and differences.

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TYPES OF HMDDS In a phone-based HMDD , a mobile phone is placed within a head-mounted display to view alternative reality content. Examples include Samsung Gear and Google Cardboard. A stand-alone HMDD is a cordless device that does not require being tethered to a personal computer or a phone to view content. Examples include the Microsoft HoloLens mixed reality headset and Facebook’s Oculus Go. A tethered HMDD is connected to a high-powered personal computer to view high-quality content. Examples include HTC Vive and Oculus Rift.

See examples of virtual reality

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A teen uses a tethered HMDD to play a video game.

VIRTUAL REALITY Virtual reality is a 100 percent computer-generated experience that takes place within a simulated environment with the use of a head-mounted display device (HMDD) or other wearable equipment. Specialized hand controllers provide users with an enhanced VR experience. When you use VR technology, the real world is completely shut out as you interact with an environment that is based on real-world historical events or settings (such as a battlefield during World War II, a coral reef, the White House, etc.) or imaginary settings. When you move your head to look in a different direction or walk around a particular area, the screen shifts accordingly,

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creating the illusion that you’re actually inside that virtual location. One drawback of VR is that the user is typically limited to a small area—only as far as the cords that attach to the headset can reach—but more advanced headsets allow users more mobility. Examples of virtual reality devices include Facebook’s Oculus Rift, HTC’s Vive, Sony’s PlayStation VR, Samsung’s Gear VR, and Google’s Cardboard.

NICELY SAID… “Virtual reality replaces reality, taking you somewhere else. Augmented reality adds to reality, projecting information on top of what you’re already seeing.”

Source: PC Magazine

AUGMENTED REALITY Augmented reality is a computer-generated system that combines a virtual environment that contains imaginary digital elements (video game characters, 3–D models, train schedules, facts about a historical site, etc.) with a real environment. These elements are introduced through the camera on a smartphone, headset, laptop, tablet, smart glasses or helmet, or other type of technology. The use of such technology allows users of AR much more mobility than VR users enjoy. You see both the real world and an imaginary one. For example, in the game Pokémon Go , images of Pokémon are projected on the screen, superimposed on whatever the camera is looking at (such as a park or a city street). In VR, you can see imaginary elements, but you cannot interact with them. Other examples of augmented reality technology include Snapchat Lenses, Google Glass, and Yelp’s Monocle feature.

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Augmented reality.

MIXED REALITY In mixed reality, which combines elements of VR and AR, real-world and anchored digital objects interact. For example, a surgeon using MR could overlay virtual images from a patient’s ultrasound on the surgical site while performing an operation. But unlike AR (where virtual objects overlay the real world), virtual objects in MR, such as a dog under a desk, are blocked from view unless the user bends down to see it. Microsoft’s HoloLens is an example of this fast-growing technology. Mixed reality is also known as “holographic computing.”

There are two types of mixed reality:

• Mixed reality that starts with the real world, meaning that you stay in the real world but digital content is added to it. For an example of this, check out how Skype is used on Microsoft HoloLens. Some people consider this form of MR an advanced

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type of augmented reality, but others disagree. You will find that, beyond the basics, people have many different views about what comprises each type of alternative reality. • Mixed reality that starts with the virtual world, meaning that the digital features replace the real world ones. This scenario sounds similar to virtual reality, but it’s different because in VR, the user’s experience is not tied to the real world in any way. Again, experts disagree about whether this form of mixed reality is actually MR, or just another form of VR. You can judge for yourself by checking out Microsoft’s Windows Mixed Reality, which the company describes as “AR Mixed with VR Gaming.” In the end, if the technology is fun or informative, it doesn’t really matter what it’s called. WHAT CONSUMERS WANT FROM MIXED REALITY TECHNOLOGY

Many people associate combined AR/VR applications with gaming and fun, but a survey of consumers by Accenture, a global management consulting and professional services firm, found that they want much more from mixed reality technology. Here were the most popular potential uses of MR technology:

67% of consumers want to use it to learn more about a place they are visiting

58% want to view 3–D manuals

54% want to shop for furniture and household items

67% want to learn new skills

61% want to visualize how clothes fit

47% want to play games

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