A new way of using modern technology to improve some of the current practices used in courtrooms could soon be set to take off. Researchers are positive that by using virtual technology that is already available they can modify it to enable crime scenes to be recreated right before the juries eyes.
The new project ran by a team at Staffordshire University is the first of its kind in Europe and has already received a European Commission research grant of £140,000, so there are people willing to back the venture already and we could soon see virtual reality come to the courtroom.
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Virtual reality is already being used in the gaming industry, so to utilize it in other areas is a brilliant idea. The project, once completed, will revolutionize the way in which crime scenes are recorded. Using the special headset, priced at £700 each, the user can virtually walk around the crime scene to see the evidence for themselves making it easier to understand and get a real feel for the circumstances in some of the most complex cases.
Although this price may seem high for some, Staffordshire Police says it is affordable, and the benefits the virtual reality system could bring far outweigh the costs. However, not everyone is in agreement with the headset idea, and some are skeptical as to if it will actually make a difference, or just cause more complications like some of the digital technology recently introduced in the courts. But, if it will help juries make more informed decisions about the cases they are presented with, even in a slight way, is that not worth a try at least?
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