Explore the psychological impact and transformative potential of virtual reality in this seminar by Jeremy Bailenson, Stanford University professor and founding director of the Virtual Human Interaction Lab. Delve into how VR is revolutionizing teaching, training, culture-building, and communication across various sectors. Discover the concept of the "Local Metaverse" and its applications in education, including flipped classrooms and virtual field trips. Examine the causes of Zoom fatigue and learn about VR's role in addressing it. Investigate VR's "killer apps" in sports, retail, and soft skills training, with case studies from the NFL, Olympics, and Walmart. Understand key psychological theories like Contact Hypothesis and Body Transfer Theory, and their relevance in VR applications. Explore the ethical considerations, potential downsides, and future directions of VR technology, including its use in stroke rehabilitation and the distinctions between AR and VR.