The wand, which comes in a variety of shapes and sizes, is the simplest and most popular input device. Some incorporate on-off buttons while others have dials or joysticks. Their design and method of operation is largely dependent on the simulation. For example, a biological simulation might use the wand as a scalpel while a musical simulation would use it as a baton. This flexibility along with its simplicity account for its wide-spread usage.
Many applications utilize virtual reality technology.
Although the entertainment industry is more widely known for its use of virtual reality, many other industries also utilize the technology on a large scale. Modern meteorologists use computer modeling and virtual reality technology to predict weather. By simulating weather conditions they can predict the weather much more accurately then before. The technology also greatly improves early detection of severe weather. For example, in 1993, a computer model of Hurricane Emily was able to accurately predict that it would turn back out to sea 48 hours in advance.