what is the difference between multimedia and virtual reality?

Answer 1

Multimedia = multiple media types = Audio, Visual, etc.
Basically all computer games are 'multimedia'

Virtual Reality = Immersive content, where you are actually in the position to suspend belief and feel as if you're inside a virtual world.
It may be argued that a lot of games do create virtual realities (strictly speaking they do, all MMOs, etc), but the term "virtual reality" is generally limited to only those experiences that fully envelope you (think Holodeck, or Tron) as opposed to a simply computer screen.

Answer 2

Virtual Reality In Multimedia

Answer 3

Multimedia = multiple media types = Audio, Visual, etc.
Basically all computer games are 'multimedia'

Virtual Reality = Immersive content, where you are actually in the position to suspend belief and feel as if you're inside a virtual world.

Answer 4

Virtual reality (VR) is a technology which allows a user to interact with a computer-simulated environment, be it a real or imagined one. Most current virtual reality environments are primarily visual experiences, displayed either on a computer screen or through special stereoscopic displays, but some simulations include additional sensory information, such as sound through speakers or headphones. Some advanced, haptic systems now include tactile information, generally known as force feedback, in medical and gaming applications. Users can interact with a virtual environment or a virtual artifact (VA) either through the use of standard input devices such as a keyboard and mouse, or through multimodal devices such as a wired glove, the Polhemus boom arm, and omnidirectional treadmill. The simulated environment can be similar to the real world, for example, simulations for pilot or combat training, or it can differ significantly from reality, as in VR games. In practice, it is currently very difficult to create a high-fidelity virtual reality experience, due largely to technical limitations on processing power, image resolution and communication bandwidth. However, those limitations are expected to eventually be overcome as processor, imaging and data communication technologies become more powerful and cost-effective over time.
and
Multimedia is media that uses multiple forms of information content and information processing (e.g. text, audio, graphics, animation, video, interactivity) to inform or entertain the (user) audience. Multimedia also refers to the use of (but not limited to) electronic media to store and experience multimedia content. Multimedia is similar to traditional mixed media in fine art, but with a broader scope. The term "rich media" is synonymous for interactive multimedia.
Multimedia may be broadly divided into linear and non-linear categories. Linear active content progresses without any navigation control for the viewer such as a cinema presentation. Non-linear content offers user interactivity to control progress as used with a computer game or used in self-paced computer based training. Non-linear content is also known as hypermedia content.

Multimedia presentations can be live or recorded. A recorded presentation may allow interactivity via a navigation system. A live multimedia presentation may allow interactivity via interaction with the presenter or performer.