>> you've disappeared. >> reporter: i am suddenly standing in a virtual replica of bailenson's lab. > on the floor? >> yeah. >> walk to the right side of it, please. >> reporter: but when i look down -- >> oh, my god. wow. okay. >> reporter: the chasm looks so real my knees are shaking. i know the floor is solid. but part of my brain is shouting don't do it. >> take a step off. >> hard to do. but -- ah! >> good job. good job. virtual reality is not a media experience. when it's done well, it's an actual experience. >> so the impact of doing something with these goggles on is greater than the impact of looking at the same thing on a flat screen on my smartphone? >> in general our findings show that vr causes more behavior change, causes more engagement, causes more influence than other types of traditional media. >> reporter: over the next 30 minutes i virtually learn new skills. >> wow, that one hurt. >> reporter: like blocking hockey pucks. and training my body to react quickly during an earthquake. >> wow. this is pretty real. >> reporter: but the teaching can also go much deeper. >

bailenson's research has shown this exercise in empathy can actually change the way people act towardvirtual reality and experiencing this firsthand in general cause a reduction in prejudice compared to the typical way we try to address this, for example, role playing or mental imagery. >> reporter: risks. virtual reality is potentially more addictive than video games and smartphones. >> virtual reality is consuming. you put it on, you're there. it's really intense. and you actually feel like you're there. >> reporter: so intense that vr goggles are not recommended for children under 13. and users are encouraged to take breaks every 30 minutes. >> it's a powerful tool. that power of the experience doesn't come for free. >> is this too powerful for people to have freely? >> in the wrong hands technology can be good and it can be bad. uranium can heat homes and it can destroy nations. and virtual reality is a medium. it's up to us to use it for good. >> reporter: bailenson has been studying virtual reality since 1999. this year he is finally seeing it enter the consumer mainstream. >> i