Is reality simply a construction of our perceptions?

Is reality "real," or simply a construction of our perceptions? Science, of course, has driven our capabilities to come up with explanations for more phenomena than you thought existed.....but would all of these discoveries still correspond to a faithful picture of reality, given the emergence of virtual realities? Is the dog by any chance pulling the staircase? What is experience telling us therefore?

Just kiddin', I just like the picture....again, done with my GRD-III, cute little thing.