The term ‘virtual Reality’ (VR) refers to the use of computer technology in order to create a simulated environment in a business. In contrast to traditional user interfaces, VR places the user inside of an experience. As opposed to watching a screen in front of them, users are absorbed and are able to communicate with 3D worlds.
By replicating as many senses as possible – such as vision, hearing, touch, even smell – the computer is converted into a gatekeeper to this artificial world. The only restrictions to near-real VR experiences are the availability of content in addition to cheap computing power.
VR is either going to up-end our business lives in a way that nothing has since the smartphone, or will be the technological equivalent of trying to reinvent the wheel. The poles of this debate were established in 2012 when VR first re-emerged from anonymity at a videogame trade show. VR has persisted through Facebook’s $3 billion purchase of headset maker Oculus in 2014, through years of refinement as well as improvement, in addition to well into the first and a half generation of consumer hardware.
How does virtual reality work?
At the moment, typical VR systems use either VR headsets or multi-projected environments in order to create realistic images, sounds as well as other sensations which simulate a user’s physical existence in a virtual environment.
An individual using virtual reality equipment can:
- Look around the artificial environment,
- Move around in it, in addition to
- Interacting with virtual features or items.
This effect is normally created by VR headsets consisting of a head-mounted display with a small screen that is situate in front of the eyes. However, the VR effect can also be created through specially designed rooms with a variety of large screens.
VR typically incorporates auditory and video feedback, but may also permit other types of sensory and force feedback through touch-sensitive technology.
How virtual reality can assist your business
VR can help your company in a number of ways. How you choose to use VR, obviously, is totally up to you. Now, businesses are eagerly embracing the opportunities created by this incredible technology. That isn’t surprising, given the potential opportunities that it creates for freeing our minds from the physical restraints of our body and permitting us to “see” into places that only exist in the digital world.
Uptake of VR in business, unsurprisingly, is forecast to outpace leisure usage of the technology in coming years, with spending predicted to reach R9.2 billion by 2021 according to research conducted in the United States.
Just about any process which can be carried out in the physical world – and in business which would range from customer services to marketing, finance, HR as well as production – could be simulated in VR. In general, tasks which it can carry out can be split into one of two categories– training, or practical application.
Virtual reality and training
Training is one of the most crucial applications of VR. In 2017, Walmart teamed up with VR creator Strivr, to get employees ready for its Black Friday sales. Engaging employees in a lifelike environment of long queues and crowds is the ideal way to prepare them for events which are not a daily occurrence. It also eliminates the need to disturb regular business operations for training purposes.
In a more specific example of VR training, Oculus VirtualSpeech helps the users practise their public speaking skills in a virtual environment. Speakers are able to upload their presentation slides to the virtual room, experience distractions, and get real time feedback on their delivery.
In the medical sector, VR allows health-care professionals to practise in a risk-free environment that would be impossible in the real world. Oculus worked with the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles (CHLA) in order to train staff for high-risk paediatric trauma cases.
Just by being open to exposing yourself and your employees to the technology can assist you with come up with some pretty innovative ideas and designs. In addition, VR and AR apps can also assist you with reaching your target market in new as well as interesting ways. Therefore, it is great for marketing purposes.
VR can also help your customer get to know your product or service in a different manner. Just like The New York Times is utilising VR to reinvent the news story, you can utilise VR in order to reinvent your product.
Find out more about VR and AR apps, expose your business to the technology, and think about employing the technology in order to improve your marketing efforts, your design efforts, in addition to your product or service in its entirety.
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