You may be asking yourself what it is, how it works, or how it can benefit you and your business? We’re here to answer all of your burning questions and give you some insight into the fabulous world that VR creates.

Image credit: Horizon Worlds

As Virtual Reality (VR) slowly peeks its head out of gamers’ basements and makes its mad break towards becoming mainstream, it draws the attention of bystanders.

As with all new and shiny things, VR takes some getting used to and appears complicated at first glance. However, beneath all the glitz and glamour, it’s pretty simple to use and is on the road to becoming a game-changer in businesses worldwide.

Before we get to the fun applications of VR, let’s take a closer look at what it is and how it works.

What is VR?

Image credit: Oculus

Virtual Reality is a fully immersive, computer-generated, three-dimensional environment that transports users into an entirely new world.

Up until now, its primary use has been to give users a break from the monotony of their everyday lives, an escape from reality.

The user’s perception of reality isn’t altered; instead, the user is a spectator overseeing events.

How can we experience VR?

A key factor in creating an immersive experience, and one of the most powerful ways to experience VR, is through a headset.

The headsets adopt a stereoscopic display. It’s very similar to how your eyes see things in everyday life. Simply put, they make everything three-dimensional and add depth to whatever image you’re looking at so that it feels like you’re physically there.

Some VR goes one step further and gives you the simulation of sound or touch to make your experience more immersive and feel more real.

What makes it unique?

VR adopts user-controlled navigation techniques, allowing users to choose how they want to experience the simulation.

So, you don’t just feel like you’re watching a movie, you feel like the movie’s main character.

Image credit: Valve

What is the future of VR?

The current perception is that VR can only be used in the gaming and entertainment industries. This isn’t entirely true.

Let’s take a look at how VR challenges the traditional way businesses work.

VR in business

The applications of VR are endless. In business, it can be used in different industries to drive innovation.

For example, manufacturing industries can use VR in every production stage, from equipment design to training and product development.

Imagine having an expert watching over your shoulder as you perform a difficult task, gently guiding you through each step and correcting you before any big mistakes are made.

The concept is simple enough, but where do you find the expert? In VR, of course!

What does this mean for you as a business?

The growing VR industry offers massive opportunities for brands to create memorable and highly engaging customer experiences.

Let’s have a look at an example:

Image credit: Lapentor

In real estate, clients visit multiple properties before deciding on the one that suits them best. Visiting a property is not only time consuming, but it can also be expensive. VR technology helps solve these problems by allowing millions of people to virtually inspect properties without leaving their homes.

During the global lockdowns, courtesy of COVID-19, many places in the world conducted online property inspections for renters and potential home buyers.

VR takes this concept one step further by allowing clients to experience immersive, 3D walk-throughs of properties to get an accurate idea of what the property has to offer and whether or not it meets their needs.

VR in training scenarios

The most apparent advantage of training in Virtual Reality is that if anything goes horribly wrong, you can just press the reset button and try again.

Image credit: U.S. Air Force – Dan Hawkins

Simulators are an excellent way for surgeons and pilots to practice and hone their skills. All they need is a headset and a motion controller in each hand.

VR has revolutionised simulation by creating a more accessible, effective and affordable option.

Virtual Reality is improving and expanding its applications at a rapid rate. To be at the forefront of this movement as it makes its way into industries around the world would be thrilling, don’t you think?

If you would like to discuss VR in more detail or get some insight into how it could benefit your business, reach out to our consultants for a complimentary strategy session.