Virtual Reality is a technology that uses software to generate a three-dimensional environment allowing access to real-size objects. It is one of the trending technologies that has gained a lot of attention lately and is considered a revolutionary concept in the world of technology. According to a recent website report, virtual reality will replace street shopping by 2050, where users will wear VR headsets to try on clothes and enter the atmosphere of a simulated store.
Although the concept was first mentioned in a science fiction story in 1935, today we see its real implementation in a wide range of applications. The most common use of VR can be seen in the world of gaming, which is now dominated by companies like Sony, HTC and Facebook's Oculus. However, it is not just in games that VR can be used. Apparently, the virtual reality trend is also being explored in other areas.
Here we list 15 virtual reality apps that are likely to form a significant part of the technology world in the coming years.
1. Entertainment
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As we all know, Virtual Reality has changed the gaming experience a lot. Players can put on headphones, gloves and, through the biosensor, these movements are detected and transmitted to a computer which then transforms these actions on the screen. Moving on, another application of VR concerns a theme park where this technology transforms the park into a space full of supernatural and frightening visuals that are not physically possible.
In addition to the above two uses, VR users can also enjoy an enriched sensation of movies as well as music. Talking about the former, people can put on their VR headsets and watch a movie with a cinema view even while sitting in their living room. Plus, the 360-degree function lets you be part of the movie. Discussing the latter, there are certain apps that focus on views and videos in a way that engages the audience on a personal level.
2. Education
Over the past few years, several professionals, including managers, trainers and therapists, have used VR to deliver training. It is also being used in schools and colleges to offer VR-based interactive sessions in the classroom. Whether it's History, Literature or Economics, VR has become a new way of imparting education.
In September 2015, Google launched its Pioneer Expedition Program, through which thousands of students receive kits containing all the important tools that were vital for them to undertake virtual trips. It will soon be a common trend for students from one country to go on virtual educational trips with students residing in other countries.
3. Museums
Gone are the days when people visited museums accompanied by a guide or agents who accompanied them and illustrated the antiquities. Now you can simply put on your VR headset and take a tour of the entire museum, where you can even walk through the artwork. In addition, students can also enjoy roller coaster rides to learn about history.
Additionally, the Samsung Gear VR headset allows users to interact with artifacts, for example, the Bronze Age exhibit at the British Museum. Additionally, anyone who wants to appreciate the details without being physically present at the site can now use Google's Cardboard Headset to visit the American Museum of Natural History.
4. Health
The healthcare sector has adopted large-scale virtual reality simulations for diagnosis and treatment purposes with the help of 3D models. Efforts are being made not only to impart medical training but also to develop applications that can teach people some life-saving procedures. Additionally, it is also used to help patients deal with phobias, extreme pain, and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder).
A famous incident in which virtual reality saved a life happened when doctors at Nicklaus Children's Hospital in Miami used Google Cardboard to treat a baby who was born with one lung and half a heart. They used 360-degree imaging technology to map the baby's heart and then planned a surgery that would otherwise have been impossible to perform.
5. Courts
Virtual reality is being explored in several law schools to use it in resolving cases. Jurors can be fitted with VR headsets to inspect situations in a 3D view, where they can highlight certain objects and closely observe facts in a 360-degree configuration. This would avoid any kind of confusion, thus helping in making quick and correct decisions.
Researchers at Durham University are working on a robotic system inspired by NASA's Curiosity Mars rover. It just needs an application or computer program to work without relying on texture scanning, game engine or 3D rendering.
6. Space
Through a VR Laboratory, NASA used this technology to train astronauts for spacewalks. Most commonly, it is used for the International Space Station (ISS), which is a collaboration of several countries. Today, almost all astronauts know how to walk in space when they leave the spacecraft. In addition, it is also helping control robots sent to Mars and helping astronauts de-stress.
In another space project, the Oculus Rift was combined with the Kinetic 2 sensor and the Xbox One gaming console to control a robotic arm through operators' gestures. NASA also shared this technology at CES, where people were able to get a glimpse of how the astronauts saw everything when they entered the Orion capsule.
7. Automotive Manufacturing
The application of VR in the automobile industry is quite vast, from the design phase to prototyping and then virtual test drives. It is quite useful for the manufacturers as well as the customers. It helps reduce product cycles, physical prototypes and can be used countless times. Engineers can inspect elements closely to determine any potential damage before they are actually constructed. Additionally, customers can enjoy a virtual test drive while at home.
8. Military
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The use of VR is quite common among US and UK defense agencies. Virtual reality simulators are used by the US military to train soldiers using non-commercial versions of video games such as Virtual Battlespace 2 and Unity 3D. The simulated and immersive environments created through this technology help them learn about war situations so they can prepare themselves before actually facing war.
Speaking of Britain, an electronics design consultancy called Plextek has been delivering training to the country's Ministry of Defense since the late 1980s. Here, trainees learn how to bandage a wound under enemy fire or how to deal with the situation of a soldier who suffers a hemorrhage when the air is filled with smoke.
9. Engineering
VR is not only useful in car manufacturing, but also in manufacturing other heavy vehicles, household appliances, and large-scale industrial products. Companies can manufacture mock prototypes and then discuss the details with much less cost and time.
This not only helps in evaluating the product at an early stage but also allows the engineers, marketing team and sales team to give their respective feedback before the product is actually launched. It can also help to get a response from end consumers through a trial version.
10. Meditation
Virtual Reality can also be used to provide an enriching meditation experience to ensure a healthy mind. You no longer need to go to a secluded and peaceful place to meditate. In fact, with the help of VR headsets, you can simply enjoy exotic locations with natural beauty while sitting at home.
Guide Meditation VR is a virtual relaxation app that offers users access to a wide range of beautiful locations that can be visited virtually. It comes with 4 locations and 9 free guided sessions. Users can even customize it by adding or removing background music according to their preferences. It also measures your heart rate and helps you relax by removing all the stress from inside you.
11. Fashion
The fashion industry has also been using VR technology in interesting and creative ways lately. From virtual try-on of clothes in a simulated environment to catwalks and ramp shows, the app has enjoyed massive popularity. Nowadays, brands film fashion shows with green screens in a 360-degree view and then the public can watch them with different virtual backgrounds.
Many brands are also shooting for a photo shoot in a simulated environment, for example, Elle partnered with Google Cardboard in 2014 to create a 360-degree fashion shoot in several cities. Furthermore, due to the popularity of wearables, fashion brands are getting involved in this area. Dior even launched its own VR headset and became the first fashion brand to do so.
12. Shopping
As mentioned at the beginning of this article, a recent report stated that VR will replace street shopping by the year 2050. After the introduction of online stores, virtual stores will also become a common trend among shopaholics. Customers could take a virtual tour of the products, try on the clothes, and then AI (Artificial Intelligence) salespeople would help them buy what they wanted and offer valuable suggestions.
Recently, Alibaba offered a virtual reality store in China as part of its Buy+ program. Although it is still in testing, millions of customers have shown interest in the program. The customer can simply wear the headset and visit the store remotely, see the products, check the prices and then buy what they want. Deliveries are promised to be made within 2 to 3 days.
13. Construction
Key players in construction spaces, namely architects and designers, are also reaping many benefits from virtual reality. It allows users to inhabit spaces in a three-dimensional configuration. Hand-drawn sketches are now replaced by computerized images, which in turn reduces time and cost.
It helps designers create everything from the building to the floor, but it also helps in studying an emergency situation. This would help determine whether it will be safe for occupants to leave the premises on time.
14. Developing social skills
In addition to the commercial and educational uses of Virtual Reality, the concept is also very useful for social causes. It can be useful in helping children and adults cope with autism by placing them in scenarios that allow them to learn and interact with simulated avatars.
In this, the brain waves of those affected are monitored throughout the program.
Professors working at the University of Texas have even created a program for autistic individuals to help them develop social skills. The situations created include a job interview or an interaction with a neighbor, where the user is forced to interact with the avatars and judge their behavior.
15. Advertising
Advertising is another area that has integrated Virtual Reality to capture the attention of the masses. Whether it's for tourism, hospitality, flights or a consumer product, brands are using this technology to attract customers. VirtualSKY is a service that offers this facility through an application. Users can use a headset or smartphone and will be guided to a 360-degree view of the brand's product/service. This has become the latest method for brands to popularize their offerings, where customers are clear to get fully immersed in what is being shown on the screen with surround sound. There couldn't be a better way to attract customers.
These are the 15 virtual reality apps we have enlisted along with recent developments. Without a doubt, as predicted, 2016 turned out to be the year that VR went from virtual to reality. However, we have not yet witnessed many real-world explorations and applications of the concept.
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