Companies that want to take advantage of VR and AR technology should think about the activities they frequently perform and how VR and AR technology can enhance them.
Virtual reality (VR) places users in entire built environments, while augmented reality (AR) augments the environment they are already in. Games provide excellent examples of VR and AR. The VR variety makes players feel like they are in a different world. The AR variety adds elements to the real world, such as Pokémon Go. However, although VR and AR have been more heavily deployed in games, both have many applications beyond this use.
Consider the possibilities. AR can be used to train professionals in fields ranging from engineering to public services and medicine. VR can be implemented in classrooms to bring textbook information to life. It can be used to help consumers get a better idea of products they are considering purchasing or even allow them to tour a home they would like to buy, even if it is hundreds of miles away.
Such applications are just the beginning of how VR and AR can contribute to business and other areas of life. In particular, these technologies will play a more important role in the following industries in the coming years.
Education
The possibilities of VR and AR in education are vast. Virtually any topic can be made clearer and more interesting with an immersive element that truly brings it to life, and instructors are finding increasingly innovative uses for these powerful teaching tools. Teachers at any level can use VR and AR to further engage students in topics ranging from science to music to biology, for example, with a program that allows them to visualize bodily organs in great detail without the need to dissect animal specimens or humans.
While in-person field trips are still very useful, kids can now visit far-flung places without leaving the classroom. Suddenly, museums, farms, factories, historic landmarks and even destinations on other planets are easily accessible. Students can also immerse themselves in simulations of historical events, making them feel as if they have experienced them firsthand.
VR and AR technologies also enable students to attend classes remotely, through metaverse applications that virtually bring together people from different parts of the world. And students with special needs can benefit from classroom-adjacent activities, such as learning skills like pointing, making eye contact, and forming social connections.
Entertainment
As mentioned above, VR and AR are already widely used in video games, introducing an immersive dimension to environments that give the feeling of visiting another world. The world of entertainment is expanding this immersive element beyond traditional video games into other fun experiences. For example, players can participate in a realistic virtual poker game that mimics a real casino. Participants can interact with other players and even notice their body language.
Social communities are being hosted in the virtual world, where VR spaces allow people to come together, similar to real-life events. At least two applications are already available that allow this function, using highly customizable avatars.
Many museums offer virtual tours that users can take from anywhere. World-famous museums include the British Museum in London, the Guggenheim Museum in New York and the Musée d'Orsay in Paris.
Naturally, companies that are already big in entertainment are taking advantage of the technology. For example, the Disney Movies VR app puts favorite Disney scenes into 3D format. Entertainment seekers can also find immersive experiences on YouTube, with 360-degree/3D VR videos including music performances, sporting events and outdoor adventures.
Health care
The potential uses of AR and VR in healthcare are nearly endless. Both doctors and patients have many new ways to support physical and mental health. For starters, medical students can learn how to perform procedures using AR visual representations. Doctors-in-training can also use VR simulations of various health issues to gain empathy for patients.
Other AR systems provide surgeons with detailed representations of a patient's internal organs, allowing them to see the patient. This technology supports less invasive options for surgeries.
Emotional well-being can also be improved by technology. Those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health challenges can spend time in relaxing VR environments, which can have therapeutic effects. Patients with anxiety in certain situations can gradually increase their comfort by participating in simulations of these environments.
The following video highlights some of these uses.
Retail
The world of online retail is a perfect place for VR and AR capabilities. Technology can be used to interact with products, as well as in the purchasing process. For example, VR technology can be used to simulate dressing rooms where customers can virtually try on clothes. This process includes a virtual mannequin so the user can be sure the clothing fits their size and shape.
Furniture stores are using technology to help customers virtually place pieces of furniture in their homes. Immersive in-store or online experiences allow them to change room details like colors, lighting and arrangements to try before they buy. Home improvement is another area where VR and AR technology can be used, such as learning how to use power tools safely.
AR can also be used to create shopping assistants that allow people to walk into a store and get prices, special offers, and features for the products they are seeing in the physical space. In larger retail environments, these apps can also help shoppers navigate the store. AR apps can also use information about shoppers' preferences to guide them toward personalized recommendations. This process is similar to online retailers making product suggestions based on past purchases.
Leveraging technology
If a company holds a lot of meetings online, it could implement a VR version. If a traditional retailer wants to improve the shopping experience, they could create an app that helps shoppers find what they're looking for. In other words, companies that want to take advantage of VR and AR technology should think about the activities they frequently perform and how VR and AR technology can improve them.
