Virtual reality continues to be one of the advancing technologies that are bound to shape our future significantly. Asking people about their VR expectations is bound to bring different answers.
Some will argue that virtual reality is not that great yet, but they have hopes for it. Others might have a different opinion and claim that they already see how beneficial virtual worlds can be.
To put VR in layman’s terms, it is a computer-generated environment that allows exploration and interaction for people. Let’s take a look at some industries that are already benefiting from VR.
Gaming
It is no secret that video games are one of the first things that come to mind when talking about virtual reality. Many virtual reality ads have people wearing helmets and exploring game worlds.
Is there a chance that VR headsets will replace traditional video games? Unlikely, because the industry is too big and too popular.
Consider online games. If you compete against other players or cooperate, certain genres do not work in a VR environment.
Another thing to note about VR games is that they are quite reliant on latency. To function optimally, a VR game should have a latency between 7 to 15 ms. More than that is an issue.
Checking a ping and changing it is also not that simple on VR compared to regular computers. Besides, since laptops and PCs are more common, more servers are available for their games, which means that there are fewer latency issues. If you know where to go to change the ping and how to change it, you can go there and improve things for yourself before playing a game.
With that said, virtual reality will only grow in the gaming industry, and it is really exciting to see what the future brings.
Ecommerce
Shopping online is more convenient than going to a physical store and having to walk around and browse items you may or may not purchase. Besides, ecommerce had seen even more growth during the pandemic when people had no choice but to shop online.
Online stores have certain problems, however. For one, cybersecurity is making some people reluctant to purchase expensive goods online because they are afraid of scams.
Then there is the problem of not having the option to actually try the product. And this is where virtual reality comes in.
The likes of Amazon and Alibaba have been investing in VR technologies to provide their shoppers with the virtual reality experience. Putting a VR helmet on and browsing the store as if you were there in person makes it easier to decide whether a product is worth the money or not.
While VR in ecommerce is still in its early stages, things are bound to change as more and more online stores implement virtual reality.
Medical Training
Medicine is one of the fields that benefit from virtual reality the most. For future doctors, they do not have to go through trial and error on real bodies and can instead use virtual reality simulations.
VR also comes in handy for mental health issues. Patients can immerse themselves in friendly environments and forget about PTSD and anxiety. And these are just a few examples. As the technology continues to improve, we can expect even more benefits for those in healthcare.
Education
Whether virtual reality can revolutionize education is still too early to tell. However, given that the technology allows for environment creation and exploration, certain university programs can benefit from VR.
For instance, history students could go on a tour and visit Ancient Rome, Babylon, and other civilizations that they can only read about in books. A replica, regardless if it is virtual, will help with the immersion and let students get a better grip of what such an ancient world was really like.
Of course, creating such environments in VR is not that simple, but since things are moving in the right direction, we should see more and more classes offering a VR experience for its students.
Sports
VR in sports is not about encouraging individuals to stay fit. No, professional clubs are looking for innovative ways to create training regimens, discover new tactics, and analyze their competition more efficiently.
The entertainment side is also worth mentioning. Some broadcasters already offer a 360 degree VR view on YouTube or their smartphone applications. Seeing the game from different stadium angles will change the way we watch sports.
Tourism
If you are uncertain about visiting certain locations, you can put on a virtual reality helmet and go on guided VR tours visiting various landmarks.
A quick look will give you a better idea of the environment. If you like what you see, you will want the same experience in the real world. On the other hand, if things seem lackluster, you can look for a holiday elsewhere.
