Virtual Reality sounds almost like science fiction, something out of a futuristic movie or a videogame. However, VR is not as outlandish as you might think: it is already here, and it is becoming increasingly popular for a wide variety of applications. Many businesses are using VR technologies to improve their branding, promoting themselves or even relating to people in a whole new way. The possibilities are endless. The vital question: Is your company ready to handle the next VR revolution?
As the virtual world is becoming more and more popular, these new technological developments present very interesting opportunities for businesses in many different industries or niches.
What is Virtual Reality (VR)? VR is a computer-generated paradigm that allows users to experience and interact with a 3D world that is actually not real. Unlike traditional user interfaces, VR allows the user to actually be within an experience, going for a more engaging and immersive approach. For instance, A VR headset fits around your head, over your eyes and ears, and visually separates the user from their actual physical space at that moment. Even hand movements and other body motion activity can be tracked through specialized motion sensors on wireless controllers, so users can feel and experience the virtual world, mentally and physically speaking.
Ideas alone have little worth. The value of an innovation lies in its practical implementation. – Werner vin Siemens
How the VR magic happens. Don’t make the mistake of assuming that this technology is very new: VR has been around for many decades, but was hampered by limited technological developments and high production costs. Thanks to a successful Kickstarter campaign, Oculus Rift (acquired by Facebook) came to fruition as the first truly immersive VR-headset for video games in 2012, became very successful across the world.
At the start, VR equipment was only available from a couple of companies such as HTC and Oculus. As of 2016, more headsets have been released by companies such as Google, PlayStation and Samsung. Most of these are quite pricey, so if you want to experience VR without breaking the bank, you can simply buy a Google Cardboard headset online, for about €15,00 and use it with your mobile phone.
Different devices offer different VR experiences. As a display, manufacturers typically choose between allowing users to connect their own smartphone. As for the imagery, content creators typically choose between a fully-realized 3D environment, or a 2D image or video “photosphere” wrapped around the viewer.
Most consumer models work with a smartphone because they fully support the technology. As a consequent, the glasses are cheap. Some models have the technology already incorporated into the headset. There are glasses that you can use with a PC or laptop which are mainly used for games. However, we believe, a beginner’s best option is to buy a model that will work with on a smartphone.
Hardware companies, software developers and consumers alike are excited for what the future holds for VR technologies. Below, you can see this great video where they have already seized the great opportunities of VR;
You may wonder why we share this blog with you. It’s simple: we love this technology and the opportunities it is offering. Right now we are working on a great VR project, through which we wish to share our enthusiasm, knowledge and experiences.
We want your project to succeed! Please feel free to contact us on hello@oably.com or +31 (0)40 304 1793.
Photo: © Stocksy – Per Swantesson