Virtual Reality (VR) for the Mortals (Read: Non-Geeks!)
I wish we had teleportation. But, will settle for Virtual Reality (VR) for now. The term Virtual Reality was born in 1987. However, the concept dates back to 1929 when the first flight simulator was put to use! For the purists, the immersive thought behind VR existed even in 1838 through artistes who mastered stereoscopic paintings. (More for the history buffs) The immersive experience of VR can solve several real life problems. However, VR was sitting on the sidelines for several years, before we started seeing mainline adoption in last few years. The primary reason for it was lack of consumer knowledge, unavailability of content and intuitive consumer technology to make it available to everyone, anytime, anywhere. In 2016, we saw some of these problems getting sorted, when the entire tech world started focusing on VR as the next-big-thing, started finding practical use cases, started creating quality content for this immersive medium, and last but not the least started to get access to the VR devices en-masse. Do you know VR headsets was one of the top-3 gifted items during the Christmas of 2016? And this got the ball rolling. Thus, 2016 was branded as the year of VR. All the major tech giants are it Samsung (Gear VR), Sony (PSVR), Facebook (the Oculus platform), HTC Vive or Google (Card Board, Day Dream, Tilt Brush) are placing their bets on this emerging, hot technology. What is Virtual Reality? VR is a computer-generated environment that lets the user experience a different kind of reality. In other words, VR technology transports the user into an imaginary/simulated virtual world through immersive experience. You are required to put on a VR headset around your head and over the eyes. The imaginary world is the simulation running on a computer/phone, which gives an immersive feel due to the headset, which blocks everything but the VR content. To take it a step further, VR technologies can also recreate sensory experiences such as virtual taste, smell, sound, sight, and touch. At MWC 2017 VR was one of the hottest identified trends. Every tech giant from Qualcomm, Nokia to Samsung, has their headsets. And they tried to cash-in on the growing demand. If we go by Fortune’s list of the largest technology companies in the world, interestingly eight among the top ten companies are engrossed in VR technology. Some advantages of VR: Time and cost effective Engaging due to immersive nature Controlled ambiance (cuts down travel and provide in-person like environment) Provides solutions to complex problems Though initially, VR gained more traction among consumers in the gaming sector, but with each passing day, this emerging technology is breaking new grounds and its application is finding acceptance in various industries such as healthcare, education, military, tourism, real estate and automobile. The major tech giants understand the disruptive potential of this technology and are coming up with high-end products to attract customers. Here are the top 8 industries where VR is creating maximum ripples: Healthcare Education Hospitality and travel Entertainment Banking Real Estate Retail Automotive Healthcare The medical industry is expeditiously adopting VR in innovative ways to educate professionals and also provide modern treatment facilities to the patients. The VR allows the surgeons to practice life-saving methods in a controlled environment. The technology is gaining momentum when it comes to treating patients suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Dr Shafi Ahmed removed a cancerous tissue from the bowel of a patient on April 14, 2016, at the Royal London Hospital. The entire operation was broadcast live through VR. Snow World is a VR experience, which helps in wound care by transporting the patient with chronic burnt injury to an immersive, snowy environment. The Virtual Reality Medical Center, USA, uses VR to treat panic and phobias which comprise fear of heights, public speaking, claustrophobia, social phobia and etc. Education Education is no longer limited to books. Interactive education has become a crucial part of learning and institutes are using VR technology to engage students in ways that were never imagined before. This not only helps in imparting knowledge but also makes study fun for the students. Several top companies are working on VR technology in the education sector. Google Expeditions Pioneer Program, the VR teaching platform built for classrooms, allows the teachers to take the students in an immersive and virtual journey. The Stanford Graduate School of Business offers an innovative certificate program through VR. The prospective students at Yale can take virtual tours of the campus and get a better understanding of the campus life. Hospitality & Travel VR was one of the topics Sabre Labs, the GDS’s travel and technology innovation lab, discussed in its 2017 Emerging Technology in Travel report. The travel and hospitality industry is one of the few sectors, which adopted VR early on. In Marriott hotels, guests can enjoy Vroom service. All that a guest is required to do is order a VR head-mounted display in his/her room and enjoy exotic virtual travel videos. This helps in attracting and retaining hotel guests. Intercontinental Hotel Group IHG has taken the comfort of the guests to the next level. The guests can enjoy VR entertainment, games and other immersive experience at their rooms with the help of Vive Zone (powered by HTC). Destination BC (British Columbia) rolled out “The Wild Within” VR experience, using Oculus Rift technology. This made them the first marketing organization in North America to use VR to promote a destination. Entertainment The worlds of gaming and entertainment have been revolutionized, thanks to VR. From interactive exhibitions, virtual museums, movies to virtual theme parks, VR is redefining the entertainment industry. Premier Hollywood studios such as Warner Brothers, Lionsgate, and Disney are investing in VR to present immersive experience to its audiences. Hollywood blockbusters such as Jurassic World, Insurgent, Star Wars and The Avengers: Age of Ultron to name a few has offered audiences unique VR experiences. The Indian audience were left surprised and shocked when the recent VR teaser of Baahubali: The Conclusion
