As the chief characteristic of VR technology is that it builds out a simulated environment and effectively tricks our brain into believing we are somewhere we are not, VR applies greatly to a variety of different industries. We may still hardly realize how useful VR can be but after reading this article there will be a clearer picture of its application in our lives.
1. VR in Sports
VR is revolutionizing the sports industry for players, coaches, and viewers. Coaches and players can use VR to train more efficiently across a range of sports, as they are able to watch and experience certain situations repeatedly and can improve each time. Essentially, it’s used as a training aid to help measure athletic performance and analyze technique. VR may also help injured athletes to improve their cognitive abilities, as it allows them to experience gameplay scenarios virtually.
2. VR in Training & Education
In some sectors, especially in dangerous environments, VR is used to train employees. For example, pilots use simulators in case they make a mistake, and aspiring doctors take advantage of virtual reality to avoid medical accidents. By connecting an array of distinctive technologies, VR technology provides a multisensory and three-dimensional environment that helps users become completely immersed in an artificial environment.
VR educational use extends to schools for teaching and learning situations. Students can interact with each other and within a three-dimensional environment. Virtual field trips, for example, to museums, tours of the solar system, and travel back in time to different eras are high-value experiences for a student.
3. VR in Medical Training & dental education
Implementing virtual technology into training health professionals is changing the future of education. Clinicians benefit from virtual hands-on experiences by reducing harm to live patients and learning efficiently. VR offers realistic, safe practices while providing feedback to the practitioner. Virtual patients allow surgeons to practice complex surgeries and students to develop skills that can later be applied in the real world.
“New and advanced technologies such as oculus virtual simulation systems provide unique capabilities for clinical training in medical academia”
Regarding dentistry, the potential advantages of VR for dental education are frequently discussed as a means to improve fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination within clinical settings. VR could also surmount the financial and creative challenges that are often involved with dentistry’s complex training.
In addition, VR technology presents a great opportunity to optimize costs, especially since health services are continuously under pressure with tight budgets.
4. Fashion & Shopping
A lesser-known use of VR is in fashion where it has actually been having quite a profound impact. Window shopping? Try on clothes? Redecoration of home? With VR, shoppers become completely immersed in an artificial environment!
Tommy Hilfiger, Coach, and Gap have already begun implementing VR in their business, offering a 360-degree experience of fashion shows and allowing customers to try on clothes virtually.
5. VR in Τourism
Escaping in a new reality. VR enables users to visit museums and historical sites virtually and make a hotel tour during the booking process. VR has also the potential to bring digital workers together in digital meetings and conferences.
6. VR in Military
Virtual simulators have now become the norm in the fields of aerospace and aviation. The military in the UK and the US have both adopted the use of virtual reality in their training as VR can transport a trainee into severaldifferent situations, places, and environments for a range of training purposes.
“Flight simulations, battlefield simulations, training, vehicle simulation, virtual boot camp”
VR is a completely immersive, visual, and sound-based experience, which can safely replicate dangerous training situations to prepare and train soldiers, without putting them at risk until they are ready for combat. Likewise, it can also be used to teach soldiers some softer skills, including communication with local civilians or international counterparts when out in the field.
As people in the developed world become immune to digital technology, or at the very least, are taking it for granted, VR is one of the remaining few innovations that can inspire us!
