Virtual reality has been around for a while now. First, it was just a product of science fiction and movie fantasies, then it became a tool for the early video game developers, a way to give those gamers who spent long hours in front of their computer screens even more immersion into the virtual worlds. Since most people know of virtual reality because of its use in video gaming, you might be surprised to learn that VR has a wide range of applications outside of gaming. In the last few years, virtual reality has been about much more than just games, in fact, many industries are discovering this technology and finding innovative ways to use it in various applications.
VR is quickly emerging as one of the most exciting technologies that are set to revolutionize business and create new opportunities in many industries. While we are still in the early stages, many experts predict that VR software is going to change their businesses entirely. Different industries have adapted VR in different ways and each has given rise to some amazing and totally mind-blowing possibilities. In this article, we want to give you some information about the specific uses of virtual reality in the industry today.
Education & Training
The use of virtual reality in education and training is becoming increasingly prevalent. VR gives users the potential to be transported into another world, where they can explore a virtual environment and interact with objects in new ways. As efforts to make virtual environments more engaging and realistic continue, there's no question that VR will play a significant role in how we learn in the future.
Virtual reality allows instructors to create situations that are difficult or impossible to recreate in real life. This is particularly true with job-specific training, like pilots learning to fly a plane. Training programs can use VR to simulate potentially dangerous situations so students can practice handling them safely. Students also get immersed in a situation, giving them the opportunity to focus on making decisions and practicing skills without being distracted by external factors.
In addition to job-specific training, virtual reality has the potential to revolutionize education at all levels. Imagine being able to take students on a field trip anywhere in the world or throughout history without leaving their classroom. VR offers the possibility of experiencing new places firsthand, instead of just reading about them in books or seeing them on video screens. It gives students a chance to explore things that haven't been discovered yet; it is the perfect opportunity to upgrade the learning experience.
Healthcare
Virtual reality has been used in a variety of industries, but the healthcare industry is one of the most promising areas for this technology. Almost every part of healthcare can benefit from virtual reality and its use in the industry is already quite widespread. There are specific areas in healthcare that use VR technology and medical training is one of them. VR can provide a low-cost and high-quality alternative to the old training methods that are used in medical education, especially because it can be made interactive so that students can perform procedures under supervision.
VR is also used in the treatment of PTSD. Several studies have shown that VR exposure therapy can be effective at treating post-traumatic stress disorder. The key to its success seems to be that it allows patients to experience their traumatic memories without being overwhelmed by them, which helps them process those memories more effectively.
Lastly, VR is used in surgery preparation frequently. Many surgeries are planned well in advance of the actual procedure, which means that doctors have time to study patients' scans and annotate them with details about where they will make incisions and so on. These annotations can then be superimposed on VR headsets so that surgeons can practice performing those surgeries several times before actually operating on patients. This improves patient outcomes significantly by reducing errors.
Military
VR military training is one of the first applications of virtual reality. Combat simulators give the experience of being in a war scenario without risking lives. VR in the military is a unique application because it is used to explore areas to be familiarized with the area and get prepared for what’s to come when it is time to get deployed. It also gives the army a chance to experience situations that could happen during a combat mission without putting them at risk. This type of training is critical because it teaches how to handle various situations that could arise and ultimately help save lives.
The army uses VR to train soldiers to safely disarm and dispose of bombs, a task that is obviously dangerous and can result in life or death situations. It is also used by the military to train pilots and astronauts, as well as to assist with the design of new equipment and devices.
Architecture & Real Estate
Virtual reality is one of the hottest new technologies in architecture and real estate. It's being used to sell homes, explore urban landscapes, and give customers a chance to experience buildings before they're built. The technology can be transformative for the industry, allowing architects to visualize designs that would otherwise be impossible to see, while real estate agents can provide clients with an immersive experience of a home.
Virtual Reality allows architects to showcase their projects in a better way. By using VR technology, 3D models can be created and it allows clients to take a virtual tour through the models. This means that architects can show them exactly how their project will look upon completion. Clients can visualize themselves in the space, which helps with their decision-making process.
Virtual reality is also great for showcasing properties, especially if they're under construction or not yet built. Clients who are interested in purchasing the property can see how it will look upon completion and get a better idea of what they're getting into before they sign on anything. VR technology allows you to experiment and make changes as needed before going into production, which saves money and time down the line. It is a time-saving and efficient approach to this specific industry.
Tourism
The hospitality and tourism industry has been one of the first industries to embrace virtual reality. This can be attributed to the fact that it is an industry that is heavily dependent on experience. Hotel, airlines, and travel agencies are some of the areas in which VR is already being used. Companies are using VR technology to attract more customers by showing them all the facilities they offer. They create exciting videos that show potential clients all the advantages of their place and present them at exhibitions, on social media platforms to attract customers.
With VR technology, tourists also have an opportunity to see the place they are going to visit before making their final decision. If you are planning a trip, you will be able to see how great your hotel or resort looks, how clean the beach or swimming pool is and you won’t need to make any assumptions before you go! VR is definitely a medium to use for both clients and the experts of the tourism industry.
BONUS: Fitness
Virtual reality is poised to revolutionize the fitness industry, and not just for those looking to get in shape. A common use of virtual reality right now is as a tool to help people exercise. This can be done through a variety of means, such as allowing a person to put in their own workout regimen or making them follow an already established one. Classes tend to be more effective for those who need the extra motivation that comes from having someone else lead you through an exercise routine, but this can also be done in VR with the help of a fitness coach or trainer. With VR fitness programs and classes, you can work out with others while they are thousands of miles away, getting real-time feedback from your trainer throughout your workout.
If you don't like to stick to a program, you can also burn calories and add your workout routine to your daily VR gaming. For that, you will either need to play VR games that are specifically designed to make your move, or you can simply keep playing your favorite games, but this time with WalkOVR!
With WalkOVR, you can engage your legs in VR gaming and you can burn twice more calories in a VR environment without even noticing. You can just wear your WalkOVR nodes and start walking and running in-place; it is the simplest but the most effective way to do exercise in VR!