Consumer-grade virtual reality isn’t far off, and while some still see these “space age” devices as nothing more than nerdy gaming accessories, there are numerous practical applications for VR tech that take it beyond the realm of entertainment.
The newest VR headsets, like Microsoft’s Oculus Rift, Sony’s Project Morpheus, and Microsoft’s holographic imaging computer HoloLens, create artificial environments that enable a wide range of innovative uses. Capable of enhancing communication and experiences in the “real world”, these gadgets could soon very well become commonplace in contemporary society.
Healthcare will never be the same again once VR headsets are available in every clinic. Patients with anxiety, phobias, or disabilities will be able to use the headsets for guided simulations that will help their therapists defuse their fears. Surgeons can train for difficult surgeries using instructional programs that test their nerves, knowledge, and problem solving abilities in real time.
Educational programs can benefit a great deal from the use of virtual reality. Skills such as welding, music, sports, and geometry should all see rapid progress with the use of computer environments designed to stress specific behaviours and abilities. Children with special needs will be able to enter environments tailored to them. YouTube has jumped on the bandwagon as well, meaning 360 degree content will soon be available, allowing users to take virtual tours of parks and music venues. Additionally, a new series from Vice Sports will showcase basketball, mixed martial arts, rock climbing, and other kinetic activities.
Imagine being able to take a virtual tour of any building from the comfort of your living room or office. The architecture, home security and automation, and interior design industries would benefit in being able to plan their layouts and systems down to the smallest detail before even starting on a project. Seeing a model in virtual reality would make for more efficiency and detail, rather than designing a building on paper.
The applications of virtual reality technology in business industries are practically limitless. Many already hold business meetings remotely with video conferencing, but soon we will be able to have a virtual presence, allowing us to move around offices and to interact with anyone at a distant location as though we were actually there. This has huge implications logistically, because investing in VR hardware will mean drastically cutting down on travel expenses for interviews, tech conferences, or training sessions.
It seems like only a few years ago that virtual reality was merely a dream; just another digital tool that we were decades away from perfecting. Now, with the technology nearly perfected, it has become clear that its uses span far beyond anything we had previously considered. When these headsets and other components become available to consumers on a wider scale, we will undoubtedly discover even more practical and recreational ways to benefit from virtual reality headsets. Expect to see a pair of goggles in quite a few living rooms in the years to come.
Photo Credits
Photo 1 from Wikimedia Commons – Public Domain
Photo 2 from Wikimedia Commons – Public Domain
Guest Author Bio
Kate Voss
Kate Voss is a writer and blogger based in the Windy City. Fueled by coffee and chocolate, she’s an MSU alum with a passion for recycling and refurbishing old furniture. Her favorite Girl Scout Cookie is the trefoil.
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