Think of your preferred getaway. Where did it go? How did you act? Who accompanied you? Describe the weather. What did you have on? Can you recall each and every particularity? If you’re anything like me, you can probably recall the overall vacation as well as a few isolated instances, but the most of the details have long since faded. I know, it’s a bummer.
What if you could go back in time whenever you wanted to experience your first view of the Eiffel Tower or that rock concert you went to last summer? You can with virtual reality (VR). You may use technology to reach far-off places, discover new universes, and even relive your favourite moments.
Unbelievable, huh? In a way, it is. Despite the fact that the technology has been around for a while, it has only lately entered the homes of customers. Users may now more easily than ever completely immerse themselves in their preferred video games and master new abilities through hands-on practise thanks to VR devices like Google Cardboard and Oculus Rift. Users can now interact with objects and people VR Development Australia is presently employed for a wide range of applications, despite the fact that most people only relate it with gaming and travel. There are no restrictions on what you can do with this technology, from marketing to medicine.
We know that VR can be frightening. Virtual worlds sound more like something out of a science fiction movie than a marketing campaign. We wrote this guide to explain the history, mechanics, uses, and potential applications of virtual reality for developing enterprises. Read on to discover more.
Table of Content:
Augmented Reality (AR) vs. Virtual Reality (VR)
The History of Virtual Reality (VR)
Although virtual reality can appear to be the newest and most cutting-edge technology, it has actually been around for a very long time. Yes, for decades, people have been fixated by the notion of escaping reality and engaging in immersive experiences. In fact, some of the earliest examples of virtual reality could be regarded as 360-degree murals from the 19th century. The goal of the paintings was to transport viewers to the action. It makes sense that people were so interested in picturing other cities and civilizations when you consider how much urbanisation and cultural change occurred during the 1800s. But to comprehend contemporary virtual reality, we must go back to the 1930s.
Sawyer’s View-Master made its debut at the New York World’s Fair a few years later. The stereoscopic reels could be inserted into a pair of plastic binoculars, which allowed kids to view single 3D images. Mattel reported that sales had surpassed 100 million gadgets in 2015.
Filmmaker Morton Heilig created the Sensorama after the View-Master was released. By putting users in an arcade-style theatre cabinet that stimulated all the senses, the machine allowed spectators to enjoy fully immersive movies. The first head mounted display was created in the 1960s, giving viewers access to 3D environments with stereo sound via a single, worn device.
Engineers developed a variety of VR headgear throughout the 1960s and 1970s, but it wasn’t until the 1980s that the term “virtual reality” was coined. Jaron Lanier first used the phrase in 1987 while working on a variety of VR accessories for his business, VPL. Additionally, VPL created history by becoming the first firm to market VR goggles and gloves in addition to coining the term “virtual reality.”
VR gradually wormed its way into popular entertainment over the following ten years as people interacted with it via arcade games and video game consoles. VR was so well-liked in the 1990s that Hollywood produced a blockbuster hit movie called “The Matrix” that was all about the technology.
Advanced virtual reality technology enables the integration of sound, gestures, and activities into the experience. Users put on specialised gloves with two functions to interact with objects in the virtual environment. In order to project their hands into the virtual environment, the first is to monitor their hands. The second is to recreate textures and objects by turning on hundreds of small components inside the glove. When wearing VR gloves, users standing in a thunderstorm in virtual reality may feel the drops of precipitation on their skin and even reach out to grab a virtual umbrella.
Binaural microphones are used to record the way sounds refract around a person’s head and ears in order to recreate 360-degree sound. These microphones, which are actually designed to resemble human heads, can provide the impression that noises are emanating from various locations around or even from inside the user’s brain. Virtual reality experiences can be made even more lifelike by combining them with ambisonic or 3D audio that adjusts to the user’s gaze.
Augmented Reality (AR) vs. Virtual Reality (VR)
Although we’ve discussed some of the fundamentals of virtual reality, you could still be thinking that it all sounds a lot like augmented reality. What makes a difference, then? The completely immersive VR experience is essentially a forerunner of augmented reality (AR). Augmented reality (AR) is a modified or embellished version of reality where content is superimposed over users’ actual field of view. People can incorporate digital assets into their physical surroundings thanks to the less intrusive technology.
In contrast, Virtual Reality development services Australia genuinely creates a new digital experience that gives the user the impression that they are in a totally different universe. What you see and experience when using VR differs from the world around you.
Most importantly, you should always keep your audience in mind when creating VR experiences. Consider why you need VR over other types of content like video before investing a lot of money in building a costly VR experience. Despite the fact that people only see roughly 180 degrees at a time, virtual reality demands a 360-degree view. When creating a VR experience, motion sickness must also be taken into account. Some viewers may feel queasy because the platform drastically transforms people’s perceptions and sensations. To allow viewers to engage with the content at their own pace, try shooting relatively still scenes.
Make sure your time, effort, and financial investment are worthwhile. Virtual reality is difficult and expensive to produce, but if you have a clear idea and a high-quality production, it can be an amazing piece of content for your organisation.
Virtual Reality Applications and Examples
It isn’t difficult to come up with amusing and enjoyable uses for virtual reality – years of viewing Star Trek’s holodecks, as well as more contemporary examples like Ready Player One, have demonstrated the fun potential of VR. Many businesses, though, are having trouble finding useful uses for the technology. Let’s go over some of the ways that some sectors are already utilising VR.
#1 Education
Imagine the influence VR could have on other forms of education. For years, flight simulators have assisted pilots in learning to fly. To assist in instructing aspiring do-it-yourselfers on how to properly execute projects ranging from painting their home to tiling a bathroom, Lowes has added virtual reality ‘how to’ experiences into 19 of their stores. The YouTube DIY virtual reality videos had a 36% greater recall rate than those that were merely watched by viewers of YouTube videos on the subjects.
Additionally, not just consumers use VR. Walmart is utilising technology to assist in staff training. Forbes reports that “soon, all 200 of the company’s U.S. training centres will use VR instruction to educate the estimated 150,000 employees going through the programme annually.” All Walmart employees will benefit from the same degree of training and development thanks to VR training.
Doctors, architects, teachers, and other professionals are also using VR to practise difficult procedures and master difficult subjects. In accordance with a recent survey, “93% of teachers say their students would be excited to use virtual reality, and 83% say that virtual reality might help improve learning outcomes.”
#2 Medicine
Hospitals have recently begun utilising VR to assist patients in coping with a variety of ailments. According to a Duke University study, paraplegic individuals were able to restore some control over their own bodies by moving virtual limbs. Due to the test’s significant impact, half of the patients were upgraded to partial paraplegia from full paraplegia. As an alternative to taking painkillers, VR has also been used to treat PTSD. In fact, a 2011 research on burn sufferers discovered that VR was more potent than morphine at reducing pain.
#3 Travel and Tourism
The potential of virtual reality to virtually transport users to distant areas is also being utilised to entice people to physically visit the sites. Six virtual reality (VR) videos were produced in 2017 by Visit Wales to entice tourists to the nation. The movies featured pictures of the water, dolphins, birds, and other wildlife to highlight Wales’ natural beauty. 85% of viewers of the videos said they would go to the places they saw, according to Visit Wales.
From Australia to the state of Delaware, VR is employed to promote travel. VR not only draws guests, but it also facilitates trip planning. Expedia debuted virtual reality “try before you buy” experiences in 2017 for a limited number of hotel rooms reserved through the website, allowing users to virtually explore the space and even enjoy the view from the outside. Virtual Reality Developer Brisbane in firms have broken the barrier by trying out various VR related projects.
The Future of Virtual Reality: How SMBs Should Use VR
Okay, so you’re probably getting pretty eager to start playing with VR, but there are a few crucial factors to take into account before you set out and design your own VR experience. Virtual reality is a reality, but not all SMBs will find it useful. VR costs more to create than alternatives like augmented reality since it needs specialised hardware to use and build. Even while the number of VR users is increasing quickly, there are still only a few million VR headsets in use. The costs of developing unique experiences for this small audience definitely aren’t yet economically viable for the majority of firms.
However, VR might be the ideal solution for some firms. Virtual reality is a wonderful fit for sectors including gaming, hospitality, entertainment, and real estate. For the rest, it never hurts to anticipate the trend by developing a VR plan that you can put into action later. Here are some suggestions if you really wish to incorporate VR right away:
#1 Start with your existing audience.
How and where do your clients interact with your brand? These could be excellent locations to start if you create video content or have a mobile app. For instance, StubHub decided to add a 360-degree view to the seat preview tool after analysing how much their users were using it.
#2 Use VR to expand your customer base.
Virtual product trials, demos, and store tours provide customers the opportunity to experience your brand and products at their convenience from anywhere in the world. Due to this potential, VR has a great ability to attract new clients from all over the world who may not have previously heard of your company.
#3 Think like a content creator.
Only so many people will be attracted by VR’s novelty. Your virtual experiences must genuinely benefit your audience and hold their interest if you want to see long-lasting effects. Consider adding intrigue and passion to your VR material. For instance, the National Museum of Australia used virtual reality to allow visitors explore the Great Barrier Reef and swim with virtual sharks. People can encounter things they never would have imagined seeing thanks to virtual reality (VR).
Although consumer acceptance of virtual reality is probably going to be gradual, a few barriers have already vanished. YouTube started allowing 360-degree videos in 2015, and Facebook soon followed. The fact that VR videos could be viewed on these popular platforms greatly increased the accessibility of the content. VR technology is becoming more affordable as well. SMBs with VR content plans will benefit from being able to get started right away, even if that starting point is only a digital projection, as VR content creation and viewing become more accessible.
Conclusion
Although there is still a long way to go before virtual reality is fully integrated into mainstream media, many businesses who are now adopting the technology are reporting some very promising results. Growing businesses should stay on top of the industry’s technological advancements and constantly looking for chances to build VR experiences. Even though not every company should invest in VR right now, new developments may make content creation simpler (and less expensive) in the future. However if you are looking into developing games then investing in hiring a Virtual Reality Game Development Company Australia would be the best option.
Users of virtual reality have the wonderful chance to fully immerse themselves in novel experiences. Although it can take some time for consumers to adopt this technology, its acceptance is only expected to increase. Who wouldn’t want a getaway from reality, after all?
Digitalfren is a Virtual Reality Development Company Australia, which not only has a team of experts who specialises in virtual reality but also augmented reality such as Augmented Reality (ar) Filters Australia.
Join us and book your first consultation with us today.