Virtual reality is one of the newest technologies that is seemingly taking over the world and our day-to-day lives. What would have once been the topic of a sci-fi movie a short few decades ago has now become something that all of us are starting to get used to – for better or for worse.
Virtual reality (or VR, for short) is an exciting technology that revolves around the idea of immersing users in new environments. Using VR headsets and other accessories, you could be transported into the exciting world of your favorite fantasy game, or into the changing room of a clothing store to try garments on without ever having to leave your bedroom. In this article, we’ll be discussing more of the applications of this technology in different industries and exploring how it could change the very way we live our lives.
Online Gaming
One of the most noticeable examples of VR in action is the online gaming industry, which very quickly adopted this new technology way before other industries started to take notice. One particular genre of gaming has really tested the capabilities of VR – online casino games. In popular casino options, such as poker online, players can interact with a virtual poker table and chips, making the gameplay much more realistic and engaging.
Unlike fantasy games that create fictional worlds, online casino games have a real-life alternative that they need to replicate, which can be hard to do when the majority of players are sitting behind a screen in their room. With the help of virtual reality technology, game developers have been able to create sophisticated game worlds that blur the lines between virtual and IRL casino halls. With live dealers, enhanced audio-visual environments, and the ability to physically hold cards in your hand while you’re choosing whether to bluff or not, the hottest VR games are providing a level of immersion that traditional gaming cannot match.
Real Estate
When you’re choosing whether to move home or purchase a property, it’s a big life decision that normally takes a few months – and many, many viewings – to go through. When you have to continually visit the potential property and take tours of the building, it can make the whole process much more time-consuming than anyone would want it to be.
With the help of virtual reality technology, real estate agents and property developers can show their designs to potential buyers without ever having to invite them around in person. It’s now incredibly easy to create virtual tours that can save time for real estate agents and help them reach out to more potential buyers. On the other hand, it also means that buyers can view more homes – at a time that suits them – from the comfort of their living room or bedroom.
Tourism
Not all of us have the time or money, to go jetsetting around the world every few weeks, even if we would like to explore more. For many avid explorers who are confined to their homes, a new wave of virtual tourism is becoming the go-to attraction.
The tourism industry has started to leverage the virtual reality industry to offer virtual tours of some of the world’s most iconic attractions and glamorous destinations without needing to pay for a flight or wait in long queues among other tourists. Whether you want to experience the pyramids of Egypt or trek through the Amazon, many of these activities are now made possible with the growth of virtual trips.
For customers that are still willing to fly around the world to use up their vacation days, virtual reality is helping to make the booking process much smoother. Hotels and resorts now use virtual reality to provide tours of their rooms and amenities, so guests know exactly what they’re paying for. This is helping to increase bookings for hotels and minimize the likelihood of customer complaints.
Retail and E-commerce
The final industry that is rapidly transforming, thanks to the introduction of virtual reality, is the retail industry. Brick-and-mortar stores are not as popular as they were a decade after the rise in eCommerce sites offering more convenient and low-cost purchasing options.
The demise of in-store shopping will only speed up with the emergence of VR technology that will allow customers to try on clothes virtually, test out makeup, see what pieces of furniture will look like in their homes, or even test drive virtual replicas of real products.
When customers are able to enjoy the same shopping experience from their sofa, the need to go to their local store is very small. No longer do people have to travel to their closest mall, queue up for the changing rooms, or go through a painful returns process, everything can be done from home.
