Influencing Industry Transformations: Is Virtual Reality Here to Stay?

The virtual realty industry has gained tremendous attention recently in the news. Although virtual reality has been around for a few decades, modern technologies make it possible for the virtual world to have a stronger impact that it ever has before. Educational institutions, hospitals, the government, and the entertainment facilities are only some of the places that virtual reality is being used and tested for future endeavors. Tons of trends in virtual reality are impacting modern industries in ways that have never been seen. From the breakthroughs in some fields and the hype that is evident in others, let us explore its impacts.

Innovations in Medicine and Therapy

Many people may be surprised to discover that virtual reality is making an impact in medicine and how therapy is provided. The Scientific American declares that although gaming and entertainment may be the most common for driving current sales, the most profound market it will affect is the clinical environment and health and wellness. Medical students are able to learn how to respond to the needs of patients without placing real patients at risk, increasing their ability to perform satisfactorily in daily routines and emergencies. Immersing therapy patients in realistic environments allow them to heal from a variety of mental conditions, including PTSD. Not only are these applications of the technology being tested in medical studies, but some uses have been found to be startlingly effective compared to normal treatment methods thus far. This discovery has undoubtedly lead to greater applications of the technology in various areas of the medical field. Simulated surgical training, stroke rehabilitation, breaking addictions, pain management, and liberation from anxiety orders is also possible with the technology.

Not only are virtual technologies being used to treat disorders, but scientists are looking into ways that it can be used to diagnose them. A mental disorder that goes undiagnosed should be treated before it causes serious issues in a person’s life. Wired reports that virtual technologies may be used to diagnose ADHD, social anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, vertigo, and concussions. However, virtual technologies are not currently being used in the clinical setting because there is not a vast body of evidence available with significant data to prove that it works. As more evidence is gathered to prove its effectiveness, we can expect a wider use of virtual reality in the medical field. In the meantime, researchers and designers will continue to find unconventional ways to apply the technology to administer better treatments.

Reforming Education

Interactive simulations that place the student in custom learning environments are part of an exciting new wave in education. Students are being exposed to virtual technologies to learn by immersing them in the curriculum in ways that were not possible before. Students of all ages with disabilities can also safely engage in virtual reality worlds, and interact with other students in an in-depth learning atmosphere. Well-known businesses are also using virtual reality to train employees without exposing them to the risks that often occur in real-world training. A variety of these types of educational programs are currently being used across the world to produce more skilled workers.

As the technology moves forward, it will be used for specialized training as well. Forbes reports that virtual technologies are being used to practice flight, construction, and even surgery. Police officers are receiving training by engaging in virtual experiences that help them to make better decisions while on the job in real life. The military is also harnessing the force of virtual worlds by training soldiers and other personnel without exposing them to the hazards of a hectic war environment. In addition, a myriad of data can be collected on each individuals to gauge their performance and mastery as they are evaluated.

Targeting Colossal Investments

The inflation of company valuations affiliated with the virtual reality industry is expected. Many tech giants are willing to invest in virtual reality more than ever, in the hopes that it goes mainstream. In response to renewed consumer interest, major bucks are used to fund both commercial and government projects. However, virtual reality is still considered a niche industry with the capacity for spectacular growth. The Motley Fool proclaims that if widespread adoption occurs, what is now considered a high stakes investment could result in billions of dollars being pumped into the industry for stakeholders to gain a piece of the golden pie.

Sensing the interest of investors all over the world, startup companies are seeking to leap in on the action. There are more than a few hundred VR headsets available for purchase from companies that are breaking into the industry in an attempt to compete with tech titans. If the industry takes off, it will be a wise investment for them. If not, hopeful businesses that are heavily invested in the virtual reality revolution may disappear as fast as they came.

Transforming The Idea of Recreation

The recreational industry is experiencing a fresh boom as virtual technologies are growing in demand. The idea of escaping one’s daily existence and diving into exciting, unknown territories remains a high attraction factor for virtual technologies. However, the lack of resolution and clunky, overly expensive equipment prevented many citizens from going virtual in the past. However, the invention of stand-alone headsets are allowing people to move freely through animated environments without being restricted by power cords and cables. Although a percentage of devoted gamers have already tasted virtual reality up close, the everyday consumer has yet to.

As the software becomes cheaper to purchase, more people will start to own the software and start exploring its capacity for fun. This opens the doorway to many forms of recreation that were not possible even a few years ago to many citizens. As prices continue to drop and they consumers are not forced to accept a device of lesser quality to join in, higher adoption rates of virtual technologies among consumers can improve. As a result, tons people all over the world are excited to engage in updated, less expensive versions of virtual reality. The 360-degree view of creative worlds allows consumers to go where they never have before, or even visit places whee a normal person does not have access. Touring a virtual museum or a foreign country using the software allows citizens to travel to exotic, distant places and examine the world without ever crossing state lines.

Offering Social Interaction From a Distance

Another way that virtual reality is making an impact is by integrating into the social lives of its users. As the demand for virtual reality software that allows for social engagement grows, manufacturers are rising to the occasion in the attempt to meet those demands. With sch a high fascination with social media already, the thought of diving into a virtual reality world with friends and family is a highly entertaining and fulfilling prospect.

The Medium suggests that virtual reality has the power to revolutionize online social interactions, and the best is yet to come. Now, the software is allowing people to explore the world with others who are sharing the same experience simultaneously. From engaging in a VR chat to playing sports in recreation rooms, more cool ideas are being created daily. More social media platforms are offering virtual reality experiences for people to try out before they choose to spend big bucks on a headset. If the integration of social VR is successful, it may lead to an even higher percentage of people who remain online for most of the day.

Accelerating With Artificial Intelligence

One of the reasons that virtual reality has been able to advance so far is due to the influence of artificial intelligence. With the assistance of AI, virtual reality is developing at a much faster rate than was once imagined possible. AI makes it easier to develop detailed landscapes with greater accuracy than was possible in the early days of virtual technologies. In combination with voice assistants, higher resolution graphics, and even kinesthetic additions that can make you feel like you are there, virtual worlds will grow more and more complex in the years to come.

According to Emerj, companies are also using virtual reality and AI to make better products, run experimental campaigns, and to record consumer engagement data during the shopping experience. The technology can now be used to try on clothes and shoes, experiment with makeup, and redecorate homes before buying anything. In addition to allowing consumers to try out products, the technology also records gazes, gestures, and other physical signs from the consumer to offer recommendations and permit them to easily make purchases within an application. In the future, more companies are expected to release apps that make it easier for consumers to find what they want, and try it out to expedite the shopping process.

Conclusion

Whether virtual reality is here to stay or leaves tomorrow depends on the rate that consumers adopt it, and if the usefulness of the software can successfully carry over into the myriad industries it has been introduced in. The potential level of transformation that virtual reality can have in the world is only limited by the innovative and technical minds that help to design and create it. In the years to come, we can expect virtual reality software to become more “natural looking” and immersive in novel ways.

However, it seems that the success of the virtual reality industry will heavily depend on whether it is adopted by a large number of consumers, versus being focused in niche markets. Stellar marketing, social integration, and affordable VR technology may be central keys to moving the industry forward and establishing its place in the science and technology hall of fame. If this does not happen, the popularity of virtual reality may fade into