How VR will change the world

Saturday, 11 November 2017

In my previous blog posts I have made many references to the use of virtual reality in gaming,  however, now I will be focusing more on the other possible future implications of VR.

Think about the last time you ordered a product online because you were satisfied with how it looked in the picture, but when you actually received and interacted with it - it wasn’t what you expected. Right now we have to judge things from a 2D picture, but with virtual reality we would be able to see products and services for what they truly are in 360 degrees with the help of 3D scanners. In the near future I see more companies like Ikea having a VR app which would allow you to look at their products from all angles and interact with them. That way you can have a better idea of how the product would fit in your home without you actually having to visit the physical store.

Speaking of that – traveling. That is another intriguing area that is being explored within virtual reality. With just the power of a headset, you can instantly "teleport" to different places around the world, which have been filmed with special 360 cameras, creating the sensation that you are truly there. Think about the joy that this would bring to people with movement disorders. There are virtual tours available for places like the Palace de Versailles, Buckingham Palace, The British Museum and the list goes on and on. National Geographic and Discovery Channel have filmed many documentaries of places from all over the world that you can experience through VR via their YouTube channel.

Imagine all the benefits of incorporating this technology into the “learning” field. With the help of virtual reality, the quality of learning can improve significantly, as practical knowledge is always better than just academic. Students can learn from experts and practice in a virtual world in order to perfect their skills in the real world. This will have a massive impact on learning doctors, pilots, fire-fighters and other.

These are just a few of the arguably countless possibilities for the use of virtual reality. I look forward to seeing what the future holds for this technology and wonder to what great lengths it will go. What implications do YOU think VR holds? Leave a comment below!