Virtual Reality Applications

November 04, 2016

Even though consumer virtual reality is just a few years old, we are already seeing a staggering range of applications. To say that VR has captured peoples’ imaginations would be an understatement. Developers are trying to build virtually everything in VR, understandably with mixed success so far. While it is way too early to pick winners, and identify “killer apps” for VR, there are several domains that show great promise, including:

Video Games.

This is an obvious candidate, the one that most people immediately imagine when you tell them about virtual reality. The potential for deep immersion, higher production value and stickier engagement has developers, console makers and peripheral manufacturers salivating in anticipation. It is fair to assume that the majority of skilled, independent and large development shops creating VR are currently doing so for games.

Virtual Worlds.

Social, user-generated persistent virtual worlds could be a powerful combination with virtual reality immersion. Companies like High Fidelity, created by Second Life founder Philip Rosedale, and AltSpace VR, a new San Francisco bay area startup, are leading this charge.

Education.

For years, 3D visualization has been a great tool for interactive learning; VR immersion could make learning even more approachable and effective.

Productivity.

Some researchers and small companies are exploring using VR as a replacement for the decades-old desktop computer metaphor. Imagine a virtual reality, 360-degree workspace that holds your personal information, contacts, work projects, etc.

Tourism.

Stereoscopic 360 panoramas in VR are really compelling. They represent a simple, effective way to convey the experience of being elsewhere without having to get on a plane.

Architecture and Real Estate.

Architecture and real estate firms are already experimenting with virtual reality, using both video and interactive graphics. Video can be great for showing existing properties; interactive graphics works well for visualization buildings and complexes in the planning stages i.e. using 3D CAD models.

Live Events.

VR video is promising to be quite popular for concerts, news and other live events. Musicians Paul McCartney and Jack White are among several rock stars who have already broadcast virtual reality versions of their live shows.

Web Browsing.

Mozilla is leading the charge in experimenting with adding VR support to their browser, and Google is not far behind creating the same features for Chrome. Beyond building the technology plumbing, the research team at Mozilla is exploring visual and interface designs for how to navigate a universe of information in virtual reality.

Enterprise Applications.

There are countless potential VR applications for the enterprise, including simulation and training for military use, medical diagnostics and training, and engineering and design.

The above list is just a sampling. We have no way of knowing which applications will be most successful in a new medium like virtual reality, or what will become popular. We also can’t predict what other ideas will spring from the minds of clever folks. But if the last few decades of technology have taught us anything, it’s that whatever people come up with, it will probably be something we never could have imagined before.

There are countless potential VR applications for the enterprise, including simulation and training for military use, medical diagnostics and training, and engineering and design. The above list is just a sampling. We have no way of knowing which applications will be most successful in a new medium like virtual reality, or what will become popular. We also can’t predict what other ideas will spring from the minds of clever folks. But if the last few decades of technology have taught us anything, it’s that whatever people come up with, it will probably be something we never could have imagined before.