OPINION: The limitless potential of VR

Virtual Reality has seen a fair share of highs and lows since being reintroduced into the tech world back in 2012. It will either completely revolutionise the way we live our lives, or fade back into obscurity like so many other tech fads before it – the jury is still out. But the idea of being able to experience a world that does not truly exist, something separate from our own realities, is something that has fascinated human beings for years.

While the potential applications of virtual reality are limitless, it has already carved itself a solid niche in the gaming and entertainment worlds. But we have to wonder, where will it go next?

Social workers

The responsibilities of a social worker are endless. It’s a high-pressure job that requires a lot of time and a serious amount of emotional intelligence; they’re rarely free to train newbies. But thanks to the implementation of this VR course, new workers are able to take training for highly sensitive cases such as those involving children in immersive simulation. The course implements a realistic storyline, using real actors to play the mother, child, and father, which then adapts based on your answers. It will help caseworkers refine their skills in a real-world setting.

Real estate

As anyone who has gone through the rigorous process of buying, renting or selling a property can tell you, there’s a lot that can go wrong. Sometimes the photos may not accurately represent the space, buyers haven’t got the time to visit the property, or setting up real-time visits can be a pain. Being able to visit a property in VR—whether complete or a virtual property, still under construction—allows people to get a more tangible feel for the space and potential of the property which saves all parties valuable time. Just check out this 3D virtual tour of a property and you’ll get an idea of how things are changing.

Healthcare

The future of the healthcare industry can also benefit hugely from the implementation of VR. For the patients, it opens new doors to consultation from afar, providing an innovative way to cope with anxiety. One study even showed that VR could potentially allow stroke patients to practice and relearn daily activities. For the professionals, it means the ability to hone their skills in realistic scenarios risk-free and away from the high-pressure environment of the operating theatre. Even Medical students, who primarily learn within a classroom environment with very little time for hands-on surgical experience, can benefit from VR training. They can observe surgeries, and even see surgical procedures from a first-person perspective.

Automotive

Another rapidly growing application for virtual reality – is the automotive industry. VR is saving the industry millions by reducing the number of prototypes built per vehicle line. The cost that goes alongside the commissioning of early vehicle prototypes can be quite draining on companies. Having the capability to design and experiment with the look and build of a vehicle beforehand can be a godsend. Today, using VR to review the design and structure of a vehicle is becoming more and more commonplace with companies such as BMW, Land Rover, and Jaguar using it to save on creating physical prototypes.

Widespread use of virtual reality is still in its early stages, but as you can see there are some promising applications being introduced to various industries. Let us know what other industries you think might benefit from virtual reality applications?