I have started noticing the accelerated action about VR (Virtual Reality) devices, thanks to Oculus, Facebook & Samsung. As a cynic, I would brush aside these headsets as ‘bulky gimmicks’ which may not have a real reality. But wait, once experienced, these devices throw up a new set of possibilities, early signs of which are demonstrable.
The number one market will be the use of these VR Gears as Gaming & Entertainment toys. For Business, my mind sets racing to many more pragmatic experiences.
VR is no more ‘Bulky impractical gimmick’.
The era of 3D real-like experiences is the next wave of immersive marketing
Who doesn’t like immersive experiences? Answer is everyone loves to get away from the routine and experience something new. I can forecast a big marketing effort in creating the next level of consumer engagements like:
- 3D walk-throughs of realty projects,
- 3D apparel merchandise fashion shows,
- 3D mock of interior/furniture design,
- 3D Travel virtual destination experiences,
- Guided 3D tours of Healthcare facilities, Educational InstitutionsCampuses
…. and many more such experiences to engage prospective consumers/customers/partners.
I am sure that these will soon roll out for the top brands & then the herds will follow.
Plus the REAL business things (applications) may be around the corner, as more and more developers adopt these VR platforms. Few examples could be :
- Hospital Doctors demonstrating how treatments or operations solve different health problems.
- Professors demonstrating 3D models of inside of the engines, inside the human anatomy …and many more
- Car Driving Instructors & Aircraft Simulators providing learners a greater real like driving experience before doing the real thing.
- Machinery suppliers training factory operators on automation processes in 3D before delivery.
- EPC vendors demonstrating the project architecture while bidding for large projects.
Thus we are now many steps closer to provide an ‘authentic’ user experienceof the product or services to participants without incurring the recurring costs for the real experience (eg. costs of travel & logistics), and also an ‘close to real or authentic’ experience of the something which is not yet a constructed reality (eg. your future home decor)
P.S: Gear up for many more professions & careers in the making, designations like VR Developer, VR Experience Specialist, Marketing Manager (VR), VR Strategist, VR Evangelist…… will soon be reflecting on job boards 🙂
So do you agree with me, that VR is here & here to stay?