Though the scope of what virtual reality headsets can do feels limitless, thus far their potential – at least, the public perception of VR’s potential – has largely been confined to the high-tech world of gaming.
In fact, there are many different reasons why people might want to buy a VR headset, with uses ranging from entertainment all the way to education. Today, we’ll delve a little deeper into this fascinating world that’s just brimming with possibilities. So, put on your headsets and buckle up; here are 7 uses for VR headsets beyond the world of gaming.
ENTERTAINMENT
Entertainment is one of the main reasons why people buy VR headsets. Whilst video games are the chief driver of VR headset sales (global VR video gaming revenue reached $22 billion in 2020), VR can also be used to watch films in a completely new way to how you typically experience them when using a regular television screen. Immersiveness here is everything.
Perhaps surprisingly (or, considering human nature, not surprisingly at all), the world of adult entertainment is embracing the world of virtual reality full throttle, too. Indeed, thanks to advances within this field, people can now watch even watch adult content with VR. Instead of being a voyeur, as it were, using a VR headset with porn allows you to be an active participant.
With the technology developing fast, as Mashable explains, you can now pair VR headsets with interactive sex toys, though the cost (and hard drive power required) is still pretty prohibitive to the average user.
TOURS & HOLIDAYS
Virtual tours can also be set up on some of the most popular tourist destinations on the planet, such as Disney World or Universal Studios, to allow people who cannot travel there in real life to see what it is like and experience it in an immersive way. For tour operators and companies, this can be a positive marketing tool, as it works as an advert, potentially drumming up interest in travelling there.
Similarly, virtual tours can now be set up for customers to experience different hotel rooms or locations before booking a trip.
The potential of virtual reality experiences within the hospitality and tourism sector is limitless, as upcoming technologies will allow for even more immersive experiences. One wonders if, in the world of future travel, we’ll even need to leave our homes at all.
Hmmm, actually that sounds a little dystopian. Anyway…
MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES
Museums and galleries are also potentially lucrative markets for VR headsets. One of the biggest reasons is that many sites worldwide already have 3D models of their exhibits, which makes viewing them in a virtual environment much easier. It also allows people to explore presentations about specific topics that they’re interested in.
Read: 10 IDEAL virtual tours of London landmarks
Some museums have even started creating online courses that people can take without ever leaving their homes, opening up new possibilities for education that were not possible before. Speaking of which…
EDUCATION
In education, virtual reality headsets can allow students to experience different aspects of historical events or geographical locations without physically going there. In addition, using VR headsets can help them learn more about a specific topic through guided tours and interactive activities. Yep, eLearning sure has come a long way in recent years.
The huge benefit of virtual reality in the field of education is that classes will be immersive and inspiring, evoking a sense of awe and wonder in students that a blackboard simply can’t. VR headsets in schools have the potential to boost student engagement, enhance the capacity for (and effectiveness of) experience-based learning, and even allow for virtual field trips to take place. We certainly would’ve enjoyed such an experience at school!
Not only applicable to tertiary education, VR can also be used for the purposes of training at work, too. One example of a company that does this is STRIVR Labs, based out of Menlo Park, CA. Using a software learning engine called “Immersive Peak Performance Trainer” allows users to streamline the training of new operators and experienced professionals by giving users a fully immersive, 360-degree virtual reality experience using commercially available headsets.
WORK PURPOSES
VR headsets are also currently being used for work purposes, such as training simulations. If you are an astronaut or aeroplane pilot, for instance, you can use VR to practice specific tasks without going through the actual job first, potentially saving lives and money.
A VR headset can allow technicians to virtually walk around their work environment in 3D without having to leave the comfort of their couch or office chair, allowing for meetings and colleague interaction in a more consuming, meaningful (and worryingly invasive) way. Companies are now able to bring their employees into a virtual meeting room and interact with a presentation or discuss different cases and experiences. While this may not be as common as other uses, some companies are already doing it today.
This technology has the potential to be particularly useful in the real estate market, as virtual tours of properties can take place in an efficient, resourceful way.
Finally, the use of virtual reality in engineering possesses perhaps the most exciting potential of all. In fact, VR headsets are already a well-established tool in precision engineering, helping enhance design efficiency, visualise model buildings, and transform factory processes.
MEDICAL PURPOSES
Medical uses of VR headsets are definitely on the rise. One recent trial saw patients wearing VR headsets to help them to relax during surgery, sometimes in place of sedatives.
The potential for virtual reality to help patients get over phobias, such as fear of flying or heights, is also being explored. Virtual reality can also be used to reduce pain and anxiety in patients who have PTSD and other psychological disorders, though studies into the efficacy of this are ongoing. There is even the potential for VR to be used as a diagnostic tool in some cases, giving doctors new possibilities for examining patients.
MILITARY PURPOSES
VR headsets are also used by military personnel to train soldiers on how to react in certain situations that they may encounter. Many militaries worldwide have already started using VR to train their soldiers, and, likely, this number will only go up in the future.
Interesting stuff, indeed, though the morality of using VR in combat is highly questionable.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Virtual reality headsets allow people to experience and do things that they usually would not be able to do. While it may take some time for this technology to become the norm, it has already been adopted by multiple sectors.
As new companies enter the market and offer more affordable alternatives, we expect VR headsets to become more ubiquitous, diversifying their potential and making them more accessible to the general public. We can’t wait to see (through our VR headset) what the future brings!