Virtual Reality… where is it heading?
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I recently started to look into the Virtual Reality industry, I currently own a few headsets, (Oculus and PSVR) and both have their good use.
For now, I use them for gaming, but some research around what other practical uses below were also interesting to find…. mostly focused on the US market as that’s where all the information sits!
The virtual reality industry has been making massive leaps and bounds, and the future looks mesmerizing, to say the least. Nearly 5.5 million units of virtual reality headsets were shipped globally in 2020 and are forecasted to reach a whopping 43.5 million headsets by 2025. The global VR market was valued at $2.6 billion in 2020 and is projected to reach $5.1 billion by 2023.
The VR Industry
Many trends have begun affecting the virtual reality industry, and these trends are to watch out for in the coming years. Some of these trends may have started a few years ago, but they have started creating a larger impact now.
So, what are the trends that could transform the VR industry in 2022 – more below
VR trends to look out for in 2022
Due to the global pandemic, people’s online behavior has greatly changed, especially towards online shopping. The modern, tech-savvy consumer wants to digitally interact with products before making a purchase. Virtual reality and augmented reality enable consumers to get immersed in a digital world, where they can find and try products before buying them.
VR will popularize 360-degree marketing
In 2021, 2.14 billion people are expected to shop online for goods and services. Online shopping has grown in popularity, but so have people’s expectations from e-commerce websites. They want to experience a product fully, just like they would in a physical store, before making a purchase.
Brands are no longer limiting themselves to just photos and images. Thanks to advancements in video and VR technology, they are able to make use of 360-degree videos, offering consumers a better customer experience. In 2022, we should expect to see more brands making use of 360-degree marketing.
VR augmentation with AI
Virtual reality developers have started implementing Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in many of their apps. This has resulted in computer vision, allowing smart devices to see and understand everything within the camera’s range. From Instagram’s filter function to Google’s ML-driven microscope, virtual reality augmented with AI will become the new future.
In the healthcare industry, VR technology augmented with AI could make medical technologies far more accurate, allowing for precise diagnostic tools and complex treatment.
Increased use in training and teaching
VR tech has found its way into the training field, with numerous schools using this technology for professional development courses. Simulations are created using VR tech, so people can train for hazardous and complex areas without the actual risks.
Even the US Army has partnered with Microsoft to use Hololens 2 (this looks awesome by the way), its AR-based headset for soldiers to train in. Although the roll-out of the project has been postponed by the Military, the testing may begin sometime in 2022.
People are looking for an immersive experience not just in online shopping but also in the tourism sector. It has now become trendy to test out a location before actually traveling there.
An immersive experience in travel and tourism
Thanks to VR, people can now experience a region without leaving the comfort of their house. You could take a virtual tour of the Louvre in Paris while sitting on your couch.
There are many VR apps that allow you to re-experience your holiday after you have returned home. So, you no longer need to look at photographs to remember the wonderful time you had on your trip. You can experience your trip as if you were physically there.
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