One of our previous articles already identified virtual reality, or VR, as a software trend to be on the lookout for. A few years ago, VR was still advancing –– and now it is finally ready to be poised to become a bigger part of society. According to Markets And Markets, the VR industry is expected to increase from $US 6.1 billion in 2020 to $US 20.9 billion in 2025. With numbers like these, we have to take a look at where the industry is going next. Here are five upcoming trends in virtual reality:
1. The Future of Virtual Reality Entertainment
The entertainment industry is at the forefront of leading new innovative ways for people to enjoy themselves; that isn’t just home consoles, but the many mobile phone games that provide immersive experiences also. The VR technology is now being used by museums, art galleries, and concerts, to name a few. Would you like to take a tour of the British Museum without traveling to London? Or how about experiencing New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts gallery from your home? Maybe you’ve always wanted to watch your favorite singer perform live in concert? Perhaps you want to stalk the streets of a fictional war-torn country on Call of Duty Mobile?
Through VR, these are now possible as the new technology can give users an immersive and engaging experience with the touch of a few buttons from anywhere in the world.
2. A New Ecommerce Shopping Experience
Shopping without having to go to the store has been the norm for quite some time now. But VR is about to give customers a brand new and improved shopping experience. Imagine trying on clothes and shoes that you’ve always wanted to see if they suit you well. Or visiting a showroom with the cars that you are thinking of buying. Customers can soon have an immersive experience and see these distinct products without ever going into a shop. The idea of virtual ‘trying out’ is a rising trend for all e-commerce.
3. The Next Evolution Of Casino Entertainment
Around the turn of the century, casinos faced a major evolution with the advent of online poker rooms and slot sites. A few VR poker games have emerged, as have some VR versions of popular slots like Gonzo’s Quest. Additionally, the evolution of game types has been striking. For instance, the Gala Casino Megaways titles include Wheel of Fortune Megaways and Ted Megaways.
These are games with many hundreds of different pay lines but also that trade on popular branding. Online casinos have already begun to provide intriguing glimpses of what some interactive table and game show experience can (and likely will) look like in VR, but how far can that go? Players can now conveniently enjoy playing live games with people from any part of the world. Could the next step be a VR experience featuring Ted or putting you in the Wheel of Fortune studio but playing the popular Megaways games? The possibilities are endless.
4. New Virtual Reality Education and Training
Massive investments worldwide have been made in VR Education to create engaging platforms to provide students with a better learning experience. It has been shown that when students learn through VR, they get an active, immersive experience that is easily embedded into their memory, as opposed to passive information through traditional class lectures. For example, a student will not only read about history but can actually jump into a simulated scene from the past to ‘experience’ the topic being discussed.
HealthTech pointed to a study about how medical students were given training using a VR surgical training platform to carry out medical procedures. It was proven to be a very safe, effective and immersive educational experience for advanced medical students to practice their skills. As is obvious, education at all levels will benefit from VR technology.
5. Virtual Reality Metaverse
While this concept is still in the making, Facebook’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg calls it the future of the internet. Its goal is to be a 3D virtual world where people can socialize, work and play. People will use VR to join into the universal virtual world as avatars – creations of their own making. The dream of this idea is a new way to connect online through VR technology.
Virtual reality has extended its reach into all sectors of life. Education, entertainment, and e-commerce are just a few industries that have integrated this technology. There are many more joining in on the trend, so keep an eye out for the future.
