Virtual reality is often likened to a science fiction fantasy concept of distant future times and hyper-technology. In reality, the future is right around the corner. Virtual reality isn’t just for entertainment anymore: It’s expected to make its way into the workplace during the next decade.
There are various applications VR will have for different industries. From engineering to agriculture, the possibilities seem limitless, modifying how staff conduct business and organizations communicate with each other.
For instance, business derives potential and profit from meetings, calls, and communication. It’s emphasized how important it is to conduct meetings in a personal space. However, these physical meetings are not always practical and possible within reasonable timeframes for certain parties. So what’s the solution? Virtual reality.
Business owners or staff can discuss objectives with each other in a virtual environment from the comfort of their own separate spaces. Two business partners on the opposite side of the world can meet in a virtual building, for instance.
But this is only communication. There are many other practical applications for virtual reality related to tasks like training and engineering.
One example is training new hires to manage complex mechanical repair operations, or surgery, or any other complicated – even dangerous – task. Virtual reality allows for an environment that simulates the risks and challenges of these operations, while avoiding said risk. The surgeon in training, for example, can get hands-on experience through a simulated operation. With the capabilities of modern hardware and graphics, the training is as good as the real thing.
Virtual reality also promises to be a newfound way to demonstrate ideas and prototypes to potential investors. Imagine working on a new automobile, or plane part, or general invention. Now, imagine you can demonstrate the potential of this mechanical object in a virtual environment, simulating how it moves, its components, and how it works, all in a completely artificial environment.
You then have the virtual workspace, one of the loftier – but entirely possible – potentials virtual reality brings to the table. A worker can have a completely different experience within a virtual environment, such as observing data tables, infographics, related images, virtual Skype calls, and more, which upgrades their experience entirely. This gives them greater insight into daily tasks and can improve their work performance overall.
Finally, virtual reality is expected to enhance the customer experience as well. Imagine giving consumers a virtual tour of a product or product listings with a 3D rendering of a tour guide. It’s an entirely different experience, one that engages the consumer on multiple levels, reinventing the wheel in terms of how products can potentially be sold.
Even though many of these concepts sound overly ambitious, they’re entirely within reach. Most companies likely have the infrastructure to support some form of virtual reality; it’s only a matter of cost and bandwidth.
Having said that, it will still likely be a long while before mainstream adaption of VR is common in all workplaces/business environments. But it’s absolutely on the horizon and a major development to look out for as your business plans for the future.
