Virtual Reality (VR) continues to grow in popularity, but many still associate it solely with gaming. This blog post dives into the exciting and diverse applications of non-gaming VR, in sectors such as healthcare, engineering, training, architecture and more.
While flight simulation is a well-established VR training tool, VR’s applications extend far further. The non-gaming applications of VR are endless; Archaeologists can explore virtual recreations of ancient sites or inhospitable locations such as shipwrecks can be scanned and recreated by marine archaeologists. Architects can design buildings in immersive environments, and therapists can use VR to treat phobias. VR can stretch the realms of possibility, with surgeons practising complex procedures in a safe, simulated environment, or students taking virtual field trips to anywhere in the world. These are just a few examples of VR’s growing impact. Throughout this blog post, we’ll delve deeper into these exciting applications and explore how VR is transforming various industries.
Beyond Entertainment: VR Applications in Education and Training
At Mersus, we specialise in VR training for the medical technology and pharmaceutical sectors. VR training offers numerous advantages, including cost reduction by eliminating travel expenses and production downtime. Trainees can practise on virtual machinery, safeguarding expensive equipment and materials. Studies also show VR training improves knowledge retention, leading to shorter training times. VR training is also available at any time, and in any place making it easier to fit into trainee’s schedules. VR training offers valuable analytics that can benefit both learners and trainers:
- Learners: VR training data can be used to personalise learning paths, identifying areas where a trainee needs more practice and focusing on those areas.
- Trainers and Managers: VR analytics provide insights into trainees’ performance, highlighting skills gaps and weaknesses in the training program itself .
Additionally, the immersive nature of VR minimises distractions, promoting better focus and knowledge retention compared to traditional e-learning methods. This increased engagement also helps ensure trainees complete the training effectively. This focus and completion are especially crucial in regulated industries where compliance with mandatory training programs is essential.
New Worlds: VR for Travel and Exploration
VR is a great way to experience far away places from the comfort of your home. VR tours are available of famous sites and landscapes, and also exhibitions of artefacts and artworks. VR can also help us experience what it would be like to travel through inhospitable environments such as the deep undersea and outer space. Experiencing these things in VR does not replicate the real thing, but immersive 3D environments can be amazingly authentic and give us the feeling that we have really been to these places – much more so than looking at pictures or video. VR experiences can be particularly educational for students or anyone who may never get the chance to travel to these exotic locations. VR can give people a chance to see the real scale of extinct animals, or even be used to help people with Alzheimer’s to visit their town as it looked many years ago.
Pushing the Boundaries of Medicine: VR in Healthcare
VR is now being used as a tool for many different branches of medicine. It can be used for creating detailed models of organs, aiding in diagnosis and treatment planning. Surgeons can practise complex procedures in a safe, virtual environment, reducing risks to patients. VR therapy has been shown to be effective in treating phobias and anxiety disorders, exposing patients to their fears in a controlled setting.
The Future of Design: VR in Architecture and Engineering
VR presents a powerful tool for architects and engineers. Imagine being able to build 3D models at any scale that you can walk around and even go inside of. This allows for a more immersive design experience, helping to identify and fix problems before construction begins. VR can also be used to collaborate with clients and colleagues on designs in real time, regardless of location.
Exercise and Dance
VR fitness isn’t just about exercise – it can be an adventure! Imagine running through a fantastical landscape or scaling a virtual mountain during your cardio session. VR can also provide a virtual personal trainer, guiding you through exercises and offering real-time feedback no matter your location. Love to dance? VR can even offer interactive dance experiences, letting you learn new moves or perfect your technique in immersive environments. Advances in headset technology making them lighter and more comfortable, along with the fact more and more VR experiences are starting to use hand tracking instead of controllers will help to make VR dance and exercise more natural and intuitive.
Beyond the Physical: VR for Social Connection and Collaboration
Virtual Reality is not just for solitary experiences. VR hardware and software is becoming increasingly sophisticated, allowing for multiple people to share a VR experience at the same time. This opens doors for new possibilities in social connection and collaboration. Imagine attending meetings or events in VR, feeling more present than on a video call. VR can be a valuable tool for geographically dispersed teams to work together on projects, such as examining 3D models and making changes collaboratively.
The Science Behind the Immersion: How VR Works
VR objects and environments are created in 3D modelling software. These 3D models are then programmed to be interactive, allowing users to manipulate objects and navigate the virtual world. VR headsets use a variety of technologies to create a sense of immersion, including high-resolution displays, motion sensors, and stereoscopic 3D. The choice between a hyper-realistic or fantastical environment in VR depends on the project’s purpose. A surgeon training for a complex procedure might benefit from a meticulously recreated operating room, while an architect might use VR to explore fantastical building designs. Regardless of style, skilled VR creation ensures a fully immersive experience for the user.
The Future of VR
The boundaries of VR are constantly expanding. New applications are emerging in fields like education, training, and design. VR holds immense potential to transform how we learn, work, and experience the world around us. We will continue to see exciting developments in VR for gaming and entertainment, but perhaps the more fascinating innovations will be seen in non-gaming VR! This is a truly exciting time for VR development, and the possibilities are truly limitless.