How to Create an Immersive VR Experience
In recent years, virtual reality (VR) has gone from a sci-fi pipe dream to a very real part of the technology industry. Still, the VR field’s best years may be ahead of it. In the spring of 2022, the worldwide VR market was forecasted to hit a value of $84.09 billion by 2028. With VR gaming continuing its hot streak and companies like Apple and Meta taking big steps into the space, it’s not hard to see why expectations are so high right now.
Of course, big tech companies aren’t the only institutions that can benefit. If you want to incorporate VR into your business or university, there’s never been a better time to jump in. However, it’s no longer enough to buy a few headsets and work from there–you’ll need a solid strategy to deliver the immersive VR experience today’s users expect. Read on for a thorough guide on how you can get started.
The Demand for Immersive VR Experiences
At its heart, VR is all about the suspension of disbelief–that is, a person’s willingness to accept that something in front of them is “real” even though they know that’s not actually the case. Immersion can enhance suspension of disbelief by eliminating distractions that might take people out of the experience they’re having.
For example, think about the difference between watching a movie in an IMAX theater and watching the same film on your phone. While the movie itself doesn’t change, your experience as a viewer will be completely different.
Since they can display images that fill practically your entire field of view, VR headsets represent another step up in terms of immersion. Your institution can utilize this technology in countless ways, including:
Virtual meetings. In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, most workers have become keenly aware of the differences between physical meetings and Zoom calls. VR-powered meetings can combine the benefits of both types of meetings while minimizing the sense of isolation associated with video conferencing.
Employee training. Virtual training is well-known for helping pilots, surgeons, and other people in high-risk fields get up to speed. But the barriers to access for VR are lower than ever these days; as a result, there’s no reason why you can’t use this technology for any type of employee training you need.
Education. Colleges and K-12 schools have already made great use of VR headsets, and you can expect this technological trend to continue for quite some time. But don’t limit your VR fleet to one or two departments: this technology can transform all kinds of educational programs.
Tours. Today, physical visits aren’t the only way to welcome the public to your institution. To make your campus as accessible as possible, consider supplementing in-person visits with VR tours.
How Enterprises Can Respond
If you’re seriously considering a VR fleet for your business or school, there’s a good chance that this tech would be worth the investment. With that said, you shouldn’t be careless about how you implement VR headsets and accessories. Take some time to think about:
What are your goals? Building a successful VR fleet involves more than just buying headsets piecemeal. You’ll need to consider what you want to use this technology for and what headsets and accessories are ideal for what you’re hoping to achieve.
Where will you put your equipment? Of course, you’ll need a physical space for your VR lab. Whether you’re planning to repurpose an existing facility or build something new, your VR area should be free of obstacles and large enough to accommodate multiple users at a time.
Hygiene considerations. If your devices will be used in a shared setting (e.g. lab, classroom, or training facility), you’ll need to keep the devices free of contamination from bacteria and viruses so people don’t get more than just a great VR experience.
Who will handle your fleet? Your VR lab won’t manage itself, after all. Before your facility is ready to welcome users, you’ll need a team to keep software up to date, figure out VR storage protocols, take care of logistics, and sanitize equipment. Collectively, these tasks and others are known as “fleet management.”
Kitting
For consumers, getting started with VR is easy–they can head to their nearest big-box store and buy whatever headset catches their eye. But implementing VR on an institutional level adds new challenges to this process. You’ll need to ensure your headsets and accessories are compatible with each other, prepare immersive VR experiences that further your goals, and brand these devices so they fit into your institution. You may even want to brand the devices or create a unique unboxing experience.
The most effective way to overcome these challenges is “kitting.” Essentially, this involves buying multiple VR-related products in a single bundle instead of purchasing them separately. Whether you’re trying to create a VR fleet for your institution or scale your existing fleet, finding a partner that can provide VR kits is essential.
An All-Inclusive Solution
VR is an effective way to deliver immersive experiences to your employees or students, making it a highly attractive proposition for all kinds of institutions. However, you’ll need a reliable partner to add VR technology to your school or business. Specifically, you’ll want to find a supplier that can prepare high-quality kits and bundles. But their involvement with your VR strategy shouldn’t end there. Ideally, your VR partner will also help set up your fleet, assist with training, and provide tech support.
As the most reliable name in enterprise VR, MACE Virtual Labs can deliver all these services and more for your institution. You can work with MACE VL to find and implement the best VR equipment for whatever use case you have in mind.
The team at MACE VL has worked with major corporations, prominent universities, and branches of the United States Armed Forces, making MACE VL the perfect VR partner whether you’re scaling up or already a large organization.