CloudNews & Analysis

8 Enterprise Applications Of VR & AR

VR & AR

Augmented reality and virtual reality are just about everywhere. With limitless potential and futuristic possibilities, it is not only dominating technology but also challenging human limitations. AR and VR are making waves by working their way through industries by either training people or by providing a new approach to experience things. While virtual reality is taking users into an altogether different environment, augmented reality is allowing them to see and interact with actual or virtual objects in that environment through ways they couldn’t imagine before. Together they are driving interaction, facilitating superior service with greater operational efficiency, improving dimensions and arousing the imagination of the users by being an enabler of better performance in every industry.

Combining the beauty of the physical and digital world, AR and VR are beyond doubt gradually becoming synonymous with these eight industries:

•    Healthcare:

The first ever VR surgery was performed as recently as in 2016, on a cancer patient. This surgery opened doors to the vast scope that AR and VR have in the medical sector. Right from training to surgery; doctors, surgeons and experts are leveraging this new technology in order to increase their success rate in medical procedures. Treatments involving delicate procedures can showcase better precision, effective results with elimination of human error.

•    Education:

In order to create a stronger educational experience, a number of schools, colleges and universities are applying AR and VR in their day to day learning. K-12 students enjoy virtual field trips all around the world that actually help them learn about various subject matters. They can be transported to Paris, the Great Barrier Reef, into the NASA space station, the Galaxy or even the human body. Children can easily look around and feel objects where various interactive elements like pop-ups in the form of narrative text and images help them get a better understanding of whatever they touch. It has the possibility of simplifying complicated concepts and making cognitive learning faster, more effective and efficient. It is indeed a novel and engaging way for children learning better by doing.

•    Real Estate:

The entire process of buying a space has always been the most cumbersome task one has to undertake. However, the application of AR/VR provides the biggest advantage to all those coming to view a property. Imagine, to be able to spacewalk into a place and having the exact preview of how the future space is going to look like; even minuscule property features like placement of furniture, natural and artificial lighting, view from a balcony and so on, give you a real-time experience of your yet to be space? AR/VR brings space to life by giving a 360 degrees outlook. While the buyer gets a hands-on feel of the entire project with complete transparency, builders can lock in deals faster than usual. AR/VR also provides potential buyers with the most comfortable and convenient edge of enjoying the view from the comfort of their home through virtual headsets and smart-phones.  

•    Design:

Designers are creating some immersive designs and delighting their customers with a dazzling showcase which is in return transforming workplace and homes. Virtual reality and augmented reality is providing them with a unique opportunity to create apps using images, objects, which enables users to interact with them. The design process is short and the final product is compelling. This further saves a lot of money that goes into the designing and development of individual spaces. Designers can make changes and improvements as per suggestions in real time and guide the user’s attention where they want. 

•    Showrooms:

Have you ever experienced a virtual tour of an entire store? Brands are embracing these emerging technologies in order to give an immersive and unique shopping experience to the user. The all-new showroom experience brings a new opportunity to the table wherein, users will be able to see the items they like, along with each colour option and other variants available. They will also get a number of different customized options as per their preference that will further help them make a buying decision. It will be similar to shopping online but with an experiential experience.

•    Military:

Augmented and virtual reality is being applied in the defence forces to give candidates an experience of what it will be like to engage in missions on the battlefield. AR and VR create replicated environments where troops are given intense training about the real world. From providing combat training to navigating enemy turf to defining troop movements; wearable glasses and headsets are helping manipulate decisions without losing out on precious life.

•    Business:

Imagine the possibility of using virtual and augmented reality in order to accentuate your workforce. Businesses all over are utilizing the advantages of AR and VR in order to enhance the functioning of their employees and their business. By creating training environments, companies are preparing their employees for situations that either is very unique or are very dangerous. It is being used by HR’s in role-playing scenarios.  These are just measures to ensure effective and efficient working within the system. Every business looks for ways of accelerating working trends, and through AR and VR employees are finding it extremely easy to connect with what is happening around the company in real time.

A major reason as to why these technologies are getting a much empathy from various industries is because of their ability to understanding situations and causes that otherwise is overlooked. They delve deep into the environment and find the most viable solution to make it interesting and appealing.

(The author is Head of Technology, Foyr- A VR based Proptech Company)

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