Virtual Reality: Fad or Forever?
Recently, I entered an arcade for the first time in years and was surprised to stumble upon what looked like the futuristic dream game of an early 2000s child who had just watched Spy Kids 3 (in 3D, of course). In front of me lay a cluster of hanging virtual reality headsets and wireless joysticks, each paired with an omnidirectional treadmill to allow players to run through the landscape of the game. (Note: this setup was placed casually in the back of an ordinary shopping centre arcade.) Perhaps I’ve been living under a rock for the last few years, because I could not contain my surprise and curiosity at this revolutionary, new-age style of the arcade gaming experience.
I suppose, looking back, virtual reality has been available for mainstream use for some time now, with the VR industry raking in $3.6 Billion USD in revenue for 2018 alone. A large majority of VR related purchases in recent years have been a result of gaming related hardware and software, meaning that the VR industry is relying on gamers to increase and maintain profitability.
While further growth for the VR industry is forecast for coming years, I can’t help but wonder if the technology is here to stay. I for one cannot think of single person I know who owns and regularly uses a virtual reality headset. Sure, most people would agree that VR gaming makes for a fun and immersive experience, but how many people would go out and buy the necessary technology to access it at home?
With this in mind, it could be assumed that price is one of the main factors holding VR back from becoming a commercial gaming product as common as an Xbox or Playstation. With most gaming VR sets averaging out at $400 a pop, many consumers simply have not had the financial means to invest in the technology. This said, with the VR industry on a steady incline, retail prices should soon drop to accommodate for everyday consumers- provided the hype around VR technology is still at large by this stage.
It’s impossible to say what the future holds for virtual reality and the worldwide gaming industry. Hit science fiction show, Black Mirror, shows one imagined future for VR gaming through an episode called USS Calister. In the episode, we see the gaming industry has advanced so far that users are able to actually insert themselves into games through simulated reality technology. Naturally, in true Black Mirror style, this technology is wrongfully manipulated and things go terribly wrong for a group of co-workers. Whilst this particular example is entirely science fiction, the possibilities are endless for the future of the VR and gaming industries.
Perhaps virtual reality is not destined to become a part of every gamer’s home set up, but rather an interactive and social experience to be utilised in venues, businesses and educational facilities. Rose Leadem for Entrepreneur has researched and explained some innovative and useful ways VR could be used to positively impact our everyday lives:
- To ease anxiety in dental patients
A study showed that by fitting dental patients with VR sets depicting relaxing scenery significantly eased feelings of anxiety.
2. To train retail employees
Businesses such as Walmart have started to utilise VR technology to train employees in how to deal with real-world scenarios such as rush periods.
3. To help people with autism to develop social skills
Programs are now being trialled using VR to simulate various social situations for those with autism to practice reacting to. Some programs even monitor brain waves throughout the VR experiences to identify increases in social understanding.
With so many possibilities for expansion, the virtual reality industry seems to have a bright future ahead. It is likely that VR will continue to become a large part of many people’s everyday lives, perhaps in the least expected ways.
