Will 2017 Finally Be the Year of Virtual Reality?
For years the public’s imagination has been stoked by the wonders and possibilities of Virtual Reality. In Total Recall and The Matrix, we watched made-up heroes inhabit virtual worlds in artificial sets. We are getting closer to experiencing the life of others IRL and it’s nothing short of a boon for online marketers.
You must have heard about it in the last year or before. Last summer, the blog discussed VR's innovative uses in travel. 2017 is the year VR is going to become relevant to everyone. Its usage still may seem far away because VR is a lot of work. But it’s worth to get to know the key concepts of the most talked-of and anticipated technology headed our way.
What is Virtual Reality?
The literal definition of Virtual Reality is “near-reality.” More specifically, it is the term used to describe a three-dimensional, computer generated environment which can be explored and interacted with by a person. That person becomes part of this virtual world or is immersed within this environment, and whilst there, is able to manipulate objects or perform a series of actions.
Why Is It So Effective?
VR is effective because it is an image-based experience. Over the years, we have seen the explosive growth of video games and social media. Research results reiterated the importance of images and video in reach not to mention marketing efforts. This is because images are more memorable and immersive at first glance. Moreover, humans like to be told stories. VR lends itself to storytelling with beginnings and endings.
Uses
VR is not only used for obvious applications such as 3D movies. From travel to education, its usages are endless. No doubt we will be enjoying VR rides for entertainment as in movies, but fighter pilots and surgeons currently use VR to take risks safely in preparation for the real world.
Major companies such as the New York Times are actively adopting VR to see what the future holds for them. It isn’t clear how this technology will change the marketing strategies of small to medium businesses quite yet, but it is a fascinating exercise in innovation and thinking outside the box. Strange Days are already here.
