Virtual Reality has long ceased to be the tool of the longer term to become the tool of nowadays. several powerful brands, industrial segments and even visionary SMEs are ready to exploit the potential of this new technology, with quite satisfactory results.
Discover the applications of this technology and the way it will offer your sector a competitive advantage.
What is virtual reality?
Virtual Reality (VR) describes the set of immersive technologies that obtain to position the user inside virtual environments simulated by laptop. counting on what the simulations area unit supposed to attain, the photographs could or might not be realistic.
To be meted out, VR makes use of devices referred to as video game glasses or helmets . These build it potential for users to understand 360° scenes in high definition.
The addition of audio and motion sensors permit a novel interaction with the surroundings, giving the expertise a really helpful realistic feature.
Since a user will become the protagonist of a state of affairs while not effort a controlled surroundings, the applications in amusement area unit solely restricted by the imagination.
At Associate in Nursing industrial level, operators will become accustomed to risk environments while not exposing themselves, doctors will observe complicated procedures, technical instrumentation will assist remotely, and far a lot of.
Before delving deeper into this technology, it’s vital to not confuse it with AR ( increased reality ).
Virtual Reality (VR) vs increased Reality (AR)
Although VR and AR technologies have some similarities, care should be taken to not confuse them.
Virtual reality seeks to form the whole immersion of the user in a very altogether virtual world, simulated and alien to their real or physical surroundings, unlike AR, that seeks to include some virtual parts into real world.
In this sense, VR deprives the user of his ability to understand sure stimuli from his surroundings, substitution them with artificial recreations. RA doesn’t deprive the user of his surroundings, however rather adds further information thereto.
For each technology to satisfy its role, distinctive tools area unit needed, that represents another differentiating issue. a decent example will be glasses, that don’t seem to be necessary in AR technology.
VR: Total immersion or accessibility
Depending on the target that Associate in Nursing trade sets for this technology, it becomes necessary to think about total immersion or accessibility . this implies that the upper the extent of immersion, the bigger the technological demand (and investment cost).
Instead, it’s potential to access low cost technology that gives a lower level of image and sound quality (decreasing the sense of realism) in exchange for simple access.
Which leads North American nation to conclude that any trade may gain advantage from the technology, as long because it finds the right balance between quality and gain.
What technology does one ought to build VR possible?
VR systems area unit usually comprised of the following:
• Virtual reality glasses/helmets : they’re chargeable for the output of the photographs. they typically incorporate a screen or have the mandatory support to incorporate one, like a smartphone.
• Processor: it’s the a part of the hardware responsible of the operation of the technology. it’s sometimes integrated into the screen.
• Position sensors: Device responsible of observance the placement and movements of the user to recreate them within the virtual surroundings.
• Software: laptop part chargeable for managing execution, process pictures and coordinative the system normally.
In addition to the essential parts, this technology will embody a vast variety of elective sensors or peripherals to extend the extent of practicality and interaction. For example:
• Audio systems : though in theory a VR surroundings will work while not audio, it’s traditional that they’re enclosed.
• Wide-range sensors: Positioning sensors will be distributed in multiple rooms or throughout a building, permitting the system to find users and permit them to maneuver within the virtual surroundings, target-hunting by their movements in real world.
• Hand controls: like a joystick for video games, video game environments will embody controllers or hand controls as input systems, to quickly manage functions within the virtual surroundings.
• Simulators: Advanced environments will embody simulators, that discover the user’s movements in a very virtual surroundings and recreate them in real world. sometimes helpful in remote jobs.
• Treadmills: wherever area is proscribed, a treadmill becomes a helpful quality answer to discover the user’s actions and recreate them within the virtual surroundings while not the user truly having to maneuver round the area.
In a general sense, this technology doesn’t need special peripherals , quite what might be found in a very phone and code with the flexibility to recreate situations. however it will be custom-made enough to hide a good variety of prospects.
Is it worth incorporating Virtual Reality in an SME?
Virtual reality technology can be harnessed in any industrial and business environment, if you have the right idea. In fact, one of the areas with the greatest impact of this tool is found in the marketing of small industries.
Virtual reality systems allow customers to be reached in a new way, through real experiences in a virtual environment.
Seeing a house before building it, visiting a factory before investing, traveling without leaving home, taking a tour of facilities to check the environment… This is what technology offers the client and any SME can include it in its business strategy .
Digital transformation is a unique opportunity for growth and the best thing is that it can be adapted to any business model, why not yours?
The role of Virtual Reality in industry 4.0
Virtual reality has an important role as an agent of change in the transition from old industrial models to the productive means of the future.
For the intelligent industry 4.0 to become a complete reality, it is necessary to take full advantage of virtual environments and that is what VR technology offers.
It is not without reason that the world’s great machinery has opted for this tool as an optimization agent in multiple operations.
How is it possible? Remote plant supervision, building restructuring, interactive remote assistance, risk situation training, integration with collaborative systems, the ability to experience the operation of new products from the user’s perspective and make changes in time real…
As long as it is consistent with the capabilities of the technology, there are no limits to what can be achieved with it.
Industrial applications of Virtual Reality
VR technology offers a large number of technological solutions for different areas of the productive, learning and entertainment sector, ranging from simple and very accessible solutions (such as cardboard viewers with space for smartphones) to advanced media for therapeutic purposes.
Some applications that have been able to take advantage of the capabilities of VR to overcome physical limits are:
Medicine
The latest technological advances have made it possible to efficiently incorporate VR environments in medicine, allowing for virtual surgical practices that really lead to motor learning, to reducing the effects of Parkinson’s in patients.
Communication
Virtual reality systems can change the way the world communicates. An example of this is interactive documentaries or 360° news streaming that transport users directly anywhere, in a realistic way.
Maintenance
A simple but effective industrial application of VR is in the maintenance sector, where virtual reality glasses allow complete remote assistance , with the possibility of including collaborative mechanisms.
Prototyping
BMW revolutionized the industry thanks to the incorporation of VR systems for the prototyping of their vehicles, which allowed them to put themselves in the perspective of the driver and test the distributions of the interior of a car even before it was finished.
This enabled them to save numerous costs on prototyping, as any modifications to the design could be simulated without having to invest in a new assembly.
This application has become popular in other industries thanks to its effectiveness.
Architecture
Relying on VR technology, an architect or engineer can simulate the construction of a project and visualize it accurately. Plus, it’s a powerful sales tool when it comes to offering designs to a client before, during, and after build.
Technical formation
By applying virtual reality technology, it is possible to train personnel in the handling of industrial machines and heavy equipment, all without being able to represent a real risk to themselves or their environment. In a way impossible to achieve with conventional methods such as videos or manuals.
In addition, new professional staff (or recent graduates) can be familiarized with risky industrial environments, in a safe way, which will facilitate their insertion in the industry.
Preparation in incident resolution
It is possible to simulate realistic incident environments , to validate the actions of individuals in the event of a contingency. Accident drills, fires, landslides, forced escapes, machinery failures.
The more immersive the system, the deeper the learning. This is a valuable property since a true emergency will not be necessary to learn key maneuvers.
military application
Combat training in simulated environments is very attractive for military technology. Functioning practically the same as modern combat video games.
Tourism
As you know, the tourism industry was one of the main investors in this type of technology. Thailand, for example, offered the world market complex guided tours through the country’s most important tourist attractions with high-quality 360° images.
In the culinary industry, some brands offer Virtual Reality services to take customers into virtual environments across the world, depending on the type of food chosen.
All these types of stimuli easily attract customers, who are constantly looking for new experiences.
Final Thoughts: Virtual Reality and Technological Optimization
The ability to abstract the user from their reality and position them in a simulated environment has endless potential applications, given the right advice and a little inspiration.
Be that as it may, this technology that was promised in the 4.0 industry of the future is present today in the brands that are changing the world, it only remains to define if yours is one of them.
