Some of the most innovative applications of VR by businesses we’ve seen so far

Over the past couple of years VR for business has seriously come to the fore. Although much of the technology itself has been around for decades, it was only really in 2016 when the public truly got their hands on it. As with any period of mass-scale adoption of technology by consumers, businesses have leapt at the chance of getting a slice of the virtual pie.

Since the Pokémon Go phenomenon we have seen some of the most innovative applications of VR by businesses to date.  The reason VR and augmented reality has been so successful is simple. Virtual reality offers users access to an immersive experience beyond the 2D reality of a smartphone or tablet screen. Businesses and companies are able to offer them more than just offer content – they can allow users themselves to become the content.

However, VR for business is not just a case of providing entertainment. Other companies have harnessed technology in order to provide a service or application that assists with day-to-day life – case and point, Google’s Nascent Tango.

We’ve collected together some of the most innovative applications of VR by companies to date.

Niantic
Pokémon Go

The VR app that really requires no introduction whatsoever. Niantic’s Pokémon Go caught on (pun intended) back in July 2016, eventually hitting 600 million total downloads. Pokémon Go was actually an evolution of a location-based augmented reality game called Ingress, created in partnership with Nintendo. The results are well known – thousands upon thousands of gamers suddenly finding themselves wandering around the real world.

Snap
The original AR filters

Snap is the technology company behind social networking app Snapchat, providing ephemeral visual messaging for a primarily younger audience. The original innovative application of VR here is in the host of augmented reality filters for photos and videos. Theses features have proved so successful that they have been assimilated by other social networks, such as Facebook and Instagram.

Google
Tango

When it comes to popular technology, you can bet Google won’t be far behind, and the same is true with VR. In 2016 it’s hardware operations fiercely launched into the AR/VR world with Daydream View VR headset and Google Home smart speaker. But one project that is really innovative is Tango which plans on being able to measure physical space without the need for external signals; this would allow positional AR in a revolutionary way. For example it would be able to see how rooms would look with or without a specific decor or furniture.

Osterhout Design Group
R-7 AR and VR System

As far as business use of VR goes, this one really takes the biscuit. The R-7 VR systems requires no wires, connections or batteries and has been used by companies across the world for instruction and learning. Industries include automotive, mining, aerospace, healthcare and energy.

NextVR
Live VR Event Broadcasts

One other type of technology that has seen a return to popularity in recent years it is live streaming. It’s no wonder that one or two companies have thought to combine these two things. NextVR are the leading provider of live VR broadcasts of all types of events, such as sports tournaments and concerts.

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