Top VR Trends for 2019 & Beyond

Virtual Reality (VR) has opened up a whole new world of opportunities in the tech world. We’ve already seen how it has impacted the gaming industry, with many top brands releasing VR headsets and exclusive VR games. But what does the future hold for this new innovation?

What areas of our lives are going to be transformed by virtual reality and how soon will the technology start to be introduced? Well, we’ve already started to see VR make big waves in the tech industry (and beyond). Take a look at some of the most significant VR developments we expect to see trending throughout 2019 and 2020 and see if any of them will have a big impact on your life!

VR Trends

1. VR in Education

Perhaps one of the most interesting and beneficial uses of VR could be in the classroom. Children and young people adapt to changing technologies faster than anyone else, and they are willing to embrace VR to support their learning. Gamification had already been used in education settings so this is taking it one step further. Organisations are already experimenting with how certain programs could be used to take children back in time in a history lesson or explore different landscapes across the world for a geography lesson.

2. VR in Marketing

Multinationals with a large marketing budget have already started developing a VR strategy. The opportunities are endless – taking customers on a ride in a brand new car or letting them explore a hotel on the other side of the world before they book is an obvious advantage. VR is exciting, and it’s something people want to get involved with and try out. It’s perfect for marketing because it makes your brand memorable and ensures you stand out. It’s immersive, engaging and we think we’ll be seeing a lot more of it.

3. Introducing More Senses

Using a VR headset is as realistic as experiences get – but designers are going one step further by trying to incorporate smells. As it stands, the technology can only control your sight and hearing – but last year at the Tokyo Game Show, a small attachment device was showcased which can emit smells to increase the sensual experience. Haptic feedback and other ways of introducing touch is also being explored by developers.

4. VR in Gaming

Up to now VR has been most predominant in gaming, mainly for use with home games consoles. However, VR has now expanded into the world of physical escape rooms, allowing people to experience a virtual reality escape game. The world’s first VR escape room, where group players can use headsets to complete a challenge, is available to play at Omescape London and is growing in popularity each month. It’s so much fun, totally unique and everyone who tries it, loves it and wants to come back. We predict seeing even more games, more varieties of genres, and even more experiences.

5. More Freedom

The first VR headsets were limited by wires, which obviously restricted just how much freedom you had whilst wearing the devices. We’ve seen the initial introduction of wireless VR in 2018 and 2019, in our VR experiences for example – where you can carry you VR equipment on your back – making it wireless. But we’d love to see devices get smaller, light and easy to carry around.

6. VR in Festivals

We’ve seen smaller boutique festivals pop up celebrating VR, but we think 2019 and 2020 will be the years when VR will explode into the culture and music scene. VR lends itself so well to immersive experiences, and a festival is the ultimate in immersive experiences. Combining the two makes complete sense!

7. VR In Property

This has already started to roll out in a select few probably companies, and we think we’ll see even more of it in the next year. Using VR for property marketing and selling properties is ideal – it lets you explore the property without actually ever stepping inside (perfect for foreign investors for example). It’s also a powerful tool for renovation companies – who can show you the finished ‘renovated’ project and let you walk around the finished house, before any work has even commenced.

8. VR In Shopping

Imagine being able to try on and view different outfits, without ever actually lifting a finger… That could be the soon-to-be reality for many high-tech shoppers. Some might say it’ll take the fun away from shopping, but others argue it streamlines the whole process, and ensure you get a perfect fit every time. What do you think?

We think VR is here to stay, and we’re excited to see all the updates and changes currently emerging into the industry. Which are you most looking forward to trying out in the world of VR? Let us know in the comments below!