Virtual Reality has breathed new life into marketing opportunities. At a time when it’s harder than ever to capture users’ attention, VR gives brands the ability to create truly immersive experiences. It’s no wonder that VR has been named one of the top trends that will affect digital marketing in 2017 with over 90 million active users with the potential…
Virtual Reality may seem like a modern phenomenon, however, the origins of VR can date back to as early as the 19th century, nearly 180 years ago. The Stereoscope in 1838 was technically the first device to essentially pioneer 3D by having the viewer look through a lens with two of the same image and then letting the brain blend…
Virtual Reality is being used in classrooms now more than ever. One quarter of the schools are already using VR, and this number is continuing to grow. While most teachers are aware of VR, over three quarters of teachers have never used it in a school environment before and many agree that VR would definitely be a benefit in subjects such…
2017 is expected to be a turning point for Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality. The PlayStation VR, as well as a variety of other VR devices, made their debut last year and since, have given consumers insight as to all that VR has to offer. As of 2016, one third of consumers found the concept of VR to be “very…
Immersive technology refers to technology that blurs the line between the physical world and the digital or simulated world, thereby creating a sense of immersion. This includes using hardware to simulate one or more of the five senses to create perceptually-real sensations. (I.e. From using VR headsets for visuals to implementing artificial smells and tastes.) In a survey of over…
While VR devices have been around since the 1990s, it wasn’t until 2012 when the Oculus Rift was introduced was when the potentials of VR came to the forefront. Since then, the technology has grown more present across a variety of industries and will continue to do so. Virtual Reality has a bright future specifically in the Marketing industry. This…
Virtual Reality is expected to be a $25 billion industry by 2021. The VR industry is primarily comprised of gaming and hardware, but is also prevalent in film, theme parks, and niche markets, as well. VR has been breaking barriers across a wide variety of industries, including news, advertising, real estate, customer service, space training, product design, and more. As…
In the late 1800’s, Herman Ebbingaus developed the Forgetting Curve Concept, which states that a person forgets 90% of training course content after one month. Learning can be harder than ever today, whether it is in a classroom setting, taking online classes, or even training in the workplace. Employees report that they can only dedicate 1% of their work to…
Virtual Reality entered the marketplace for consumers in 2013 with the launch of the Oculus Rift Development Kit. 2016 brought consumers a variety of new VR devices, including the HTC Vive and Sony’s PlayStation VR. Based on the demand the VR market has been seeing over the years, it is expected to grow by the billions by 2020, reaching an…
Virtual Reality is a rapidly growing industry, currently dominated by companies including Samsung, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, HTC, and Sony. Each of these companies has a VR or AR device currently on the market, all ranging in cost. It is estimated that by 2020, 52 million head-mounted devices will be used in the US. These VR headsets are continuing to impact…
Virtual Reality is being implemented in a variety of major industries from retail, to medicine, and even sports. There are currently sports-related VR apps on the market that allow the user to watch sporting events as if they are actually sitting courtside or on the sidelines; but what about using Virtual Reality to train and recruit for sports? With the…
Virtual reality has been all around us since the first panoramic paintings in 12th Century China. Today we can see it used in virtual and augmented reality apps like Pokémon Go, which allows players to catch digital monsters in real settings. According to this infographic created by Couponbox.com, we have a lot of innovative and interesting technology headed our way….
Virtual Reality is a technology that immerses its users in a computer-generated 3D environment. Today, there are many other devices and technologies available that offer similar user experiences. Augmented Reality, for one, uses a wearable device to provide contextual information based on the user’s space at that moment. Mixed Reality overlays digital items to objects in the real world, allowing…
With a variety of Virtual Reality devices now on the market, there are many different aspects a potential buyer should consider before making a purchase, including cost, reliability, and the devices that each supports. Some of the more well-known VR devices include the Google Cardboard and the Samsung Gear VR. The Google Cardboard supports a wide variety of smartphones and comes…
Virtual Reality is best known for its role in the entertainment industry, but it is also growing more useful in a variety of industries such as tourism, education, and even real estate. Building, buying, and selling homes has become more efficient and less stressful by adding VR technology to the process. Home buyers who are relocating are able to tour…
Augmented Reality, and Virtual Reality were conceptualized in the early 1900s with “Precursor” technology. Precursor was an early technology that blurred the lines between the physical world and the virtual world. This later stemmed to Augmented Reality, technology that adds virtual elements to one’s real world environment, and Virtual Reality, which is technology that immerses users into a false reality. The first…
360 video are a new feature that more and more companies are beginning to implement. While similar to Virtual Reality, there are still many key differences which set the two technologies apart. 360 videos allow users to view an experience in a 360 degree environment; and though its immersive, users are not able to move around within the 360 environment like…
Virtual Reality can be used in a variety of industries, including tourism, retail, military, and education. Though it may seem that VR would naturally fit into a technology class, it may actually be a better fit in history and science classes. Implementing VR into the classroom can allow students to visit places that they would ordinarily never be able to…
As technology continues to advance, more variations of Virtual Reality will continue to arise. Mixed Reality, for one, combines Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality. Though these “new realities” are very similar, there are also very significant differences between them. In using Virtual Reality, a headset or smart glasses are required. This headset immerses the user into a fully digital environment…
It is now known that Virtual Reality is relevant and useful in a variety of industries outside of just entertainment and aids greatly in job training. The Department of Homeland Security is currently looking into implementing Virtual Reality training as an alternative to real-life drills and tabletop exercises for disaster relief training. Training for these scenarios in VR are believed…
Virtual Reality is one of the fastest growing sectors of the startup world. Many companies are capitalizing on this to create their own companies in the VR sector that range from services to apps and even devices. Magic Leap, one of the most well-known companies in VR, currently has $1.39 billion in funding with a list of investors that include…
Virtual Reality is a completely artificial 3D environment that fully immerses the user. VR has made strides not only in the entertainment industry, but in education, health care, real estate, eCommerce, tourism, military, law enforcement, and advertising as well. There are many advantages to using Virtual Reality in the business realm. It personalizes customer engagement, saves money, time and resources,…
With both Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality growing in popularity, it is important to understand the difference between the two. Augmented Reality blends virtual reality with real life, putting virtual items into real worlds. AR consists of 25% virtual and 75% real environments, making it only partially immersive. Users are able to still be in touch with reality, while at…
The Oculus Rift is one of many Virtual Reality devices currently on the market, and with the wide variety of VR devices on the market, it may be difficult to see the differences and decide which is the best fit for you. With its wide field of view, the Oculus Rift immerses users into an amazing world outside of their…
As technology advances many schools and teachers are implementing more up-to-date technology into the classroom to aid in students’ learning. In fact 2 out of 3 teachers consider themselves to be “innovators” when it comes to adding technology into lessons. Teachers believe that Virtual Reality can have a large impact on how kids learn, with 85% feeling it would have…
In 2012, Palmer Luckey created a Kick-starter campaign to raise money for what would become the Oculus Rift. Shortly thereafter in 2014, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg bought the company for an impressive $2 billion. This VR device can track facial expressions to display on a virtual avatar, has wireless hand controllers to mimic movement, and allows for a 360 degree perspective. Several different kinds…
The success of Pokémon Go is undeniable to anyone who has been paying attention this past month since its release on July 6th. Pokémon Go managed to become the top grossing app on the same day it launched, and shortly after it became the biggest mobile game in US history; beating Candy Crush, Draw Something and Clash Royale. Pokémon Go…
Typically, when we think of Virtual Reality, entertainment is the first thing to come to mind—being able to play games, watch videos, and more on a VR device. However VR expands further than that; there are currently apps on the market that allow users to watch live sporting events or concerts in virtual reality, as if they are actually there. VR…
As of recently, there has been a spike in the use and publication of 360 videos. Although both 360 videos and Virtual Reality have the user in a 360 degree environment, there are many difference between the two. With the use of a VR Headset, the user becomes fully immersed in a digital environment; where the user has full mobility…
Virtual Reality has great potential in positively influencing the Marketing world. Well-known companies including Facebook, Google, and Microsoft investing in VR has caused a rise in awareness due to their large audience base. Some brands have already incorporated VR into their marketing campaigns. Clothing retailer, Topshop, created a campaign that virtually transported users in their UK-based flagship store to the runway…
Virtual Reality is still fairly new to the market, but has a bright future ahead. In a US-based survey regarding awareness of VR, 92% of respondents mentioned said they are aware of the term “Virtual Reality.” Additionally, only 4% of respondents between the ages of 14 and 19 said they have no interest in VR. Though the vast majority are…
Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality are both being used in a variety of industries, including education, sports, tourism, and even healthcare. The video game industry is projected to earn the highest revenue at $11.6 billion, but the healthcare industry is right behind them with $5.1 billion. VR and AR can be used for a variety of medical purposes including: diagnostics…
This summer, entertainment in Virtual Reality is being taken to the next level with its incorporation into rollercoasters and arcades across the globe. The United States is leading this trend compared to the other countries currently working to bring VR to theme parks, with 14 separate locations that have a VR rollercoaster or arcade experience. Six Flags alone is introducing…
Virtual Reality is projected to be a $30 billion industry by 2020; Augmented Reality, on the other hand, is expected to reach $90 billion in revenue. These new technologies are similar, but people may be wondering about why AR has such a larger project revenue. This gap is largely attributed to AR’s use in everyday life—with the use of a smartphone,…
Currently, there are a handful of VR devices on the market and only a few AR devices. Before taking the leap and purchasing one of these headsets, one has to consider the reason for purchase. Virtual Reality devices take the user into a new artificial environment where their new reality is completely simulated. At this point, the HTC Vive, Samsung…
Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality have altered the landscape of several industries including: the military, medicine, entertainment, education, and more. Brands such as Land Rover, Boeing, Tommy Hilfiger, The North Face, Lego, and more, are capitalizing on this and have incorporated VR and AR into their business. 66% of consumers say they are interested in shopping in Virtual Reality, which…
The Samsung Gear VR made its debut in the fall of 2015 and has been making waves ever since. This device is compatible with newer versions of the Samsung Galaxy smartphones. Technology incorporated into this devices offers a wide field of view (96 degrees) and minimizes motion sickness at the same time with its use of persistent 360 degree head-tracking….
New VR devices are being released more often now than ever from widely known companies including Google, Samsung, Mattel, and more. Despite the recent surge in VR devices, nearly 60% of people are still not aware of Virtual Reality and only 8% of people have tried Virtual Reality. The majority of those who are aware of VR range in age from…
Many companies are working on innovations in Virtual Reality; and these companies are all attempting to make strides in very different and exciting places. Content in VR covers a wide range that includes location-based, sporting/live events, social networking, games, entertainment, enterprise, healthcare, and education. When creating new applications for VR technology, developers can choose from specific platforms with different tools and…
Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality, though still fairly new to the market, both have a bright future ahead of them. While VR and AR do seem like one in the same, there are many differences between the two. Virtual Reality fully immerses the user into a 360 degree, 3D realm, taking them into a completely new reality. Currently, many of…
It is obvious that Virtual Reality is shaping the world of entertainment; but VR developers have more broad goals, which are determined to shape our lives in greater ways and in a variety of sectors including: education, tourism, construction, social networking, research and more. Timefire Media is in the midst of developing a Virtual Reality City that allows users to…
Though virtual reality has been around for some time, it is just beginning to take the technology industry by storm. What was a $100 million industry just two years ago is projected to grow to $5.2 billion by 2018. This spike in recent growth can be attributed to the strides technology has made recently: lightweight, high resolution cellphones and motion…
2016 is the year of virtual reality, during which VR and AR devices will grow in commonplace across the globe.. Grove Jones created a “checklist” of all VR devices currently on the market, some very well known, and others not as common. Nearly all of these headsets are both Apple and Android compatible, with only two VR devices only accepting…
Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality serve a higher purpose than a more realistic way to play video games and watch movies. In education, students can use VR to go on virtual field trips and visit prospective colleges. In the healthcare industry, AR can act as a guide for doctors to reduce errors in the practice; and VR can be used as a new tool…
Virtual reality has already changed the way people play games, watch movies, and now can alter the way people shop. People can easily discover and shop for new products and services right on a VR device. Shopping through VR enhances the consumer experience and keeps them better informed, by allowing users to easily compare features of various products and services…
The way students are learning today has greatly evolved from the days of a chalkboards, pencils and pens. Today, schools are introducing more interactive ways of learning with the use of Smartboards and iPads in the classroom to better engage students. Virtual Reality could be the next step in bringing technology into the classroom, or bringing the classroom to you. …
Recently our friends at StartApp and Nowsourcing created an infographic like no other, because it’s an infographic made to be viewed in virtual reality. The way the information is being displayed here is truly revolutionary, and it makes reading an infographic a much more immersive experience. This infographic debuted on March 13, 2016 at SXSW and it represents a potential new…
People think of Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality as a new, exciting, innovative technology, so new that most people don’t know much about the industry or what its future may hold. However it is projected that by 2020, the VR/AR industry will be worth $150 billion. Gaming is expected to be a major player in the Virtual Reality industry; however…
Virtual Reality is well known for its place in the media with gaming and movie viewing; but what about in the workplace? As it turns out, introducing VR and AR to the office has more benefits than one would think. There is a wealth of opportunity for employee training techniques. For example, role playing a safety training scenario in virtual…
When people think of Virtual Reality, they often think of VR primarily as a platform for gaming. However VR can actually serve a myriad of purposes and is currently being utilized by several industries. City planning and architecture, are one such example. VR simplifies the act of envisioning what a new building would look like in a particular location, it…
The words Virtual Reality (VR), and Augmented Reality (AR) are thrown around in conversation so frequently today, but believe it or not, the majority of people are not familiar with these terms. There are not many companies using VR and AR at the moment; however a majority of those not currently using VR or AR are considering adopting VR or…
Media consumption is ever-changing. The introduction of the radio in the 1920s was the first big step in making it possible to know what is going on at a sporting event in real-time without actually having to be there. With today’s Virtual Reality, it is possible to be at the game, without actually having to be at the game. Watching…
Augmented Reality alters what a person is seeing in that exact moment. Retail locations are considering implementing AR into various brick and mortar stores in the form of a virtual fitting room or a “Magic Mirror.” Beauty retailer, Sephora, is testing this Magic Mirror in select European locations. Make-up colors and shades can easily be changed by swiping a touchscreen,…
Virtual Reality is a fast growing technology, however it’s actually been around for about 75 years! A comparison of the 1939 View Master and the 2015 HTC Vive shows how far the technology has come in that time. Gone are the days of clicking through images of the Grand Canyon on a cardboard disk in our View Master; current virtual…
Advertising and marketing professionals looking to associate their brand with the excitement and promise of new technologies are going to want to take note of a comprehensive Virtual Reality Consumer Sentiment Survey of over 2,000 consumers that was recently conducted by Touchstone Research and Greenlight VR. When those who had experienced virtual reality (22% of the sample) were asked to…
SAN FRANCISCO, CA, November 11th, 2015 – Virtual reality has been somewhat of an intriguing fantasy for a while now; and while the technology has been available for a number of years, it’s only recently that big strides are being made in virtual reality. These technological advances seem to have overcome the problems that have for so long held VR…
VR has been around for many years but, disappointingly, has failed to live up to its own expectations. With new groundbreaking, non-nausea-inducing devices and amazing immersive software starting to be developed, VR’s moment for consumer products may finally have arrived. Major VR companies are preparing to launch VR headsets that make VR real for the consumer in 2015/2016—will they succeed…