Despite not yet meeting mass use, the interest in virtual reality or VR is present in consumers. There are Oculus Rift models that are ranking among the best sellers in online marketplaces.
The more this technology grows, the more that appetite grows on the part of users to learn new and interesting ways to use it. That adds additional pressure on companies like event organizers and experimental marketers to start thinking creatively and find new possibilities. If you need inspiration, here are some ways in which these new technological avenues have been used:
Virtual spaces
This experience would use VR at an event as a system to guide users through a 360-degree tour around the site. This would be a great way to say goodbye to photos and videos to show potential event attendees around. Now they will be closer to visualizing what the meeting they are attending will actually look like.
Brain surgery simulator
Surgeons have access to virtual reality technology that allows them to practice their complex techniques before performing major operations. The simulators allow doctors to use tools similar to those they would be using in real-life situations, so they may feel more prepared and more confident when that big day comes.
Product testing
This is a great opportunity for food companies, because there are already sensory experiences that allow users to get to know the texture of food, accompanied by machines to recreate the aromas and certain sounds. In this way they will explore the different flavors and ingredients, but always wanting to try more. It is one of the most entertaining and complete examples of the incorporation of the senses.
Reaching larger audiences
Many car brands have moved to VR technology to create test drives that anyone could try without the need to be in the driver’s seat in the car. That way more people can go through this experience where they are shown the driver’s perspective through exceptional routes, which would be what really adds value to this test.
Attracting the right audience
For example, the famous clothing and accessories chain JC Penney made a campaign to increase its sales during the winter. They wanted to attract more families, so they created a VR experience that would transport users to the North Pole to meet Santa Claus, make cuddles with reindeer and enjoy the snow. This resulted in stores full of visitors and excited children with their parents.
Bringing back the old school
Companies dedicated to cinematography can take advantage of virtual reality to create samples of feature films based on programs or cartoons of past generations. An interesting way can be to create a virtual place where they can find objects related to these old series with which they can interact and awaken the nostalgia of their childhood. It can also be taken further by offering the movies with a room where they have objects around them to feel comfortable. A lot can be done with film and VR.
Innovate and improve
In general, with virtual reality you can simply offer a series of very interesting experiences to live different moments, either in a nostalgic or futuristic way. You could make a person feel like they are in a specific place, and with the development of this technology, the details will be refined. Very soon this trend will make it so that people can feel like they are in New York or Hawaii while in the comfort of their home. Companies must reinvent themselves to take advantage of this medium.
Reproductions of crime scenes
This one is particularly interesting. If they say a picture is worth a thousand words, I guess virtual reality is worth millions. For criminal investigations, you can virtually recreate a crime scene and allow lawyers to study it for evidence. This is just being experimented with, but there is a lot of interest in the project to make it a viable way to initiate prosecutions and better understand crimes.
