When one thinks about virtual reality, gaming is usually what immediately also comes to mind, as the technology is often associated with its applications in the video game industry. The latter has benefited greatly from the integration of virtual reality, that has brought significant changes into the realm, but is not the only field that has seen positive results from the addition of VR. As Jon Goddard had once said, “there are as many applications for VR as you can think of, it’s restricted by your imagination”; and industries such as healthcare, education, or tourism have already begun to make great use of virtual reality in various ways.

So, let’s explore the applications of virtual reality beyond gaming, and see exactly how this disruptive technology has impacted some of the most important sectors. And to start things off, let’s take a look at the medical field, that has unlocked numerous opportunities thanks to VR solutions.

• Medical VR

The healthcare industry is an area that has found many uses for VR, hence the term “medical virtual reality”, that has become quite popular among specialists over the last few years. In this regard, both medical staff and patients have been enjoying the perks that medical VR has to offer, so let’s analyse the advantages from each perspective.

As far as the benefits that physicians have been indulging in go, medical training has received quite an upgrade; students and doctors alike, can now perform virtual procedures and surgeries, and thus elevate their skills, without any risks. They can also view an operation that is being performed by an experienced medical professional, just as if they were holding the scalpel. This way, students from all over the world can take advantage of an enhanced learning experience.

And that’s not all, the experience surrounding medical conferences has also been enhanced; in this sense, with the help of VR-powered equipment, those who attend healthcare conferences will better visualize presentations, and even be able to interact with whatever is taking place on stage.

Moving on to the patients’ perspective, and their experience regarding medical virtual reality solutions, those who undergo treatments or procedures can feel less pain, and have an overall more pleasant visit to the doctors’ office, all with the help of VR headsets. The latter is used to help patients relax, while they view soothing landscapes, that contribute to the creation of a calming experience for those in need.

What’s more, VR can also be used in the recovery of patients who have suffered traumatic injuries or even strokes. The latter are able to take advantage of the gamification of physical therapy and recover faster, as VR-powered equipment allows them to engage in exciting and superior training exercises.   

• Virtual reality in education   

Another industry that VR has taken by storm is education. In this context, virtual reality could completely change the way we learn and teach, and ultimately, improve the quality of education. By means of VR solutions, classrooms can turn into educational virtual environments, where students can enjoy immersive experiences. This means that learners can understand and assimilate information more easily, as visual learning has proven to have more positive outcomes, than traditional teaching methods.

Such virtual environments also assist students in developing their imagination and creativity, and even help them memorize information more efficiently, given the emotional reactions that such an advanced approach to teaching provides.

Furthermore, teachers are able to take students on virtual fieldtrips, that besides being an affordable alternative to the traditional ways, can represent truly memorable educational experiences. By making use of virtual reality, learners can explore museums, art galleries, important landmarks, and even places that otherwise cannot be visited in person.

And VR helps with distance learning too; by means of virtual reality headsets, educators and learners can come together in the same virtual classroom, so that students can benefit from superior supervision and guidance.

• VR in tourism

We have already seen how virtual reality can transport one anywhere they wish to go, and the tourism industry takes advantage of this feature as well. Instead of a boring description or brochures, travel agencies are turning to VR solutions to allow their clients to catch a glimpse of their potential destination. Not only does this enable service providers in tourism to offer clients an enhanced customer experience, but it also helps the latter in choosing a holiday destination more easily.

And the use of VR in tourism does not stop here; besides getting a sneak peek of the destination and even hotels that travellers will be staying in, the latter can also enjoy a cutting-edge booking process. This option is being explored by companies that wish to offer their customers a state-of-the-art booking experience, that is expected to attract clients.

Conclusion

The use of virtual reality is no longer limited to the gaming sphere, as other important industries are integrating the technology more and more and seeing great results. Healthcare, education, and tourism are just some of the fields that are turning to VR solutions in order to keep up with the needs and expectations of patients, learners, and travellers; and the positive outcomes are only encouraging them to keep exploring the applications of VR.

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