The pandemic has made the simple task of going outside difficult and risky. The threat of the virus prompted the temporary closure of many establishments. Many people who are forced to stay indoors to wait for everything to return to normal now feel bored and tired. During these trying times, you have to ask yourself: How can I make the most out of my time? Is there still a way to do the things I love doing without exposing myself to danger and health risks?
The answer to that lies in Virtual Reality (VR). Learn some of the smart uses of Virtual Reality (VR) during COVID-19 pandemic.
Gaming
The gaming industry has been utilizing virtual reality to a vast degree. Some even say that virtual reality is the future of gaming. A lot of games have been produced and released centered around virtual reality. These games appeal to different kinds of people looking for equally different gaming experiences. They occupy a vast array of genres and themes. Some will allow you to participate in a war zone and fight with your comrades.
Others will place you in a world where you are free to build anything within your imagination. Another game puts you inside a terrifying house filled with monsters you need to avoid. And some put you in a simulation and have you do basic chores such as house cleaning, cooking, blow away leaves on your porch, even vacuuming the floor.
Virtual reality can make even the most mundane tasks look interesting and fun. The program continuously entertains you by employing visual and auditory stimuli such as giving the player points every time they complete a chore. It is worth noting that these games provide a sort of practice for basic chores but does not get you ready for more laborious tasks. It’s best to get an expert when you want your roof cleaned or want to have snow removed from your house.
Apart from gaming, VR is also coming high in movies. Virtual Production (VP) in movies has started already. You can consider VP as an extension of VR technology. We have already experienced this in Avatar, The Jungle Book (2016) and The Lion King (2019).
Simulations
Consider the following scenario: You are sitting in a chair with a table in front of you. On that table is a bomb with a timer set to trigger an explosion within five minutes. It’s a terrifying situation that no one would possibly want to be in. But if ever you’re feeling adventurous, virtual reality can make it possible for you to be in a multitude of different scenarios. Virtual reality can be utilized to place you in an environment created to allow people to experience situations that are currently not possible due to the pandemic.
You can also learn or improve certain skills. Some programs put you behind the wheel of a car and drive for those who want to learn how to drive. You are taught the basics of how to drive and then set you off to the road.
Boxing can also be learned through virtual reality. Some programs put you inside the boxing ring and simulate what it’s like in a match. You will learn how to throw a punch and where to aim it. You will also understand how a punch affects your opponent depending on where it lands. Other programs will put you in situations that would be improbable to happen to you in real life. These would include flying a fighter jet, steering a ship, firefighting, and even going into outer space.
There is a myriad of other possible circumstances that virtual reality can replicate. The capabilities are also seemingly limitless.
Social Interactions
Throughout the pandemic, one of the things most people miss doing is meeting up with friends. Even today, it is risky to go out and have brunch with friends due to the risk of the virus. However, virtual reality can make it possible for you to talk and interact with your friends as if they were standing in front of you. A program exists that allows you to create a virtual avatar and enter a virtual world filled with other people. You can talk and interact with your friends or even strangers within the same world.
The need to go outside for social interaction can be replaced and instead be done through virtual means. It eliminates the risk of contracting the virus while also providing you with a way to socialize.
Virtual reality can help to provide you with an entertaining experience quite far from the ordinary. But the possible uses for it are not limited to only during the pandemic. Its implications with different industries can shape the future and how we will see the world years from now. Currently, virtual reality can perform tasks that were once thought to be too complicated for a virtual setting. Even simple tasks that you do every day may one day be replaced and done virtually.