Six Industries that Haven’t Adopted VR But Should

Virtual Reality (VR) was the biggest tech trend in 2015. Everyone wanted to know what it was about and how it would change the world. Fast forward to 2021 and very few industries have adopted the technology yet.

What is Virtual Reality?

Virtual Reality is a video viewing experience that makes you feel like you’re in a different place. Once you put on your VR headsets, you can take a trip to the peak of Mt. Everest, fight with gladiators in ancient Rome or fight alongside Batman in VR movies.

So, why doesn’t everyone own VR headsets? VR is a misunderstood technology. It’s the equivalent of the Internet in the early 1990s. Most people couldn’t understand it until they used it.

Fortunately, accessing the Internet requires a mobile device or cheap laptop. With VR, you need special equipment, a dedicated VR computer, and a movie, game, or video that supports the technology. In other words, VR is not yet affordable and accessible for everyone.

However, these industries can help us get there:

#1: The US Online Casino Industry

Video games like Moss, Firewall Zero Hour, and Tetris Effect support VR. So, hasn’t the US online casino industry supported the technology? To be fair, the iGaming industry is relatively new.

The Bush administration banned online casinos in 2006. However, the Department of Justice brought them back in 2011, with New Jersey legalizing the first online casino in 2013. Pennsylvania, Delaware, and West Virginia also permit online slots and poker.

But for some reason, casinos in these states are not investing in VR technology. VR can deliver immersive experiences to slot, poker, and blackjack players. Of course, casinos must work with software developers to make VR a possibility.

Developers like NetEnt and Microgaming are already doing their bit by creating VR slots:

• Starburst VR
• Thunderstruck II VR
• Jack and the Beanstalk VR
• Gonzo’s Quest VR

But players believe more needs to be done before everyone can access VR. Some of the recommended sites offer Gonzo’s Quest, Starburst and Thunderstruck II although not through VR.

#2: E-Commerce

Amazon Prime supports a handful of movies on VR. But the eCommerce giant that lifted founder Jeff Bezos to stardom is yet to provide VR support to shoppers. Amazon isn’t alone. Most shopping sites have no signs of adding VR to their marketing experiences.

Yet, VR virtual stores can transform how we shop for good. Imagine if you could try products before purchasing them online: viewing shoes in 3D, comparing them, and trying them out. No one would ever step into a physical store again.

Of course, many people buy at a retail store because of their in-person experiences. You can speak to a staff member, walk around the store and even participate in giveaway events. But all these features could become a reality thanks to VR. 

#3: Healthcare

The healthcare industry has been embracing science and technology since the dawn of time. In turn, scientists have helped eliminate certain diseases or make diseases that could once kill you within hours, treatable.

VR could help advance the health industry immeasurably. And it’s time medical facilities invested in it a lot more. For starters, it can improve medical training illuminating all body parts in 3D.

That means students don’t really need to look at pictures to learn about the digestive system. And they don’t necessarily have to dissect dead bodies. They could learn about the human body through VR.

Another way technology could improve medicine is via treatment. Imagine if you could watch a VR body of how doctors plan to treat you. Most people would understand their bodies better and improve their satisfaction rates with healthcare providers.

Additional ways VR can improve healthcare include robotic surgeries, mental health, and pain management. Robots increase accuracy, which leads to more successful surgeries. On the flip side, virtual reality can help patients challenge their fears, say walking in surrounding areas, without even leaving their homes.

#4: Marketing

Marketing is yet another industry that needs to adopt VR. Picture this. You have a sophisticated product you want to sell. No one seems to understand it when you explain. Not even pictures work.

But if you could let your customers experience it, they probably would buy. VR can help you demonstrate how your products work. It can also show them the final results and their benefits. 

In other words, VR can perform a better marketing job than traditional advertising channels. Marketers simply need to give it a chance. There are limitless ways you could market through VR, from providing virtual test drives to helping people decorate virtual walls.

#5: Real Estate and Construction

When it comes to selling houses, showing is better than telling. No one wants to hear about a home’s beautiful interior and bathrooms. They would rather see these bathrooms in person. In this busy world, though, most people don’t have the time to visit multiple houses.

And that’s where VR can come in handy. Virtual reality could help real estate agents showcase homes to people without ever meeting in person. The beauty of VR virtual tours is that help buyers feel like they’re inside the houses they plan to buy. In doing so, they can make more informed buying decisions.

#6: Education and Sports

When you think about it, students understand concepts better if they are interesting. No one learns anything in algebra if the teacher is boring. So, what if schools could utilize VR to teach students different subjects?

Sure, it’s an expensive investment. But if it could improve learning and increase the number of graduates per year, it would be worth it. On the flip side, sport is missing a lot by not involving VR in the industry.

It’s true, franchises could record fewer people at the stadiums if they provide in-game experiences through VR. But it’s not necessarily true. Some people love to watch sports at the stadiums. But those who can’t make it could pay top dollar to watch the games through VR.