Virtual Reality Solutions Blogs - Virtual Reality | [x]cube LABS https://www.xcubelabs.com/virtual-reality/ Mobile App Development & Consulting Thu, 21 Mar 2024 10:26:23 +0000 en-US hourly 1 The Impact of Virtual Reality on the Retail Industry https://www.xcubelabs.com/blog/the-impact-of-virtual-reality-on-the-retail-industry/ Fri, 19 Aug 2022 10:40:40 +0000 http://www.xcubelabs.com/?p=21419 Simulation of real-world objects applied to the retail industry is making a significant impact. The ever-growing online retail sector is now overtaking traditional retail markets. This is true for any type of product or service, and there is an urgent need to understand the growing importance of VR in the retail industry. Virtual reality can […]

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Simulation of real-world objects applied to the retail industry is making a significant impact. The ever-growing online retail sector is now overtaking traditional retail markets. This is true for any type of product or service, and there is an urgent need to understand the growing importance of VR in the retail industry. Virtual reality can be extensively extended to several retail markets, such as home products, consumer electronics, clothing, food, beverages, etc., making the buying experience very realistic. The touch-and-feel aspect of real-time buying can be simulated using 3D virtual reality so much that the consumer often forgets that he is not in physical contact with the object/ service he wishes to purchase.

Earlier virtual reality simulations were confined to two-dimensional images and drawings, failing to completely push the consumer to experience a real-time purchasing scenario. With the advent and nurturing of 3D virtual reality, hepatic technology, and more, the retail industry can provide realistic experiences of its products and services.

Virtual reality can again be categorized as hardware VR, software type, and service type virtual reality.

According to Valuates Reports, investments in virtual reality in the retail industry will grow to USD 5455 million in 2028 from USD 2007 million in 2021. These predictions and forecasts are based on the fundamental fact that consumers can visualize and access any product or brand they wish to purchase from any remote corner of the world through virtual stores. This is also based on the fact that the virtual reality retail market has no boundaries or constraints imposed on products and services by either space or time.

In retail industries like the apparel industry, cosmetic industry, interior and space designing, etc., virtual reality allows the consumer or prospective buyer to customize the product how they wish. For example, they can use their photograph and see themselves in various costumes that the store has on display, try several hair color shades and check without actually dying their hair, go and arrange interiors the way they wish to in prospective homes, etc.

Let’s take a look at a few case studies:

BMW:- 

In 2018, BMW made an innovative decision to launch its X2 line of cars at the CES 2018, which was conducted in Los Angeles via virtual reality. They wanted the user to feel and experience the car interiors and have a behind-the-wheel experience completely through virtual reality. It was noticed that after the virtual reality test drive, customers dipped their heads while getting out of the car to avoid bumping into the vehicle’s roofline. And this was without the use of ‘haptics’ in their virtual reality tour!

Volkswagen:

Volkswagen also made investments in 2018 in virtual reality. By that time, it trained 1000 people through virtual reality. It used HTC Vive customized virtual reality tools. It has utilized tools like LoopMotion to track the customer’s hand movements while driving. 

Audi:

Audi also incorporated many enhancements compared to BMW and Volkswagen. It used a simulated LeMans race pitstop. This is a ‘hepatic’ technology (based on giving the user a tangible experience of real-time situations). This technology uses mechanical sensors and other vibration and sound sensors to capture user feedback and experience.

How retail stores are adopting VR:

eBay:

In collaboration with Myers, eBay experimented with launching a virtual store that was compatible with Android mobiles and devices. Their main focus was on the in-house shopping experience and was not on brand enhancement. Here, the user was given a choice to shop based on his/her interests by choosing the categories, and the software tracked interests so that only the interesting categories could pop up for further usage.

IKEA:

Ikea now has an app that allows users to experience an immersive virtual tour and test furniture available in their stores in desirable spaces. This contributes significantly to buying decisions as consumers get a feel of how the furniture would look in their apartments even before buying them.

Conclusion:

There is immense potential for the futuristic usage of immersive virtual reality with developed telepresence and enhanced usability in the retail industry. The next generation of online shopping will rely quite heavily on virtual reality. Market research, virtual reality training, and grocery store modifications are a few retail domains where virtual reality technology will be necessary.

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The Applications of Virtual Reality in the Manufacturing Industry https://www.xcubelabs.com/blog/the-applications-of-virtual-reality-in-the-manufacturing-industry/ Fri, 29 Jul 2022 11:03:44 +0000 http://www.xcubelabs.com/?p=21279 What’s the first thought that crosses your mind when you think about VR in the manufacturing industry? Since manufacturing is arguably the most physically intensive business and virtual reality is virtual, it sure sounds ridiculous.  However, on a serious note, there are numerous virtual reality applications in the manufacturing sector. From the looks of it, […]

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VR in manufacturing

What’s the first thought that crosses your mind when you think about VR in the manufacturing industry? Since manufacturing is arguably the most physically intensive business and virtual reality is virtual, it sure sounds ridiculous. 

However, on a serious note, there are numerous virtual reality applications in the manufacturing sector. From the looks of it, it is only a matter of a few years before the manufacturing industry can function without the aid of VR.

In any case, implementing virtual reality applications has numerous advantages for the manufacturing sector. Typically, manufacturing facilities are enormous, intricate assemblages of diverse machinery that never stop. Even a small delay of one second can significantly impact the continuous flows and activities.

Testing, training, and maintenance are difficult to arrange under these circumstances since they frequently involve risks to the workers’ safety and disruptions of the manufacturing process. Much of the machinery used in production is hazardous and requires specialized training.

Here is where virtual reality truly shines. Manufacturing organizations can streamline their processes by transferring risky and challenging procedures to VR, which might even help them cut costs.

In this article, we will review virtual reality’s applications in the manufacturing industry.

VR in manufacturing

Uses of Virtual Reality in the Manufacturing Industry 

Floor Planning

Although floor planning is used throughout a wide range of sectors, not just manufacturing, it could be trickier and more challenging in this case. Planning the area for assembly lines or production workshops necessitates considering various elements, including equipment size, connections between components, safety distances, power outlets, supply line inputs, and many others.

Virtual reality makes it considerably simpler to plan the production floors. The makers may check that everything is appropriately positioned and wired by building virtual recreations of the actual locations and placing the equipment models.

Using virtual reality, they can check whether all equipment is easily accessible, all safety distances are maintained, and the production sequence is constructed in the proper order. Before physically shifting the equipment, businesses can optimize their floor space using virtual reality in manufacturing.

Hence, virtual reality can assist in lowering labor expenses and reducing worker or equipment harm.

Engineering and Design

The prototyping step is usually part of the design process in manufacturing. The new product prototype is ready to be examined, tried, and tested before being determined to be ready for production or in need of adjustment.

If the product is complicated machinery, the prototype could be quite expensive to create. Additionally, the cost of the prototype can increase if it needs more refinement. Shifting the prototype to virtual reality can offer immense benefits. The overall expenses can be less than creating a line of physical prototypes, even after accounting for the cost of developing the virtual reality app.

Safe Training

A fantastic way to use virtual reality in manufacturing is for training. Many businesses use VR training, but the industrial sector gains the most from this technology. There are strict rules regarding the learners’ safety when training for an extremely dangerous career.

Such training is frequently challenging to plan because, for starters, the students lack practical knowledge, which increases their risk of harm. On the other hand, using simulators offers few options and ultimately cannot accurately simulate the nature of the job.

In this instance, virtual reality exhibits its exceptional capacity to immerse the trainees in a realistic setting while eliminating the chance of injury.

Maintenance and Inspection

If we consider industrial equipment inspection, we must acknowledge that virtual reality can effectively erase time and space. Machines are becoming too complicated today for typical production workers to inspect.

Companies frequently need to invite experts from the facility that produced the equipment for any normal or emergency examination. Such inspection visits are typically expensive and require meticulous forethought and timing.

Since inspectors’ schedules are sometimes occupied for weeks, it could be challenging to schedule an appointment when a machine unexpectedly breaks down. Additionally, the inviting party frequently pays for airfare and lodging.

The factory can avoid sending the inspector to the machine using virtual reality. Instead, it can quickly deliver the machine to the inspector. The manufacturer can inspect the equipment remotely without calling an expert by making a VR video of the apparatus.

When travel time and costs are not factored into the calculation, inspections and remote maintenance can be completed in virtual reality far more quickly and with fewer interruptions to the production cycle.

VR in manufacturing

Business Events or Exhibitions

Heavy machinery manufacturers who present their products at trade shows and exhibits typically struggle to set up shop at the venue. The job is intricate and multifaceted. The maker must consider the machine’s shipping, connection, and use at the exposition.

A machine may require a large amount of space and weigh several tonnes, which results in additional expenses for renting the display area and loading and unloading. Where to get the object to show is another issue that equipment manufacturers may find problematic. Heavy equipment is typically produced in response to requests and is not idle.

Virtual reality can resolve all of these issues. Create a VR app that showcases your equipment, and you can downsize your exhibition space to a standard stand or booth. In virtual reality, you may display machinery and equipment of any size and complexity. Additionally, you may demonstrate the technology in action by inviting exhibition visitors to your VR room without endangering the guests.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, there are various ways that virtual reality is used in manufacturing, all of which have advantages. VR can be used as an extra test platform, a workshop, a conference room, or an exhibition stand because of its adaptability and virtually limitless options for constructing virtual places. Thanks to virtual reality, manufacturing could be safer, quicker, more precise, efficient, and less expensive.

Today, the manufacturing sector is embracing virtual reality in various ways. We think that industrial businesses can gain a significant competitive edge and improve the safety and productivity of their everyday operations by using VR-based apps.

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Future of VR in ‘Virtualized’ Workplaces https://www.xcubelabs.com/blog/future-of-vr-in-virtualized-workplaces/ Tue, 15 Mar 2022 13:49:21 +0000 http://www.xcubelabs.com/?p=20841 Table of contents Introduction Four ways in which VR has the potential to impact the workplace: Examples of Future in VR Conclusion Introduction For many, virtual reality (VR) likely summons images of game-obsessed teenagers wearing goggles and admiring the feeling of riding a rollercoaster or gliding through space from the comfort of their couch. However, […]

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Table of contents

Introduction

For many, virtual reality (VR) likely summons images of game-obsessed teenagers wearing goggles and admiring the feeling of riding a rollercoaster or gliding through space from the comfort of their couch. However, the most potent future virtual reality applications will go beyond pure entertainment, drastically changing how people think about their work and workplace.

It started with Zoom/Oculus, then came Webex, and then Microsoft began their Microsoft Mesh, and now; Slack. Four giants collaborated to join the Metaverse, a newly-coined phrase used to represent the concept of a forthcoming variant of the internet.

Facebook changed the direction of the virtual reality industry in 2014 through a $2 billion acquisition deal with Oculus VR. Before this deal, the notion was that virtual reality would only fit in the world of video games. The value showed Facebook’s confidence in the technology and established that the future of VR is promising: Within two years, the total amount invested and the number of venture capital contracts tripled. While the widespread adoption of virtual reality is still distant, many companies have already incorporated the technology into their business practices to create innovative, sustainable workplaces.

According to a report by PWC, Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) can strengthen the global economy by nearly $2 trillion by 2030. These technologies will soon be familiar in the workplace.

Even with the onset of remote work due to the pandemic, the workplace has transformed as new technologies have pervaded work. One of the technologies that stood out was X-Reality.

Extended Reality (X-Reality) defines the merge of digital technologies with the real world.

The “X” in X-Reality consists of four technologies:

Augmented, Virtual, Mixed and Assisted Reality.

VR in X-Reality helps make a user’s interaction with the digital world more intuitive and seamless. The new human-technology interaction can add value for companies while gaining a competitive advantage. We can use VR for work meetings, training, and customer service experience in the workplace.

A report by PWC predicts that by 2030, nearly 23 million jobs will use AR and VR. According to ARtillery Intelligence, VR usage in businesses is expected to grow to $4.26 billion by 2023.

In 2021, Facebook’s VR headset brand Horizon, an Oculus for business platform, was released. This platform will assist workers in interacting digitally in a more immersive form without the need to go to any location, thus supporting the hybrid work model. Facebook Horizon will let its users share and build collaborative online worlds to work on projects, hang out, or play games.

Increased Connection and Collaboration Virtual reality allows individuals to unite regardless of physical distance. However, VR users can feel like they are inhibiting the same space, which results in good collaboration. VR provides a medium for users to view and manipulate data together in real-time. While some companies prefer installing mixed-reality rooms to execute VR meetings and collaborative work sessions, others distribute VR headsets that can be used in the office or remotely. This technology is readily available and intuitive, helping people collaborate and connect.

Four ways in which VR has the potential to impact the workplace:

  • New HR Practices

Human resources will transform drastically with the effortless global connectivity that VR provides. Corporates can use VR in a variety of interactive HR workshops. With access to workers worldwide, hiring techniques will grow to recruit top talent. As part of the interview process, forthcoming employees will have the opportunity to virtually shadow their potential standing to understand the day-to-day responsibilities better.

  • Upgraded Training Methods 

Putting individuals into a fully immersive real-life scenario forms the perfect training tool. VR training is beneficial in high-risk situations, allowing employees to gain experience safely. The armed forces and NASA use VR training to minimize risk and costs. Walmart has also taken advantage of the technology, using simulations to train employees for the Black Friday rush. Regardless of the industry, VR offers an engaging, educational experience.

  • More Efficient Product Development

Within a computer-generated environment, product development will evolve more efficiently than ever. Organizations can use Virtual reality to test products in different scenarios, eliminating the necessity for expensive physical prototypes. Modifications can be made virtually and immediately during trials, allowing the final product to be refined faster. From spacecraft to cars, large-scale manufacturers are already using VR to test everything:

Ford uses the Oculus Rift, a popular VR headset, to create and refine virtual prototypes generally used for gaming.

  • Creative Marketing Practices 

Virtual reality will redefine the old-fashioned test drive. From cars to vacations, VR allows customers to test every product and experience before purchasing. When customers are keen to make a purchase, they can do it virtually. VR’s immersive experience is impactful, creating a personal connection between consumers and brands and influencing purchasing decisions.

For most, virtual reality (VR) is an alien concept, a technology perhaps limited to gaming. However, the industry is about to grow from $27.9 billion in 2025, and due to the pandemic, there is a rise in VR products and services.

Could VR move from a futuristic concept to reality for remote employees? Yes, it will, as Experts anticipate that nearly 23.5 million jobs worldwide will be utilizing augmented or virtual reality by 2030.

Facebook disclosed its plans to invest over ten billion in funds to help create significant progress toward an unexplored (iteration) of the internet.

It will consist of constantly shared, 3D virtual spaces connected into a (perceived) virtual universe-like (metaverse) technological improvements that could soon remove worker hurdles. It will also unfold many benefits related to training learning that boosts safety awareness, employee engagement, and mitigating expenses related to workplace training.

Examples of Future in VR

  • Check out Zukerburg’s vision for the Metaverse.

With Metaverse, future employees will likely have more immersive work experiences for remote workers. Companies should adopt VR technologies that help in viable future-leaning workplace collaboration. The existing Metaverse is finite, but it looks like it will transform the internet. Facebook has invested a massive amount of funds into the future of the internet space, where you can interact with coworkers, collaborate, and co-create.

  • Zoom-Oculus Workplace AR/VR

Zoom and Oculus, a Facebook/Meta company, joined Zoomtopia in 2021. The duo squad revealed the launch of the new app, which expands virtual collaboration by incorporating VR users and video chat participants, leading to a collaboration market.

The duo aims to let users access Zoom meetings and Zoom whiteboards within virtual workroom environments, leveraging Horizon Workrooms, available on Facebook’s Oculus Quest headset. It is set for availability in early 2022.

  • Webex Hologram 

Comprehending the power of augmented reality (AR), Cisco wants to bridge the gap between virtual and in-person collaboration. Cisco showed the world its new forward-thinking AR/VR tech application, the Webex Hologram.

The platform integrates the rich features of Webex meetings and calling with the functionality of immersive 3D holograms.

It plans to tackle the problem with its photorealistic, real-time, holographic experience for any method that includes remote or many remote employees. Taking a cue from its research, which suggests in Cisco’s Hybrid Work Index – 64% of employees said that they would resign their job if they did not have the option to work remotely.

Conclusion

With technological origins in the early 20th century, Virtual reality is not new, yet its applications are still in infancy. We are only at the surface of virtual reality, and its most significant applications have likely not been developed yet. While 64% have stated that there is a sort of technological contest between AR and VR, implying only one will emerge as dominant, it appears probably that both will play roles in navigating the future of enterprise and entertainment.

Historically, virtual reality has always wedded entertainment with practical use. Today’s virtual reality applications and future ones will continue to lead the trend. The gaming industry will undoubtedly profit from the advancement of VR. Still, it will come as a bit of a surprise to see virtual reality play a game-changing role in how businesses – and industries – work.

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5 applications of AR/VR we can see in the retail sector in 2022 and beyond https://www.xcubelabs.com/blog/5-applications-of-ar-vr-we-can-see-in-the-retail-sector-in-2022-and-beyond/ Thu, 18 Nov 2021 07:02:25 +0000 http://www.xcubelabs.com/?p=20549 The retail industry is subjected to continuous innovations and changing trends that require the latest technologies to back up these innovations and to also keep up with the ever-rising competition and consumer demand. Customer experience is key here, in the retail industry and it has to constantly evolve in order to enhance and make the […]

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Virtual try-before-you-buy

The retail industry is subjected to continuous innovations and changing trends that require the latest technologies to back up these innovations and to also keep up with the ever-rising competition and consumer demand. Customer experience is key here, in the retail industry and it has to constantly evolve in order to enhance and make the experience richer every day. With everything from groceries, to fashion to home decor products, now being available and sold online via the internet, the opportunities to experiment and bring in newer technologies has been on the rise. Like many other technologies, AR/VR is helping revolutionize the retail sector. According to Businesswire, the application of VR and AR in the retail market is projected to reach US$ 17864.86 million by 2028 from US$ 3790.94 million in 2021 at a CAGR of 24.8% for the forecasted period. Popular brands such as Loreal, Ikea, Burberry are already creating headlines and offering delightful experiences to their customers with the adoption of these technologies. The idea of exploring a store from anywhere in the world is definitely amusing to most out there, isn’t it? Also, with uncertain situations such as the Covid-19 pandemic, digital shopping has been on an all-time rise and thus the demand for AR/VR. Here are some AR/VR trends in retail to look forward to in 2022 and beyond. 

Virtual try-before-you-buy

Even though this trend has been around for a while now, and has gained much-needed attention, it is still quite sparingly adopted(majorly by big established brands only) and needs a further push. Virtual shopping has taken the online shopping experience to a whole new level. This allows you to have an entire look at the collection and the store virtually, eliminating the need to do it physically. Convenience and eliminating the hassle of shopping are the key advantages of VR shopping. The big advantage for the furniture industry is allowing customers to be able to create an entire room or space according to their wish, and also be able to actually see how each item of furniture looks. Furniture giants like Ikea are already doing so, emphasizing the need for others to join in and get further more creative with it. Even among the makeup/cosmetic brands, only a few companies have adopted AR/VR by giving customers the option to choose the shade of lipstick majorly, and thus more innovation with other products can be something to look forward to. It will be interesting to see how different sectors in retail adopt these technologies to make the shopping experience furthermore delightful. 

Enhancing in-store experience

In-store- AR mirrors/Smart mirrors help customers try on clothes virtually which leads to saving time and effort of trying them on and also makes it an experience to remember. This feature also helped deal with pandemic-related issues such as social distancing and stepping out of home unless essential, and thus can be helpful if any such uncertain situation ever arises in the future as well. Having unique features around the store and innovations that bring comfort to customers can also catch their attention. For example, Hyundai came up with an AR-based user manual. This eliminated the need to go through the boring, thick user guide and turned it interesting with this advanced AR version of it.  According to Grand View Research, the virtual fitting room market size is expected to grow up to USD 15.43 billion by 2028 at a CAGR of 25.2% (2021-2028).

AR/Smart Mirror

AR-Enabled Smart Navigation

Often happens that in physical stores, it takes us quite long to search for the desired product if the store is huge in terms of square feet, or other possible reasons. This AR-powered mobile app helps us navigate through the store to our desired location/product. It also gives a complete map of the store. This also reduces the need for human intervention in terms of people working at the store to just guide customers to the whereabouts of the products. The same app also helps display details of each product that is i.e. product information which is very useful for customers. 

Product information through AR-powered app

Enhancing marketing capabilities

What better than being able to give potential customers the feel of the product with a virtual experience? Exciting and delightful experiences shape the way for better brand recognition, word of mouth, and eventually sales. Customer engagement is the main driver for sales and customer satisfaction. Sephora is known for its amazing AR/VR solutions and innovation and has gained the kind of brand name it has due to it. Filters are a new way of promoting branded content. Instagram’s new feature allows companies to promote brand logos and events with AR filters. This is a way to keep millennials and other social media users to get their attention towards the brand. One plus also provided an innovative unboxing feature to their users to get an actual feel of the product. Pepsi, for their famous “Live for now” campaign had used AR technology at the London bus stops along with digital signage that almost brought the experience to life for the people passing by. Thus, possibilities with experimenting with AR/VR solutions are endless and have immense potential to enhance one’s marketing strategy online and offline. 

Product Customizations

AR solutions allow customers to view products from all angles, change layouts, size and color modifications, and more to be able to figure out their best choice and ask the retailer to customize the product for them accordingly. Customers nowadays love the personalized feel of the product and wish to have their own touch to designs whether it be furniture or shoes or more. This feature allows for no wastage of products as they can be designed once for all post the requirements of the customer and need not be made in a variety of colors and sizes to try and suit the choice of everyone. Nike’s famous experience at the “Nike by you studio”, used AR to the best capacity and allowed you to create a shoe of your choice that would be ready within an hour. 

Conclusion

Brands are benefitting from the adoption of AR/VR solutions and one example can be the 400% increase in inbound interest for companies such as Tommy Hilfiger and Charlotte Tilbury post implementing VR shopping solutions (Vogue). The apparel brand GAP has created its own app called the Dressingroom that allows you to try clothes through a virtual mirror. Luxury brands like Gucci to affordable furniture giants like IKEA are all immersed in AR/VR solutions now! AR/VR solutions are bringing in brand name, loyalty, and recognition and thus make it an integral part of brand strategy. Asian paints leveraged VR for enhanced learning and internal operations. This VR application provided interactive learning sessions for their sales representatives and also delivered learning to the dealers involved in the distribution chain of Asian Paints. With advanced and exciting technologies such as AR and VR, newer innovations are always on the rise and push the boundaries of what’s possible in the retail sector.

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Facebook’s Transition to Meta: Metaverse, Controversies, and the Future https://www.xcubelabs.com/blog/facebooks-transition-to-meta-metaverse-controversies-and-the-future/ Tue, 09 Nov 2021 09:25:13 +0000 http://www.xcubelabs.com/?p=20543 Table of contents Metaverse- what is it? When did Facebook’s ambition to become a metaverse company start? What is the possible reason behind this major shift from the earlier core vision? Introducing Meta- the new social technology company What are the implications of this rebranding? Will others follow the trend? Trouble for Facebook, again? Meta […]

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Facebook Transistion

Table of contents

June 2021, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg revealed his new ambitious initiative to his employees. He disclosed how the future of the company would go a lot beyond connected social applications and supporting hardware. The future of the company would be defined by an all-out, interconnected set of experiences that look like they’re coming straight out of a sci-fi movie- something known as the metaverse. Fast forward three months later, On October 28th, Facebook changed its corporate branding to Meta. In this article, we’ll take a look at the timeline of all the events leading up to this major rebranding event and what it could mean for the future of the company and its users.

Metaverse- what is it?

The term metaverse was coined in Snow Crash, a 1992 sci-fi novel by Neal Stephenson. The term was used to refer to a shared online space formed by the convergence of physical, virtual, and augmented reality. A lot of companies and products have already used metaverse-like elements. Fortnite and Roblox, for example.

Roblox metaverse

Last year, venture capitalist Matthew Ball wrote an article on what is metaverse, where to find it, and who will build it. If we summarize the key takeaways from his article, the core aspects of metaverse will boil down to spanning the physical and virtual worlds, containing a full-fledged economy, and interoperability. It will not be run by any single company but will be operated by many of them in a decentralized arrangement.

When did Facebook’s ambition to become a metaverse company start?

Facebook marked its first presence in the VR space in 2019 when it launched Facebook Horizon, an immersive environment that people can experience using the Oculus headset.

Facebook’s large investments in virtual reality hardware and products are widely known, so are the short-lived failures that followed in that space. Despite that, Zuckerberg announced in July this year that Facebook intends to bet it all on metaverse. In August, Facebook made headlines for showcasing and promoting a VR app that lets people take meetings in virtual reality.

In September, Facebook also announced a $50 million fund for research in building metaverse products responsibly. This was followed by the announcement of a $10 million creator fund for their developers in their Horizon Worlds platform. Eventually, in October, Mark Zuckerberg announced the change of Facebook’s name at the company’s Connect event, which is focused on AR/VR, and shared that the new title, Meta, does more justice to the company’s core ambition which is to build the metaverse.

“I wanted to discuss this now so that you can see the future that we’re working towards and how our major initiatives across the company are going to map to that,” Zuckerberg said at the event. “What is the metaverse? It’s a virtual environment where you can be present with people in digital spaces. You can kind of think of this as an embodied internet that you’re inside of rather than just looking at.”

What is the possible reason behind this major shift from the earlier core vision?

It may come as a surprise to a lot of you but Facebook was, in fact, quite late in leveraging the mobile apps revolution. What we had back then were painful HTML5 experiences that were nowhere close to native apps that were fast becoming mainstream. It was not until 2012 when Zuckerberg realized that apps will define the future. Needless to say, he left no stone unturned in creating seamless mobile experiences for users. And since then, the company hasn’t overlooked any potential emerging technology to avoid repeating the same mistake again. This is evident from Facebook’s acquisition of Oculus in 2014 which marked their entry into the VR market. Becoming a metaverse company can be seen as an evolution of their venture into the virtual reality space.

Another reason, for this major rebranding, could be to distance themselves from the growing negative branding which Facebook has been through over the years. Despite the increasing business, Facebook has been in the limelight for all the wrong reasons, too. From the 2016 Russian elections disinformation and privacy lapse incidents such as the Cambridge Analytica scandal to the very recent revelations from a whistleblower who was a part of Facebook’s civic integrity team,  Facebook is one of the most infamous tech companies when it comes to being under greater scrutiny  than any other tech company. So it’s only fair to draw a line before venturing into something new and trying to rebrand themselves.

Introducing Meta- the new social technology company

Meta- the new social technology company

Mark Zuckerberg introduced Meta at the Connect 2021 event on October 28th, 2021. Meta will be the parent company that brings together all the apps and products under one brand. Meta, as a company, will focus on bringing metaverse to life, and help people connect, find communities, and grow business.

Speaking about his vision for Meta, Mark Zuckerberg said, “The metaverse will feel like a hybrid of today’s online social experiences, sometimes expanded into three dimensions or projected into the physical world. It will let you share immersive experiences with other people even when you can’t be together — and do things together you couldn’t do in the physical world. It’s the next evolution in a long line of social technologies, and it’s ushering in a new chapter for our company.” You can read more about his vision for the company in Founder’s Letter, 2021.

What are the implications of this rebranding?

This isn’t the first time a tech giant has rebranded itself. Back in 2015, Google created a new parent company called Alphabet, as a part of their new corporate structure. Today,

Google is a subsidiary of its parent company Alphabet but colloquially, people still refer to the company or its products as “Google.” We shouldn’t be surprised if Facebook receives the same response. The only difference that we can expect is that metaverse would offer experiences that are way beyond connected social apps and therefore it may achieve a differentiating factor for itself when it comes to being recognized as a new brand in itself.

Will others follow the trend?

“Metaverse” has become a hot topic in the tech industry. According to a report by IG, Google searches for “metaverse stocks” have increased by a whopping 17900 percent ove the past one year! The rise comes from an existing market where companies, especially gaming companies, were already working around metaverse- Nvidia Corp and Unity, for example. The expansion is now set to go beyond gaming, and even social media, which we can say is the second most potential facet of tech for the adoption of the metaverse.

We are living in an age where the competition is cut-throat, whether direct or indirect. Especially when it comes to advancements in technology, no one, particularly the tech giants, wants to be categorized as laggards. To that end, Microsoft also recently launched “Mesh for Teams,” a metaverse-like product that allows people to create powerful 3D avatars of themselves for meetings where they don’t want to be on camera. We can expect more companies to follow the trend and explore more innovative use cases in the near future.

Microsoft's Mesh for Teams

Trouble for Facebook, again? Meta company sues Facebook for stealing its name

Chicago-based tech company, Meta

A Chicago-based tech company, Meta, recently filed against Facebook for trademark infringement. The company has alleged that Facebook has “stolen” their name. Nate Skulic, the founder of the company, said that Facebook lawyers have been “hounding” them to sell their name. When Facebook failed to buy them, it aimed to “bury” the company by media force, stated the company.

They couldn’t buy us, so they tried to bury us by force of media. We shouldn’t be surprised by these actions – from a company that continually says one thing and does another,” he said.

Facebook has not responded to the allegations  and what happens is yet to be seen.

What does the future for Meta look like?

Distancing the company’s upcoming core business from a product that is becoming widely infamous seems like a wise move but rebranding entirely might require a lot more effort than expected. The core brand needs to be realigned with a product that is nowhere close to being mainstream yet, or not as relevant right now, to say the least. This doesn’t mean that it does not have potential, it certainly does, but it may take years for it to achieve mainstream success. Facebook as a social media platform has close to 2.5 billion users but their metaverse products, right now, have only a few thousand users. It has become quite clear that users aren’t aggressively demanding early headsets even when certain gaming platforms are driving their growth. Facebook claimed that their Quest 2 headsets sold much better than their other devices but the uncertainty still remains- would people be willing to embrace a world full of Facebook headsets strapped on them to embrace the metaverse?

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How AR & VR Are Significant for the Education Sector in 2020 and Beyond https://www.xcubelabs.com/blog/how-ar-vr-are-significant-for-the-education-sector-in-2020-and-beyond/ Wed, 12 Aug 2020 13:57:18 +0000 http://www.xcubelabs.com/?p=18690 AR and VR in Education Today, companies worldwide are using augmented and virtual reality to provide better learning and training experience in schools, and industries, including healthcare, retail, real estate, and automotive. In the last few years, both technologies have significantly evolved to impact real-world applications. Reports by markets and markets propose that the augmented […]

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AR and VR in Education

Today, companies worldwide are using augmented and virtual reality to provide better learning and training experience in schools, and industries, including healthcare, retail, real estate, and automotive. In the last few years, both technologies have significantly evolved to impact real-world applications. Reports by markets and markets propose that the augmented and virtual reality in the education market is expected to grow from USD 9.3 billion in 2018 to USD 19.6 billion by 2023. The increasing need for offering personalized learning experience and the rising adoption of training solutions in the corporate landscape is expected to drive the market growth.

Schools and colleges are changing their traditional methods of teaching. Virtual and augmented reality will completely revolutionize the way teachers teach and students learn. Technology-enabled learning and smart boards have replaced conventional blackboards, chalks, and textbooks.

Augmented and Virtual Reality

Augmented Reality enhances the real world by adding virtual digital objects or contents in the real-world environment. Objects can be images, videos, or interactive data. AR can be experienced with portable devices such as mobile phones, smart glasses, etc.

Virtual Reality creates an immersive 3D experience, fully artificial environment, and makes the user feel that the virtual world is real. User experience artificial sounds and visuals as if they’re in a digital world. Virtual reality headsets are used to immerse users in the digital world.

How AR and VR will revolutionize the Education Sector?

Augmented and virtual reality is the reality of the future educational system. Technology is already a significant factor impacting the education sector with digital content, smart classrooms, and online assessments. Implementing new technologies such as AR and VR will empower students and teachers to explore and learn more effectively. AR VR in primary education especially can make a meaningful impact as it enhances learning fundamental skills in a fun and engaging way. It enables students to learn faster and provide a better learning experience. Higher education often categorizes sophisticated subjects; leveraging immersive technology here can bring complex topics to life. It can also fuel vocational training. The ability to experience training in the digital world and conduct simulations based on real-world phenomena without leaving the classroom is transforming the educational space. Here are some reasons why AR VR will transform the educational industry-

  • Increase engagement via interactivity
  • Boosts learning potential
  • Personalized learning experiences
  • Practical learning
  • Keep students engaged

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Use cases

Immersive technologies have the potential to transform the education industry. AR VR enhances the way we learn and teach, illustrating how and why of the lessons. Here are some of the use cases of AR and VR technology.

  1. Virtual field trips: Immersive applications can let students experience what one would have been experiencing the past and witness a historic moment using digital reality. VR headsets can be used for a field trip to museums, countries while sitting in the classroom or home. This will provide opportunities for students to experience historical events and contributes to a deeper understanding of the subjects.
  2. Medical education and training: Immersive technologies can be used in the lessons of chemistry, biology, physics, etc. Applications can show complicated processes such as the human brain and visualize the abstract notions in digital reality. It equips students to merge the theoretical and practical parts of lessons. Immersive realities can boost students’ interest in innovative solutions that are more captivating than just explanations by faculties. It also enables safe and effective medical simulations to teach trainee doctors and paramedics, reducing risk and increasing confidence.
  3. Classroom Education: AR VR in the classroom can turn ordinary sessions into interactive and engaging experiences. Immersive technology helps students better understand and remember information. For instance: the AR app can allow students to see dinosaurs in action and explore varieties of birds and animals in a real-world environment.
  4. Student Recruitment: Virtual tours enable students to explore the school or university campus in the world. These virtual tours are less expensive. VR experience increases student’s engagement and helps them to make their decisions about the university.

Conclusion

Augmented and virtual reality is redefining the teaching and learning process. AR VR will become more accessible as new head-mounted displays and applications emerge to provide an immersive experience on a large scale and with less expense. Immersive technology has the potential of being the most prominent breakthrough in the education industry.

To get most out of VR and AR experience, contact us for a comprehensive digital strategy for your school.

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Virtual Reality is Revolutionising Training Across Industries. Here’s How! https://www.xcubelabs.com/blog/virtual-reality-is-revolutionising-training-across-industries-heres-how/ Thu, 25 Jun 2020 10:15:28 +0000 http://www.xcubelabs.com/?p=18342 Table of Contents Introduction Context Current Scenario A VR-powered Future VR Training Across Verticals Conclusion Introduction What do you do in a world ravaged by a relentless virus which is pushing people away from each other, necessitating social distancing and bringing on the world’s biggest work from home experiment? You go digital! Yes, among the […]

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Table of Contents

Introduction

What do you do in a world ravaged by a relentless virus which is pushing people away from each other, necessitating social distancing and bringing on the world’s biggest work from home experiment? You go digital! Yes, among the few key things that the ongoing COVID-19 situation has taught us, the ways in which emerging technologies are going to be game changers for almost every industry, definitely stands out. Organizations worldwide, at various stages of digital adoption/transformation are scrambling to put their efforts on the fast lane and those businesses that were happily chugging along the traditional business tracks are now waking up to the fact that they need to evolve or perish. 

Context

We recently conducted a survey in which enterprises across US and North America participated. 81% reported a major hit on revenues, 75% had digital implementations in progress to be prepared for events such as these in future, and 63% believed investing in digital would be beneficial in the long run. Obviously, when it came to employee safety, remote working and social distancing were on everybody’s priority list. This brings us to the question at hand-how can organizations ensure their new employees as well as those who require upskilling, get quality training while adhering to safety norms at all times?

A resounding answer to this would be virtual reality-a technology that has been at the forefront of simulated training for a while now and under the present circumstances, finds itself elevated to almost the status of a savior in the fields of manufacturing and healthcare. Given time, workshops, facilities, refineries and others would open up, but in a world that’s more cautious and on-edge than ever. VR-based training modules could help companies create interactive, immersive simulations of real life complexities and hazards for employees and ensure they are equipped for every possible response while avoiding crowds and human contact.

Current Scenario:

Among notable names that are already using VR to onboard employees and improve their skills are Walmart, KFC, Boeing, UPS and many other F500 companies. With a stereoscopic 3D effect created by the headset, accompanied by stereo sound, the experience makes people feel like they are in the environment physically and with movement of the head and body, the world moves as well. Objects in real life that people would interact with are presented and can be used in the same way in an identical environment. With no risk of actual debacles, scenarios could be made more challenging than they are normally expected to be, so those entrusted with handling them can basically be prepared for any eventuality.

When we were approached by a company that wanted to train their employees in the nuances of firefighting, we immediately zeroed in on VR as the tech of choice. Researching the actual environments in which the firefighters would likely operate, our teams created a number of meticulously detailed scenarios which engaged and challenged the participants in a number of ways. This accomplished 2 things-the company saved a great deal of time and expenses they’d have spent by physically creating such environments and the employees were exposed to way more tricky situations than what could have been possible if the company was depending on “real” training.

Apart from these advantages, it’s been observed that employees actually learn faster in a VR environment and companies experience increased retention and productivity. A technology which, at one point, was thought to be mostly targeted at revolutionising the video game industry, has now found popular usage in an entirely different sphere.

A VR-powered Future:

Simply put, VR adoption will only increase in the coming years. Already, healthcare professionals, who are at a high risk of contracting coronavirus, are being trained in PPE usage and other safety measures with VR. Walmart has VR headsets in over 4500 stores and have trained more than 80,000 of their associates with them. The global market is expected to grow to more than $16 Billion by 2023, and while consumer spending will be a large part of it, industrial usage, such as training modules will keep growing exponentially to a level where it will amount to 3X that of the consumer market within 3-4 years.

VR Training Across Verticals:

  • Improving Business Development and Soft Skills: Several companies are using VR to equip their sales and customer engagement teams with the right approach to pitching products, situational awareness and convincing conversations. Lot of employees lack public speaking, sales negotiation and networking skills as not enough emphasis is given to these in school. However, it’s such social skills and not always theory and numbers, that business leaders often rely on.  
  • Social Inclusion Training: In an environment where equality and fair rights are often under attack, organisations are using VR to facilitate virtual meets and exchanges where people can come across others from a range of ethnic groups and nationalities. Regular such exchanges help eliminate unconscious bias and improve communication.
  • Manufacturing Training: Manufacturing companies are a major beneficiary of VR-based training modules as factory floors, machinery, possible malfunctions, danger and more can be faithfully reproduced in a virtual environment and employees can be prepared for everything before they hit the actual floor.
  • Agritech Training: Agriculture is increasingly benefiting from digital technology and it’s established that the growing demands of an ever increasing population can not be met unless farming goes smart. However, there’s still a lot of ambiguity on how technology is to be used and how can farmers leverage the data being given to them to make decisions that matter. VR-based virtual farms complete with virtual drones to sprinkle fertilizer and other simulations of technology can effectively dispel such doubts and educate farmers on what they can really expect by embracing new-age farming techniques.
  • Healthcare Training: Personnel can be trained on a wide range of activities including medical procedures, surgery, handling diagnostic equipment and more. Notable advancements in this area include the efforts of the Johnson & Johnson institute which partnered with a technology service provider to develop immersive surgical training modules. The results saw a 230% improvement in surgical performance.

Conclusion:

While training remains one of the most popular applications of industrial VR, its use-cases go beyond that. In e-commerce for instance, it’s used to give customers a feel of products which makes it easier to make purchase decisions. Given the world will be doing things differently in the coming years, VR can be a cornerstone for organisations which are going through some major transitions as we speak. For over a decade, [x]cube LABS has helped enterprises worldwide go through such transitions and AR/VR is one of our core service offerings. Need to know how you can leverage them for your training and other needs? Get in touch!

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How VR is Driving Innovation in Healthcare https://www.xcubelabs.com/blog/how-vr-is-driving-innovation-in-healthcare/ Fri, 17 Apr 2020 09:59:59 +0000 http://www.xcubelabs.com/?p=17982 Table of contents VR landscape Problems faced in the healthcare industry Applications of VR Future of VR From fancy tales fit for enthralling sci-fi enthusiasts only a while back, virtual reality has firmly established itself as a transformational technology for various industries. Healthcare, suddenly the main focus area owing to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, has […]

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Table of contents

From fancy tales fit for enthralling sci-fi enthusiasts only a while back, virtual reality has firmly established itself as a transformational technology for various industries. Healthcare, suddenly the main focus area owing to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, has been one of the main beneficiaries of VR innovation across multiple areas. So what can VR do to increase efficiency, accessibility and testing in healthcare? What would the future look like as the technology evolves and offers more novelty? Let’s take a look. 

The VR Landscape:

The global spending on VR in the healthcare market is projected to reach $30.40 billion by 2026, exhibiting a CAGR of 42.4% during 2019-2026.

According to another report by Statista, “by 2020, the virtual reality industry will reach revenue of USD 21.5 billion.” These reports show that virtual reality in the healthcare industry will be a sizable chunk of the total market. 

It has truly not just moved the imagination of science-fiction fans, but also clinical researchers and real-life medical practitioners. This field is relatively new, however as the technology grows and richer VR content is generated, it will see even greater adoption and better results. It is set to have an increasingly positive effect on patients’ lives and physicians’ work.

The VR that lets you pretend to be a star quarterback or space pirate can also help train young professionals or even provide pain and anxiety relief to patients. The AR that puts Pikachu in your city park can also assist physicians with real-time information to use in diagnosis or even surgery.

What makes VR invaluable is the innovative ways in which it addresses some of the problems faced by the healthcare industry.  A few among such problems being:

  • Ground-level problems, as the situation seems to be in a permanent state of demand greatly exceeding the supply
  • Logistical issues with limited access and availability of equipment which is often outdated, not even nearly as effective as it should be.
  • And the permanent problem is with the lack of available personnel in many local institutions. The real situation is that they are often struggling to handle intense workflow not to mention emergencies.

Below are some of the pioneering  virtual solutions aimed at changing the face of healthcare:

Medical training: 

Virtual Reality has the ability to transport you inside the human body – to access & view areas that otherwise would be impossible to reach. VR technology allows trainees to learn human body structure, create a real-life situation to help them practice and guide professionals to become a successful surgeon. It gives a real control, the trainee can rehearse on it as many times as he/she gets their hands on and of course, it involves less cost as it doesn’t require expensive trainers, equipment, etc. trainees can just put on the VR headset and start practicing.

Treatment: 

Robotic Surgery

Robotic surgery is a recent innovation in which surgery is performed using a robotic device, e.g. robotic arm which is controlled by a human surgeon. This means fewer risks of complications during surgery and a faster procedure. The robotic device is accurate, meaning smaller incisions, reduced blood loss and faster recovery.

Patient Education

The ability to view the inside of the human body in Virtual Reality is not only useful for doctors, but also for patients. VR allows patients to be taken through their surgical plan by virtually stepping into a patient-specific 360° VR reconstruction of their anatomy & pathology. The outcome is an enhanced understanding of the treatment and therefore higher patient satisfaction.

Battling phobias

This is one of the most inveterate forms of VR therapy to help patients overcome their fears. The therapy is like graded-exposure therapy, where the doctors help their patients to discover their anxiety and slowly allow them to grab control over their anxiety problems one step at a time.

Therapy for people with disabilities or chronic conditions

Virtual reality in the medical field has also been used to help people with disabilities or with chronic conditions experience things they may not be able to experience otherwise. They have helped paralyzed people learn to walk again and helped terminally ill cancer patients experience their bucket-list wishes. Similarly, the Fove headset has been used to help children with physical disabilities play the piano by tracking eye movement in an app the company created called “Eye Play the Piano”. And these are a few examples of the therapeutic uses that VR technology

Pain Management & Physical Therapy

VR’s healing capabilities aren’t just limited to psychological issues but have been proved to work for pain management & physical treatment too. A study showed that full VR immersion for those undergoing physical therapy after a skin graft acted as a distraction and subsequently reduced pain levels for the patients. VR for physical therapy has also been shown to be effective in speeding up recovery time. Allowing the patient to do their prescribed daily exercises in a virtual environment makes the activity more fun, keeps the patient-focused, and helps them keep their spirits up during what can be a long recovery period.

Personal fitness

There are many ways virtual reality is improving healthcare by reaching patients directly. VR personal fitness apps can gamify your workout or transport you to virtual environments to make workouts more fun. There are a wide variety of these programs already available. These programs can improve patients’ overall health and prevent future health problems.VR fitness programs can help teach you workouts and give you feedback on your movements, make exercise into a series of games or encourage you to work out even when the weather is bad by providing scenic backgrounds for running on a treadmill or riding a stationary bike. These VR experiences could also play a role in physical therapy.

Future of VR :

Given the evidence for an expanding market and growth in the field of emerging technologies in healthcare, it has been estimated that health care uses of virtual reality will be the second-largest share of the VR market by 2022. 

Overall, VR offers revolutionizing ways to advance patient care as well as medical procedures, training and many more opportunities. These virtual environments also help healthcare in achieving targets such as streamlined costs, more efficiency.  In times to come, the technology will provide a healing touch to patients while sharpening the skills of medical practitioners, thereby adding value to the entire healthcare ecosystem.

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3 Practical Ways AR/VR can Help Boost Customer Engagement https://www.xcubelabs.com/blog/3-practical-ways-ar-vr-can-help-boost-customer-engagement/ Wed, 21 Aug 2019 10:48:27 +0000 http://www.xcubelabs.com/?p=15309 The adoption of AR and VR technologies allows companies to explore new and creative ways to step up the customer engagement game. AR garners considerable attention, especially from a customer-facing perspective, but retailers should not discount the effectiveness of VR, the more immersive of the two. Let’s explore how these immersive technologies are enabling new […]

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AR/VR can Help Boost Customer Engagement-

The adoption of AR and VR technologies allows companies to explore new and creative ways to step up the customer engagement game. AR garners considerable attention, especially from a customer-facing perspective, but retailers should not discount the effectiveness of VR, the more immersive of the two. Let’s explore how these immersive technologies are enabling new ways for organizations to drive innovation in customer experience and engagement.

Augmented Reality
AR provides users with a composite image which consists of a view of the real world around them overlaid with a digital information layer designed to enhance the user’s experience.

Virtual Reality
VR, on the other hand, creates a totally immersive experience which transports the user from the real world to a simulated one.


Statista’s recent survey estimates that by 2021, the combined market size of the AR/VR is expected to reach nearly $215 Billion
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1. Customer Experience & Interactive Marketing

AR/VR provides a host of benefits for marketers to create differentiated value as they promote experience over products and services. By stimulating brand awareness, and communicating the values, they help the customer relate to the identifiable stories. AR/VR can be an effective tool to personalize the offerings. For instance, De Beers started a “My Forevermark Fitting” campaign. This campaign uses a 3-D virtual try-on for ForeverMark diamonds. Women customer can visualize themselves wearing the ForeverMark diamond with the help of a webcam and decide to purchase, without actually trying them on physically in the store. This paves the way to create an everlasting meaningful experience–personalized, interactive, and memorable.


80% of U.S. consumers would pay more for a product or service to ensure a superior customer experience
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2. In-Store Shopping

AR/VR can be strategically integrated into the overall in-store journey to offer fulfilling, helpful, and efficient experience for customers. For example, indoor navigation can be aided with the help of AR for customers to find their way through the aisle to the shelf. IBM has developed an AR app which provides instant information on products which are on display. A cosmetic brand like Charlotte Tilbury put the magic of AR onto the wall mirror and have entered the arena of AR powered cosmetic experience. Using AR-enabled mirrors customer would sit in front of the mirror to scan the image of their face and under a minute they would see their face with a couple of the brand’s iconic looks — without physically wearing any makeup. Timberland and Topshop have also come up with AR mirrors to let customers try out their new products. The list is ever growing, as more and more companies start to use AR/VR technologies in their line of business to completely reimagine the face of shopping, AR/VR is definitely the next biggest differentiator to boost engagement.


86 % of consumers see reviews when making purchase decisions & 56 % of shoppers specifically check websites with reviews
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3.Enhance Online Shopping Offerings

Companies need to offer solutions that mimic in-store experience and take advantage of rising online sales, especially those assisted by knowledgeable store associates, by gathering the knowledge possessed by an associate and using these technologies to reproduce an effective virtual product demonstration. Formex Watches recently moved their business from a brick and mortar operation to a completely online business model. Willing to enhance the online buying experience for their customers, Formex developed an app that projects a realistic image of their watches onto the user’s wrist. This gives a real-life “feel” and look that the customer is wearing one of their timepieces and allows them to interact with the product. AR/VR has the potential to act as a bridge between the consumers’ conflict of the desire for personal service and unwillingness to visit a store by enabling experiences and create a more engaging encounter with the brand, which boosts conversions and revenue to make shopping fun again.

Both augmented reality and virtual reality offer immense potential to transform retail by offering new and innovative ways of interacting with customers, boost customer engagement, generate value, and drive growth. By leveraging these new technologies, retail companies will be able to achieve effective customer engagement. [x]cube LABS with its core focus on strategy, creativity and technology help organizations with innovative customer engagement strategy to transform business operations by bringing digital to the core. Connect with us to know more.

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How Is Virtual Reality Bringing Reality In The Healthcare Industry? https://www.xcubelabs.com/blog/how-is-vr-bringing-reality-in-the-healthcare-industry/ Wed, 11 Oct 2017 12:29:04 +0000 http://www.xcubelabs.com/?p=12554 You’re floating in nature’s paradise. You see a clear sky, the stars are shining bright and you feel like holding it all up in your hands. When you look down, you see peaceful waves hitting the sands. You’re walking on the seashore, and feeling the majestic waves crashing on your legs. Isn’t it a beautiful […]

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Virtual Reality

You’re floating in nature’s paradise. You see a clear sky, the stars are shining bright and you feel like holding it all up in your hands. When you look down, you see peaceful waves hitting the sands. You’re walking on the seashore, and feeling the majestic waves crashing on your legs. Isn’t it a beautiful experience and sound like paradise? Now remove your virtual reality (VR) headset, where are you? You’re at your workplace and your manager is calling you for a meeting.

Virtual Reality is engaging many industries apart from gaming. Among the numerous industries such as retail, manufacturing, air, and space, travel, real estate; healthcare was the early adopter of this new technology. They have a clear vision of how virtual reality (VR) is going to add benefit and bring in untold opportunities to the healthcare industry. According to Key Market Insights, “the global augmented reality and virtual reality in the healthcare market are anticipated to reach $5.6 billion by 2022.

The healthcare industry is using ‘virtual reality’ technology in medical applications, educating, training new interns, and also treating patients. For example, immersion therapy is already under practice with the help of which patients are able to overcome their fears. Also, Emil Salazar, an analyst at Kalorama said, “the term ‘virtual reality’ is used in different contexts. Broadly, virtual reality is the means or capability to visualize and manipulate, or otherwise interact with, digital data representative of a real-world entity or environment. These digital data representatives are called virtual environments or VEs. VEs in healthcare could be an operating room, surgical site, patient anatomy, or therapeutic simulation.”

The extension in the use of virtual reality (VR) in healthcare is unstoppable. As per Kalorama Information, “the US market for virtual reality in healthcare has seen a growth from $525 million in 2012  to an estimated $976 million till the present day.

VR in the Healthcare Industry

Beating Phobias

We all fear something like water, heights, snakes, open or crowded spaces, dogs and the list goes on. This is one of the most inveterate forms of VR therapy to help patients overcome their fears. The therapy like graded-exposure therapy, where the doctors help their patients to discover their anxiety and slowly allow them to grab control over their anxiety problems one step at a time.

Virtual reality is the best way to beat any kind of phobia as it can be adjusted accordingly and the treatment can be done anywhere as per the preference. Let’s say the most common spider phobia. The medical center has introduced an application called Spider World, the very first medical application that is used by doctors to treat people who have this phobia.

VR Fitness Insider interviewed Maples-Keller, Ph.D. of the University of Georgia who explained, “Virtual reality is potentially a powerful tool for the psychiatric community. It allows providers to create computer-generated environments in a controlled setting, which can be used to create a sense of presence and immersion in the feared environment for individuals suffering from anxiety disorders.”

Training Healthcare Professionals

Virtual reality has also drawn the interest of healthcare professionals. Doctor’s job is not an easy one, it requires years of study and mainly proper training from experienced professionals. It has always been challenging plus a time-consuming process, however, VR technology allows trainees to learn human body structure, create a real-life situation to help them practice and guide professionals to become a successful surgeon.

It has taken the classroom training to the next level. It gives a real control, the trainee can rehearse on it as many times as he/she gets their hands on and ofcourse, it involves less cost as it doesn’t require expensive trainers, equipment, etc. trainees can just put on the VR headset and start practicing.

Control Pain

Virtual reality has played a major role here by helping the patient to control their pain. David Patterson designed the first method of applying VR for pain control in 1996. SnowWorld was the first VR application introduced to minimize the pain caused due to burns.

Augmented on a mirror therapy, surgeons can trick the patient’s brain by placing a VR headset and distract them from physical pain such as operating amputee. VR applications excellently aid to relax and divert the patients from distress situation to a pleasant place that allows patients to tolerate their pain or uneasiness.

Physical Therapy

Patients can do their physical therapy by using virtual reality technology and proofed as the most effective treatment method in the healthcare. It adds fun and motivates patients to do movements. It traces the body movements and gives instant feedback to the patients. For example, physiotherapist uses VR headset to boost their patient’s confidence to do therapy exercises. The patient will be given virtual things which they are asked to touch by lifting their hands or legs. While doing the exercise, the patient will also be given feedback if they are doing it correctly or need improvement.

Future of Virtual Reality Technology

As per the PwC survey report, 86% of healthcare CEOs see technology reshaping their industry in next five years.

As more innovation moves forward, virtual reality technology will span in all spaces of medical and patient treatment. The technology has revolutionized the entire healthcare sector by increasing the doctor-patient engagement and amplify their digital experiences. This technology has the potential to grow even more in future, where there will be multiple healthcare applications to help doctors and patients.

The technical director of Ready Set Rocket, Gareth Price predicted, “VR is going to witness the biggest reach in training and virtual surgery. Virtual reality opportunities are going to revolutionize the healthcare industry with its post-traumatic stress disorder and phobia treatment. VR is estimated to have a high impact on the medical field.”

With so many opportunities of VR in healthcare, this is just the beginning. You need to keep an eye on VR healthcare solutions to amplify, investigate, invest and integrate VR technology to enhance users interactions.

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