From Star Trek’s holodeck to the world of the Matrix, virtual reality (VR) has long captured the collective dreams of science fiction lovers, technologists, and futurists. The past several years have seen major advancements in VR technology, with high-end gaming headsets like the HTC Vibe and the Oculus Rift bringing what was once the stuff of imagination directly into the living room.
But gaming isn’t the only industry being reshaped by the VR revolution. In this post, we’ll take a look at three articles that can serve as a window into how VR is poised to change the world.
Big Data is moving beyond the infographic with VR
Big Data is, to state the obvious, very big. It’s too big, in fact, for bar graphs and pie charts to really do it justice. Infographics can only give you the highlights behind the story a data set is trying to tell. To get the big picture, we need an interface that goes beyond the bandwidth that’s available between the human eye and a computer screen.
“If you want to understand and handle big data properly, then interactivity is the key. And through interactions with VR, it is possible to analyze data dynamically, because you can actually reach out and touch data. And once there is interaction, it is possible to comprehend and manipulate all the data that’s coming in.”
— Cabot Technology Solutions
In our first article, IT consulting firm Cabot Technology Solutions covers “6 Ways Virtual Reality Will Transform Big Data Visualizations”. You can use it as a launchpad to explore how VR takes interactivity and total immersion to improve one’s ability to cross-reference, navigate, and analyze Big Data. Learn more by reading the full article…
How total VR and gamification are transforming EdTech
Education technology (EdTech) is a rapidly growing industry that’s constantly evolving—and projected to reach $252 billion in global investment by 2020, according to the latest report from EdTechXGlobal.
Given the immersive benefits of virtual environments, experts predict that VR projects should have little trouble tapping into those investment dollars.
“There are two trends that have been particularly important in shaping the EdTech landscape recently: virtual environments and [VR], and gamification. These trends are manifest in apps that cover a whole spectrum of subjects from math to geography to foreign languages, and even practical skills such as direct cardiac massage or operating factory machines.”
— Iryna Pototska, Yalantis
In “Virtual Reality and Gamification: Two Biggest Trends in EdTech,” Iryna Pototska takes a deep dive into the many ways in which VR is changing the EdTech landscape. From virtual classrooms to tours around the solar system, to digital chemistry experiments and immersive games, VR is already making a huge impact. Learn more…
Designing for a future in VR
Eager to be more than a mere participant in the VR revolution? Maybe you want to play a more direct role in shaping its future? In “A Beginner’s Guide to Designing Virtual Reality”, Blake Hudelson draws a roadmap to help you get started with your own VR apps:
“In VR you’re not just an observer, but you’re a participant in the story with an option to influence its outcome. Pretty cool, right? So before you even start thinking about designing for VR, it’s critical to experience it first hand and really understand how it works.’”
— Blake Hudelson, Senior Interaction Designer
Hudelson covers everything from the platforms that can help you get your feet wet (i.e. Google Cardboard, Oculus Rift, and HTC Vibe) to the frameworks that can help you build for them (i.e. Mozilla A-Frame, Daydream VR, and Unity VR). Hudelson also introduces the design concepts you’ll need to “move beyond the rectangle” and design for a 360° space. Check out the full article…
Eager to learn more about VR? Check out more articles about the VR in the Hiring Headquarters >>
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