Basis
Although VR seems very advanced to us right now, experts say that in the times to come, we will look at present day VR like how we view the previously mentioned tennis game. Currently, modern day VR only excels at taking control of two out of our five main senses, sight and hearing. But in the near future, VR is expected to be able to enable us to feel, smell, and even taste in the computer-generated virtual world (Marr, 2020). All these advancements will allow for all current fields that VR is being used for to be further improved and made more effective. For instance, with education and training, the latest innovation with VR, the “Teslasuit”, a full-body suit that offers haptic feedback in the sense of touch, as well as measuring heartbeat, respiration, and other stress indicators, offering limitless applications. One of these being allowing people to safely train under simulated hazardous situations.
Training
For example, Walmart put their employees through a virtual simulation of Black Friday conditions in order to teach them how to deal with busy shop environments and longs lines of customers (Marr, 2020). Other than in stores, hazardous from the medical field such as surgeries or mechanical work in engineering can be simulated. An added benefit is the fact that the financial risk of allowing inexperienced workers or novice students to use expensive and complex machinery and tools is reduced immensely using VR.
Industry and Work
With industry and work, VR is expected to completely take over the work environment. Ericsson, a VR distributing company, predicts that by 2030, there will be VR environments that will appear completely real to all five senses simultaneously (Marr, 2020). This would lead to what is called the “dematerialized office” in the workplace. The “dematerialized office implies that the physical work environment is completely taken away, and an interactive and working VR environment is available wherever the user is.
Socialization
With socialization, VR will expand the options in which people can interact with their friends and family. Close ones that live far away or family that can be seen because of complications will be able to meet in the virtual world. VR will allow people to hang out, spend time, play games, and stay connected.
Entertainment and Gaming
In the field of entertainment and gaming, VR will greatly enhance user experience. Full body suits that provide all five senses to be experienced will enable users to feel like they are truly in the game they are playing or the movie they are watching.