Virtual reality (VR) is making it possible to travel even while inside the house, as restrictions are still in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
An emerging trend is where VR enables users to visit exotic locales such as Australia’s coral reef or the island of Malta using immersive 360-degree videos taken on-location before 2020.
VIRTUAL reality (VR) technology has been around for a while but hasn’t really taken off as mainstream technology, until the Covid-19 pandemic set in.
Developers are now putting travel destinations into VR such as the northern lights in Ireland and Machu Picchu in Peru.
With tourism as one of the hardest-hit industries from the lockdowns, VR has emerged as the alternative to travel.
Using phone and a VR headset, the users can already immerse themselves in a digital environment.
VR-specific gadgets have been emerging in recent years mostly for the use of gaming, watching interactive videos, and viewing 360-degree images, and more.
Among the things users can enjoy using VR is playing chess or checkers with another user; follow a work-out regimen; visit a virtual forest, reef, or beach, listen to a pre-recorded concerts, and more.
An emerging trend is where VR enables users to visit exotic locales such as Australia’s coral reef or the island of Malta using immersive 360-degree videos taken on-location before 2020.
A New Delhi VR experience even takes you through a ride at the back of a pedicab!
Some of the developers include the following well-known brands in travel and tourism:
National Geographic VR featuring content covering culture, animals, science, and travel,
Smithsonian Journeys includes professional tour guides sharing facts along the virtual journey,
Discovery VR is known for exploring new places, characters, and ideas,
Google Earth VR with a bird’s eye view, and NASA’s Vision for that literal out of this world experience.
According to one forecast, hardware sales for VR and augmented reality will increase tenfold in the next three years.
While dedicated VR headsets could cost as much as $1,599, there are many free VR videos available on the internet on Facebook, YouTube, and mobile applications.
Other than gaming and travel, VR technology is fast becoming an option for another industry heavily affected by the pandemic.
The entertainment industry has started to make use of the technology to continue producing content for their fans.
Last year, GRAMMY award-winning singer-songwriter John Legend performed using VR technology using motion capture and a digital avatar in real-time.
This year, more concerts and even events and festivals are being planned to be held online and in VR.
In the Philippines, Ayala Museum released the VR experience, The Emergence of a Nation, a 360-degree diorama film depicting several key moments in Philippine History.
The 3D animated virtual reality film, Lutaw, was also made available for free on the Oculus.
Hopefully we can soon produce more VR contents such as virtual Visita Iglesia, museum tours, and more for both educational and therapeutic experience as we move forward into the new normal. (HD)
Tags: #virtualreality, #virtualtourism, #COVID19