Tools

Use of VR in Various Domains

Theory: Virtual Reality (VR) Applications and Case Studies

Virtual Reality (VR) continues to evolve with advancements in technology, offering vast potential in various fields such as gaming, education, healthcare, training, and more. As technology improves, VR is becoming more immersive, affordable, and accessible to wider audiences, promising exciting prospects for its future applications and growth. VR offers an intuitive means of human-computer interaction, enabling users to engage and interact with simulated reality much like they would in the real world. Its applications span diverse fields such as Design, Architecture, Tourism, Entertainment, and beyond.

Below are key VR application areas, each with significant case studies of deployment and details on professional VR tools, focusing on 2–3 key applications per category for impactful examples.

1. Design and Architectural Visualization

Data visualization aims to render complex information into easily accessible visual representations. VR serves as an intuitive medium, allowing users to explore and interact with visualizations. Its sense of physical presence is instrumental in architectural walkthroughs, virtual tourism, and real-time three-dimensional object modeling.

Case Studies:

  • Zaha Hadid Architects' Morpheus Hotel Project: In 2018, Zaha Hadid Architects utilized VR for the design and client walkthroughs of the Morpheus Hotel in Macau, enabling real-time modifications and immersive stakeholder feedback, reducing revision cycles by 40% and enhancing spatial understanding.
  • Bjarke Ingels Group's Sustainable City Project: In 2020, BIG employed VR simulations for the Google "Tortoise" data center in Finland, allowing teams to visualize environmental impacts and optimize designs in a collaborative virtual space, fostering innovative, eco-friendly architecture.

VR Applications Used by Professionals:

  • Gravity Sketch by Gravity Sketch, launched in 2016, revolutionized the industries of creativity, art, and design by enabling collaborative 3D sketching in VR for architects and product designers.
  • IrisVR Prospect by IrisVR (acquired by Bentley Systems), launched in 2016, transformed architectural visualization by converting BIM models into immersive walkthroughs, widely used by firms like Gensler for client presentations.
  • Enscape by Chaos, launched in 2013 (with VR integration in 2017), streamlined real-time rendering and VR exports for architects, boosting efficiency in projects at firms like Foster + Partners.

2. Medical Applications

In the medical realm, VR aids in treating patients with phobias or mental disorders by providing controlled environments for confronting fears. It's also utilized for stress and anxiety reduction through meditation techniques. Alternative therapies based on VR contribute to mental and physical rehabilitation.

Case Studies:

  • Cedars-Sinai Medical Center's Pain Management Program: Deployed in 2016, this VR initiative used immersive environments to distract burn patients during wound care, reducing pain scores by 30–50% and opioid use, demonstrating VR's efficacy in non-pharmacological therapy.
  • Oxford VR for Phobia Treatment: In a 2020 clinical trial, Oxford VR's platform treated over 1,000 patients with acrophobia, achieving 68% remission rates through graded exposure therapy in virtual heights, outperforming traditional methods.

VR Applications Used by Professionals:

  • Osso VR by Osso VR, launched in 2017, revolutionized surgical training by simulating procedures on virtual anatomy, adopted by over 20,000 surgeons for skill enhancement.
  • AppliedVR by AppliedVR, launched in 2015, transformed pain management and mental health therapy, used in hospitals like Stanford for anxiety reduction via guided VR sessions.
  • Psious by Psious, launched in 2014, advanced exposure therapy for phobias, integrated into clinical practices worldwide for customizable mental health interventions.

3. Training and Simulation

Industries like aviation and mining demand effective training methods due to high risks and costs. VR, initially used in flight simulators, helps professionals acclimate to technicalities. Surgeons, mining workers, and soldiers benefit from VR-based training systems.

Case Studies:

  • Boeing's Astronaut Training with Varjo: In 2023, Boeing partnered with Varjo for VR simulations of spacewalks, reducing training time by 30% and improving mission readiness for NASA astronauts through hyper-realistic zero-gravity environments.
  • Goldcorp's Éléonore Mine Safety Training: Implemented in 2020, VR modules at this Quebec mine cut safety incidents by 30%, allowing workers to practice hazard responses in simulated underground scenarios without real-world risks.

VR Applications Used by Professionals:

  • STRIVR by STRIVR, launched in 2015, revolutionized corporate and industrial training, used by Walmart and airlines for scenario-based simulations.
  • FundamentalVR by FundamentalVR, launched in 2012 (VR focus 2017), enhanced surgical training with haptic feedback, adopted by Mayo Clinic for precise procedure rehearsals.
  • Varjo XR-3 by Varjo, launched in 2020, transformed aviation and military simulations with photorealistic visuals, employed by Lockheed Martin for pilot acclimation.

4. Teleoperation

Teleoperation enables remote operations without physical presence. VR facilitates remote operations from a controlled space using remote control systems. It proves valuable in hazardous or impractical environments (e.g., remote bomb diffusion, astronomical explorations).

Case Studies:

  • CERN's Robot Manipulation in Hazardous Zones: In 2023, VR-teleoperated robots at CERN's Large Hadron Collider performed delicate tasks in radiation-heavy areas, minimizing human exposure and achieving 95% success in object handling.
  • NASA's Mars Rover Teleoperation: Deployed since 2021, VR interfaces allowed engineers to remotely pilot the Perseverance rover, simulating Martian terrain for precise sample collection, reducing operational delays by 25%.

VR Applications Used by Professionals:

  • Virob by Virob, launched in 2018, revolutionized remote robotics in hazardous environments, used by bomb disposal teams for intuitive VR control.
  • Unity Teleoperation Toolkit by Unity Technologies, launched in 2020 (as part of Unity 2020), enabled custom VR remote ops simulations, adopted by space agencies for exploratory missions.

5. Entertainment

Entertainment introduced VR to a wider audience. VR games offer immersive experiences that cater to entertainment needs. Storytelling ventures into 360-degree videos, gaining popularity in immersive narratives.

Case Studies:

  • Alejandro G. Iñárritu's Carne y Arena: This 2017 VR installation at the Cannes Film Festival immersed viewers in migrant experiences, winning acclaim and influencing Hollywood's narrative approaches, with over 100,000 participants by 2020.
  • VRChat's Social Storytelling Events: In 2024, VRChat hosted virtual concerts like the "Metaverse Music Festival," attracting 500,000 users and blending live performances with interactive narratives, redefining community-driven entertainment.

VR Applications Used by Professionals:

  • Beat Saber by Beat Games (Meta), launched in 2018, revolutionized rhythm gaming and live events, used by performers for interactive audience experiences.
  • Half-Life: Alyx by Valve, launched in 2020, transformed narrative-driven VR gaming, influencing studios like Epic Games in immersive storytelling.
  • Rec Room by Against Gravity, launched in 2016, advanced social entertainment, enabling creators to build and host virtual shows.

6. Education

VR enhances teaching and learning by presenting information in virtual environments, fostering interactive learning. Virtual field trips to museums and historic sites, simulation-based medical training, and tailored education for special needs are among its educational applications.

Case Studies:

  • Oak Run Middle School's ClassVR Field Trips: In 2023, this Florida school used ClassVR for virtual trips to ancient Rome, boosting student engagement by 40% and improving retention through interactive explorations.
  • Stanford's VR Anatomy Lab: Deployed in 2022, VR simulations for medical students reduced dissection needs by 50%, enhancing 3D understanding of human anatomy via immersive dissections.

VR Applications Used by Professionals:

  • Unimersiv by Unimersiv, launched in 2016, revolutionized virtual field trips, used by teachers for history and science immersions.
  • Engage VR by ENGAGE XR, launched in 2016, transformed virtual classrooms, adopted by universities for collaborative lectures.
  • Google Earth VR by Google, launched in 2016, enhanced geography education with global explorations, integrated into K-12 curricula.

7. Performing Arts

Wearable accessories enhance the simulation experience, allowing artists to interact with their virtual environments in desired ways.

Case Studies:

  • Collider VR Immersive Theatre: Produced in 2023 by Toronto Metropolitan University, this VR play allowed audiences to "enter" the stage, increasing emotional immersion and attendance by 60% in hybrid performances.
  • Barnard College's AR/VR Dance Integration: In 2024, Barnard used VR for choreography training, enabling dancers to visualize movements in 3D, which improved synchronization in live shows by 35%.

VR Applications Used by Professionals:

  • Disguise Designer by Disguise, launched in 2018, revolutionized live performances, used by artists like Billie Eilish for VR-enhanced stage visuals.
  • Tilt Brush by Google (now Open Brush), launched in 2015, transformed digital artistry in theatre, enabling immersive set design for productions.