Virtual Reality in the Workplace
Virtual Reality in the workplace has come a long way and continues to make significant advances on a regular basis. When VR first debuted in society for public consumption, low-power headsets cheapened the experience. However, today, we are in the middle of a hardware war, as tech giants like Meta and HTC battle and prepare for Apple’s impending entry into the competition.
As these hardware options become more accessible over time, you should see even more adoption of virtual reality in the workplace.
For now, here are a few ways VR in the workplace has already been implemented.
1. Training and Simulation
Perhaps one of the more common uses of virtual reality in the workplace, adoption can almost be considered widespread in this field. VR provides realistic training and simulation experiences for the workforce in a variety of fields. For instance, the military has spent millions if not billions on solutions for its training needs. In addition, medical professionals have practiced risky surgical procedures in VR, meaning no risk to life but realistic lessons learned. Other areas that have also seen use of virtual reality in the workplace grow include aviation, manufacturing and customer service.
2. Collaboration and Remote Work
Virtual reality in the workplace has also expanded because of the growth of remote work options for employees. The pandemic forced many companies to create or adopt remote work opportunities. Some got creative and worked in virtual reality. VR can facilitate collaboration among team members who are physically unable to meet. VR headsets and virtual meeting spaces have also grown. Colleagues can come “together” in shared virtual environments to conduct meetings, brainstorm and even work on projects.
3. Product Design and Visualization
Using VR, designers and engineers can create and visualize prototypes virtually, which will allow them and others to interact with and manipulate 3D models, examine product features and make real-time design modifications. Virtual reality in the workplace now allows anyone to jump into a virtual environment to tackle any potential issue both in real time and in advance. This allows for rapid prototyping and helps identify problems early on, reducing costs and time requirements.
4. Occupational Safety Training
Safety has long been a priority for businesses and virtual reality in the workplace can play a crucial role in providing employees occupational safety training. With VR, they can experience hazardous situations or emergencies in a safe and controlled environment. For instance, workers can practice fire drills, learn proper handling of dangerous equipment, or understand safety protocols in high-risk environments. The VR simulations help employees develop necessary skills and knowledge to react appropriately in real-life situations.
5. Mental Health and Well Being Beyond the hardware, of course, is the software that you can download and use through virtual reality. Applications can support employees well-being and mental health through VR. VR environments that are already readily available include calming or stress-reducing experiences. Guided meditation applications or virtual relaxation spaces can help employees unwind and manage stress during their breaks. Exposure therapy for those with phobias or post-traumatic stress disorder have also been used in VR settings successfully.
6. Data Visualization and Analytics
Virtual reality in the workplace offers a unique way to visualize complex data sets and analytics. Instead of relying on traditional charts and graphs, VR allows users to step into immersive data visualizations. This enables better comprehension, pattern recognition, and decision-making based on the insights gained from the data. For industries dealing with large amounts of data, such as finance, marketing, or scientific research, VR can provide a more intuitive and immersive understanding of the information at hand.
