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Surgeons wearing virtual realty goggles in operating room

Virtual Reality Improving the Way We Learn Work and Play

Posted 03 Dec 2020 by Wilson MA, Product Manager, Electronics

Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are more than simply emerging technologies — they’re a shift in the way people learn, work, and play. Students and military service members train in interactive simulations, surgeons perform operations remotely, and gamers immerse themselves in worlds only these new technologies can provide. Essentially, VR and AR technologies can fill in the gaps to support those in industries wherever there are limitations in real-world experience or offer the possibility to explore new worlds entirely.

 

Emerging Technologies Bring Opportunities

The market for VR and AR equipment expands rapidly each year. Statista reports that the market for these emerging technologies will reach 18.8 billion U.S. dollars in 2020 alone — a 78 percent increase from 2019. Further, in 2020, sales of VR and AR headsets are predicted to reach 5.5 million units, purchased by everyone from ordinary consumers to professionals in the healthcare and aerospace industries.

Gaining Followers

The VR and AR hardware market’s potential for growth has seized the attention of social media platforms like Facebook and Snapchat, who have been quick to take advantage of the sales boom. Facebook has even designed its own VR headset, Oculus, and people on social media have adopted the technology to create unique videos, adding a 360-degree immersive world to the stories they share and the way their followers engage with content.

Next Generation Gaming

AR and VR’s presence in the digital sphere naturally includes the video gaming industry: The primary driver for the newest virtual technology. Games are beginning to proliferate, but depending on the platform on which gamers play, costs can vary. PlayStation’s PSVR demonstrates what a powerful experience gaming in a 360-degree environment can be with a reasonable price tag. Other AR and VR equipment requires more investment, but the landscape of developing games for PC that use AR and VR headsets continues to broaden the possibilities and features of the next generation gaming experience.

Cutting-Edge Medicine

VR medical training provides a useful simulation, letting workers in the healthcare industry make their first steps in applying knowledge before entering real-world practice. Virtual environments help medical students see their subjects up close and in a way previously impossible. Three dimensional models of organs are brought to life for students to examine from all angles, while VR also lets doctors practice a procedure virtually before attempting it in real life.

 

Creating Optimal Devices

 

To push the boundaries of technology, precision instruments need to perform optimally. Lightweight AR and VR headsets help create a more immersive experience by removing the sense of wearing a heavier device, and the user can experience eyestrain or headache without smaller, lighter, and more compact optical pieces. Mechanical fasteners increase both the weight and size of VR and AR technologies, but weight reducing, high-efficiency adhesives can help solve challenges in building cost effective and high-performing hardware.

 

VR and AR Solutions from H.B. Fuller

 

At H.B. Fuller, our adhesives provide solutions to companies looking to make AR and VR equipment that is more affordable and that improves the user’s experience. Adhesives offer a reliable way to reduce the size and weight of these devices, as well as opening the door for improvements in optical design.

 

Contact us to learn more about how we help our customers build better devices through premier adhesive solutions.

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