Just two weeks ago, Greenlight VR held the seminal 2016 Virtual Reality Analytics Web Summit. In the first session New Horizons In VR Intelligence and Analytics the panel including Steve Erhlich (Space Time Insights), Samuel Poirier (RetinadVR), Jody Medich (Singularity University), and Jonathan Freeman (i2 Media Research) roadmapped how the future of AR/VR analytics will have a direct impact on our daily lives and within a variety of industries.
Although the panel agreed that there are multiple possibilities for the application of VR technologies, the timeline for when they would emerge in the market was less certain. Jody Medich stated:
“We’re at that very early stage of VR commercialization, and we aren’t quite clear what the use cases are going to be yet. We have some suspicions, we have some really big wins, big applications beyond just gaming - especially when we start thinking about health care, industry, and even everyday use - but we aren’t even aware yet what we’re going to need to use VR analytics for…The big opportunities over time will look to improve our daily routines — by reducing the cognitive burden of interacting with our devices.”
Jody highlighted a moment in her current routine that could be improved: “Trying to connect my computer, external screen, and bluetooth speaker — now that is a very painful process.”
Her point would echo strongly with the panel as this inconsequential example highlights the potential for an AR headset that connects these three devices with the touch of a button, hand gesture, or voice control. Taking this technology a few steps further, this integration of multiple technologies and sophisticated AI could help prevent a car accident when combined with a semi-autonomous vehicle, alert a surgeon of a possible complication during a procedure before it even happens, and teach the next generation of scientists with interactive educational experiences that provide a higher level of engagement compared to traditional modalities.
In the end, the panel agreed the future is within our grasp. Estimates of when these technologies could emerge and how analytics could provide a direct impact on our daily lives ranged from within 12 months to a decade but the potential was unanimous.
Virtual Reality technology will not stand alone in the future. With the integration of sophisticated artificial intelligence, biometrics and other analytical instruments, in addition to increasingly unrestricted wearable technology, they will all begin to and continue to intersect. This will allow for not only a more connected society but also a more informed one as well.
For more insights into the future of VR, analytics, and your part to play in the industry: purchase a copy of the Executive Report and Full Recording of the 2016 Virtual Reality Analytics Web Summit.
