As with any new piece of technology, there have been a number of naysayers when it comes to the potential future success of VR. That is not surprising, considering that people have a tendency to get bored with new technology quickly. Will VR stand the test of time and become all that it’s being promised to be? Well, that totally depends on the biggest and most neglected factor of all: Content. That’s right folks, content is and always will be King.

It’s Not Just the Hardware

It doesn’t matter what device you are on, it could be the newest super duper buper whizamawhatsit, but if the quality of the content isn’t on par, no matter how interactive the experience is, we are going to be left disappointed. Of course, VR technology is no different. It is still in its infantile stage of learning how to walk. Content creators are learning and experimenting with new technology. They are working to understand what kind of content works, what sticks, what resonates with people the most. This is a process that will take time, but once we understand how to develop better content for VR technology, the possibilities will become endless.

VR technology will be the best mode of getting interactive rich content experiences, more than any other platform or device that we have to date. This means audiences will be completely engaged with the content (if of course, you do your content right). Fear not VR pioneers, while the naysayers prattle on about the potential of VR, rest assured that it’s not going away. Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality are not only here to stay, but it will be very much incorporated into our everyday lives in the future.  

Virtual Reality is Here to Stay

When big names techies like Zuckerberg make predictions stating, “It’s going to take five or 10 years of development before we get to where we all want to go,” we can only brace ourselves and wait. But waiting isn’t all we can do. If VR is coming then content needs to get pumped out, and we have to prepare by getting used to the tech that’s available to us now. The tech isn’t going to develop itself, despite Zuckerberg’s plans to invest some $3 billion into further building it. So while VR development is still in its early stages, we need to learn more about it and create the kind of content that speaks best to the masses.

And have you checked out Zuckerberg’s VR Spaces? Let’s set the record straight one more time. Virtual Reality is not going away, it’s only going to get better.

Get Used to the Idea of Immersion

If you’ve been reading my blog posts, you probably realize by now how persuasive VR content can be. The immersive environment can really leave a long lasting impression on the audience, and if we look at it in terms of marketing we can definitely say that the effects are far more long-lasting and memorable. This is particularly important when we take into consideration how short our attention spans are getting. In the age of high-speed internet, information bytes and a constant bombardment of information, VR offers something deeply engaging. Even when used in a short period of time, the effect is incomparable.

Virtual Reality is going to completely revolutionize several industries, but the top ones to look out for are already quite clear. Gaming, adventure, travel and hospitality are the first major industries which will reap the benefits of the VR world. Already, there are examples of success stories across these industries, including American Airlines, KLM Airlines, the Marriott, Eurostar, and many more. In a future post, I will dig deeper into some of the industry leaders and we can look out for.

360Stories has long since recognized the potential that VR and AR technology has for the future of not only Armchair Tourism but also Storyliving and Immersive Journalism. We understand that content is indeed king, and we have been working on accumulating unique high-quality stories, 360-degree photo and video content and bringing it into one platform to share with the world. Explore our website and learn how you can get engaged with this new technology and brace yourself for the developments that are soon to come.