It’s 2019 and Virtual Reality has become a normal occurrence! In this article we answer the most frequent virtual reality questions we got from our clients and partners when starting new VR projects!
1. WHAT IS VIRTUAL REALITY?
This is an easy one, and the answer to this can actually be found directly on our website FAQ section. Anyhow, Virtual Reality or simply VR is the full immersive 3D experience that the users receive with VR wearables. This computer generated environment is interacted by a person who either becomes part of this virtual world or is immersed within this environment and is capable of manipulating objects or performing a series of actions.
2. WHICH ARE THE BEST HEAD MOUNTED DISPLAYS IN 2019?
Nowadays VR devices can be classified into three distinct groups: Mobile based VR, PC based VR, and Standalone VR Devices.
MOBILE BASED VR
VR which is mobile based can also be classified into two groups: cardboard and plastic. Cardboard VR is the cheapest option and is easily branded and spread out to customers. The other plastic VR devices are a bit more expensive then the cardboard option and have a range of producers. VR Viewers such as Homido VR are an example of a good quality product for experiencing VR on a variety of phones. On the other hand, Samsung has a dedicated VR viewer that works exclusively with their range of mobile phones, called the Samsung Gear VR.
PC BASED VR
As much as VR on a mobile device is convenient for promotions, events, etc. VR on a PC is a whole other ballgame! You could say that it’s thanks to the superior performance of the PC’s hardware and you wouldn’t be wrong. Using a desktop computer and a VR HMD is a great combination if you’re going for quality over quantity! Some of the hardware that we have experience with, and have used it to produce cutting edge VR experiences for our clients include HTC Vive and the newly released Vive Cosmos, as well as one of the first companies to bring out a state of the art headset, Oculus Rift. All of these require a high end PC to run, but the results are more then rewarding, and will leave your customers with their jaws dropped!
STANDALONE VR
Last but certainly not least in this classification, the standalone VR devices are certainly a fresh addition to the world of VR HMD’s. They are a mix of both worlds from the groups above, mobile and PC. This group offers the flexibility of using a mobile device, and the extra quality of a dedicated VR HMD, which we see on the PC HMD’s. The main players here are not new though, its Oculus, with two main products, the Oculus GO, as an entrant option and Oculus Quest for more advanced users. HTC has brought the Focus to the party, a bit more expensive take on the standalone headset.
3. WHICH VR HEADSET WOULD YOU RECOMMEND?
From the group above, it really depends on a lot of factors. What do you wish to achieve with your VR application, what is your budget, who is your target audience, are you going for quantity or quality, etc.
Although, from recent experience if your VR app is going to be used by a large number of people and you are going for quantity, then a mobile based VR is the best option for you!
On the other hand, if for example you know that you are going to have a dedicated place to show off your VR app, for example your company is exhibiting at a fair, or you have a VR app to show your clients at the office. In these cases, it is better to go for quality over quantity, and invest in a high end PC, and a PC based VR HMD.
And finally, if you would like to be versatile, take up a standalone version of a VR HMD device. The standalone version can be purchased for a price of a high end mobile phone, but offers a better quality VR experience than the classic mobile VR does.
So if you’re not 100% sure how you wish to use your VR app, start with a standalone version of a HMD device, and build on from there!
4. OUR COMPANY WANTS TO USE VR MOSTLY FOR EVENTS AND TRAININGS. DO WE NEED TO HAVE MORE THAN ONE VR HMD?
You can always start with one VR set, and then increase the number if a need presents itself! For example The New York Times once shipped around 300.000 Google Cardboard VR HMD’s (remember then from our list above?) to their subscribers, in order to reach their digital subscribers more directly and promote its VR app.
Also, one of our clients, Lafarge, purchased 10 Samsung Gear VR devices for a Health & Safety app taking users on a tour of the usually inaccessible parts of the factory!
5. WHAT INDUSTRIES IN 2019 USED VR THE MOST?
VR has become the norm, and now it is easier to list the industries that are NOT using VR then those who are! Tourism, retail, real estate, education , healthcare, marketing, and many other verticals use VR to showcase their solutions in their respective areas of operation. VR has become mainstream there is no doubt about that, and the data proves that! Before we mentioned a report about the where AR & VR is headed conducted by Goldman Sachs, and they turned out to be more than right!
6. WHAT IS THE PROJECTED SIZE OF THE VR MARKET WORLDWIDE?
According to Statista the size of the AR & VR market is growing exponentially! In 2016 the size of the market is valued at USD 6.1 billion, in 2017. it has more then doubled to almost USD 14 billion, and for 2020, the AR & VR market is estimated to reach an astounding USD 143 billion worldwide!
According to a exclusive Bloomberg report, the VR market alone is expected to reach USD 44.7 billion by 2024!
Bloomberg has also specified that the Chines VR market is worth around USD 8.5 billion! And as China is pushing the low-cost model and a lot of their own brands are shipping out HMD’s, their large corporations may even have a jump on the biggest US and Japanese companies!
7. HOW CAN MY COMPANY USE VR TO DIFFERENTIATE?
Has your industry niche used VR, or do your competitors use VR? If not, then you will have a jump start on them! Virtual Reality gives you an edge over the competition, and lets your users engage with your product or service easier.
Today it is more important then ever to follow the trends, and to keep up with your customers. By adding a VR experience you are doing exactly that and more, you are ‘wowing’ your users and you are giving yourself an advantage!
8. HOW IS THE BUDGET OF A VR PROJECT ESTIMATED?
There are two main things to consider when determining the budget for a VR project: how complex the solution is, and what is the physical amount of working hours needed to get the job done. That consists of, designing, coding and implementing the solution. Also, it depends if you will provide the company with 360 photos, or 3D models, or if the company will do that for you per your requests.
One of the main factors is how much does a VR project team, consisting of developers, designers and project managers, charge for their time. For example, according to a rough market research, VR development costs in North America range from $50-250; Western Europe $50-200; Asia $10-50 and Eastern Europe $20-100. Now, the prices are not exactly corelated with the level of quality you will get! There are Western European companies that operate branches in Eastern Europe, but are notorious for the dedication of keeping the quality of work at a high level!
One of the most important things as well is good communication that must exist between the client and the developer company! If there are communication problems, that can lead to massive overtime, extended deadlines, and overall slow pacing of a project!
You could fill out a contact form with us, and GET A FREE QUOTE on your next VR project!
9. HOW MUCH BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE DO WE NEED TO HAVE AS A CLIENT IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT KIND OF VR APP WE NEED?
The more you know, the better! Having successfully reached the end of this blog posts just shows that you are willing to learn and are genuinely interested in this subject!
We hope you found the answers to these 9 virtual reality questions most helpful!
Here at ARVRtech, we keep close interactions with existing and future clients! We use our decades of experience in our business processes, in order to give you the assurance you need when discussing your needs as a valued client, and to offer you solutions which can fit any budget!
Don’t hesitate to CONTACT US, and we will be happy to reply, and discuss your ideas as soon as possible!