Virtual Reality is no longer the technology of science fiction, it is here today and already making waves in a number of different industries. Early adopters are already seeing the impacts and there are predictions for VR taking over in other industries. Sports are worth billions of dollars to the economy every year and are always looking for new technology to make marginal gains and move forward. VR could change the way that sports are watched and the way that people train for their next games.
The Impact VR is Already Having
VR has entered our lives with a big impact, just like many other technological breakthroughs like AI and cryptocurrencies. These modern technologies are often linked, too, as there are even virtual reality cryptocurrencies that are tied to VR concepts like the metaverse. Altcoins are springing up as an alternative to some of the huge names many people already know in crypto, and Cardano GPT is one of the exciting and groundbreaking blockchain platforms we’re seeing that embraces new technologies. Cardano GPT is made for innovators with a plan to challenge the older ways of doing things.
Technology breakthroughs can make it hard to know which types of technology are going to take off, but proof of concept for VR has already come from the gaming industry, with many VR games already having a huge following, and headsets being launched by some of the biggest names including Meta and PlayStation.
Gaming is another industry with a lot of revenue and money spent on research and development. Estimates state there are a billion people or more worldwide who play games in some form. As well as casino games, it is easy to see the potential for VR in gaming, and people who have been lucky enough to try out the top headsets such as Meta Quest may have already seen the stunning graphics and interesting gameplay features.
Architecture and interior design has been another industry to take VR and run with it and use the technology to give people a virtual look at things like home design, seeing how a house will look when it is finished.
Most industries have some use for virtual reality, especially as a tool to show people how things may look in the future or put people into real-life scenarios. Training, for example, is something that people can do via virtual reality now, saving people money and resources to send someone to another location. Consider the way that this could work for things like learning to fly a plane, something that already uses advanced simulations. Even basic life-saving skills like first aid and CPR can potentially use the technology for good.
VR in Sports Viewership
So, how are sports going to pick up the baton and create new and effective uses for VR? Your brain may already be whirring at some of the possibilities.
In terms of entertainment, Meta Quest broke new ground when it offered fans the chance to watch games as if they were in the stadium. People have been put courtside in 180-degree VR meaning they can watch what is happening all over the court, no need to rely on camera operators to capture the action.
Meta Horizon Worlds has created a whole “NBA Arena” which means a close-up experience and more added features including extra games people can play.
Apple Vision Pro is also pushing boundaries here, and MLB has already announced a partnership. A spokesman explained that “thanks to Apple’s remarkable ingenuity and our incredibly talented staff at MLB, fans can transform their space into a Major League ballpark and surround themselves in a rich, spatial experience that was previously impossible.”
Pop on your headset and you can get the same view as if you were in the stadium. The Vision Pro is a “spatial computer” and has more options for AR during sports as well as VR.
VR in the Sports Industry
Inside the industry, we see that there are a lot of other uses for the technology. Training is one of the obvious areas where virtual reality has benefits. Take soccer as an example. VR software is already being created that can put players into match situations and help them to envisage what is going on around them. Vision is such a big part of certain sports and with software like Be Your Best players can train how they see match situations.
Scouting is another crucial use, and watching how players perform. On televised games, this is not always easy, as the cameras follow action rather than individuals, but with VR a scout can focus in on the player they want to check out, watching their movement around the pitch.
Conclusion
Companies are already working on providing the next big technology for sports fans and while VR isn’t the main way that the industry operates, or that sports fans watch the fixtures, given a few years it could well revolutionize the way we appreciate sports, in a way we are already seeing in some industries such as gaming and the gambling industry. Sports fans can look forward to more immersive and engaging ways to watch sports from their own homes.
