What is life without friends, an ill-timed latte and, maybe, a drink after work? You don’t have to imagine it. We are all living it.
In a world threatened by the COVID-19 Virus, people are working from home, stocking up on daily necessities to avoid stepping out and some countries are actively encouraging their residents to self-quarantine.
That not only takes a hefty toll on a person’s social life but also on their mental health. Living in isolation without any contact from the outside world can become boring, frustrating and infuriating very quickly.
Helping the sick with VR telehealth support
The biggest contribution of VR is towards healthcare and support for patients and at-risk people. XRHealth provides extended reality and therapeutic applications especially for those in quarantine due to the COVID-19 infections. Here, patients with similar ailments and symptoms can connect and gain support from the medical community associated with XRHealth.
VR has made it possible for the sick, who were living in isolation, to reach medical care and treatment without leaving their quarters. Foretell Reality, part of The Glimpse Group is enabling the patients to connect with each other in a virtual world. It is facilitating genuine human interactions without increasing the risks of cross-infection.
Any patient can become a part of the Boston-based XRHealth clinics by submitting a request. These clinics are now certified and legitimized in Florida, Washington DC, California, New York, Boston, Connecticut, Michigan, Texas, and North Carolina.
Reviving Your Social And Travel Life
The behaviour shifts are prominent in almost all countries affected by the novel coronavirus. The fear is keeping people indoors and businesses are losing millions every day for staying shut for indefinite periods. No one can overlook the never-ending list of cancelled events including the PGA Championship, Facebook and Google Developers Conference, GDC, SXSW, Eurovision, and Glastonbury.
While these are enough to add more reasons for you to feel low, VR might help to bring an out-of-the-box solution for the indomitable loneliness that self-quarantine has brought upon everyone. Several museums and institutions across the world are opening virtual tours of their premises.
Now, walk through the art laden hallways of the New York Museum of Modern Art, or head to the Louvre for a rendezvous with Da Vinci’s masterpieces.
Visit exotic landmarks and important places of learning and culture including NASA and Sistine Chapel from your couch by donning your VR headset. The Smithsonian Museum of Art has already created multiple digital tours for VR users who wish to tour the premises from the safety of their homes.
Practising social distancing without increasing loneliness
The practice of social distancing can be troublesome especially for the extrovert, party-loving soul. Getting people over to your place is not a possibility during these trying times. But, you will never have to be alone or lonely when you can have your virtual friends over at a virtual nightclub or pub with the help of a VR headset.
The same VR concept can work for students sitting at home right now attending online classes. The integration of VR technology can not only make them feel like a part of their regular classrooms, but they can interact with their classmates and the teachers like they would on a regular day.
According to a Nielsen publication, customers are keen on bringing the social shopping experience home using VR and AR technologies. It is quite similar to the experience IKEA had brought for their customers where the latter could integrate IKEA furniture and furnishing with their living space or bedroom in their VR-powered shopping experience.
Now, imagine shopping from the comfort and safety of your home while looking at shelves of products inspired by your most recent shopping history. While the beauty sector is already using AR and VR heavily in Korea, the situation of social distancing and self-quarantine is prompting VR users to opt for virtual shopping experience for clothing, groceries, pharmaceutical products and other utilities.
VR to Power Real Estate, Interior Landscaping And Several Other Sectors
As several sectors see a sharp decline in sales and profits, real estate agents, interior designers, decorators, counsellors and legal consultants are seeing a new ray of hope in VR Technology. With shared VR programmes and interactive interfaces, the business providers can interact with their clients in real-time without exposing each other to the threats of COVID-19 infection.
Many industries are encouraging remote working for their employees. However, in the event of employee onboarding and training, AR and VR technologies can be the superheroes without the cape that CxOs need to minimize their losses, minimize the cost and effort of onboarding, and to efficiently continue working on projects that are conducive to remote working conditions.
What’s Next?
The threat of novel coronavirus infection is clearly reshaping social behaviour and influencing how people interact with their environment.
However, instead of sulking at home, feeling bored and unproductive, you can use your VR headset to travel new places, visit museums and important landmarks, pick up a new skill or coordinate with your colleagues to complete an ongoing project.
Remember, if you are feeling ill, you can always enrol with the ongoing VR telehealth projects to share your concerns and get consultations from experts without leaving your house.
