After a failed attempt by Nintendo way back in the 1990s, VR has hit back in style. Thanks to increasing consumer VR products, industry analysts now predict VR to be a $120 billion industry by 2020.
This technology is poised to become the largest trend next to smartphone revolution. Each day new applications of this tech are being brought out in various industries – Health, Education, Tourism, Real Estate and in particular the Sports industry.
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How Virtual Reality Is Making Way Into Sports
There’s no denying the global popularity of sports. It is guaranteed that each nation has some or the other sporting events. With different teams competing, fans tune in to watch sports all round the year.
Virtual Reality has started to create ripples with all the developments in recent times covering sportspersons, sports equipment manufacturers, and audience. With the rapid increase in consumer VR Headsets, it’s clear that this technology is not only for gamers but also for anyone.
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VR in Sports as a Performance Booster
In sports, Virtual Reality is used as a training aid in golf, athletics, cycling etc. It is used to measure athletic performance and analyze technique. A VR sports simulation allows taking a closer look at player’s performance. Thereafter the analyzing and optimizing parts can be scaled up to a degree never known before.
Innovation in Equipment Design
The other sectors of the sports industry reaping benefits from VR tech are sports equipment manufacturing units (e.g. running shoes, safety pads, etc.). Virtual Reality is being used to design clothes, gear and other equipment to perfection. This is possible because of the ability of simulated software to record interactions made by sportspersons. This enables manufacturers to understand the physical gestures and motions from a completely different angle. Thus, Innovation is being fostered with the bar rising in terms of players achievements.
Redefining Sporting Events
Improving audience’s experience is also a primary concern for VR in Sports and franchises are handling it quite well. By redefining how events are being experienced, VR tech companies are concentrating on eliminating all the other hassles like parking issues, traveling charges and putting you in the middle of the action while you are relaxing on your couch.
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3 Notable Projects In This Sphere
- NextVR: NextVR has been working with organisations like The NBA, NASCAR, The NHL, and FOX Sports to produce VR content. It also backed a $30.5 million in funding from Time Warner and Comcast recently. It has already patented a suite of technologies related to 360° cameras that can capture in 3D and HD to create more immersive content.
- VokeVR: Tickets are expensive, and attending away games often requires a plane ticket and a hotel room. The team behind VokeVR is working to reduce all this hussle and is bringing courtside experiences to your couch. VokeVR has 360 cameras mounted at strategic points in stadiums. Its technology can help viewers enjoy these 360 photos and videos directly using their smartphone and for enhanced experience, opt a VR Headset.
- EON Sports: EON Sports is pioneering in creating training simulations for sportspersons and athletes. It is offering previously unavailable insights to coaches for better strategic planning using the Madden-esque mode. This mode enables you to have an overhead view as the event happens.
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