On the advice of a good friend of mine, I decided to purchase a Google Cardboard head mount. The device is a cheap virtual reality viewer that’s meant to encourage development and interest in VR technology. It’s pretty clever — the virtual reality viewer is basically a cardboard box with two lenses. It’s so simple that there are instructions on how to make one yourself. To use it, all you do is start an app, stick your cell phone into the cardboard box, and viola! Another world blooms before your eyes.
I admit, I was skeptical. Like millions of Americans, my eyesight is crap so I wasn’t sure if I can view things properly. Plus, I read that you can get queasy while looking through the device. And since I easily get nauseous while watching video from a handheld camera, I knew there was a risk associated with this device.
But…wow, was I wrong. Best fifteen bucks I ever spent.
Virtual reality has been around for some time now. Its origins can actually be traced back to the 1800s with the creation of the View-Master stereoscope. It became a gimmick in the late 1980s-early 1990s with video game enthusiasts, but it never fully caught on. Now with all the advances in technology, virtual reality has exploded into our consciences once again. Now you can purchase one for your cell phone (that’s a little more advanced than my box) or for your gaming console. Soon Facebook plans to join the fray and hopes to change the way social media is seen. The New York Times has an app that allows you to view short video clips of new stories.
But let’s be honest here — is VR just another fad?
A couple of years ago, 3D was the wave of the future. It seemed like every movie had a 3D version. You could buy a 3D television, for Pete’s sake! Everything was going to be 3D in the future. And yet, a couple of years…yeah, not so much.
It’s hard to predict what will happen with virtual reality. It seriously can go either way, depending on the consumer’s reaction. With continuing advances in technology and businesses like Google continue to produce cheap but effective products, VR could last and even be the Next Big Thing. And that means digital marketers need to step up their game.
For years now, we’ve only had to worry about two platforms — desktop and mobile (you can say tablets too, but I consider them bigger cell phones). But if VR hits, we’re looking at another platform to market to. Websites will need to be retooled to fit a 360-degree screen. Videos can tell a much larger story. Graphics will be jumping out at you through the screen. Think of the possibilities!
And ENX2 Marketing stay ahead of the game, as we always have. Contact us today to take your digital marketing efforts to the next level.
