10 Examples Of Incorporating Virtual Reality In Events

The popularity of virtual reality (VR) is starting to spill over in the events industry. Adding elements of virtual reality to your events can offer more immersive and interactive experiences for attendees. We will help you evaluate how you can leverage virtual reality in events to enhance your event experience and engage attendees and audiences.

What is Virtual Reality 

Virtual reality can be defined as the use of computer-generated simulation or environment that allows users to interact and engage in the experience. Usually, participants use hardware like goggles or a headset to immerse in the three-dimensional virtual experience.

Event organizers can leverage the immersive and interactive nature of virtual reality to stand out from the crowd. There are endless possibilities and creativity with what immersive technologies can do.

Although virtual reality is more popularly used in gaming, it can also be used for different purposes in events.  When done right, the presence of virtual reality can boost attendance and impact brand loyalty. 

10 Different Ways of Using VR in Events

Virtual Product Demonstrations

Corporate events can use virtual reality to showcase their products and services. Customers can experience the products in 3D and test the functionalities of the product. 

Additionally, virtual reality creates immersive experiences for brands and attendees by creating engaging content. Brands can use VR to convey event storytelling techniques. 

In setting up your virtual product demonstrations, you can choose the platform and tools you want to use – such as Oculus, HTC Vive, Google Cardboard, Unity, Unreal Engine, or Sketchfab – depending on your budget, time, and technical expertise.

Virtual Tours 

Bring a place to life without traveling through VR venue visits. Virtual tours can be used for venue oculars, residential or commercial real estate viewing, tourism, and more. 

You can create a simulated experience of an environment. Choose your setup and plug in a 360-degree on-the-shelf camera and virtual tour software. A host can do a tour and narration while the camera captures the host’s movement. Viewers will be able to see the whole environment as if they are in the same location as you. 

Hybrid Interactions

Events have continued to evolve through time. With VR integration, hybrid or mixed events can equally accommodate both in-person attendees and remote participants. Virtual reality technology enables remote attendees to access event content, interact with on-site participants, and engage in activities as if they were together. 

Networking and Collaboration

With virtual reality, collaborating and networking with people is made easier. People can now attend virtual events and participate in virtual networking with people from anywhere in the world as if they are together in physical events. 

Examples of Virtual Reality Events

Medical/ Healthcare Events

Virtual reality has made its way to health events. Conferences and workshops in medical education can use virtual reality to make complex topics in biology come to life. Examples of how VR can be used can be advanced medical training, surgery, emergency medical simulation, and patient interactions. 

Medical institutions can hire consultants to develop virtual reality app development to get started. 

Trade Show Expo

You can use virtual reality as an added element in your trade show booth. If you have a limited space, using VR headsets can help showcase your offerings more. 

Alternatively, there are trade shows that are fully held in virtual reality. You can choose to participate in one if it fits your product. Some online platforms and applications allow you to start designing your own virtual trade show booth. 

Campus Tours

Educational institutions can offer a virtual reality campus tour to incoming students. No matter where your students are, VR technology can make your campus tours accessible and more convenient.

You can add a virtual tour on your campus website. Create one by transforming a seamless panoramic image into a realistic Equirectangular 3D space. The process of creating one is to take several images from different angles, and then stitch them into a seamless panoramic image. Then, you can process them in a virtual tour creator.

Virtual Escape Rooms

Host a fun and thrilling escape room without the limitations of physical space and resources. With a virtual escape room, you can immerse your participants not just visually but by incorporating other senses like audio. 

Start by creating your storyline, objectives, and puzzles. Next is the creation of your game’s visual elements using 3D modeling software such as Blender, 3ds Max, or Maya. Furthermore, you can design the environment of your game. 

Once those are settled, you can use game engines to connect the program of your game to virtual reality. 

Virtual Shopping

Bring your entire store to your event location. You can showcase your products and allow event attendees to purchase in your venue through the use of virtual reality. For example, organizers can set up virtual pop-ups or retail stores and provide a seamless and personalized experience for attendees.

Aside from shopping, some technologies allow a virtual try before you buy. If your product is complicated, virtual reality can educate you about the specific use of a project. 

Concert Experience

VR features like 360-degree live streaming, live VR broadcasting, enhanced audio experience and virtual venue creation are just some of the many ways VR can be used for concerts. 

Similar to other mentioned events in this blog, you can create a 360-degree video of the concert experience. Alternatively, you can create a custom VR app for a virtual concert event that enables interaction.

Event planners can market this exciting experience and sell digital tickets to promote the concert. 

Workshops 

One of the key benefits of having VR is the ability to use it for a hands-on experience. Workshop participants can also immerse themselves in simulated environments and customizable paths. 

Depending on the type of workshop, an important step is to choose a virtual event platform where you will conduct your workshop. Platforms like Remo are created to make virtual meetings more engaging. 

Product Launch

Corporate events like a product launch can come to life with the power of VR. Remote customers can better appreciate the full features of the product even without physically attending the event. 

Educational Seminar or Conference

Imagine attending a seminar or conference in the comfort of your home but experiencing it as if you were there. Furthermore, lectures can be conducted in a virtual classroom or virtual exhibition halls. There is now no limit to the educational events you can organize.

Creative Exhibits

Art installations and museums are now more interactive with virtual reality. Artists can impart extended artistic expression beyond traditional mediums’ limitations.

For example, an installation called “Carne y Arena” by Alejandro Iñárritu showcases the experience of migrants crossing the US-Mexico border. Visitors can wear a VR headset and physically walk through a simulated desert environment. 

How to Do Virtual Reality in Events

If you’re planning to add virtual reality to your events, here are some things to consider:

Define event objectives

Understand why you want to add virtual reality to your event. Some objectives include elevating branding, improving audience engagement, hands-on training, a hybrid event experience, etc. 

Set a budget

Adding virtual reality elements to your event will add cost to your event. To give you a breakdown of the costs, here are some of the things you need to prepare for: 

• VR technology like VR headsets
• Custom content for VR experiences
• 360 degrees videos
• VR software development kits
• Event space and set up 
• Staff and Training

Choose VR platforms

Choose the ideal VR platform depending on the type of event you are organizing. Different VR platforms offer varying features. Evaluate whether the platform supports live streaming, 3D modeling, interactive elements, and collaborative tools. The ideal platform should align with your event vision and provide the necessary features to engage attendees effectively.

Design the VR experience for your event

After that, you can start to conceptualize your event program and what you want the experience to be like for your attendees. Make a fully immersive experience for your attendees by planning from the event registration to the post-event follow-ups.

Test and do dry runs

Doing virtual reality involves technical expertise and can get overwhelming. Make sure to do test runs on your whole event production before the event to avoid technical difficulties.

Gather feedback and measure the impact

Finally, monitoring and evaluation will always be a part of any event. Gather feedback and opinions about the attendees’ virtual reality experience in your post-event survey questionnaire. Doing so can help you make a comprehensive post-event report. 

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