Virtual reality is here, but it’s not quite the revolutionary technology that everyone originally expected yet. There’s a good chance that it could become mainstream in the next few years, though, but it will need the backing of key industries to do so.
Socialising appears to be one of the most promising applications of VR, and developers are focusing on improving this aspect in preparation for the VR metaverse.
Influence of Online Bingo and Social Media on VR
To make it into the mainstream, VR will need powerful industries to get behind it. The online bingo sector looks to be a prime place for social VR to flourish, as one of the key facets of the game is player interaction. When players play Paddy Power Bingo games like Paddy’s Pennies and Deal or No Deal, they have access to a chat room. This allows them to talk to like-minded players while the numbers are being called.
Bingo developers are likely to use VR to take this experience to the next level. Players may be able to select avatars before they enter online bingo rooms, and then see and interact with others within them. With the online bingo industry attracting millions around the world, an advancement like this would be a huge catalyst to help VR into the mainstream.
Social media will be another influential force behind the rise of VR. These sites have been some of the greatest success stories of the Internet age, and they have offered new ways for people to connect. Meta wants to take this to the next level in the metaverse, a sprawling VR social setting.
Real-Time Interactions in Virtual Environments
The current stage of social interaction online is still lagging, just as it always has been since the early days of chat rooms. When users send each other messages, they have to wait for the other person to receive them and then respond. This is set to change in VR, where there will be the opportunity for real-time interactions.
Some leading platforms for this type of socialisation currently include VRChat and Rec Room. They support a wide range of social interactions, from casual meetups to organised events. Although rudimentary, they highlight the potential of what’s to come over the next few years in VR.
The Future of Social VR
As it currently stands, VR platforms are limited to small settings. This could shift when artificial intelligence becomes integrated with the technology. That’s because AI will have the power to personalise and adapt virtual environments to user preferences, perhaps responding to the interactions of the people within them. This could be what the metaverse needs to really take off, and for Meta to generate the sprawling VR universe it has envisioned.
It’s clear that social VR platforms have a massive part to play in the growth of the technology. Online bingo and social media will have a huge role in this evolution, but it will also be aided by the incorporation of AI.
