Virtual reality is an immersive technology that plunges the user into a lifelike, simulated digital environment. Users are able to engage and interact with the simulated environment in different ways—depending on the technology’s presentation and application. The growth and development of virtual reality technology—or VR tech—has become an integral part of the current digital revolution. As VR tech has emerged as a reality in recent years, it has been more immediately practical in certain industries.
VR tech has been particularly impactful in the fields of architecture and design. From facilitating the creation of lifelike 3-D simulations for design projects to allowing online shoppers to virtually test out furniture pieces in their home before actually committing to buying them, here are 3 ways VR tech is transforming the worlds of architecture and design.
1. Lifelike 3-D Simulations
Virtual reality technology allows architects and designers to create fully immersive, low-cost 3-D simulations of projects to show to their clients before actually carrying out these projects using more expensive real-world materials.
These lifelike 3-D simulations allow architects and designers to bring their designs to life. The simulations allow them to share these designs with their clients before producing them in the real world. This is more efficient than expecting clients to rely on 2-D sketches to make important design decisions.
VR tech also allows individuals to interact with simulated environments. For example, virtual reality technology allows a client who hires an architect to build them a house to virtually view a simulated proposed version of their yet-to-be-built house in 3-D and even walk around and engage with certain features of the house—all before the house has actually been built.
These lifelike, fully immersive 3-D simulations of design and architecture projects help architects and designers more efficiently align their designs with the needs and preferences of their clients and increase client satisfaction. In turn, these project simulations also reduce overhead costs for architects and designers. They do so by decreasing the number of revisions architects and designers have to make in the process of bringing a project to life from start to finish.
2. Pre-Purchase Furniture Tests
Augmented reality involves blending together real-world imagery with digital features. With the help of augmented reality, VR tech allows people to test out furniture pieces or design elements in their own space before actually buying them.
Many online stores now allow online shoppers to upload pictures of a room in their home. Shoppers can then see for themselves how a certain piece of furniture would look in their own space. This is a practical application of VR tech in the world of design. It also applies to design elements apart from furniture pieces, including wall hangings, paint colors, and more.
3. In-Home VR Tech
VR tech has also made its way directly into the final design of a home via touchscreen projections. Touchscreen projections are holographic projections that allow users to operate a feature of their home via a projected touchscreen.
Some applications for touchscreen projections in home design include a touchscreen projection that helps you slice bread more accurately and a lamp with touchscreen projection controls.
Virtual reality technology has already impacted the worlds of architecture and design in many different ways. Its impacts are not limited to the 3 examples mentioned in this post.
As VR tech moves into the future and continues to develop and advance, it will no doubt continue to influence architecture and design in countless ways to streamline these industries for architects, designers, and their clients alike.