What it is
Virtual reality (VR) is an immersive technology that simulates a three-dimensional environment. Users step into a computer-generated world and interact with it, and the experience can feel lifelike enough to engage several senses.
How it works
The user wears a VR headset, often with controllers or other sensory devices. The headset replaces their view of the room with the virtual environment and tracks their movement, so the scene responds as they look and move around. Devices range from high-end standalone and PC headsets to simpler smartphone-based VR.
For a business, VR offers:
- Training: realistic practice that supports faster learning and better retention.
- Virtual product testing: trying a product in simulation before it is built.
- Engagement: marketing and product experiences that hold attention.
- Reach: people can see products and places without travelling.
Where it is used in industry
- Education and training: immersive learning and realistic training simulations.
- Automotive design: creating and reviewing prototypes before physical production.
- Business collaboration: connecting teams in shared digital spaces.
- Healthcare: from surgical simulation to mental health therapy.
- Military and defence: training simulations and planning.
- Real estate: virtual property tours and architectural visualisation.
- Sports: realistic training scenarios and performance analysis.
- Tourism and culture: virtual visits to destinations, museums and historical sites.
- Gaming and entertainment.
How we use it
VR is at the centre of our training work for manufacturers: step-by-step VR for operators and technicians, VR safety training for fire, PPE, lockout and work at height, and the Digital Dojo, a modular VR training centre inside your plant. For exhibitions, our VR and MR machine demos let buyers walk around a full-size machine in a headset.
Frequently asked questions
What is virtual reality (VR)?
Virtual reality (VR) is an immersive technology that simulates a three-dimensional environment. Users wear a headset to step into a computer-generated world and interact with it, and the experience can feel lifelike enough to engage several senses. Businesses use VR to train staff, test products and show machines that are too big or risky to bring along.
How does a VR headset work?
A VR headset replaces the user's view of the room with a virtual environment and tracks their movement, so the scene responds as they look and move around. It is often used with controllers or other sensory devices. VR devices range from high-end standalone and PC headsets to simpler smartphone-based VR.
What are the business benefits of virtual reality?
Virtual reality offers businesses realistic training that supports faster learning and better retention, virtual product testing so a product can be tried in simulation before it is built, marketing and product experiences that hold attention, and wider reach, because people can see products and places without travelling.
Which industries use virtual reality?
Virtual reality is used in education and training, automotive design for reviewing prototypes, business collaboration in shared digital spaces, healthcare from surgical simulation to mental health therapy, military and defence training, real estate property tours, sports training and performance analysis, tourism and culture through virtual visits, and gaming and entertainment.
How does Metaverse911 use virtual reality for manufacturers?
Metaverse911 uses virtual reality at the centre of its manufacturing training work: step-by-step VR for operators and technicians, VR safety training for fire, PPE, lockout and work at height, and the Digital Dojo, a modular VR training centre inside the plant. For exhibitions, its VR and MR machine demos let buyers walk around a full-size machine in a headset.
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