Virtual reality in corporate events: an immersive and interactive experience

Virtual reality allows the creation of immersive experiences in which the user can interact with a synthetic 3D environment through the use of VR visors. This technology has applications in many different fields, from medicine to architecture, from education to marketing. In fact, virtual reality can be used to train professionals in complex or hazardous fields, to take virtual tours of buildings before they are constructed, and to set up workspaces to preview the configuration of environments, visualizing and modifying details in real time. It also enables immersive shopping experiences, such as virtual showroom tours or product trials even from a distance. Finally, VR enables the creation of immersive environments for concerts, trade shows or physical corporate events, providing an immersive and sensory experience that can also be replicated in dislocated physical settings to reach a global audience, making the event more accessible and sustainable.

To have an immersive experience through virtual reality technologies, one first needs a VR visor, which completely covers the field of view and projects 3D images allowing the wearer to move and interact within a dynamic space. The latest generation of VR viewers operate in standalone mode and are able to offer augmented reality experiences as well as virtual reality. Interaction with the virtual environment can be through hand movements or through controllers, and tracking the user’s position in the space allows the user’s movements to be precisely monitored, enhancing the feeling of immersion.

Unlike virtual reality, which immerses the user in a completely virtual environment that replaces the real one, augmented reality enriches the real environment by adding individual virtual elements with which the user can interact. These two very different technologies can actually be integrated today, enabling mixed reality experiences in which the percentage of AR and VR can vary according to specific needs. If a user wears a mixed reality visor while visiting an empty apartment, thanks to augmented reality he or she will be able to view the space enriched with individual virtual elements, such as furniture or decorations. During the visit, the mode will be able to switch to virtual reality to show, for example, the same fully renovated room or other simulated spaces that do not yet exist. This modular and “switchable” combination of virtual and real elements allows for highly flexible experiences that can be adapted to different needs and contexts.