25 Jun Why is VR so Expensive?
Virtual reality, or VR for short, is the new horizon where the technical community allows you to experience an artificially created non-physical world. By using a series of sensors and actuators, the VR technologists have provided an exquisite and unique experience where they can emulate real-world scenes.
An offshoot of VR is Augmented Reality or AR. AR combines the best of both worlds. It helps integrate the artificially created world with the physical world and create an overall amalgamation that could result in great ventures.
Virtual reality has been in the mainstream for quite some time. Yet, the future of virtual reality is a mystery. The whole technological development has slowed down over the years.
This delay in development has laid down a chain reaction that has slowed down its cost reduction, mainstream acceptance, and overall inclusion in the masses’ lives. We have come a long way since the early start of VR technology in the early 1990s.
Much work has been carried out in this regard, but the future of Virtual Reality is still a grey area that is to be further probed. To give an in-depth understanding of the future of virtual reality, it is important to look at the main events down the history of virtual reality development.
Gradual Improvement
When it comes to describing Virtual Reality, we have seen a lot of improvement over the years. Technology has come a long way. However, it is not in its final shape.
A lot of research and development is being done in it. Gradual improvement makes technological development expensive. In addition to this, technology is getting a lot better every passing day. This is something that makes big capital investors reluctant to invest in the domain.
The lack of good investment results in delays in development and further innovation of the technology. This rift is growing gradually, and the development is slowing down in the current era.
Niche Targeting
The overall concept of Virtual Reality is very appealing. However, very little effort is put into conceptualizing and marketing the applications for this technology.
The target segment currently suitable for the Virtual Reality concept is the gaming community. When it comes to the gaming community, the segment selected is a very specific niche that is interested in a very trivial gaming experience.
This limitation of marketing is acting as a barrier in making this product a mainstream consumer product. This niche targeting brings serious questions about virtual reality and the future of VR gaming to light.
High Costing
Due to the higher research and development potential of the product, the overall cost of the product is relatively high for what it delivers. This is an important prospect while considering the product’s ability to reach the masses and enter the mainstream.
The product is not comparable in cost and does not offer a broader experience, making it a great component of tech gear one should buy for themselves. This is the reason why the future of virtual reality is not very promising until the cost is reduced significantly.
Handling of Content
The content handling by the headset as a stand-alone component is not very great. This makes the allied components a necessity. This limitation is mainly due to the processing power and the limitations of the semiconductor chips.
However, when this handling is enhanced, the cost increases exponentially, making the overall component unfeasible for mass production and development.
Difficult Product Placement
Virtual Reality hardware is placed at a very difficult place for procurement when it comes to product placement. The products available in the market are limited by type, and apart from one or two labels, the overall product strategy is very difficult to understand.
The virtual reality headsets are either tethered or are dependent on a very high-end computer for handling the tasks at hand. This makes them a high-cost accessory to a very high-end computer. This experience is also limited further by the initial investment in the computer’s build, thus leading to a reduction in the number of users for VR.
Expectations vs. Reality
When you think about VR, you have a lot of expectations from the application’s perspective. However, when it comes to reality, it hits hard. The quality of the VR content being produced is not very great.
And the great content requires a very high-end computer to support this. This overall complexity results in a dull future of virtual reality in general and the future of VR gaming in particular.
This rift in expectations and reality is another reason why the overall mainstreaming of VR is further delayed. The difference makes these two make it more prone to bashing and overall dislike among the community.
Limited Experience
Virtual reality is an experience that is best expressed when been through it yourself. The experience is difficult to express in words.
However, a little effort is put in this regard. The general question of a buyer before the purchase decision is a way to try the VR. This is a serious domain where little or no effort is made.
General people are unaware of places where they can try the VR; thus, they cannot gain this experience and can’t decide to purchase the headset for themselves.
Product Design
One key concern about the product is its design, as the product is not user-friendly. Although a lot of effort is put in this regard, the overall weight and size of the product are not suitable for a long duration.
The product’s weight and size make it difficult to attract the masses as the product does not inspire the common public. The design feels like a prototype and is thus to be reimagined such that the product could be more inspiring and futuristic.
This change in product design is to be more about the weight and the shape of the headset.
What Future Holds?
To give you a clear understanding of how this whole setback is converted into a fruitful experience, VR applications are to be broadened.
This would lead to the successful involvement of masses and industries alike in the development of further improved and commercially viable products.
Thus, these products can thus be used effectively, enabling the overall mainstreaming of Virtual Reality headsets in the common consumer space. This mainstreaming of VR would result in a suitable future for virtual reality technology.
In addition to this, the need of the hour that efforts are carried out in mainstreaming the technology throughout the masses so that the overall demand is increased. This increase in demand would create a more practical, feasible, and commercially viable virtual reality experience.
FAQs
Why is PlayStation VR so expensive?
When it comes to gaming VR, PlayStation VR is considered an industry standard. However, it is important to note that the product comes at a very high price tag.
This price tag is almost equal to a base variant of PlayStation. It is important to note that the headset itself does not act as a stand-alone component and requires a fully functional PlayStation to operate.
This is mainly due to the processor and sensors with low latency, making the product so costly.
Why is VR gear so expensive?
The headset is not as expensive as others. However, the Gear VR requires a fully functional mobile phone to support this. This combination makes it expensive and is to be considered when selecting the appropriate VR headset for yourself.
Why is VR gaming so expensive?
VR gaming requires a high-end computer to support the virtual reality experience. This makes the overall costing of gaming on VR to be higher.
The cost includes the combined costs making the overall cost higher than the normal gaming cost. Furthermore, the high-end computer required to support the virtual reality experience is more advanced than a normal gaming pc.
This further adds cost to the virtual gaming experience.
Is VR the future of gaming?
There is no doubt that a lot of emphasis on VR is on gaming. This is mainly true as the overall experience of gaming demands an immersive and inclusive atmosphere.
This is further supported by the recent developments in the domains of VR for gaming. The whole emphasis of VR development at the moment is targeted towards the gaming regime.
Therefore, it is safe to assume that the future of virtual reality and VR gaming is bright if the direction of research and development is streamlined.
How much are virtual reality glasses?
Virtual reality glasses are not a costly material as they are only made up of lenses and housing. However, it is the allied processing power that makes the overall cost of the experience costly.
The price is further added if you consider including additional sensors and actuators for a fully immersive experience. The cost is further buffed up if you are looking for low latency wireless devices. Thus the options and overall availability of the whole experience of Virtual Reality makes it costly.
However, virtual reality glasses are not very costly when considered alone.
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