VusionVR - Virtual Reality and Marketing

TORONTO - June 13, 2018 - PRLog -- Virtual reality production Toronto is suddenly a hot industry in Canada's financial capital, thanks in large part to virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality's (AR) potential for use by marketers.

VR and AR enable users to consume imagery and information in futuristic new ways. Though the two are often discussed together, they are fundamentally different technologies, each with its own advantages and possibilities.

Virtual reality involves total immersion. Users don a special, processor-powered headset that transports them to a different time or place. It might be somewhere real, or it might be a figment of the creator's imagination; either way, the headset creates a sense of inhabiting a new 360° reality.

Augmented reality is the practice of laying information over the real world. Unlike VR, then, it depends on the user's surroundings. Most often, AR manifests through smartphone cameras – the online game Pokemon Go is the quintessential example.

Both AR and VR have the potential to disrupt or influence a wide range of industries, which is why some of the world's largest tech companies are investing heavily in the technology. Facebook, which purchased the VR startup Oculus in 2014, was among the first to enter the field. Since then, both Apple and Google have embraced immersive technologies, and several hardware manufacturers have developed VR headsets.

Virtual Reality Marketing

As any virtual reality agency can explain, VR's marketing potential lies in its ability to grab and hold users' attention. VR has been adopted by diverse industries to connect with consumers and forge new, meaningful bonds with their audiences. International automotive companies have used VR to place prospective buyers behind the wheels of their high-performance vehicles, while non-profits have transported audiences to impoverished corners of the world in hopes of evoking compassion and empathy.

Virtual reality production is often costly and time-consuming, but many brands find that the memorable marketing experience they are able to create is well-worth the investment.

Augmented Reality Marketing

An augmented reality agency Toronto may produce work that includes way-finding products, informational overlays relating to local businesses, or applications for retail clients that allow customers to preview products.

For example, IKEA recently unveiled an augmented reality agency tool that allows customers to virtually place items of furniture in their home. The tool scans the users' room through their smartphone camera and then displays on the screen the item as it would appear in the room. Other companies have introduced tools that allow users to preview makeups or eyeglasses using technology similar to that which enables Snapchat or Instagram facial filters.

The Future of Marketing

Every virtual reality agency Toronto believes that immersive technologies will become central to future digital marketing efforts. Though some tech industry experts continue to doubt the mainstream viability of VR and AR, all indication is that these technologies are here to stay.

Over the next two to three years, companies like Google, Facebook (via Oculus), Samsung, Microsoft, HTC, and Sony will release new editions of their respective headsets that are more affordable, intuitive, and powerful than the versions that exist today. At the same time, virtual reality content producers will rethink what content works best in virtual reality and develop new and exciting ways to tell 360° stories.

The path to mainstream adoption for augmented reality Toronto and elsewhere is even more clear. AR is already embedded in millions of smartphones around the world – as users become comfortable with AR apps, this ecosystem will continue to evolve.

Indeed, we're seeing this happen already. At its recent I/O Developer Conference, Google previewed AR-enabled additions to its Maps platform that include informational overlays and wayfinding prompts.

Even more exciting is the impending consumer release of augmented reality smart-glasses. A handful or global tech companies are rumoured to be developing this new kind of wearable, which will display all the information we currently access via our smartphones directly in front of the eye.

Virtual and Augmented Reality Marketing Toronto

VusionVR is a Toronto-based virtual reality, augmented reality, and 360° marketing agency that leverages cutting-edge immersive technology to help brands create unforgettable marketing experiences and form deep, meaningful connections with their customers. VusionVR has developed and produced immersive marketing experiences that position our clients as forward-thinking, innovative organizations. Contact us through Social Media - https://about.me/vusionvr or from our website - https://vusionvr.com