Imagine the last time you traveled to meet someone (we know.. it’s been a while). Where was it? How was the weather? What did you do? If you’re anything like me, you probably can’t recall the details. It’s been that long. It’s a shame, right?

But what if there was a smart way to meet with friends (without having to stare at your desktop? Virtual Reality (often referred to as VR) lets you do that. This emerging tech lets you create new social experiences where you can meet people, travel to foreign locations and escape into new digital worlds.

Sounds spacy? It doesn’t have to be. While the tech has been here for decades, it’s increasingly making its way into the homes of both consumers and professionals. With VR headsets like the Oculus Quest 2, Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, it’s never been easier for people to completely immerse themselves into new digital experiences, take a hands-on approach to learning new things and catch up with the people who matter the most – like your friends and colleagues.

But while most people associate VR with the gaming industry, it’s gradually being used by a growing number of innovative businesses to embrace new ways of working remotely.

We understand VR can be confusing. Virtual worlds sound like they belong in Star Trek and not in business. That’s why we’ve made this guide to walk you through the (more technical) definition of VR, how it works, how realistic it can be and how growing businesses are using it.

• What is Virtual Reality?

• How to use Virtual Reality

• How realistic is Virtual Reality?

• How growing businesses are using Virtual Reality

What is Virtual Reality?

How to use Virtual Reality

The way VR works and how you get into the digital world, is through what is commonly known as a VR headset. The headset enables you to access a 100% immersive experience in a 3D digital environment, versus just watching one on a conventional 2D computer screen. This gives you the feeling of entering a completely new world. Among the most popular suppliers of VR headsets are the Oculus Quest, Oculus Rift and HTC Vive.

Oculus, which is owned by Facebook, recently launched a new standalone Oculus Quest 2, featuring a new sleek design, nearly 4K pixel resolutions and stripped from any wires or cables enabling you to move freely in the digital world. The new Oculus Quest 2 comes with a consumer friendly price tag, and is also available in an Oculus for Business edition, making it easy for innovative businesses to get started with VR.

How realistic is Virtual Reality?

VR can be a surreal experience with weird avatars and scenarios that could never take place in the real world. This is typical for the gaming and science fiction industry. Here, the endless possibilities of action packed experiences has made the VR genre an increasing blockbuster, and gamers all over the world spend endless hours in exciting foreign universes as science fiction characters trying to save the universe.

On the other hand, VR can also be a very realistic simulation of the world we already know. You can use VR to meet and socialize with friends in amazing 3D environments very similar to the real world. You can even create an avatar that looks just like you, making sure you maintain the social and physical relation with the people you’re meeting.

How growing businesses are using Virtual Reality

The ability to create and design your own virtual environments and have full control is exactly why growing brands are adopting VR. And the rapid development and quality of accessible hardware makes it easier than ever to get started. With nearly 4K pixel resolutions, impressive movement tracking and wirefree headsets, you can use VR to catch up with colleagues, brainstorm with coworkers and meet with customers in the closest possible settings to real life – without ever having to leave the comfort of your home or office.

This means that you can get close to the people who matter most and host professional meetings in virtual reality anywhere, anytime – no matter where you (or they) are in the world. And you can even bring full-size 3D versions of your products, documents, spreadsheets, videos, and PDF’s – making sure you’ve got everything you need right when you need it.