There's no denying it: the world is getting smaller. The technology we use on a daily basis is getting smaller as it gets better. With the wearable revolution, the rise of the tablet and the increasing preference for phones over computers, our world is going micro. And Virtual Reality is no exception. Though names like Oculus and Vive tend to dominate VR small talk, the industry is seeing a tidal wave of smaller, cheaper, more portable hardware options flooding the market. The benefits of mobile VR are virtually endless. Here's just a couple:
Price
Where an Oculus or a Vive will set you back $600-$900 (that's not including the computing power you'll need to run it), mobile headsets, such as Google Cardboard, can be sourced for as low as $2, making them great for leaving with clients. Check out our articles on How to Determine your VR Headset Requirements and Popular VR Headsets and Pricing to find out more.
Speed
Whip it out of your pocket, launch the Yulio app, and slip it in a headset. Zero to hero in about 30 seconds. Professionalism Roll your eyes all you want, but this is a very real issue in the VR-for-business arena. Many women are uncomfortable with ruining their hair and makeup by strapping on a bukly headset, helmet-style. Mobile VR means that clients can have their own headsets and hold it to their eyes in a very practical, professional way. Shareability Because anyone with a smartphone can view in VR, working with mobile VR means you can easily publish and share a Virtual Reality Experience via email, text, or even your website, simply by sharing its unique URL. This is especially useful for speeding the collaboration process, reducing travel time, and for firms working with remote clients.
Accessibility
You don't need NASA-level computing power or crazy Zuckerberg skills to figure out mobile VR. If your Grandma has an iPhone, she already knows how to use it. Portability Mobile VR is literally pocket-sized. You can take it on-site, to a client's office, or across the world. And, if you've pre-loaded your designs into the Yulio app, you don't even need an Internet connection to view them.
Reach
The convenience of mobile VR allows you to spread it further through your community, whether it's pulling it out at events or giving away cheap headsets for your clients to show their colleagues.
Of course, there will always be a time and a place for premium VR experiences. Unfortunately, that's exactly what's required: time (it's not as simple as launching an app and slipping on a cardboard during a conversation), and a place (these larger, tethered headsets require serious computing power and full head immersion, meaning that your client will have to make the trip to your office anytime you're presenting in VR). While the big players will no doubt continue to lead the industry, as business consumers, we benefit from practical, cost-effective solutions that act as a means to a much greater end. And right now, that's mobile VR.
