By Bryan Brown and Len Sullivan

Virtual Reality has grown a lot in the last year. Companies like Microsoft, Google, and Apple are all beginning to take notice and make products that are more accessible and easy to use for consumers and enterprise customers. Manufacturers like HP and Dell, typically known for making laptops and computers, have also begun their entrance into the VR industry. With all the innovation that these top tech companies are undertaking, it can be hard to know which devices to go with for your business. At HighRock, we strive to stay on the cutting edge of technology and figure out what hardware is worth it and what solutions they can enable for our clients.

When VR first started becoming available to consumers it was clunky. First Gen headsets required external sensors, powerful computers, and a whole area of your workspace to be set up just to use. This made it really cumbersome to travel with and tedious to set up. New headsets based on Microsoft’s Windows Mixed Reality platform do a lot to solve these problems. Rather than using external sensors to track how you move, these headsets use on board cameras to determine how you are moving through your environment, and since they’re using Microsoft’s platform all the software is built right into Windows 10, allowing you to simply plug the headset into your computer and begin using VR.

We recently took the Dell Mixed Reality Headset and a VR Ready laptop with us to ICSC in Vegas. Our former trips required us to ship the PC and the headset with us, it definitely wasn’t the most travel friendly system. Now we can fit everything into a single carry-on bag.

Portability isn’t the only thing that’s improved with this new generation of headsets, they’re also much more affordable as well. Windows Mixed Reality headsets can be found for as low as $200 on amazon, which is much cheaper than the $400 to $600 dollar first gen headsets. Facebook has also released their “Oculus Go." which is a complete stand-alone device, meaning you don’t need to plug it into anything, just turn it on and you can enter VR.

Time is money: 3D visualization allows you to show dozens of commercial and residential spaces in a fraction of the time it takes to show each space personally. VR tours feature dimensionally-accurate architectural renderings that capture every angle, eliminating the expense of full-scale models of apartments, homes, or workspaces. Clients step into listed properties, no appointment needed.

Setup is Simple: Setup is quick and painless, making tech disasters and awkward silences a thing of the past. With headsets available for around $200, and cheap VR-Ready Laptops, all you have to do is simply look left, right, up and down and you’ll be ready to step into VR. The Oculus Go, offered at a similar price point, is a standalone headset that doesn’t require a PC hookup.

Software delivers hard results: While hardware has widened VR’s mass appeal, software innovations made by HighRock make the technology profitable to users in a variety of markets. Whether you’re strolling starboard on a yacht or retooling kitchen layouts, our software tells a detailed design story. By improving our workflow and quality in real time graphics, as opposed to architectural renderings, HighRock walks you into your design, or drives you around your construction site in a virtual vehicle. We make it easy to make changes and solve problems, saving time and money.

VR delivers serious ROI. It’s portable, affordable, and guaranteed to boost your market share. Explore our VR passion projects here.

BOOK A PRIVATE VR/AR DEMO

With the advent of VR and AR solutions for marketing, companies are falling behind in speaking to their audience. In such a dynamic landscape filled with technological innovation, it’s no longer “important,." but “imperative." to stay ahead of the curve. The question is, how can you utilize AR and VR solutions to reach YOUR audience, improve the effectiveness of your marketing plan, and efficiently meet the needs your business?

HighRock is touring the Washington D.C./Metro area through the month of August to educate companies on the capabilities of Virtual and Augmented reality as marketing, planning, and communication tool.

If you are interested in booking a private demo for your company or at your office location, please contact Len Sullivan: len@highrockstudios.com

Bryan Brown and Len Sullivan are with HighRock