Virtual Reality - Is it worth all the hype?

Virtual Reality - Is it worth or the hype?

Please let us know your thoughts on what you think of the VR technology and if it is really worth all the hype that is generated around the design software houses that promote it?

I am a bit anti VR from the point of view I have not seen any demos that show the quality I would expect to see regarding the accuracy of reflections and colours.
Having customers put on the silly looking headsets and making sure they have enough space to walk around is also something that is putting me off the tech.

I just think it's a bit of a gimmick and a set of quality images shown on a large screen is more professional to impress customers.

Not seen or tried any of it myself yet. I assume there will be something on show @ KBB so will take a look then.

If it can help a customer get an idea of scale and space, more than an on screen image, then that must be good? But i cant see it ever being a replacement for design images at all - just as an aid to them.

Not a fan from what i have seen, putting a headset on won't make a client buy a kitchen any quicker than good quality renders. Clients also want to touch an feel the products in a showroom. Wasted money when the 3d software could and should be improved. Just my opinion.

I've used Virtual Worlds VR which uses an Oculus Rift.
In my opinion, VR does not meet the same image quality that Articad can accomplish yet. but being able to walk around, open cupboards, turn on the tap is a fun experience for customers.
A great laugh if a partner is poking the other half who has the headset on! These are experiences which can build relationships between designers and clients and is currently a USP for small businesses. Other competitors such as Howdens and B&Q already send out panoramic links to there clients, just like Articad's panoramic service, and soon they will most likely go the VR route.
VR and AR are a fast-growing industry especially in KBB industry but finding a program which ticks all the boxes will be hard to find.
But yes, currently this takes up a lot of resources such as time, space and a beefy graphics card.
It would be interesting to see what happens in another 5 years time.

Thanks guys for your input....
I think all the sheds will/have VR as only today I noticed IKEA has it and Wren are really pushing it at the moment in the Telly ads.

I guess if you have the room, hardware then it's another string to your bow but I do not think it will be a USP very long with the big boys using the tech...

Wren's VR Promo Video:

Another thing that springs to mind after watching the Wren Video is does it actually add extra workload to the designer/salesperson?

Certain customers would start asking can I see it in this colour and that finish, change the handles, can you change the view out the window. To me it could really be tiring with certain customers who cannot make a decision and some that just want a bit of fun and are just time wasters?

I don't even use Pano lol

I agree with Joe, seeing a well rendered image on a large screen while showing samples of the materials is definitely the best way to go about things at the moment. I LOVE what Articad are doing with AR and am looking forward to this coming out. I dare say others will follow suit. In fact its wearing the headset (Hololens) which holds the trump card here compared to the tablet version they are bringing to market. Hololens gives you your normal field of view unlike VR headsets, this is a MASSIVE plus. I don't doubt that this tech helps engage customers more and also provides, at the moment, a nice USP to get people in the showrooms in the first place. Heck I might even waste Wren's time and pretend I want a kitchen just to try it out ;-)

With virtual worlds it's very easy to set up the VR.
4 clicks!
I don't use Virtual worlds but my colleagues do and they use my PC for its processing power to run VR. I stick with Articad because of the rendering capabilities.

I was due to trial it before Christmas but then the snow set in and the appointment was cancelled. I'd be very interested to try it and also see where they hope to take it from here. Surely they need to be looking at AR too.

Just had a play with Wren's VR tech...

Quite Realistic of how the kitchen could look apparently

Amazing detail! I take it all back. :-D