Not a Gamer? How to Use VR Headsets for Other Things

Virtual reality headsets are now all the rage. But, contrary to popular belief, there’s more to them than simply gaming, too. VR headsets like the Oculus Quest 2, HP Reverb G2, Valve Index, and HTC Vive Pro 2 continue to win legions of fans worldwide. Of course, gamers make up a large part of the market right now. Yet these and other headsets, such as the upcoming and long-overdue Sony PlayStation VR2, have any number of other uses.

Manufacturers like HTC produce headsets tailored toward both personal and professional users. With that, their costlier professional-grade models are used in manufacturing and elsewhere. Meanwhile, other examples from various manufacturers are even being used within the military and for medical and healthcare purposes.

The growing number of ways that virtual reality headset buyers can use their devices at home, other than for gaming, is intriguing to many. Accordingly, and from enjoying movies and live events to shopping and socializing, here’s a closer look at around a handful of other uses for VR headsets besides gaming.

Watching movies seems like an obvious use for any virtual reality headset. However, the truth is that many traditional filmmaking techniques don’t lend themselves particularly well to VR viewing. Despite this, many still enjoy the experience. Furthermore, companies like Facebook-owned Oculus are also creating their own virtual reality film studios.

The result, it’s hoped, will be movies designed primarily for VR. From animated films to action-packed Hollywood blockbusters, the finished products could be spectacular. Potentially deeply immersive and allowing for entirely new storytelling experiences, there’s almost no limit to the possibilities.

Live events are another seemingly obvious use for virtual reality, but one that’s only recently begun to receive serious exploration. Particularly in light of recent times, allowing people to enjoy immersive live events without having to attend a crowded venue seems like a no-brainer. However, just as with movies, creators are still fine-tuning the possibilities.

For now, though, there’s no reason why VR headset owners can’t enjoy footage of concerts, sports games, and other live events on their devices. Simply load up the footage from YouTube or another source, then sit back and enjoy.

Combining elements of other already-popular VR headset uses, like gaming and watching videos, the meditative world will benefit massively from ongoing virtual reality innovations.

Guided meditation, for example, can be hard to follow when viewed on a smartphone or computer screen. Yet, VR minimizes distractions allowing participants to focus on the matter at hand. It’s for much the same reason that gaming works so well in virtual reality. Various options are already available, with participants reporting benefits in any number of areas.

Almost since virtual reality headsets first appeared on the market, brands and retailers have repeatedly tried to cash in with a focus on shopping. Yet, despite their best efforts, VR shopping experiences have, until only recently, failed to gain traction.

As we’ve established, VR headset makers like Oculus continue to invest in new areas, such as movie production. At the same time, manufacturers, developers, and others alike are also simultaneously focusing on next-generation virtual reality shopping experiences. Expect, therefore, to see a big push in this area, particularly later this year and into 2023.

Just as with concerts, sports games, and other live performances, recent events around the world have also highlighted the potential of remote, VR-aided options for learning. Simply by strapping on a VR headset, kids can, in theory, enjoy a classroom-like environment in which to learn.

And the possibilities of learning through virtual reality don’t end there. To one degree or another, opportunities for people of all ages to learn new skills, retrain in different fields, and more are available through VR.

Forbes, for example, last year looked at ten possible uses for augmented and virtual reality in education. Elsewhere, companies like Adobe continue to explore the possibilities of VR in learning.

And finally, socializing. Here, Facebook is currently at the forefront of the field, even renaming its entire wider business to reflect what it believes is the future of virtual reality. Rebranded as Meta, the company will look to lead the so-called metaverse, facilitating a 3D version of the internet where people can socialize, find communities, do business, and more.

While it’s still a work in progress, early advances are already accessible, with more expected to come later in 2022.

However you use a virtual reality headset, an extended warranty is vital. As with any new technology, cutting-edge VR headsets are prone to numerous manufacturing defects, mechanical faults, and other failures.

Thankfully, with an extended video gaming warranty from Upsie, problems like these are comprehensively covered. Upsie’s extended Oculus Quest warranties, for example, also include accidental damage protection, further safeguarding against drops, liquid spills, and other mishaps.

Best of all, Upsie’s extended warranty prices are up to 70 percent lower than elsewhere. Find out more at upsie.com/video-gaming-warranty or by downloading the exclusive Upsie smartphone app for iOS and Android.