Virtual reality technology is gaining traction

Virtual reality technology is finally gaining traction in the Indian market and industry watchers predict that it will go mainstream in India, growing into an industry of over $200 million in the next two years. Virtual Reality is essentially a virtual 3D environment that is created with the use of software and, till now, wearable tech. This environment is presented to the user in a way wherein the user suspends belief that it is artificial and accepts it as an actual environment.“Facebook saw the opportunity early and acquired Oculus Rift, which is pretty much the industry leader in terms of innovation and business prospects. Indians are taking to the idea. We have virtual reality wearable tech available under Rs 1,000 which is very affordable. Content in ample amounts for large scale consumption will take some time to come, like it happened with HD video, 3D TVs, 4K video and such,” said Lohit Taneja, industry watcher and Gurgaon-based technology consultant. “We’ve only just scratched the surface. People think that virtual reality is only for the gaming enthusiast, while people are already using it in a variety of ways.  We can only imagine what will be the next use. Even the entertainment industry has started taking to it. We expect that it will see an exponential growth over the next two years,” Taneja said. These techs are now being clubbed for use with smartphones, with lots of virtual reality wearable tech available for use with smartphones in India. “There are Indian startups which are also working on these lines. Some have tied up with foreign companies as well. It is largely an untapped market and there is a long way to go to see its actual impact on the way we use technology. It is exciting to see how technology has cut across borders and global innovation is driving such amazing ideas,” Taneja added.