Being stuck at home for most of the year so far has been challenging, and with a new surge coming we are likely to be self-isolating for a while longer.
Physical activity is crucial during this time if for nothing else than to give us something to do other than sit around and wait for a vaccine.
Work/life balance is crucial right now and any emerging technology that gives people safer options for social and physical interactions is going to become a booming industry.
Social media has been a lifeline for getting people connected to each other for virtual exercise classes, but what if technology could take working out at home to a new level?
Extended reality (XR) is one of the solutions that could get people back to playing real sports again but on a virtual scale. XR includes technologies such as augmented reality and virtual reality, and when applied to play sports it also includes real sports equipment and sensors to simulate real gameplay.
When these technologies are used for sports, people can be safely socially distanced from each other while also experiencing the competition of realistic gameplay.
Networks are used to link players together from different locations, and competition can be achieved through virtual means, complete with leaderboards and tournaments.
Being able to play recreational games is crucial for work/life balance, which is out of balance for everyone right now. We need social interaction to be good at our jobs, and extended reality is one of the emerging technologies that can safely provide that.
Can extended reality help bring people together socially while satisfying their need for competitive sports interactions during the pandemic? This emerging technology is poised to become one of the business opportunities of the future spurred on by the pandemic.
Also Read: (Exclusive) Thailand’s fleet intelligence solutions startup DRVR close to raising US$450K funding
Learn more about the future of virtual sports from the infographic below.
Infographic source: Sportstacular
–
Register for our next webinar: Meet the VC: Gobi Partners
Register now: What is corporate venture building and why this is the right time to look at capturing venture opportunities across South-east Asia.
Editor’s note: e27 aims to foster thought leadership by publishing contributions from the community. Become a thought leader in the community and share your opinions or ideas and earn a byline by submitting a post.
Join our e27 Telegram group, or like the e27 Facebook page
Image credit: Martin Sanchez on Unsplash
The post Move over VR: XR in sports is the future appeared first on e27.