Virtual Reality is the future of web design more popular

Nowadays, Virtual Reality (VR) is getting more and more popular don’t you think so?. We can see it is blooming in the gaming industry and so what about the web?. Currently, companies like Google and Firefox are working on an api called WebVR. According to WebVR , WebVR is an open specification that makes it possible to experience VR in your browsers. The goal is to make it easier for everyone to get into VR experiences, no matter what device you are using. Lets look into a website that has implement VR desings into its website for a demo, Awwwards .

VR has some common user experience when using VR and they are either having feeling seasick or weird when using VR. These problems will be related back to the roots of desining the VR environment, such that mimicking 3D reality requires to fit what is display on the screen must fit the scale of line. For instance, a real-life person to be life-sized in virtual reality environment. In conclusion, we must design with the right scale for a better experience.

In VR, it is more about the perspective between time and space. Distance between the user and the environment design will tell the person how to interact with the device. Reminder when designing for VR will be:

1. Not one flat screen, it can be curved or molded around their eyes
2. 360-degree view

Now lets look into the principles of VR below:

1. Be aware of movements that could make people feel sick, such as overfly fast motion
2. Horizon and static objects should provide a constant point of reference
3. Design the experience so that the user can “see” without needing to spin their head around
4. Think about the brightness and coloring of objects, example too much light when user is in a closed environment
5. Elements should look and feel real or not, do not mix real and not real into it

You have read the design and principles behind it. So in your opinion, do you think that VR will be the future?. Hence, here are some reasons stated by Tom May from Creative BLog:

• VR is moving to the browser
  Last time to access any kind of VR, two things is needed which is a headset and an app. But now web browsers are going to support for WebVR in the future. You are still going to need headset but no longer and application such as games. All you need is a headset such as google carboard, HTC Vive, daydream, PlayStation VR, Samsung Gear VR and Oculus Rift.
• We’re way past the demo stage
  Originally VR was still in experimental stage but nowadays, developers start to work on real apps that can be useful for real people. For example, Sotheby’s International Realty company has its website now supporting 3D and VR tours as can be shown in the picture below.

This is a picture of a house that has the exact scaling of the real object in real life. Users can use the mouse to move or free look around the house. Besides that, you can use W, A, S , D keys to move around the house. There is also a selection of floors to move around.

• A new world of possibilities is opening up
  With VR there is endless possibilities, example as suggested from a blog would be:
  1. Booking hotel rooms,before booking we can virtually view it beforehand so we can determine does the room suit our taste and needs
  2. Conferences that you cannot attend, organizers can set up VR conferencing
  3. Shopping for furniture in IKEA, you can virtually view it and check out the dimensions

Source: Web Design Book of Trends 2017, by UXPin INc and Tom May , Creative Blog