Every year we are on the lookout for the next piece of technology, social platforms, craze to encapture the sporting world. We’ve had Periscope, Snapchat stories, Twitter hashflags and of course…the emojis. Many say that Virtual Reality (VR) is the next step in this sector, and there have been a few valiant attempts at pushing this fantastic technology in front of a sporting audience:
O2 launched the first fully immersive VR experience: their “Wear the Rose” campaign where you could watch the England rugby team train:
Should Be Great!
LeBron James Leaps into Virtual Reality with Oculushttps://t.co/Mae8nOKFqW#VirtualReality#Sportspic.twitter.com/FqVqSj7K6r— VR & Live Streaming (@StreaminNews) January 20, 2016
Others in the US have also tried to up their game in the VR stakes, especially around the NFL and NBA, however, have we really got to the point where “everyone is jumping on the bandwagon”?
Through social media we enter the side of the sporting world that was never seen, even 5 years ago. We now constantly crave behind-the-scenes content, opinions from legends, images from the athletes’ lives and official club news – content that we can access 24/7 with little to no effort.
VR gives us yet another “in” , but in my opinion this year will not be the year it really takes off. Why?
- The expense – it’s incredible, but that comes at a price. A high one at the minute. I don’t want to always bring this back to emojis – but they’re free, extremely popular and now a part of our every day language… So many emojis!
Job done! ✅ … and at least one night ????????! ???? #YaGunnersYa ↗↗1⃣???? #AVFCvAFC pic.twitter.com/zMSHqcjQIM
— Mesut Özil (@MesutOzil1088) December 13, 2015
- It’s a novelty, we all love putting on the glasses and seeing something a bit different, however will this be the reason to get up to an event or to another sporting event? Does it add anything extra special at the minute? No. However, could it in the future? Definitely!
This article on Samsung’s Gear VR device is something. Today, virtual reality is a novelty. But its day is coming. http://t.co/E0e7OnOXhV
— Todd DuBois (@GWOtaku) December 19, 2014
As the tweet above says, though, I think its time will come. The key to all content we consume nowadays is accessibility and ease. VR is different, in no other form do we have to wear goggles to experience something, however it is currently not accessible to the audience it wants to reach. It’s no fad, but I don’t think it’s time has come… yet.
