virtual reality kiosks
outfitted with augmented reality facial
detection technology. The kiosks allow
users to see how they would look with a
variety of make-up products. The kiosks
use augmented reality technology from
Perfect Corporation.
In another project, which was in
conjunction with the March 2016 release
of the movie ‘Batman v Superman: Dawn
of Justice’, outdoor advertiser JCDecaux
partnered with Roadshow Films to
deploy kiosks in Sidney and Brisbane in
Australia that enabled users to project
their face onto the outfit of their chosen
superhero and engage in a battle with
the other character. Users could adjust
the size of their facial image to fit the
costume and share images from the
kiosks on social media platforms.
Virtual reality kiosks
While applications for AR-enabled kiosks
may only be limited by the imagination
of content creators, their use with
virtual reality technology isn’t yet clear.
38 KIOSK solutions
In addition to the higher cost of VR
solutions relative to traditional kiosks,
hygiene concerns related to sharing
headsets in a public deployment have
made some potential users wary.
VR companies are working to address
these concerns, though. Oculus Rift and
Samsung VR have created removable
face foam for their headsets, while
Japanese companies have been selling
disposable VR headset hygiene masks.
But while kiosks may only be a small part
of the VR equation, the potential for VR
technology itself seems great, with new
applications hitting the market nearly
every day.
SeaWorld in Orlando, for example,
has incorporated a virtual reality
component with its Kraken Unleashed
roller coaster. Riders have the option
of wearing a virtual reality headset that
creates the impression of the coaster
travelling underwater and encountering
a variety of sea life. In addition, many
of the non-entertainment applications
are being developed for working
on machinery and/or training new
employees. VR headsets can display an
exploded 3D image of a car engine to
detail maintenance procedures, while
flight simulators can create a much
more immersive experience with the
technology.
Retail giant Walmart plans to
incorporate Oculus Rift VR headsets
at its 200 training centres to help train
new employees. The company had the
idea after one of its employees saw the
technology being used at a University
of Arkansas American football team
practice. Walmart’s testing indicates that
associates who go through VR training
retain what they’ve learned better than
those who haven’t. Once the technology
is fully rolled out, more than 140,000
associates each year will have VR as part
of their training experience, company
officials said. n