By next year virtual reality (VR) headsets could be used not only for applications such as video games, but also for making purchases at retail stores, by combining the convenience of e-commerce and the fun of real-world shopping. Software developers are creating new environments in which browsers could use VR devices such as Facebook's Oculus Rift or Google's Cardboard to do virtual reality shopping for items such as designer jeans and crystal chandeliers, from VR vendors.
No retail companies have announced a virtual store yet. However, the marketing agency SapientNitro, which teamed up with the luxury boutique The Line, has made a demonstration.
The virtual reality shopping demo gives users a VR trip into The Apartment, the brand's Manhattan store. It was unveiled last week at a marketing conference in Cannes, France, according to Trinity News Daily.
Viewers use a Samsung Gear headset and Samsung Galaxy smartphone to stroll around the VR storefront. Then they can fix their eyes on a particular item.
VR shoppers then hear a description from the headset's headphones, see the price, and can examine various angles. One tap of the headset adds the item to a virtual shopping cart.
The tech is still in its early stages. However, the VR shopping experiences will be paired with the launch of consumer headsets in 2016.
Next year the virtual reality industry will be booming. Hot topics include Oculus releasing its Rift headset with a $1500 price tag, while Sony's Morpheus headgear will also hit stores, according to The Star.
The VR shopping experience still has some issues to iron out. They include getting people to sign up early, and the potential to lower sales figures at brick-and-mortar stores.
Adrian Slobin, a SapientNitro global innovation leader, stated that virtual reality shopping will have to offer a unique experience that people cannot get at a physical store or e-commerce site.
For example, SapientNitro created a demo earlier this year that included a consumer using a VR platform to "pick up" store products, and then pair them with a clothing outfit on an avatar. They could then make a purchase.