The entertainment industry is being transformed by the boom in virtual experiences which give people around the world the chance to view priceless works of art and take part in virtual games from the comfort of their own homes.
A range of virtual experiences, powered by enhanced technology, has improved the entertainment industry by making venues more accessible and affordable.
Thanks to the technology powering 360-degree virtual tours, museum and art buffs can avoid the crowds and visit places of interest all around the world from the comfort of their own homes. Visitors can explore the collections of over 1,200 galleries and museums in all four corners of the globe via Google Arts & Culture's collection. In a single day, you can visit the Musée d'Orsay in Paris, the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, and the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles.
Virtual experiences are not limited to real-life museums and art galleries, the possibilities are endless with historical environments created especially for visitors to explore. You can even take a 360° virtual trip around the inside of the Titanic! The technology enabling these virtual tours is ingenious. Photos are taken from different angles of, for example, a museum to create a seamless panoramic image. In turn, the 360-degree panorama image is converted into a virtual tour.
Advances in live-streaming technology have been a boon for the entertainment industry. Improvements in connectivity have reduced latency to ensure a smooth live-streaming experience. The convenience provided by virtual entertainment is exemplified by the availability of online casinos. Griffon Casino is an online platform offering live versions of traditional casino table games such as blackjack, roulette, and baccarat, alongside live game shows featuring live presenters. Players can access a virtual casino experience without the need to don a tuxedo or even leave their homes. The virtual world is increasingly taking traditional brick-and-mortar experiences online.
Modern escape rooms, which exploded in popularity in the early 2000s and now number many tens of thousands of establishments around the world, are also embedded in virtual entertainment. Through virtual escape rooms such as Cross Roads Escape Games and advances in technology, which include live-streaming, virtual reality, holograms, and robotics, groups of friends can gather virtually from anywhere in the world to work together to solve puzzles and find clues on their computers or smartphones.
These new and improved technologies have enhanced the entertainment options for people who are not able to attend these types of events in real life due to a variety of circumstances, including location and financial constraints, or a lack of leisure time.
Mark Zuckerberg, the Co-founder, Chairman, and CEO of Meta Platforms, has bet big on the metaverse and virtual reality, but the take-up of VR headsets has been slow among consumers. However, while the gamble has not yet paid off, virtual reality is widely viewed as the next big thing in terms of driving virtual experiences in the entertainment industry.
Virtual reality headsets would provide visitors of online museum collections with a fully immersive experience, while escape rooms and online casinos would be further enhanced through the interactive nature of the technology. With VR in its early stages, the possibilities are endless.