CE Pro January 2022 - 45

ing to champion new and in some cases experimental VR
experiences may end up ahead of the competition once
the market fully matures, which might not be as far away
as it sounds.
In fact, according to data from GrandView Research, the
global virtual reality market size was valued at $15.81B in
2020 and is expected to grow at an annual rate of 18.0%
from 2021 to 2028. This means integrators who get their foot
in the door while waiting for the market to mature may enjoy
a steady stream of continued interest from homeowners and
small businesses. In addition, research suggests the rapid influx
of VR industry startups will allow for new opportunities
to make strides in the consumer VR space.
One good example of a tech startup innovating within
FRANZ12/ADOBESTOCKPHOTOS.COM
ning and interior design aspects of residential and resimercial
integration. Companies like ModusVR have become successful
examples of how the AV industry can embrace and
advance VR technology, with ModusVR using VR as a way to
design and showcase home theater plans prior to starting
work on a project.
Some detractors of VR tech may claim it's more of a gimmick
than a useful technology, but using virtual reality in the
design stage of a project allows the homeowner to get a real,
3D sense of how the home theater will feel like to live with,
an experience even the most detailed design plan cannot
match. Modus VR also notes it gives integrators a differentiator,
can elicit immediate design changes/feedback, and
provides a head start as a way into VR/AR.
The options with VR in the home theater space are not
limited to the design aspect either. Several relatively new
technology companies like Supersphere, Melody VR, and
Wave are experimenting with offering virtual access to
live concerts via a VR headset and some headphones. All
prospective concertgoers will have to do is buy a ticket
online, which allows integrators to offer a VR system as a
home theater add-on with tangible entertainment benefits
beyond gaming.
Startups Expanding Innovation
into Wellness, Other Experiences
While some live sound purists or design experts might scoff
at ideas like these, if the COVID-19 pandemic has shown us
anything over the past few years it's that adaptability and athome
options are both key to how technology will advance
in the coming years.
Ultimately, integrators and manufacturers who are willcepro.com
the
VR space is wellness-focused company Hypnos Virtual,
which has the unique goal of expanding the way gamers and
wellness technology enthusiasts experience virtual reality by
adding customizable " scentscapes " into games, movies and
TV. This " Bio-Media " as they dub it brings mood-making or
mood-appropriate bio-aromatics into the fold.
According to Hypnos, scentscape will come in different
sizes, with the home cinema model creating millions of
different scents from a unit smaller than a mini-fridge. The
Bio-Media is experienced as a choreographed " scent track "
that is continually changing like a cinematic musical score,
but instead of an array of musical instruments, it draws from
a library of aroma chemicals designed to replicate a nearly
endless array of olfactory sensations.
These scentscapes are designed to more fully immerse
home theater owners in their favorite content by emitting
essential oils into the air that match the content on-screen.
This way, VR users watching a rainforest documentary can
not only experience how the area looks and sounds, but it
will also smell like the real thing.
No one can predict what's next for virtual reality, but with
disruptive new tech companies and well-established tech
giants both clamoring to get involved, it's fair to wonder why
integrators remain hesitant to embrace what might become
the future of entertainment. Keep an eye on this space.
Tech startups are quickly taking VR experiences to new places,
such as Bio-Media " scentscapes " from Hypnos Virtual focused
on aromatic wellness.
January 2022 CE Pro | 45
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CE Pro January 2022

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