(Image credit: Immersed Inc.)


While virtual reality headsets are most widely used for gaming, there is much more that can be done in VR, and we explore the critical question, "Is it possible to work in VR?"


VR has so much to offer thanks to the top VR headsets. There are interactive virtual reality experiences, live events, mindfulness exercises, and VR fitness apps, but what about doing actual work in virtual reality?


While VR can give your office new dimensions, it also gives individuals who can't travel back to work a sense of normalcy by making them feel as if their coworkers are at the desk next to them.



A scene from the film Kingsman: The Secret Service shows a VR meeting. Could this be a preview of how VR will work in the future? 
(Photo courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox)


It can also give your workflow new life, whether through a creative activity like drawing with your hands, video conferencing with an avatar, or simply placing the content you're working on in the spotlight.

Whatever your motivation for wanting to work in virtual reality, the good news is that it is quite possible, even at this early stage in the technology's life cycle. Sure, there will be odd quirks, but you might be amazed at how nicely everything works for the most part.


Why Work in Virtual Reality?

As previously said, working in Virtual Reality has its own set of benefits. For one thing, it may make you feel less alone, especially if you work with a team that also uses headsets - it's a strange sensation to turn and see colleagues in a virtual workplace, especially if, like this writer, you haven't set foot in one for over two years.


Avatar utilizing a whiteboard in the virtual reality conferencing application Horizon Workrooms. (Photo courtesy of Facebook Technologies, LLC.)


Then there are the more obvious benefits, such as an increased focus on your present project or providing a completely fresh viewpoint to a project.

It's going to be a game changer for architects and CAD engineers, who will be able to easily edit objects and even go inside virtual buildings before they're completed.


It is, however, an experience that needs some time to get used to.  Having a screen with your employer's Slack channel floating in front of your face, as well as moving around without being able to see your surroundings, is disorienting at first. It's not for everyone, but it has potential.


DO YOU WANT TO WORK IN VR?




Surprisingly, we discovered some circumstances in which we performed better in VR than in our regular office setup. By removing all distractions from your home or business, enclosing yourself in a virtual cocoon improves your productivity. Being able to touch-type is essential, as typing at a fair rate will be difficult with VR controllers and a virtual keyboard.


You should definitely save your VR working adventures for your working from home days, as we imagine you'll be mocked in the workplace if you show up, say hello, and then jack into the Matrix for the day. 

Virtual meetings appear to be an important component of companies like Meta's metaverse push, but we found them to be a little gimmicky and confusing - Zoom or Google Meetings are significantly more efficient for now.