The debut of virtual reality has rapidly developed into a unique economy that is expected to shift not only the job market, but how we think about a comprehensive education. As the technology alters the roles, responsibilities and needed skills for tomorrow’s jobs, educational programs at all levels will feel the impact of the VR Economy. This will transcend not only higher-education tracks that groom future developers, but also which skill sets are necessary for any profession — from the medical field to customer service.
Educational institutions are in a spot where they can help influence the industry by pushing the limits of students in the areas of virtual design, development and execution, thereby driving new products, content and capabilities. In fact, companies such as Oculus are already investing in VR-focused programs in order to encourage future generations to be able to think beyond today’s capabilities. Additionally, analyzing the technology’s effect on storytelling, psychology and other aspects of human behavior will be a contributing factor to what drives the industry forward — meaning new value for arts and STEM programs too. There is also an opportunity to ensure that the right resources and tools are accessible to everyone interested in contributing to the VR economy, both professional and amateur. So, where do we start?
The Core Curriculum for the VR Economy
As the VR Economy continues to transform the way we conduct business, tomorrow’s executives, entrepreneurs and other professionals will be expected to have a background in the technical make-up and coding of virtual reality, as well as experience working with design tools such as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. However, those who have a complete understanding of both VR design and engineering we will be prepared for the most important role in the VR Economy — the technical artist. Bridging the worlds of design and product development in order to create cohesive, beautiful, and engaging VR experiences, the most important thing the technical artist will bring to the table is the ability to understand spatial design, VR’s changing standards, and the code that goes into creating an experience.
It is also expected that anyone looking to contribute to this economy will need to have a foundational understanding of both subjects. In the same way basic coding has become a part of the average curriculum for K-12 students, we can also expect fundamental courses in VR development and design to become part of the educational agenda. This will ensure that even those invested in careers that don’t have any major affiliation with VR, are still able to contribute, if the need arises.
Beyond a background in development and design, storytelling skills for both first- and third-person narration will become a necessary asset. While most media today develop a story from the third-person perspective, VR offers the opportunity to shift the focus to a first-person narration. This change in perspective brings new value to storytelling, enabling those creating an experience to more effectively create a connection between the viewer and the content. We can expect future artist programs, addressed at all ages, to encourage experimentation in 360 media in order to change the common thought patterns regarding storytelling.
What New Degrees will the VR Economy Create?
When it comes to design, both programs in 360 Content Design and VR User Interface Design will soon be in demand. Focused on addressing how to best manipulate this new medium, we can expect this to be popular with aspiring producers, directors and future journalists trying to gain the best understanding of how to capture and be in front of a 360 camera. Meanwhile, VR User Interface programs will focus on the design of platforms and applications, enabling designers to ensure that even as VR becomes more complex, the average consumer will be able to easily understand how to interact and engage with an experience.
VR engineering programs will focus on not only building headset and camera technology, but also integrating topics in neuroscience in order to equip future engineers to develop new products and tools that continually improve how VR envelops the senses. Neuroscience will also play a big role in programs dedicated to VR Psychological Research, where students will analyze how an immersive environment influences the way a person processes information and thereby affects their behavior both in and out of an experience. We can also expect to see educational tracks that focus on VR Data Science. Leveraging a combination of analytics and psychology-focused curriculum, this program would empower students to analyze data on in-experience user engagement and interpret it into specific insights addressing the correlation between a particular environment and user behavior.
This economy will also introduce new courses to other major tracks in higher education, including in the healthcare field, military intelligence and even other design-based programs such as architecture. This could include the popularity of programs such as industrial design with a VR focus. As more businesses integrate the technology into their own business practices, specialists resulting from this program will be able to work in virtual environments in order to manage and lead the virtual design and customization of real products.
Like the introduction of any new technology from smartphones to the internet, the growing market for virtual reality has the capacity to create a whole new sector of the economy. This will not only mean a whole host of new jobs, skill sets and education tracks — it will also create new opportunities for innovation that goes beyond what we conceive as true VR. This type of innovation is what will continue to keep technology advancements moving forward, while consistently shifting the economy.
About Gordon Meyer
Gordon Meyer has spent more than 20 years working with marketing companies and advertisers including SiriusXM, J. Walter Thompson and Razorfish. In 2018, he co-founded an agency, EngineBloc, serving technology-oriented brands. Next Reality News listed Meyer in 2018 on its list 30 People to Watch in Augmented Reality, and think tank Brand Innovators named him in 2015 to its list Top 40 under 40 Brand Marketers. Meyer teaches Blockchain at Columbia College at Chicago Online and has appeared on NPR’s “All Tech Considered” and in publications including Forbes, CMO.com, The Chicago Tribune and Inc. Meyer sits on the Board of Advisors for BWG Strategy, an invite-only network for senior executives across technology, media and telecom.
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