Dyson, the British technology company known for its household appliances such as vacuum cleaners and air purifiers, is tapping into virtual reality (VR) technology to expand its direct-to-consumer retail approach.
The new Dyson Demo VR aims to let customers test out and learn about the products in an online virtual environment. This VR environment is made based on the same visualisation and simulation technologies Dyson engineers use to prototype and test products and software.
While the idea of bringing the store directly to customers is one worth exploring, given how VR isn’t a ubiquitous bit of technology currently, getting customers to invest in VR for access to the Dyson Demo VR may be a rather big ask. Not only that, a virtual environment cannot replicate the experience of actually holding the physical products and testing them out. As such, while the virtual store is more convenient for people who already own an Oculus Quest or Quest 2, tangibility is compromised in exchange.
Yes, in order to experience the prowess of Dyson, you’d need to purchase or own a top-end VR system. The logic checks out considering these folks would also have the disposable income to grab hold of Dyson’s products.
It is the first virtual store of its kind, and will be available through the Meta Quest store from 23 November in Singapore. Dyson will be improving and updating the VR experience over time, for example with a virtual shopping experience that includes the ability to speak with a Dyson Expert, so the effectiveness and strength of this new approach remain to be seen. For now, phase one will include the following features:
- Product Demonstrations: For the Dyson Supersonic hair dryer, Corrale straightener, and Airwrap styler.
- Inside the Technology: Get an inside look to understand how each product work.
- Home Trialing: Find out how the products will interact with various features of your home.
For those without an Oculus Quest or Quest 2, you can check out Dyson’s range of products on Lazada, Shopee, and Amazon.
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