Virtual reality has been an extremely hot topic as of late. The concept of virtual reality has come a long way since it was first introduced. But now many major companies like Facebook, Oculus, Samsung, Sony, and Google, all are starting to come out with virtual reality products that could revolutionize many industries. A lot of the talk surrounding these new virtual reality products surround, changing a lot of the entertainment and movie industry. But another massive industry that virtual reality has already begun to revolutionize is college athletics.
Anyone at the University of Michigan prides themselves on being the leaders and the best in all aspects of life. So of course when a product like virtual reality has potential to be a game changer in college athletics, of course Coach Jim Harbaugh of the Michigan Football team has to be one of the first coaches in the country to hop on the virtual reality train and integrate it into the program.
Michigan football and Los Angeles virtual reality company Headcase teamed up to to bring this technology to the Michigan football program. This technology has the ability to revolutionize many aspects of college athletics from recruiting to fan interaction. The biggest aspect of college athletics that has been affected by virtual reality is recruiting. With this technology sports programs are able to create VR videos that mimic the real world. For example, Michigan has made two experiences for the football team. One of them is a game day experience, where the user feels like he is a part of the team on game day, from being in the locker room hearing Harbaugh speak to running down the tunnel into a packed Michigan stadium. Another video they have is a day in the life. The user of the virtual reality headset has the ability to put on the technology and see what it is like to be a Michigan student. Having this technology is now such an advantage in terms of recruiting. Any Michigan recruits who are not able to make it to campus now have the ability to take a visit to Ann Arbor just from their house. They can be sitting on the couch and see exactly what Ann arbor is like through the eyes of an athlete. Also many times these recruiting visits are incomplete, recruits don’t know exactly what to expect. With this technology recruits can experience even the smallest details of a visit. For example, instead of just going to a game in the big house. Recruits are now able to experience what it feels like actually running down the tunnel.
This virtual reality technology is with out a doubt a game changer in the college athletics industry. From recruiting to fan experiences virtual reality has already made an impact and has the potential to change the industry even further. With that in mind it is obvious that Jim Harbaugh is trying to make Michigan the leader in football programs with virtual reality technology.
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