In terms of pet care applications, the
educational promise of VR is compelling. Imagine
being able to prepare for owning a pet for the
first time by visiting the ‘VR vet’ and interacting
with both a vet and the pet that you are
considering taking on before actually committing
full time to the real-world version. Or what about
enjoying a leisurely dog walk through a part of
the world that you would never normally have
the chance to explore, either with a digital VR
dog or a representation of your very own pet.
Interested in animals and learning more about
them? VR could enable you to immerse yourself
in a detailed, content rich documentary about
the natural world. Who knows, maybe in the not
too distant future we will be conducting virtual
consultations with our clinicians, perhaps after
they have automatically received your pet’s vital
healthcare data sent by their personal health
tracking device, something we have discussed in
a previous article.
The overlap between the digital world and the
real world is widening and it is no longer simply
the preserve of the tech-savvy gaming nerd, with
the influence of truly exciting and transformative
digital technologies being applied more and
more to areas of our lives that have a real
impact. Healthcare, including that of our pets,
is one such area and I look forward to very soon
being able to don my VR headset, plug in and
explore the possibilities myself.
Chris is a vet, a self-confessed technology enthusiast and
a nerd. This level of nerdiness has seen Chris develop his
own award winning iPhone apps for UK dog and cat
owners, in addition to writing on a range of technology
matters relevant to pets and the veterinary profession.
He made the move out to Dubai in early 2013, plying
his trade as a small animal vet. When he is not writing,
thinking nerdy thoughts or treating animals, he can
be found training for and competing in triathlons, kite
surfing or jumping from planes in the interest of fun.