The XR landscape has seen tremendous evolution, and the recent release of the Meta Quest 3 only further solidifies the industry’s commitment to progress. As someone who has experienced the Quest 2, I eagerly anticipated the Quest 3. Here’s a deep dive into my journey with the device and its potential ramifications for the financial sector.
The Context: XR Devices in Comparison
To appreciate the advancements made with the Quest 3, let’s briefly review how it stacks up against its predecessors:
- Lens Type: The Quest 3’s Pancake lenses bring the resolution quality to a similar level with the Apple Vision Pro, showcasing the industry’s move from the Fresnel lenses seen in the Quest 2.
- Field of View: The Quest 3 offers a commanding FOV of 110°, significantly enhancing the user’s immersion compared to the Quest 2 and Quest Pro.
- Lens Separation & Supported IPDs: Catering to a diverse audience, the Quest 3 supports an IPD range from 53mm to 75mm.
What’s New with Quest 3
- Clarity and Display: The Quest 3’s visual experience is unparalleled. While the hardware offers pristine clarity, the quality of the game content will determine the user experience. Fortunately, developers are quickly catching up to maximize this hardware prowess.
- Controllers: Lighter and more intuitive, the Quest 3 controllers have eliminated the ring, reducing the risk of unintended collisions.
- Performance: The device’s swiftness is evident right from the boot-up. Enhanced depth sensors have streamlined the setup process, making it seamless.
- Passthrough: The improved passthrough feature is context-dependent; while many find it impeccable, lighting conditions can impact its effectiveness.
- Comfort: The Quest 3 offers an ergonomic design that, despite its weight, feels comfortable and secure during use.
- Audio: While the device boasts louder built-in audio, there’s room for improvement, especially with the microphone quality.
The Financial Services Horizon: Opportunities with Mixed Reality
The introduction of mixed reality heralds transformative prospects for financial services:
- Virtual Banking: Envision a world where customers can walk into a virtual bank branch, discuss their needs with a virtual advisor, and access services without stepping outside.
- Financial Visualization: Dive into a 3D realm where complex financial data can be visualized, manipulated, and understood with unprecedented clarity.
- Virtual Real Estate Tours: Investors can virtually traverse properties, ensuring a comprehensive inspection before making investment decisions.
- Financial Education: Mixed reality can host virtual financial literacy workshops, making learning engaging and impactful.
Here’s What’s Happening Now with VR and Credit Unions
VR training for credit unions is an innovative way to use XR to improve workplace efficiency. Credit unions can save costs and impprove knowledge retention by having employees train in VR. Here are some examples of what AEQ can offer credit unions through VR.
- Scanning Actual CU Offices: By capturing real-world Credit Union (CU) offices, staff can be trained in a virtual replica of their workplace. This eliminates the constraints of physical location and operational hours, allowing for more flexible and extensive training sessions.
- Augmented Training Artifacts: In a virtual space, adding high-end training artifacts, like a cash machine, becomes feasible without incurring the associated costs. Staff can be trained on equipment that might be too expensive or rare in the real world.
- Simulating Teller Interactions: VR can simulate various scenarios, from interacting with members during peak hours with long line-ups to managing stress during high-demand periods. This enables tellers to be better prepared for real-world challenges. See how our partners Motive.io are using VR simulations to practice building soft skills.
Wrapping Up
At a competitive price of $499, the Meta Quest 3 offers specs that rival even the most premium devices. Its potential, especially in financial services, is vast. As I continue exploring Quest 3’s capabilities, particularly around mixed reality, I’m excited about the transformative impact it could have on industries, most notably in financial services.
Inspired by the innovative possibilities of XR and real-time 3D content? Reach out to AEQ here for a free, personalized consultation. Our experts are ready to help you navigate and leverage the latest technologies for your unique needs, whether in immersive training, education, or entertainment. Let’s transform your ideas into cutting-edge realities. Contact us today to begin your journey into the future of technology.
Adrian Moise
Adrian is the Founder and CEO of Aequilibrium, one of Top 5 Digital Agencies in Vancouver, Canada, winner of several VancouverUX awards for digital product design, voted twice among the Top 5 Best Employers. Our vision is to enrich people’s lives by crafting remarkable digital experiences. We provide end-to-end technology solutions (Strategy, Design, and Development). We build web, mobile and XR solutions for progressive organizations who want to be more resilient, differentiate, and grow.
