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Published Apr 13, 2021

Is VR the next frontier in fitness?

Chris Milk delves into VR fitness, illustrating how apps like Supernatural revolutionize exercise with immersive, rhythm-driven experiences while navigating music licensing challenges.
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  • AR vs VR

    , founder of Within, explores the potential of VR in creating immersive fitness experiences. He emphasizes the unique ability of VR to transform mundane exercise into engaging activities, akin to sports, by leveraging entertainment as a distraction from the monotony of workouts 1. Chris reflects on his journey from directing music videos to pioneering VR experiences, highlighting how new technologies can craft meaningful human interactions 2.

    We were trying to solve a problem that not many people had at all. But through a number of different discoveries, we realized we could use immersive entertainment to solve a different problem.

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    He envisions a future where VR and AR complement each other, offering shared experiences without the need for physical travel 1.

       

    Platform Limits

    The limitations of current VR platforms, like the Quest, pose challenges for expanding fitness applications. acknowledges that while VR fitness is native to the platform, it requires users to experience it firsthand to truly understand its potential 3. He compares the VR experience to playing a sport with a friend on vacation, emphasizing the transformative nature of VR workouts 4.

    The experience that you're having is that you're transported to the most beautiful places on earth.

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    Despite these challenges, Chris believes that VR fitness will become commonplace, much like other initially counterintuitive technologies 4.

       

    VR Fitness Potential

    The potential of VR fitness to drive technology adoption is significant, with identifying fitness as a key use case for VR's mass appeal. He notes that VR fitness attracts a diverse demographic, differing from typical VR users, and likens its impact to the transformative effect of cinema technology 5. Chris and his co-founder, Aaron Koblin, explore how new technologies can create meaningful experiences, envisioning VR as a medium that could redefine storytelling and entertainment 6.

    Most people buy new technology because it serves a purpose and it solves a problem in their life.

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    They aim to harness VR's capabilities to offer experiences that resonate deeply with users, much like traditional artistic mediums have done 5.

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