New use cases associated with virtual reality technology tend to pop up all over the world. In some cases, these use cases may not seem all that appealing, although they still serve a purpose. Toronto’s Weed VR is the first company to issue a mobile app to virtually touch and smell weed products.
Weed VR Takes an Interesting Step
Even though the Weed VR concept has been around since 2017, not much has come of it since. It is a venture created by Occupied VR and aims to bring cannabis to the masses without a sense of getting high. Through the updated Weed VR augmented reality app, users can have an ‘interactive experience with virtual bud”. They can even touch and smell the products, which will undoubtedly attract a lot of attention moving forward.
Ever since Weed VR was acquired by Biome Grow, things have taken a surprising turn. The new parent company owns Highland Grow, a licensed cannabis producer in Canada. The firm is creating a virtual library of its different strain. As such, letting consumers and clients explore the different options through virtual reality makes a lot of sense.. Digitizing this information is still a very complex process.
Processing all information pertaining to one bud takes thousands of photos and weeks of work. With this information, a 3D model and virtual rendering of the cannabis bud is created. This information can then be accessed through a virtual reality headset compatible with the Weed VR application. In the first demo, the Oculus Rift was used, although other models will be supported in the future. Users can pick up the virtual bud with the native controllers. Information regarding THC and CBD content is provided at the top of the screen.
The “smelling” aspect is pretty interesting, even though it is expected that functionality will pave the way for broader cannabis adoption. Physical dispensaries cannot let clients sniff the product prior to buying it under the current regulations. With virtual reality, this roadblock can be bypassed. Weed VR positions itself as an educational platform, which further bypasses most regulatory concerns.
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