Learning Thursday typically focuses on L&D articles and research. But this week, I’m featuring a fun virtual reality activity to ease us into the new year. (If you need to satisfy your academic reading fix, the last Learning Thursday is here.)
Virtual reality (VR) has been a hot topic in many industries. As you may know, the makeup industry is beginning to use VR to sell products. Maybelline is a prime example. Check out their Virtual Try On tool, which shows you how different products will look on your face. The tool allows you to upload a photo of yourself, take a photo using your device camera, or try out looks on a model.
If you want to know what you’re getting into before you try the tool, here is what it did with a photo of me. 
The first photo is me with minimal makeup:
And this is me after using Maybelline’s tool to apply eyeliner, eyeshadow, blush, and lipstick:
Not my usual style, but it’s pretty realistic! 
A few questions for discussion…
- Do you think this tool would motivate you (or someone you know who wears makeup) to purchase more products?
- Is it less intimidating to try out looks like this, versus in a store?
- Is it less realistic to try out looks like this, versus in a store?
If virtual reality is interesting to you, check out Adobe Captivate 2019, which helps you build immersive VR learning experiences.
You got some good results with this tool. I tried with my face and the results weren’t so good. Maybe it was the beard…hmmm. Anyway, I talked to my young (14 and 16) nieces about this type of tool:
- I’m not sure the tool will motivate to purchase more products, but maybe more of the right products from the same brand. The tool makes it easier to decide.
- It is obviously ultimately less intimidating to my nieces to try different looks (I’m supposed to spell it “Lewks”, but I refuse). Can you imagine standing in a store and endlessly cleaning your face to try the next product? No way.
- All in all, it seems like the most realistic way to try products as markets get more competitive.
- BONUS: Practical application in another context. Part of the US ARMY Common Task Training (CTT) includes “Camouflage Yourself and Your Individual Equipment”. The idea is to adjust your camouflage application based on your environment. Check out this related wikiHow article and you can start to see how we could apply this to training; How to Camouflage Your Face.
Similar techniques were already available for hair styles, probably less complicated.
Have still a long wish list for Captivate’s VR or better 360 slides… When can we use 3 D objects in the scenes?
I don’t know, but I’ll ask! It’s a good idea.
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