Wayfair announced the launch of Patio Playground, the brand’s first-party virtual reality application, available on the Oculus Rift Experiences store.
Developed by the company’s in-house research and development team Wayfair Next, and using Facebook’s Oculus Rift platform, the application allows shoppers to immerse themselves in an inspirational landscape, where they can explore, rearrange and discover furniture and décor from Wayfair’s catalog.
“At Wayfair, we’re continuously looking for new ways to enhance the online retail experience through technological innovation,” said Stave Conine, Co-Chairman and Co-Founder of Wayfair. “By combining our advanced first-party 3-D scanning and visualization capabilities with Facebook’s virtual reality headset, the Wayfair Next team has created an interactive and entertaining way for customers to get inspired and browse items for their home.”
Wearing the Oculus Rift headset with a controller in-hand, shoppers are introduced to a lakeside scene where they can browse Wayfair’s virtual catalog, selecting outdoor furniture and décor to design the perfect backyard setting.
“Patio Playground provides users with a new way to find design inspiration,” said Conine. “Virtual reality is a truly transformative discovery platform, and we are excited to harness this technology as we continue to deliver an exceptional shopping experience.”