Whenever you don a VR headset and accompanying controllers, it is always a good idea to do so in an area where you have plenty of space to move around, along with ensuring there aren’t too many valuables close by that can be inadvertently knocked over or broken.
Proof of why you should do so has come from UK-based insurer Aviva, which released some interesting VR-related statistics for the past calendar year. More specifically Aviva has noted that claims related to wearing a VR headset and controllers have risen by 31 percent in 2021.
This adds to the 68 percent overall increase that the insurer has seen since 2016, pointing to just how popular VR has become over the past few years, but also that its use is not without accident.
Nothing nefarious has happened to date, with TVs being the only collateral damage according to Aviva. To that end, the vast majority of claims have involved the repair or replacement of cracked TV screens in 2021, with accidental damages being in the range of £650 (~R13 390).
“As new games and gadgets become popular, we often see this playing through in the claims made by our customers,” Aviva’s UK property claims director, Kelly Whittington, told The Guardian in a recent story highlighting the findings.
“In the past we’ve seen similar trends involving consoles with handsets, fitness games and even the likes of rogue fidget spinners,” she added.
With more new VR headsets being touted in the coming year and beyond, not to mention every tech company wanting to get in on the metaverse action, it would not surprise us if those insurance claims rise in the coming months.
“These devices can be a great source of fun, but we’d encourage people to be mindful of their surroundings and take a look at their home insurance to make sure it suits their needs,” Whittington advised.
Whether a similar phenomenon happens locally remains to be seen, with most VR offerings still being out of budget for many in SA.
