What’s new in the world of virtual tours?
GLOBAL | March 2010... What’s happening out there in the real world to do about virtual worlds is mind bending!
Virtual tours, image synthesis, augmented reality- whatever- the likes of some brainy and talented human beings are igniting a fireworks display of possibilities and now realities. Enter Bing- Microsoft’s version of Google- and Silverlight- MS version of Flash.
Click on the link to the video here and you can get a true sense of live 360 degree video, streamed to overlay on Street View maps, embedding Flickr images that have been geotagged so they can overlay them on the real spot they were taken- even old historic one upon a time photos!
What does this mean to you and your business?
Please let me know! What I can sense is a LIVE interactive global in-your-store/in-your-face shopping experience, and sight-seeing possibilities into areas never imagined. Is your little spot in the world available? Are you part of this online world for people to find you? What’s your GPS location please?
So, is your target customer the new generation who have been eating this technology for breakfast or the old generation digital immigrants tasting new technology & still learning where to go for breakfast? The line is getting more & more blurry as to where these two are meeting up for a coffee.
It’s all very exciting though, and it’s making it easier for people with just a ordinary digital camera to contribute their view of this world we live in to the global scrapbook. A scrapbook with 3D viewing, 360 degree live streamed video, and a set of GPS numbers and you’re able zoom into your living room a picture of anywhere-anything! Who’s watching TV anymore? When was the last time you turned OFF your cell phone?
Reminds me of the Star Trek depicted race called the Borg- which have a singular goal, to add the biological and technological distinctiveness of other species to their own in pursuit of perfection. “Resistance is futile.”
Links to new uses for Virtual Tours
Virtual Tour on the Trans Siberian ...
Google and the Russian Railways have partnered to create a virtual tour on the Trans Siberian Railway. The tour has a dedicated page on which you can ...
Jerusalem-Virtual-Tour
Station 4 of the Stations of the Cross in Jerusalem. Experience through this virtual tour the spot where Jesus meets His Mother...
Using a 360 google map as a game to find you
A London band EDITOR releases their latest song via a virtual tour- see if you can locate it!
photosynth.net
In simple terms, Photosynth allows you to take a bunch of photos of the same scene or object and automagically stitch them all together into one big interactive 3D viewing experience that you can share with anyone on the web. Photosynth is a potent mixture of two independent breakthroughs: the ability to reconstruct the scene or object from a bunch of flat photographs, and the technology to bring that experience to virtually anyone over the Internet. Oh ya- you need to install Microsoft Silverlight (http://www.microsoft.com/silverlight/default.aspx) to get them to play. And that gets to my next point-
Your turn…
If Photosynth sounds time hungry- it is. What’s your time worth? And- what are your customers going to do with it? We learned this 5 years ago when using QuickTime as a platform for viewing virtual tours. Not enough people had broadband or could even be bothered to download a 11Mb plugin from Apple (now over 30Mb). So they didn’t open the tours. At Spin360 we chose to adopt java and flash which over 95% of users have and we still believe people expect things to happen online instantly. Things are changing and evolving and we’re keeping an ever watchful eye on new & emerging technologies.
But, like anything brand new, it takes a few million people to embrace it. In the meantime, you have a travel hungry audience waiting to spend their money with you. At least you have super clear quality fast loading flash & java HD Spin360 virtual tours on your website to inspire your customers buying decision.
GOOGLE Helicopter view for unlimited business opportunities
CHRISTCHURCH | Nov 2009 ... Imagine you're in a helicopter hovering 1000m over your business. This is a view more and more people are able to access from Google Earth. Spin360 have taken it another step further, and can create a virtual tour in mid air virtually anywhere on earth. Bring that home to your business in New Zealand and you have a powerful visual effect that will create a buzz and get people talking about you- that's a taste of viral marketing. All we do make it yours is create hotspots or links within that image that open your own 'on the ground' virtual tour of your business, hotel, lodge or backyard in high definition super detailed fun.
Install Google Earth and travel the world in 30 minutes (more like hours or days- it can be rather addictive). The Beauty of Spin360 Helicopter view is you don't need to open Google earth- and for your customers who don't have it installed, it's an instant experience right from YOUR website.
Ready to take a flight above New Brighton pier? or hover above Cathedral Square!
Spin360 FLASHES their customers
CHRISTCHURCH | Sept 2009 ... We have been actively improving our product and delivery of service and can now offer our clients full screen Flash virtual tours which set us apart from the crowd- and when used in conjunction with your website, they will do exactly the same for you. Our client portfolio is diverse, we have experience working with a range of companies, from blue chips to chip shops. No matter whether you’re a serious property developer or a single boutique hotel, the product we create for you will be of a consistently high quality and will begin working for you the minute it goes live.
Java is still widely acceptable and may users have both flash and java installed, but it is possible to maximise your viewability by having us upgrade and convert your current java tour into a fresh new FLASH VR tour. We can also look at freshening up the way it looks on the page- and maybe adding a few features while we have the hood open. You might even have renovated or remodeled- let's re-capture your new space.
Features |
Java VR |
Flash VR |
High definition image |
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Fullscreen enabled |
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57 |
96 |
hotspot capable |
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arrow key controllable |
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cost effective motion control |
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map and info overlay panels |
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add-in directional audio mp3 |
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Spin360 Exclusive Virtual Tour Provider for Heritage Hotels
AUCKLAND | March 2009... Virtual360 Limited is pleased to announce that Heritage Hotels has selected Virtual360 as the sole virtual tour provider for all Heritage Hotel and CityLife Hotel properties within New Zealand. For over 5 years, Virtual360 has been providing exceptional photography and high speed virtual delivery, thus making the decision for Heritage Hotels to select Virtual360 as their sole endorsed provider a logical next step. This arrangement helps ensure that online virtual tours for all Heritage Hotels meet the new international high standards.
"We want our hotels and conference facilities to have the best virtual tour images available on the web and are pleased to be working with Virtual360 to deliver the absolute best virtual tour product across all our properties." said Michael Hartland – Marketing Manager, Heritage Hotel Management Ltd. "Virtual360 understand what we need and deliver what they promise.."
"We are excited at the opportunity to capture high definition images that showcase each Heritage property in the best format possible- full 360 degree by 180 degree panoramas," said Karina Francks, Director of Virtual360 Ltd. "Our newest platform is fast-loading, highly compatible, user-friendly and delivers our HD images with instant full-screen capabilities."
Under the terms of each property agreement, Virtual360 will provide a comprehensive set of high quality services including HD-R photography, extensive post production values, content management, ongoing updates and scheduling utilising Virtual360’s new online project system.
Spin360 visits the Christ Church Cathedral in Nelson
NELSON | April 2009... An inspiring and dizzying display of stained glass windows. Christ Church Cathedral, Nelson, is the principal church of the Diocese of Nelson. The official seat of the Bishop of Nelson is found here in the sanctuary. An ancient word for this seat is cathedra hence the description of the building as a cathedral. See the stained glass and visit the virtual tour here >>
Spin360 and St. John gives you a close up view inside a rescue vehicle
CHRISTCHURCH | February 2009... Spin360 supports St John and is proud to be able to place you inside this amazing vehicle for
an intimate look into an emergency ambulance and the environment of patient care. This particular St John Ambulance has a replacement cost of $200,000, including the rescue, medical and safety equipment it carries.
A unique perspective is possible using specialised camera equipment and expert post production- shot in a parking lot we were able to change the view and place this vehicle on a city street.
Click for Virtual Tour
Westpac Rescue Helicopter takes Spin360 on a ride
CHRISTCHURCH | August 2008... Spin360 is proud to support Westpac Rescue Helicopter by providing a close up view of what it's like to be inside the chopper. Unless you're a pilot or a millionaire this is the fastest way to hop inside the cockpit- there's more buttons than a 737- and you'd rather see the ambulance area this way instead of from an emergency point of view.
Click for Virtual Tour
Virtual Tours now viewable on your Pocket PC and mobile phone
CHRISTCHURCH | November 2008... Spin360 is excited to announce the addition of hand-held Virtual tours. Unprecedented ability to take your Spin360 virtual tours with you wherever you go.
Now you can showcase your quality products and services to prospective clients instantly from your handheld device with impressive quality and speed. This new mobile player is virtually designed for people on the move. Any Pocket PC powered by Microsoft® Windows Mobile® 2003 and Windows Mobile 5.
click for demo
Spin360 and Accommodate-me partner up for 360 degree access to the luxury
accommodation market
AUCKLAND | August 2008... Accommodate Me is also happy to announce a partnership with Spin 360, New Zealand’s leading virtual tour developers.“These guys are the best in the business, so we’re pleased that we can now link this technology directly into our customers’ listings.
The best virtual tours technology now on New Zealand’s best boutique & luxury accommodation website.”To view a Spin 360 virtual tour on Accommodate Me, check out listing ID 327 : Westwood Lodge in Franz Josef Glacier.Accommodate-me.co.nz is New Zealand’s fastest growing boutique & luxury accommodation website with over 400 properties throughout New Zealand.
