Friday, March 23, 2018

Virtual 360 Tours For Fun And Recreation

By Mary Sullivan


One of the newest forms of entertainment is online touring. What better way to visit other countries and well known landmarks than through Virtual 360 Tours. Whether previewing for a potential trip or just wanting to experience other cultures, this type of touring can be a fun way to do so. In addition, it is also a good way to take a beautiful vacation without ever leaving home.

While there are some free photographs and videos of this nature, most videos have a price. While this is the case, most visitors agree the experience is often worth the cost. Whereas, in order to see the content in person, it would cost far more than the price of a 360 virtual video.

AirPana was one of the first to develop this new technology. While this is the case, there are other companies currently involved in research and development of similar applications and programs. Basically, the photographs are created by using multiple cameras. Whereas, these videos also known as spherical or immersive videos are created using a multitude of equipment.

When it comes to photography, multiple cameras or an omnidirectional camera are often used in the process. After which, the photographs are stored online. Once this is the case, individuals can play back photographs using a viewer which allows the photographs to work as a panorama. An equirectangular projection system is often used in the creation of videos with a stereoscopic or monoscopic camera.

The difference between monoscopic and stereoscopic is whether using one video camera or multiple video cameras. One problem with this type video is that there are often issues in the middle of the picture. Whereas, the top and bottom are almost always clear. While this is the case with pictures and video, the sound is also different between monoscopic and stereoscopic equipment.

There are currently specialized rigs and cameras which have been created for use with this technology. Equipment used in this manner includes all-in-one virtual reality cameras, Go Pro's and an Odyssey system which provides an array of different size camera equipment. Once other companies discover how to use this and other equipment, AirPana will have far more competition. As such, the cost of memberships and videos will most likely go down in the future.

Individuals using this technology are often using laptops, desktops, mobile devices and virtual reality gear to view photographs and videos which are enhanced in this manner. When using smart phones, a gyroscope can often be used to pan across various images. It should be noted that when using virtual reality headgear, it is often recommended by optometrists and ophthalmologists to limit viewing to 30 to 45 minutes per session.

Whether a membership or individual video purchase, those using this new technology have often found doing so quite beneficial. For, whether using the photographs and video for a class project, or to tour the world without leaving home, the technology is useful in both. While a membership or price per video is often required, photographs are often available free of charge.




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