Friday, December 29, 2017

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.

One problem with this specialized video technique is that it can be hard to get a clear picture in the middle of a video. Whereas, the top, bottom and sides are often clear. When it comes to sound, the quality is basically the same as that of a stereo when set to either mono or stereo. When using external speakers, it is important to use high quality speakers which can handle stereophonic sound.

Currently, there are specialized cameras and rigs which have been developed for the filming of these type videos. These include Go Pro's, Omni, Odyssey and all-in-one virtual reality cameras. While there are others, these are systems most used in the filming process. Other companies are currently working on research and development as to how to make pictures and videos of a better quality in the future.

These videos are generally viewed using personal computers, mobile devices or dedicated head mounted displays such as Virtual Reality headgear. When viewing on smart phones, there are internal sensors like the gyroscope which can be used to pan across images. While virtual reality headgear can be used to view these videos, it should be noted that it is often advised not to use a virtual reality headset for more than 30 to 55 minutes per session.

When it comes to websites providing these videos, some have memberships while others place a price on each video. While this is the case, there are a number of reasons why, even if a video of this type cost money, it can be beneficial to pay to watch. For example, previewing an area before vacation, looking at other cultures for a class project, or simply for entertainment.




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