The History of Augmented and Virtual Reality (A Walkthrough from 1838 to the Present)
virtual realityJanuary 14, 2019

The History of Augmented and Virtual Reality (A Walkthrough from 1838 to the Present)

Augmented reality and virtual reality changed the world and how people see and make use of technology. It might surprise you to know however that it all started in 1838 when Charles Wheatstone created the stethoscope which allowed users to view different images for every eye. This makes you see a larger 3D image which is much farther. In 1891, Thomas Edison and William Dickson invented the kinetoscope. This allows users to see images at 46 FPS. Next to it, the link trainer flight stimulator was developed in the 1929. It was developed by Edwin Link of the Link Piano and Organ Company. This is a fuselage that simulate plane movement, cockpit enclosure, and also the actual experiences of riding a plane.

In 1935, Pygmalion’s Spectacles, a sci-fi written by Stanley Weinbaum, a special pair of goggles was first described. The goggles can enable people to experience the five senses virtually. This was followed by the View-Master which was developed by William Gruber and Harold Graves in 1938. It was a stereoscopic 3D photo viewer which served as an update to the traditional postcard.

During the Early to the Late 20th Century

Another milestone in the development of AR and VR was the telesphere mask which was developed by Morton Heilig, a cinematographer and VR pioneer. This was the first ever created head-mounted display (HMD). Headsight followed this in 1961 which was developed by Philco Corporation. This was the first HMD that could track motion and take pictures. In 1962, Morton Heilig again developed the sensorama and motorcycle simulator. This was a 3D-equipped booth that produced sensations that simulate real phenomena.

The Sword of Damocles was also developed in 1968 by Ivan Sutherland. This was a primitive headset that was suspended from the ceiling. In 1977, the Sayre Glove was created by scientists at the Electronic Visualization Laboratory located at the University of Illinois. In 1982, the Power Glove and DataGlove were created by Thomas G. Zimmerman and Jaron Lanier. This was an optical flex sensor and an ultrasonic and magnetic hand positioning tracking device. This development was followed in 1986 by the air force super cockpit program which was designed and directed by Thomas Furness. This was an HMD that could project computer-generated radar imagery, 3D maps, infrared, and avionics.

In 1988, the VIEW or virtual interface environment workstation was developed by NASA along with VPL Research Inc. This was an HMD that showed a CGI environment. Then Virtuality Group Arcade Machines was developed by Dr. Jonathan D. Waldern and W Industries in 1991. This made use of telescopic visors, joysticks, and networked units for multiplayer gaming. In 1992, the CAVE or Cave Automatic Virtual Environment came into life. This was created by the Chicago Electronic Visualization Laboratory. The CAVE was a room wherein realistic visuals could be projected. In 1995, the Virtual Boy was developed by the designer of Nintendo, Gunpei Yokoi. This was a failed portable video game console that could simulate red and black 3D images.

21st Century and the Future

All these aforementioned developments led to the following: Samsung gear, Magic Leap One, Oculus Rift, Microsoft Hololens for Developers, Google Cardboard, Sony’s Playstation VR, and the HTC Vive.

AR and VR are seen to make contributions in the fields of education, public safety, business, healthcare, navigation, and even in the way we do selfies.

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What Awaits Virtual Reality in 2019 and the Future?
real estate, virtual realityJanuary 7, 2019

What Awaits Virtual Reality in 2019 and the Future?

You must have heard of virtual reality (VR), but most of the time it is associated with computer games. The specialists in VR expect the VR to be used for different purposes. This means further associations, networking, connections, and highly immersive encounters. VR also gives us a brighter perspective as to how we progress with PC collaboration.

The Potential of VR Outside Computer Gaming

At this point, it is said that VR users have just started to break through the surface with VR technology. The developments in the interactive video and photos have made it possible for users to visit places which are not possible for them to do physically. Its primary use is in computer gaming, but it has shown great potential for business. That’s why it is used by different tech organizations namely Google, Samsung, Foxconn, Apple, Microsoft, HP, Intel, IBM, and others.

VR and Branding

Virtual reality can be used to serve the purpose of a brand or product more efficiently and also to engage the customers. It’s also through virtual reality that the consumers can be enticed by standalone product ads. It’s also through VR that products can be seen to blend with the consumers’ lifestyle which will encourage them to use them.

VR and Its Benefits Across Industries

There are various professional fields that are interested in VR: travel, tourism and adventure; home design; education; live events; movies, records, and videos; and of course, gaming. By 2020, VR is expected to provide $30 billion revenue. The total of active users who make use of VR is expected to rise at $171 million by 2018, $2.3 billion from hardware and $4.7 from software.

VR and the Users’ Expectations

Studies also revealed that 73 percent of Gen Z-ers expressed their interest in VR. About 66 percent of consumers want to go VR shopping while 53 percent of adults prefer to shop from brands that have virtual reality technology in its online shops.

The future of virtual reality will involve not merely headsets and game controllers. Users can also expect the VR to be more physical in the future. In its beginning, the VR is seen to cater to the visual senses, but experts in the field expect the VR to become more sensory oriented through the introduction of better touch controls. Frank Azor of Alienware said that when VR caters to the rest of the human senses, you will likely feel temperature-wise, body-wise and even smell the actual thing, the reality element of VR is strengthened, and its virtual aspect starts to fade.

Hugo Barra of Facebook said that VR and augmented reality will continue to work together since each of them has a different purpose. Virtual reality enables users to immerse while augmented reality enables users to interact with the environment. These two technologies will continue to connect people regardless of where they are located.

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Virtual Tour Photography: The Best Promotion for Every Business
BlogDecember 18, 2018

Virtual Tour Photography: The Best Promotion for Every Business

The entrepreneur has to connect with the audience. Most customers are visual. That’s why it is important to come up with a business promotional material which is visually oriented. It doesn’t matter if you own a restaurant, hotel, or a department store. Virtual photography will always be in the core of it.

Virtual tour photography is highly interactive, and it is of high resolution. This is the kind of photography that enables customers and site visitors to click around while checking the whole property. There are endless possibilities when it comes to the use of virtual photography. Here are more benefits to embracing the use of virtual photography for business:

It saves times since all the details laid down.

It is easier to know and see what the business offers. For instance, in the real estate, the prospective buyers need not go to the actual location themselves. Through virtual photography they can see all the details of the property. With multiple virtual photographs included, the buyers will be able to see the specific details of the property.

It is a great way to increase lead generation.

You are completely behind of your competitors when your site remains to be static and sloppy. When you use virtual photos on your site, visitors will think that you put in more effort into the creation of your site. Your effort and sacrifice will certainly pay off since this will increase your SEO rank and will enhance your site’s visibility. This strategy is intended for a company or any specific area of interest.

It will render a more professional look for your site and will make it more useful.

A listing with a static photo on the property list will leave a doubt on users that the property may have some embellishments or may not be accurate depicting the property. Through virtual photos, the potential buyers will know what to expect from the property as they can see the specific details of it. Having virtual photos of the property is like having an eternal virtual open house for people to participate without having to leave their homes.

It will boost the engagement with users.

Users love virtual photos. This has been backed by data stating that users stay 10 times longer on a site that has virtual photos. It is also known to increase the profits by 135 percent. Having multiple virtual photos can be used to produce a highly interactive and informative virtual tour. Virtual photos will showcase the artistic flair of the entrepreneur and the people working in the company.

If you want to learn more about the benefits of a virtual tour, contact us now.

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Real Estate Home Staging: The Art of Preparing a Home
BlogNovember 19, 2018

Real Estate Home Staging: The Art of Preparing a Home

Many people ask what home staging is. Home staging in itself is an artform that enables your house to look bigger, cleaner, brighter, warmer, and more comfortable. The best thing of all is that home staging will make buyers want to buy your home.

There are professional home stagers, and they are professional artists. They have the skills of a top-performing designer and also a backdrop on theatrical aesthetics that involves the five human senses. However, before you get into coordinating several rooms, here are some tips on doing the initial steps in home staging:

Dealing with Clutter and Color Designs for Home Staging

First things first. You have to arrange all the scattered furniture into some sort of appealing order. This is known as a vignette. You may also need to showcase some soft fabrics like silk, satin, and lamb’s wool. You can also display unusual knick-knacks in a sequence of 1,3, and 5. Window casings can be draped with simple lines to make it attractive. It’s better if you can add some distinctive elements to the bookcases, shelving, and fireplace mantels. This will draw more attention to those areas that are pre-arranged.

Colors can be used to express creativity. You can use it for pillows, on unique art pieces, and other decors. A shot of colors can be a huge help in making your home more artistic. You must also abide by the minimalist principle. Don’t clutter your furniture by having too many pieces of them. Consider arranging the core pieces in a different way and you will see a huge difference.

There are professional home stagers that you can hire to ensure that your home will be sold fast. When you look for these professionals, it’s like looking for any other service provider. You have to ask around for referrals. You may start with a real estate agent that you trust. There are many real estate agencies that have a list of professional home stagers. These companies have been pre-screened by real estate agencies.

The Price of Home Staging Service

When you are able to talk to a home stager, you can ask for some estimates. This service is free. It is only an estimate, but when the actual cost and the expense are too different, you better check on that immediately. You can also do your own calculations. Be mindful that home staging professionals may have varying ways of rating theirs services. There are those who charge for an hourly rate and others will set a fixed rate. You can ask them how they calculate their rates, so you have an intelligent decision. You also have to consider the condition of your own home, the average length of time homes get sold in the market, and also the asking price of your own.

The asking price will have a huge influence on the amount that you can pay for the home staging services. There are those who bring in rented furnishings which can increase the rate tremendously. That’s why you have to be smart to know what the home stager is planning to bring in and what the cost is.

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