Tourism, Virtual Reality and Other Realities

   

                                                                                                                                                     © Samsung [6]

                                                                                                                      

    With the advent of the Oculus Rift’s first prototype in 2013, virtual reality technology (VR) was quickly welcomed into the international market. Three years later, VR now is reality as many companies now provide their own version of VR headgear in order to compete in this new market. Thus, consequently, building and improving the technology and its many applications. With VR’s immersive 360-degree experience it can be adapted for the all facets of the tourism industry. VR gives the tourism industry an unique opportunity for a new marketing tool and as a way to enhance the customer experience.

    Destination BC was one of the first North American DMOs to invest in VR technology, in order to take advantage as this new marketing channel to market the province. In 2014, they spent $500,000 Canadian to create a VR immersive video of a BC boat tour, giving viewers a chance to get up close and personal with sea lions. Their next project, according to Destination BC CEO Marsha Walden, is to create a virtual experience of skiing in Whistler. Walden comments that Destination BC will only spend $100,000 Canadian on this project as the cost of the equipment has significantly dropped from two years ago. The current video is shown to consumer at trade shows, though it is also available on YouTube, as YouTube supports 360-degree VR video. All the viewer does is put their mobile device in the VR headgear and they are taken away to British Columbia [Business Vancouver; 1]

    The DMO for Vancouver, Tourism Vancouver, has also seen the value of investing in VR technology for marketing. They have sent VR headsets to British and Germany travel agencies in order to show potential customers British Columbia and Vancouver. [Business Vancouver; 1]

    At Facebook’s annual developers’ conference a few weeks ago, chief technology officer Mike Schroepfer, gave his insights to the future of tourism and VR. Wearing an Oculus VR headset, he and another Oculus wearer were able to immerse themselves in London. They both had a chance to explore a 360-degree view London, even taking a selfie with a selfie-stick. The video demo was showed “the potential for a local tour guides to give virtual reality tours to users all over the world, without having to leave their homes”. [Globalnews; 2]

    Augmented reality (AR) technology has provided another outlet for customer experience and marketing in the tourism industry. AR does not give you a 360-degree experience, it adds layers onto what the viewer is seeing. In our opinion AR is more useful for the tourism industry at this point in time, at least from the point of the tourist. AR apps are already more abundant than VR and AR does not require expensive equipment, only one’s mobile device and a corresponding app. Something as simple as an AR city guide that gives directions and detailed information about sites, which one can access on their mobile device, is very efficient for the tourist on the go. An example of this is the Google translate app, which uses AR to scan sentences in 90 languages and translate them in real time, on your mobile device [Tom’s Guide; 3]. Where VR is about immersive promotion/marketing, AR is greatly affective for aiding/informing the customer, both enhance the customer experience in different ways.

    The newest reality idea, which was fully launched a few days ago, is the mixed reality (MR). Magic Leap, owned by Google, announced its new gear – sort of like a Google glass – earlier this week. Where VR blocks out the world to immerse you in a new one, the MR keeps the world as it is and brings the virtual reality into the real one [Business Design+Construction; 4]. The wearer will see the MR through the Magic Leap glass where the visuals become an almost real time hologram. [DailyMail; 5] Though still a young technology, MR brings a new opportunity for the tourism industry in the future, by further immersing people into the product. Potential future application for MR could be used to show customers hotel rooms or rearrange them to their liking before booking, or allowing clients to experience being surrounded by tropical fish before experiencing the real thing and deciding if they should in fact do that snorkel tour.

                                                                                                    - Contributed by Alexa Bailey and Sakshi Bheda

Sources

[1] https://www.biv.com/article/2016/4/virtual-reality-poised-transform-tourism-marketing/

[2] http://globalnews.ca/news/2638463/from-messenger-chatbots-to-virtual-reality-tourism-everything-facebook-announced-at-f8/

[3] http://www.tomsguide.com/us/pictures-story/657-best-augmented-reality-apps.html

[4] http://www.bdcnetwork.com/mixed-reality-more-exciting-prospect-virtual-reality-movie-director-peter-jackson-thinks-so

[5] http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3548343/Watch-Magic-Leap-s-mysterious-mixed-reality-action-Google-backed-firm-s-latest-demo-gives-new-clues-secretive-technology.html

[6] http://www.samsung.com/uk/consumer/mobile-devices/wearables/gear/SM-R322NZWABTU

New useful event apps

In the event industry the use of technology is increasing. From meetings to exhibitions, event planner are using new technology to attract more people and to interact with them. Mobile applications for example have and will transform how events are managed.

More than 300 mobile event applications are available online. Event professionals have many choices regarding their conferences or events. They can find simple applications like an agenda or advanced one to create audience engagement during a conference.

Corbin Ball, international speaker, consultant and an expert when it comes to technology is reviewing in his article six new applications related to the event industry:

• ·       InitLive
• ·       ATIV Software
• ·       BlueStone Nexus
• ·       Listly
• ·       Conferences.io
• ·       Eventbase

InitLive for example is really attractive and easy to use (see videobelow). This cloud-based application helps event managers manage staff and volunteers. They can see checking and last minute schedule or even communicate with everyone before, during and after the event. The product is not on the market yet but has already been tested with a reasonable pricing. As a student you can get 25% discount.

All of these events tools are created to help meeting professionals to have a more effective event. Indeed professional applications have strong features with a wide range of tools and design.

Before the event, event managers can use those applications to obtain a quick and efficient registration check-in procedure. During a conference, with applications like ATIV Software and Conference.io attendees can now interact with a speaker, ask questions, vote for question and receive all the slides with notes. Regarding the Networking as it is an important goal when organising an event, applications like eventbase or BlueStone Nexus is helping delegates to create a network with other delegates. BlueStone Nexus is using the mobile phone to capture business card information in order to create an exchange between professionals. Eventbase is using the Beacons technology which is the new must have in the event industry. This app can put in your area of interest and know who is around you from 1 to 5 meters. The delegates receive a notification when a delegate share the same interest. This encourage people to meet and talk to each other.

These applications are just a few of many great other applications. They bring people together, add simplicity and fun in the event industry. They are the future! Don’t be afraid to use them!

Camille Salomon & Anthony Calzi

Sources:

http://www.corbinball.com/article2/36-mobile-and-wireless-technology/178-six-novel-and-useful-event-apps
http://www.initlive.com/

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