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What is a Virtual Reality Tour?

A Virtual Reality Tour is also often called a VR Tour or more commonly a Virtual Tour. A Virtual Tour can refer to any one of three main types and often you do not know which type of tour you are looking at until you read all the small print and view the tour carefully itself. It can be very confusing. Here are the three types defined in simple terms:

  1. A series of flat (normal) 2D photographs displayed on a web site with accompanying text.  These may be accompanied by video and even audio excerpts. Sometimes it takes while to realise that what you are viewing because a simple panning in or out of a 2D photograph could make you think that you are viewing the second type of Virtual Tour;
  2. A 360 by 360 degree panorama is constructed by joining several high definition digital photographs taken from a single point which is termed a panorama.  This is then processed using computer software into a movie, the format of which is typically Java, Quicktime or Flash.  During processing the tripod is often removed making the tour appear in virtual space.  The viewer can navigate around the movie by either the use of navigational buttons, dragging the screen with the mouse or by both of these methods.  Sometimes these panoramas have the ceiling (sky) or floor (ground) missing and these are referred to as a cylindrical panorama.  Other panoramas can be even more restricted as they don’t allow the viewer to pan in a total 360 degree circle.
    A Virtual Tour is a combination of two or more panoramas that are somehow linked. This can be via hotspots ( a button that when clicked takes you to another panorama), thumbnail images, a floor plan, a map or a pull down menu. These links provide the viewer with a walkthrough of an environment from room to room or place to place;
  3. 3D renderings and fly-throughs created using CAD CAM software with architectural plans to create an environment from scratch usually before it is built. This technique is often used to create virtual environments in the PC games world.

What sort of Virtual Tours does VR Vistas create?

VR Vistas creates Virtual Tours in the second category 2. described above in the What is a Virtual Reality Tour?. They are full screen 360 x 360 spherical panoramic virtual tours using Adobe Flash® format and all of the aspects mentioned in the What are the features to look for in a quality Virtual Tour FAQ below.

What are the features to look for in a quality Virtual Tour?

These are the features to look for in the traditional virtual tours. Note that the extra features provided in the new generation of tours by VR Vistas are excluded here.

  • Good quality photography combined with relatively small load times;
  • Any size up to full screen;
  • A full 360 x 360 degrees view enabling the viewer to see directly up and down;
  • The ability to move to another location via hot spots, maps or floor plans;
  • Good navigational buttons with tool tips possibly within a retractable panel;
  • The photographer's tripod is not visible giving the appearance of the tour being in virtual space.

What are your most innovative types of Virtual Tour?

Perhaps the most innovative ones include the following features:

  • A real person (not an avatar nor a virtual person) inside the tour - uses video, green screen techniques and the latest virtual tour technology.  This is probably our most innovative feature which makes our virtual tours stand out.  It also increases the potential number of applications tremendously;
  • Video inside the tour;
  • A live webcam feed of the user shown inside the tour - this usually stuns the visitor and you can even catch people brushing their hair ;-) ,
  • Feedback forms inside the tour;
  • Black and white photos inside the tour which expand and jump up when clicked on and then flood into colour;
  • Live clocks.

Do I need special software to view the Virtual Tour?

All our Virtual Tours use Adobe Flash®.  According to Adobe, 99% of computers already have this installed.

Can I view the Virtual Tour absolutely full screen?

Yes. Absolutely full screen. If necessary, select Get Flash Player to get the latest copy. When the Virtual Tour is sized dynamically (see Features) you will be able to drag the window corner to view the Virtual Tour at any size.

Can you give some examples of the use of interactive web buttons?

Interactive web buttons can be static (placed at the bottom of every screen inside the virtual tour) or placed in the panorama itself in which case it will move with the panorama as you navigate around it.  Examples of such buttons can be:

  • A tailored link to TripAdvisor® or Virtual Tourist perhaps to find out how a certain Hotel with Conference Centre is rated;
  • A customised link to Google™ Maps to show a route map together with driving instructions and distances;
  • A web link of a university virtual tour to one of the campus-based colleges;
  • A tailored accommodation enquiry button that directs viewers straight to the booking and availability page;
  • A button to a Google™ Map flyover of the course or  a  relevant YouTube™ video;
  • Exhibits in museums or art galleries can link to information locally or on the Web;
  • A virtual tour of a conference centre could provide buttons with web links to local universities, colleges and campuses for accommodation information;
  • A button in a theatre could point to a Web page containing booking information together with seating plans;

Can I highlight an area in a panorama and link it to the web?

Yes, a glow or button can be inserted around say display cabinets in museums.  Click on this and link to anywhere on the Web.  Alternatively just a tool tip can be displayed.

How do I receive my Virtual Reality Tour?

VR Vistas will email you the link to your virtual tour.  This can be easily added to your web site.

What about Virtual Tour hosting?

Hosting of your tour on lightening fast servers is included in the first year's fees. Hosting can be renewed after the first year if required. The Client may also host the tour themselves.

Do you create high definition Virtual Tours?

The size of a tour can vary depending on the required resolution. A high definition or high resolution tour can be around 3MB whereas a low resolution tour can be 1MB or less. Generally we try to keep the size to between 1.2MB and 1.5MB. Lower resolution tours can be made available for more mobile devices. It is really a question of balancing the size of the tour against loading time because the greater the resolution, the longer it takes to load.

How long does a Virtual Tour take to produce?

A photographer will spend about half an hour per basic panorama (room or location). 

Extra features take longer and production time can only be realistically assessed once the client has specified their exact requirements.

What is the format of the Virtual Tours?

All tours are created in Adobe Flash® format.  We view Adobe® Flash® as the most pervasive format and the most flexible.  About 99% of computers already have this pre-loaded.

What areas of interest do your Virtual Tours cover?

VR Vistas' Virtual Tours are really online marketing tools in which the user can explore and have some fun.  Visitors can find out lots about the venue by using interactive elements inside a tour.  These can be links to Internet resources or aspects of multimedia within the tour.

VR Vistas'  Virtual Tours are best suited to venues that are information-rich.

Here are some examples: Art galleries, Campuses, Cars, Castles, Colleges, Conference centres, Country houses, Crime scenes, Cultural centres, Educational establishments, Fitness clubs, Golf clubs, Heritage Centres, Hotels, Landmarks, Leisure clubs, Museums, Parties, Ships, Showrooms, Sports centres, Stadiums, Student accommodation, Tourist sites, Universities, Weddings.

Where is VR Vistas Located?

We are based at the end of the Gower peninsula, west of Swansea, in South Wales in the UK, about 40 miles from Cardiff.  Nearby are Virtual Tours of  Rhossili Beach and Clyne Gardens.

Will VR Vistas do a Virtual Tour outside Wales or even further afield?

Yes, we are happy to offer our professional services to clients both nationally and internationally. We have already created Virtual Tours in several foreign countries.

OK, so I'd like a Virtual Tour...

Enquire now!

Just hit the big round Enquire Now button on any web page and complete the details requested. We will get back to you by phone or email to discuss your requirements and to give you an idea of costs. We can even arrange to meet you on site to give you extra ideas about the production of an innovative virtual tour.