We start the week on VRFocus not with an example of 360 degree video within a videogame or within a film, nor are we at a sports event, taking in the views of historical ruins instead we’re looking at how virtual reality (VR) can be used in the home. In fact we’re specifically looking about how it is now being used to sell your home.
UK property website Rightmove is behind the experiment, in partnership with North London estate agent Martyn Gerrard. The pair are testing a new VR viewing platform that will allow you to explore a property without ever leaving the comfort of your assumedly soon to be ex-home. The hope being it will be a way for potential buyers to get a handle on whether a home would fit their lifestyle, saving on costs and the inconvenience of wasted viewings.
“Rightmove is always looking for innovative new ways to make the process of searching for and buying a house even easier,” explained Hannes Buhrmann, Rightmove’s Head of Innovation.”And this is an interesting avenue we wanted to explore. We’ve adopted the latest technology and filming techniques to capture and showcase these properties.”
Using a camera rig fitted with six GoPro cameras, there are two virtual viewings currently available to try out. Both of these can be viewed either on YouTube (see below), via Littlstar and can be seen via a Google Cardboard.
VRFocus will be back on Wednesday with another example of 360 degree video in action.
