Frequently Asked Questions
AR- augmented reality means additional contents, purposely created on the ones existing in reality. The device you need is a smartphone or a tablet. You can frame an object with your device camera and extra contents can be viewed on it with the possibility of interaction in every aspect, whether it is an exploded view or a description, a mechanical operation, or a specific function.
These expectations rise the perceived value and can guarantee the final user the possibility to appreciate every single aspect that, in absence of augmented reality, could not be wholly caught.
This is the most frequently asked question and at the same time, the one which causes more difficulties in replying. Let us be honest, you are absolutely entitled to ask for a cost estimation for a product/service during the selection process of a supplier. However, in the case of virtual or augmented reality projects as well as 360° videos, two main problems may arise:
1) We are not objectively in a position to reply this question without having a defined project. The variables contributing to define the cost are so many that it would be difficult to provide a prior estimation. Any amount given without a professional survey before, would only be detrimental for the potential customer, and in our opinion, unprofessional, too.
2) If the cost is such a fundamental aspect to decide whether to carry on or not with the project, and it is so relevant to be considered as a priority, the potential customer will likely remain such. Simply, based on our experience, there is no precise idea behind this question, and without it, the chances of a conversion are practically none.
Please remark: prices are subdued to many variations based on the complexity of the request. Should a company be intentioned to add value to a product inserting it uniquely into a virtual context, the cost for this operation will be different in comparison to the one involving an equipment full production process.
This is quite a frequent question, nevertheless a generic answer can not be given. The choice for one of them, or both, in an integrated project, essentially depends on the purpose this is needed for.
Before deciding for virtual or augmented reality, we should clearly have our target in mind.
Of course you can! You will find a selection in “Portfolio” on www.expoperformane.en; alternatively we can send you few Demos with our most recent projects.
Furthermore, you can visit our You Tube channel and we would be glad to share the link with you.
You must be aware that, without the visor, these contents will show less than their original immersive power.
Actually, this is a question we particularly fear. It implies that the potential customer is contacting us without no clear ideas and without having conducted any proper survey on this topic.
Let’s come back to the question, now. Virtual reality’s range of versatility is quite wide. As for audio-visual stimulus, we can reasonably speak about infinite
possibilities. This means that any imaginable as well as non imaginable scenarios can be created. THE ONLY LIMIT WOULD BE IMAGINATION.
What is normally “finalized”, instead, is the budget of our potential customer. Therefore there is not a true reply to this question, however, two more questions can be asked to define what your needs are, if you have this necessity and finally, if the budget is available for the project you intend to accomplish.
Definitely,this question frightens us a bit less than Question n. 5
It is however hard to answer synthetically and sufficiently at the same time, and, as well, to let a potential customer understand the useful applications.
This happens why, even if the devices used for AR (mostly a tablet and a smartphone) have their obvious limitations, the contents we create, instead, will have much fewer.
Once again, it all depends from:
- The purpose (the reason why I want to use VR)
- The message you want to communicate
- The budget
Once these points have been cleared, everything becomes easier.
360° videos are less versatile than real VR as they foresee shootings in a real location. The surrounding environment therefore cannot be neither manipulated nor created the way we would like to. In particular – as we were asked this – if you want to shoot a 360° video on an archeological site and show how this site looked like at a certain age in history, 3D modelling will be needed.
However, with 360° videos, you can promote a compan’s activities, art exhibitions and museum and show their interiors. The example we can first show you is 2020 Art Quadriennale in Rome. This would be an incentive to let you imagine what you would do now with an 360° interactive video.
Yes, it is. The video will show up inside a virtual world as if it were on a screen with different dimensions, depending the requirements.
We believe that the question you should ask now is: “Why showing a 2D video into a virtual experience?
The project will proof to have a sense and to be feasible if this video is inserted at the end of a virtual tour, in which you can find additional news concerning the virtual location you are exploring, such as infographics, or a 2D video.
Your budget will be waisted for a useless purpose, instead, in case you want to show your 2D videos adopting VR visors with the sole scope of giving an innovative touch, as, in this case, a tablet will be more than sufficient.
Of course, it is. It is possible to create a virtual tour of any given location. The fundamental premise is whether the virtual tour needs to be done with a 360° video and if the location can be reached by the camera operators.
For example, if you are a travel agency in Milan and would like to present a virtual tour of the location you promote and if this one is in South America, it is necessary that all operators can reach the place for the shooting.
A different case would be if the tour needs to be done in 3D. In such circumstance, contents may be modelled directly with a computer, though, paradoxically, cost will be higher, despite simpler logistics.
First, let’s explain what we mean for interactions. Interactions into an experience of virtual reality represent the possibility, through the active intervention of those who use the visor, to actively interfere directly on the contents viewed.
The interactions can be, for example, an infographic, or a video, or the use of 3D objects.
The interaction can be activated by a fixed glance of a target, by a laser pointer, or by manual controls tracking and reproducing the hands in the experience.
However banal it may seem, this is very important. It is not possible to interact with any object filmed in a 360° video. For example, if we shoot a 360° video in a room, we can not interact with the ornaments inside.
The interactions constitute a part of the programming to be added to the video contents, whether it is real or in 3D. Therefore, it is necessary to exactly define in advance what to do and which will be the interactive objects/contents for those who will enjoy the video or the virtual tour.
Of course it is. But the places and the building you want to explore must be previously filmed with a 360° camera or re-created in 3D and be available on line.
For example, if you like to see the Louvre Museum in VR, the necessary pre-condition is that Louvre Museum uses a platform allowing the virtual visit of the museum.
At the moment, many contents, compatible with the VR visors, are available, and can easily be purchased on line. However, it is not said the that specific location you would like to visit may be available.
Therefore, we suggest to do a prior check, before starting a project of this kind.
Alternatively, the contents can be created purposely for the occasion. In such a case, you need to have the possibility to do it, evaluating logistics, the permissions needed and the project schedule.
This is a difficult question. Due to the versatility of immersive technologies, they can be adopted in many business areas, practically to all fields of activity.
The distinction on its adoption is based on your target when you want to start a VR/AR project. This is the first topic you should concentrate on.
Beyond this, technicians involved in VR/AR are no expert in all business areas, therefore, their creativity can somehow be limited due to the lack of knowledge of a specific business branch.
For many sectors, experiences are not scalable, therefore read- made proposals are hard to find, unless they are related to education purposes in certain areas or in virtual meetings.
At this point, the option of creating a personal experience would be preferable.
Of course you can. The interactions in augmented reality with a mobile device only (a smartphone or a tablet) are quite limited in comparison to those for virtual reality, for example.
You can enlarge, rotate, turn and move from one point to the other, not much more.
Yes it is. See for this the answer to question n.14. Through a specific directing program, you can play the same 360° video or a virtual tour on more visors simultaneously.
However, this makes sense for virtual videos with no interactions, but which following the scheme of a pre-defined video direction. In case of interactions, every person involved will need his time and therefore simultaneity, this case, will not be realistic.
The question will need a technical approach, and we honestly believe it is not so necessary now.
Two are the main leaders on the market: Oculus and HTC, producing excellent quality visors with exceptional performances.
Visors produced in China have recently been launched on the market and in Asia with a considerable success.
Usually, for the “ordinary” business experiences, you do not need to be particularly selective on the choice for the visor, and we suggest not to waste much time on this topic.
It depends on the situation. It is technically possible to load a video or and interactive experience directly on the visors, provided that, there is sufficient memory.
If the video files or the experience are large, the internet connection will be necessary.