QuickTime VR is an extension of the QuickTime technology developed
by Apple Computer, which allows users to interactively investigate
and probe photo-realistic, three-dimensional virtual worlds. QuickTime
Virtual Reality (QTVR), is one of today's new technologies that
enables users to create and display 360-degree views of panoramic
scenes and objects that can be manipulated and navigated. With this
technology, viewers can look at places and objects without actually
being there or having the object in front of them. The following
are the main types of QTVR :
Panoramic Movies: or Click here
to view the sample movie
They are created by taking several, overlapping still pictures from
a tripod with a panning head and then using special software to
"stitch" the pictures together, blending them into one seamless
360 degree picture. The "stitched" picture is then converted into
a QuickTime VR Panorama.
They allow a scene to be photographed in an entire (or partial)
360 degree rotation. Images are then compiled into one image or
movie and can be played back. During playback, the viewer can
control where in the scene they would like to focus. The
viewer can zoom in or out of the pano movie to examine different
parts of the scene and rotate the image in any direction. This gives
the viewer the sense that he or she is actually in the scene.
Object Movies: or Click here
to view the sample movie
They are created by placing an object on a turntable and taking
a number of still pictures of the object, as it is turned on a
turntable. The pictures are then used to make a linear movie and
finally, a QTVR Object movie.
They allow an object to be photographed from many different angles
and then are complied into one image which can be viewed at any angle, giving the
viewer freedom to examine the object in any way they wish.
Scene Movies: or Click here
to view the sample movie
They are comprised of several QTVR Pano and/or Object movies, all bound
together with hidden regions called "hot spots." When a QuickTime
VR movie contains more than one node, the user can move from one
node to another when the author of the QuickTime VR movie has
provided a link (or connection) between the source and destination
nodes. A link between nodes is depicted graphically by a linked
hot spot, which moves the user from one node
in a scene to another scene/node when clicked. QTVR Scenes can
be very powerful, enabling a viewer to navigate from panorama
to panorama and virtually scrutinize any QTVR objects inside the
scene. A QTVR Scene acts as one stand-alone movie, even though
it contains several QTVR movies.
Applications of QTVR?
Currently, QTVR is already being used in sites such as www.evox.com
to provide a 360 degree look at products such as autos, clothing
(model), shoes, and other products. For the car industry consumers, it is
the next best thing to physically visiting a show room. Also, the QTVR application has
been applied to the tourism industry, such as hotels and scenic
sites. This provides viewers with a full visual detail of what
to expect and can assist with attracting tourists to a site or a
hotel. This can save the industry and the consumer time and money
by improving the richness of communication of goods and services
offered. The impact of QTVR can be applied in many more industries
(running shoes, tennis racquets, sculptures, etc.) where rich content
360 degree views, can add value to the communication of product
information to consumers.
