Computer: Virtual Reality
Interactive Virtual Travel   (+3, -1)  [vote for, against]
omnitheater-style virtual viewing of scenic places

The omnitheater is nice, but it doesn't have interactive features and there aren't enough movies made that fully utilise the wide screen to show off the great scenic places in the world.

So how about using the omni-camera to fully 'capture' a scenic spot so that the viewer can navigate fully by rotating or moving her point of view. Great for anyone who dislikes travelling or don't have the money or time to actually see the places you want to see.

To fully ‘capture’ a place, I would imagine recording the sights and sounds of a place for a 10 second duration at hundreds of spots at the scenic place, separated by about 20 meters from each other, to provide the illusion of seamlessly navigating through the area. The 10 second record can be repeated and recycled to give the illusion of life to an otherwise still scene.

If done right, the end result should be much better than a stop-go thing like Myst. Might achieve an effect rather similar to telepresence, and more comfortable since you don't have to wear any VR gear.
-- baboo, Apr 11 2002

Virtual Earth http://www.virtualearth.com
This looks interesting but it's just a still picture with no options to move the perspective around. [baboo, Apr 11 2002, last modified Oct 04 2004]

Where's Waldo? http://www.halfbake...here_27s_20Waldo_3f
Combine this... [phoenix, Apr 11 2002, last modified Oct 04 2004]

ETV http://www.halfbakery.com/idea/ETV
...with this. [phoenix, Apr 11 2002, last modified Oct 04 2004]

[baboo]: please use the "link" field (just below your idea) to post URLs and remove them from the idea text.
-- bristolz, Apr 11 2002


done, thanks
-- baboo, Apr 11 2002


I did. I couldn't find this particular idea in the archives.
-- baboo, Apr 11 2002



random, halfbakery