Virtual reality simulates the real world and is already used in the medical field, in surgery in robotics, in space research, in cognitive-experiential therapies, in architectural design, in the field of real estate, in archaeology, in museums and for educational and training purposes.
The potential of the most popular software for the management of immersive images in VR led us towards the opportunities that can be achieved by applying VR in everyday life. Just imagine a designer or an agency that wants to show his or its real-estate property, his or its project to a client, a government department or contracting authority, and just think of the communication difficulties in presenting what they have in mind by means of static renderings, and how instead they would like that same project to be perceived. But also think of what an environmental impact a modern artefact has on an archaeological site (be it a walkway, a roof, an integration, any object required to integrate with the existing artefact): an arduous task for the designer who, directly on the site, will be forced to handle dozens of design boards, amidst the wind and dust.
From an analysis of the potential of virtual reality comes Archipano Real time compositing
of digi.Art digital services for Art, a system able to simplify its application in the field of archaeology, architecture, education, serious gaming and for overcoming sensory barriers.
The Archipano Real time compositing system does not require any installation on mobile devices or computers. By going to the link www.archipano.it, the user will have access to his or her own personal area, with a 360° display of real and virtual environments, from multiple viewpoints and with overlapping project or reconstruction hypothesis, in immersive mode with a VR visor, in tablet mode with touchscreen or on a PC or Mac.
This must not however be confused with Augmented Reality: the novelty of Archipano Real time compositing is not in the software, but concerns the system as a whole, the study of each individual case of integration for the insertion of three- or two-dimensional models in an
immersive scene.
Archipano RTC can be used directly on iPad, iPhone, tablet, smartphone, PC and Mac. Via motion sensors, touchscreen or computer mouse, environments can be displayed on a spherical image or 360° video.
Unlike common virtual tours, interactive spherical display allows, for example, an architect to show his or her client the exact environmental impact of the project to be realised, with the correct insertion of three-dimensional or two-dimensional models; it allows the faithful reproduction of sites belonging to the historical and cultural heritage. With the help of this system, it is possible to reconstruct archaeological sites, caves, ancient cities, monuments and sculptures.
In VR mode, head movement enables browsing within the environment. The user can use gaze interaction, move from one point to another point on the map and activate or deactivate the display of 3D or 2D models. The project or environment integrated in Archipano Real time compositing can be easily shared, just like sharing a web link.
The Archipano Real time compositing system, being a Web App, is compatible with countless mobile devices and with the most popular operating systems and browsers.
digi.Art produces multimedia and educational applications, video guides and interactive audio guides for museum exhibitions, archaeological sites and historical centres, video guides in Italian sign language, including in augmented reality and virtual reality. It specialises in three-dimensional processing and restitution of 3D models, restoration and virtual reconstructions. It designs and creates philological reconstructions of historical, artistic and archaeological sites and artefacts, including with holographic projections.