Virtual Reality wasn't big in 2013
In 2013 we received a Sponsorship | Barter Deal form the organizers of the Johannesburg Motor Show to create a virtual tour of the Johannesburg Motor Show. In return for the...
In 2013, we received a sponsorship and barter agreement from the organizers of the Johannesburg Motor Show to create a virtual tour of the event. In exchange for producing the virtual tour, we were provided with our own exhibition stand at the Johannesburg Motor Show.
At the time, I expected there would be huge interest in virtual tours and virtual reality technology. Surprisingly, very few people visited our virtual reality stand. Most visitors were focused entirely on the cars themselves and not on the idea that they could continue exploring the vehicles in virtual reality after the event had ended.
Today, the virtual tour we created in 2011 has received well over 1 million views online and continues to live on the internet. It has effectively become part of the history and digital legacy of the Johannesburg Motor Show.
Virtual Reality at the Johannesburg Motor Show in 2013
Virtual Tour — Johannesburg International Motor Show South Africa
Below is the virtual tour we created for the Johannesburg Motor Show in 2011. Since its launch, the tour has accumulated more than 1 million online views and continues to attract visitors every year.
Virtual Tour Statistics
Some interesting statistics about the project:
- More than 1.2 million views to date
- Created in 2011
- Includes more than 80 panoramic images
- Viewership continues to grow year after year
Our First Self-Developed 360° Video Camera
For this project, we also developed our own 360° video camera system completely from scratch and entirely self-funded. The Johannesburg Motor Show was the first event where we tested the camera publicly.
This was long before commercial 360° cameras became widely available, and the few systems on the market at the time were extremely expensive. Our setup served as a proof of concept and played a major role in helping us refine and improve future versions of the camera.
When watching the footage today, some imperfections and clichés are noticeable, but these were all part of the learning process and technological experimentation at the time.
These videos were among the very first — if not the first — 360° videos ever filmed in South Africa.
Our self-developed 360° camera tested at the Johannesburg International Motor Show in 2013
Mercedes-Benz Stand — Johannesburg Motor Show 2013
The Mercedes-Benz stand at the 2013 Johannesburg Motor Show in South Africa.
Car Magazine Stand Walkthrough
Walking through the Car Magazine stand at the Johannesburg International Motor Show.
Author: Gerald Ferreira