The most asked questions about anything 360 degree, and the answers.
How can I experience 360° projects?
You can enjoy the projects anywhere with a normal browser and an internet connection. Phone, tablet, computer, no problem! Nothing more needed. It's also possible (on request) to make it available offline.
If you have a VR Headset you can watch it immersive there! Just open any project on the built-in browser and it will be as if you're right on the spot.
What's happening on this site?
The idea is to keep developing the projects and add more interesting buildings, both modern architecture and true "classics". The focus is on The Netherlands for now, a few from China. The aim is to get the most important architecture of The Netherlands collected here in high quality 360 degree scenes.
Is this VR? What about my VR headset?
All projects can be watched with headsets like Oculus, or even Google Cardboard. Simply open it in the built-in browser and enjoy the scenes immersive, as if you are really there!
Is a 360° project replacing a visit to my exhibition / building? Will it keep away visitors?
Did the invention of gramophones replace concerts? Does a movie replace a stage play? Is a phone call replacing a face to face meeting? Of course not. 🙂 . It can exist side by side and add new possibilities.
360 Degree projects are not intended to replace a real visit. There is nothing like the real experience of walking through a building or visit a nice exhibition! A 360 project will make your building or exhibition much better visible and create interest to a much larger audience. 360° projects can be a great taster, with added benefits and extra's. Not a substitute but a trigger. Also it's great for study of details, adding extra information, show inaccessible places, comparing places, and to keep temporary exhibitions visible forever...., to just name a few benefits!
It's inclusive: consider the audiences who for all kinds of reasons don't have a possibility to come to your building or venue. Historic houses for instance are often inaccessible for less mobile people. It's not always possible to take a whole school class on a trip. An architect in Japan can't always hop on a plane to get inspired by Amsterdam school architecture.
Add a VR presentation and those visitors can also look around at their own pace!
Is "3D" the same as 360 degree?
Short answer: No! There is a lot of confusion about it, and many people call 360 projects "3D". However with 360 degree you can look around anywhere, with 3D you can also see depth. Often this isn't available in 360 projects as it's more complicated to photograph, edit and display. Some special gear is required to be able to see it because 3D doesn't display properly on normal screens, and on headsets can cause dizziness. For certain projects it can be fun.
For many projects 'normal' 360 is quite enough for a great experience, and adding "3D" isn't worth the extra effort. There's added benefit of extreme zooming and simplicity of display as no headset is needed.
Howcome the colors are so vivid?
Normal pictures are taken in one direction, the exposure is adjusted to that. However 360 projects need to be properly exposed from one point in all directions, this means for instance with sun in the back, and in front at he same time. To make the exposure even the HDR system is used.
The human eye will adapt to a new viewing direction in a split second. For 360 degree projects the exposure is compensated and adjusted for all directions at once, by combining many exposures. The added benefit is that the scenes look bright, but without overexposure.
What can be added to the 360° projects?
You can add sound (directional or normal) and of course video, which can pop-up when clicked or be seamlessly embedded in the background. In that way you can add movement of interesting parts without adding too much bandwidth.
Also slide shows, other type of images and text can be added. Floor plan and live maps with location markers are a standard feature.
So it's like Google street view, right?
Not right! Unless you're happy with low resolution, low quality random places around a building, just where their photo car could drive by. Apart from a few "Google Art" projects, which do offer good quality, the street view is clearly intended for finding an address and doesn't have the quality to really enjoy good architecture from all important viewpoints. And only rarely you can go inside. It's generated, not curated. Let Google do the search, but take control once found!
However! These projects can be added to google street view, to give Street View visitors a much better view than Google's own images. Also interiors can be pictured optimally and added to Street View.
I've seen this before, it's like Matterport, right?
Nope! None of the techniques used are linked to any specific brand, or require a specific server or subscription, like Matterport does. Matterport does picture more or less "everything", but without really knowing what's worth seeing. You need to keep clicking on floor spots and end up in places with nothing to see, just to keep the idea of "walking through the building". At 360-Architecture we picture just the most interesting spots, so each click is rewarding. Places are still connected but every scene you click is worth checking out and you won't end up at the concierge's broom closet.
I want my own project!
Good plan! Of course this is possible, just get in touch! 🙂
It's surely complicated to run? Do I need a special server?
Nope! 360 Degree projects will run on any server, also to view you don't need any plugins. Also no subscription is required.
How long does it take to make the pictures?
It's fairly quick. A project like Radio Kootwijk takes 2 - 3 hours to picture.
Can I join or sponsor this project?
Sure! Just get in touch and we'll discuss options. 🙂
What about full 360° video?
Video can be added. To make a full screen / immersive video there is still a bandwidth issue. A video needs 25 frames per second, and a picture just one. Also a video needs to be played the full 360 sphere, whereas a picture only downloads the part that you really see or zoom in to.
For offline use this isn't an issue and 360 video can be played easily.
I have another question...?
Please ask! 🙂
What about privacy?
What comes on this site stays there. No sending analytics to Google or other third parties. The only tracking that's done is to see which projects are hot and which are not.