Customer's background

Arvizio is a company that produces intelligent innovative products with the effects of audiovisual immersion, as well as developing VR content for teaching schoolchildren, students, and training industry professionals. The company creates high-quality 360° photos, 360° videos, and 3D content, as well as historical 3D reconstructions of individual objects, complexes, archaeological parks, and also recreates AR historical panoramas.

Task

To develop a mobile app of a virtual tour of Suzdal that could be completed it with an audio guide in English. To program transitions between panoramas, audio and video player, and place interactive objects inside panoramas.

Solution

In VR, we have placed a series of 360° panoramas captured in Suzdal. In panoramas, the user can see with detail all parts of the external and internal decoration of cathedrals and monasteries. The mobile app has an extremely clear interface since the user can move between panoramas, read information inserts, and switch audio tracks.

How it works

The user downloads the Suzdal UNESCO Heritage mobile app. Then they insert their smartphone into VR glasses and enjoy the picturesque views, exploring the oldest UNESCO sites like the Suzdal Kremlin, the Saviour Monastery of St. Euthymius, and one of the oldest churches, the Church of Boris and Gleb in Kideksha village. Smartphone sensors track all head movements, allowing the user to view the objects from any side.
The tourist chooses the walk route independently, while the app determines the user's position in space and is pointed by arrows where to go. Additional information icons are located near the monument. If you let your eyes focus on them, you will see a textual description of the architectural monument. The audio guide can conduct the tour; the text has been prepared with the participation of experts from the Vladimir-Suzdal Estate-Museum. It is also possible to tour the territory of the Suzdal Kremlin with a real guide.

Equipment

Mobile devices with Android version of 6.0 and higher, and Samsung GearVR

Result

Tourists noted that the Suzdal UNESCO Heritage mobile app is an indispensable travel companion when traveling to the ancient city. The VR glasses and audio guide tour helped the users fully immerse themselves in the atmosphere and focus on getting new knowledge about UNESCO sites, without being distracted by the outside world. Also, homebodies love the mobile app, as it can be run without leaving the house because all you need is buying VR glasses. The audience admitted that thanks to high-quality panoramas and useful information inserts, this virtual tour is not inferior to the real one.