SINGAPORE -- For many homebuyers, picking a new apartment means going down an endless journey of showrooms. But some real estate companies in Singapore are trying a different approach, to avoid the cost and time needed to construct a traditional display space.
SEE ALSO:'The Simpsons' celebrates 600th episode with virtual reality shortIn a first for a property developer in Singapore, Keppel Land built virtual reality versions of three and four-bedroom units. It is showing the apartments using the Oculus Rift, and has built a mobile friendly version here-- that agents take to potential clients on the go.
Via GiphyThe VR demo will stand alongside Keppel's existing physical Highline show flats.
Albert Foo, Keppel Land's general manager for marketing, explained that the company decided to get larger showroom in VR, in order to avoid the cost of building and leasing new land, not to mention saving time.
Constructing three and four bedroom showflats would've taken about six months, whereas the VR versions were done in just two, he added.
With the headset on, visitors can look around the units and tap to go into the bedrooms and get a feel of the space.
A view of the bathroom.Credit: screenshot/keppel landHowever, they won't be able to simulate walking through the apartments. It's like spinning on the spot looking at 360 degree photos of each room.
Lee Hon Kit, executive director of Visual Media Works (VMW), which built the VR demo, told Mashablethe simpler 360 view of the room was chosen over a more complicated version, because it's more user friendly for the masses which haven't tried VR yet.
"There are fewer buttons to click on the Oculus Rift," he said.
Lee added that the Oculus Rift was chosen in part because of the "neater" set up in the physical space. Other VR headsets need multiple wires, while the Oculus Rift has sound, audio and movement going through one bundle to the PC, he said.
VMW has also included a soundtrack of actual recordings made in the property's district in Tiong Bahru, which is aimed at adding to the realism of being in the virtual apartment.
A local home furnishing retailer also took a stab at VR recently. Commune Lifestyle created a virtual showroom of its furniture, and invited millennials to try on the headsets to see how a new couch would fit in their homes.
Credit: commune lifestyleThe demo on the HTC Vive allows users to walk around in a space, and crouch up and down to explore it.
The company told us VR isn't meant to replace a real life showroom, but it could be useful in helping expand the space of some of its smaller outlets.
Credit: commune lifestyle
Credit: COMMUNE LIFESTYLEThe company, which has 122 products on its online catalogue at time of writing, plans to roll out the VR demo across its four stores islandwide, as well as "most" of its overseas outlets.
It has 19 outlets in China, three in Malaysia, and another in Indonesia.
TopicsVirtual Reality
(责任编辑：娛樂)
MashReads Podcast: What makes a good summer read?Waymo is letting residents in Phoenix test its selfFeud finale spoilers: The triumph and tragedy of Bette and Joan's final actTwitter now lets you search for emojiCarlos Beltran made a very interesting hair choiceWhatsApp announces plans to share user data with Facebook
Big changes are coming to WhatsApp. 。On Thursday, WhatsApp announced in a blog post it will begin sha
...[详细]Bye rosé! Blue prosecco is this summer's go
Since 2017 has been the Year of the Unicorn, we might as well go that same route with our trendy sum
...[详细]Bye rosé! Blue prosecco is this summer's go
Since 2017 has been the Year of the Unicorn, we might as well go that same route with our trendy sum
...[详细]The song that rocked your prom, based on the year you graduated
Prom in 2017 hardly resembles prom in 1997-- the promposals alone have reached impossible heights. T
...[详细]Satisfy your Olympics withdrawals with Nike's latest app
Following in the footsteps of last year's successful launch of Nike's Tech Book is back in its secon
...[详细]Dakota Access Pipeline protest movement now focuses on the money
It’s been a tough few months for opponents of the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL). First Donald
...[详细]All the best signs from Climate Marches around the world
In Trump's America, marching has become a weekly activity. 。 One week after the massive March for Sci
...[详细]The world's fastest camera can capture 5 trillion frames per second
A new camera developed in Sweden is faster than any photography gear on the planet. 。Researchers at S
...[详细]There's a big piece of fake chicken stuck to this phone case
If the perfect smartphone case signals a bit about who its owner is, then this silicon fried chicken
...[详细]Michael Moore wants 'The Rock' to run for president because nothing matters anymore
Say what you will about Donald Trump: he's an inspiration to Americans who want to run for public of
...[详细]