BEIJING, March 11 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- As technology marches on, 360-degree panoramas which were once static images (such as Quicktime VR) have evolved into the realm of video. Thus you can now pan and zoom in a circle, look up and down, inside of a video. This opens a whole new world of possibilities for web developers.
The camera, produced by Grey Point Research, is an expensive piece of equipment produced primarily for surveillance purposes. Some clients, including The China Guide, are using it for tourism.
American Peter Danford, founder of The China Guide ( http://www.TheChinaGuide.com ), a Beijing based travel agency is a professional photographer and has been shooting 360-degree panoramas since Apple introduced the Quicktime VR technology in the mid-1990's. The China Guide's web site has been using 360 degree panoramas since its founding in 2001.
"As a photographer and computer programmer, 360-degree panoramas have always held a certain fascination for me," said Peter Danford. "The ability to take a photograph and let people look all around is very powerful. Combined with hot spots which the user can click, the possibilities for interactivity are high. When I saw the first use of 360-degree technology on the web I immediately saw its application in tourism. While the initial investment in equipment has been high, as it always is with leading edge technology, the return is also high. Visitors to our website get an experience they cannot get on any other in the area of China tourism."
The China Guide uses interactive panoramas on its web site to allow visitors to preview tourist destinations in China so they can have a better idea where they would like to travel. To experience the latest in video panorama technology visit the web site of The China Guide, http://www.TheChinaGuide.com .
About The China Guide
The China Guide ( http://www.TheChinaGuide.com ) is a Beijing-based travel agency, American owned and operated. Specializing in western-style service and quality with hassle free web bookings, they work with clients to customize tours that match their travel style. Operating only in China, they have up to date knowledge and offer exciting experiences for travelers including their famous Sleep on the Great Wall tour. The China Guide avoids the common factory shopping stops that are not reflective of the true China.
