Is VR the future?

[cayling]

I am a 3D visualiser working in the architectural visualisation industry and am currently completing the final major project of my MA in Creative Media Practice. I am looking at the future influence of virtual reality on decision making within the architectural visualisation industry.

 

 

This would include decision making on a few levels -

 

Architect - working relationship through design process, presentations, and review.

 

 

Client - presentations, press release, detail review.

 

Public – interaction.

 

 

Within these 3 categories the underlying ability of virtual reality is its way to make complicated spaces, building, and environments easy to understand. And, understand from a human perspective.

The architectural visualisation industry supplies the architect / client with either a snap shot, or animation of their proposed site. The ability for them to explore the space as if they could walk around would help provide an invaluable insight into the future of their design.

 

This ability to interact in a realistic proximity would offer a wider canvas to explore multiple options, and ultimately help sculpt the decision making process in front of their eyes, rather than through printed plans.

Interestingly, VR also allows the information to be explored and understood by anyone. This opens up opportunities ranging from architectural reviews, to downloadable release to the public.

 

After a lot of research and user studies concerning current and up and coming trends and technologies regarding VR and architectural design and practice, I am proposing to build a full 3d and interactive "company" portfolio in a virtual world - Google Earth.

 

Taking into account the diffusion of technology through this industry and barriers which slow this process down, I believe Google Earth will have a more successful rate of adoption in displaying content in this manor, (due to most architecture practices using Google Sketchup and Google Earth) more so than that of software like Turntool and Quest3D.

 

 

I want to incorporate a collection of a variety of projects I have worked on over the past 2 years and import the models and plans etc into Google Earth to enable it to be utilised as a fully interactive and explorable portfolio.

 

Taking my current practice's work is really only the first step into the true potential of this process. I want to produce this into a business plan / proposal. I believe the opportunity to have full or restricted (through uploading to the world or only accessed through restricted links) access to explore from 1 project, to a whole portfolio of work is the way we will communicate architecture design in the future.

 

I would be very interested to hear your thoughts on these issues, and how you believe that the architectural visualisation industry we currently know will adapt over the years.

 

By the way, I saw Fosters use of the Cryengine2 on the homepage and this is going to be the way we will interact with 3D in the future.

[cayling]

To go with my previous post, here is a section of my user survey if you would like to have a look.

 

Any feedback would be gratefully received.

 

Thanks

 

Chris

[Devin Johnston]

This has been talked about many times, I think the consensus is that until the process becomes easier and the quality and interfaces get better it's still just a novelty and won't seriously be used for architectural visualizations.