A statement credited to Mark Zuckerburg, Facebook’s legendary founder during the company’s acquisition of VR-firm Oculus highlights the user-experience trends in the next decade.
Zuckerburg mentions that texting or messaging—an e-upgraded form of writing on paper—is the primitive step of communication and user experience. Images or visual representations echo the next, videos or dynamic movements highlight the third, and the fourth is Virtual Reality.
The Ticket To Jerusalem in Times of Quarantine – VR Travel
This affirms that VR is a revolutionary way we all would experience digital technologies and its immense bounties at least in the next decade. Don’t make a mistake; a decade is a massive annexation period for a trend, considering that a so-called ‘futuristic’ trend is disrupted within 4-5 years somewhere around the globe.
One of the most fitting examples of this transformation is now being witnessed at the Holy City of Jerusalem. Traditionally, this would be the peak time of the month where devotees from the world’s three of the biggest religions would flock into its pious sites, famed churches and mosques to capture moments of a lifetime.
On top, this was the first time since 1992 that Easter, Passover, and Ramadan were all in the same month. However, reality had other plans and the pandemic struck to deprive millions of followers around the globe from taking a lifetime tour to the city.
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The Tower of David Museum, in collaboration with two VR firms—Israel’s Blimey and Canada’s Occupied VR has put forward an innovative and much-needed solution for the masses. Leveraging 360-degree simulation and virtual technologies, users can immerse into the Old City regions of Jerusalem, roam around, visit the sites and churches or mosques as per their wish, do fun activities, and much more.
The experience that was initially meant to be preserved for the in-house tourists of The Tower of David Museum has now been widely received and acclaimed by thousands of tourists. Initial reactions ranged from happiness, joy, outburst to stronger emotions as users get to witness, be immersive-ly engaged, and even feel at some point what means to be right at the heart of the city. It’s a welcome move considering people’s near-handicap situation due to pandemic restrictions, and something that has touched hearts! In a way, the latter should truly be the technology age’s true vision.
Diving in detail about the solution’s virtual experience, two users are required minimum to kick-start. One holds the app, regulating the route and the other one puts on the VR glasses, immersed into the experience. The same initiates with a two-minute session through Jerusalem’s history. Post that, the user tours a miniature model of the Old city wherein they can receive blessings during Pesach, explore the famed Church of the Holy Sepulchre, be among the worshippers during Ramadan prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
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One can even play a game within the virtual experience — solve challenges, collaborate with others, find quests, and more. There is an online version too that’s compatible with desktops or laptops provided users have the VR headsets. However, this one lacks the game playing aspect.
The Tower of David Museum is however not the only organization that has come up with the bright idea of allowing followers to get an online experience from their homes. Eminent institutions such as the Vatican Museums, New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Smithsonian, Louvre have all been severely affected due to the pandemic and has resorted to online offerings.
For instance, utilizing the now trendy hashtag, #MuseumFromHome, museums, and overall cultural organizations across the globe have started sharing bytes of the indoors and artifacts to allow people to enjoy the experience from home. Google has also collaborated with over 500 such institutes to let users browse through exclusive collections and interior views online.
Wrapping up
Coming back, Israel is still under comprehensive restrictions and group prayers are something that has still not been approved by authorities. Even after the lockdown is over, there would be sufficient time before the normal state is achieved in terms of gatherings, transport, experiences, trade, etc. Hence, it’s safe to assume that a major part of this year, on a very optimistic understanding, should pass before followers are restored the freedom to visit the shrines and enjoy as before. And this is where Virtual Reality has been the necessary escapade!
