As COVID-19 continues to disrupt many Australians'travel plans, some of those looking for a risk-free escape areturning to virtual reality tourism.<\/p>\n
And while it may sound like a downgrade from the real thing,tour guides and designers of these experiences say it's becoming increasingly sophisticated.<\/p>\n
But what is virtual reality tourism? Dr Ryan Yung, a travel and tourism researcher, definesit as the ability to \"be physically in one locationbut your mind is in a different location.\"<\/p>\n
It can now be accessed by anyone who has a PC, laptop or mobile phone through YouTube or via virtual tours online.<\/p>\n
And the experience can be enhanced by using a fold-out Google Cardboard vieweror, for those willing to spend more money,technologically advanced virtual reality headsets.<\/p>\n
So is virtual tourism any substitute for the real thing?<\/p>\n
It's hard to compare the twobut virtual tourismdoes have some uniquebenefits, Dr Yungtells ABC RN Breakfast.<\/p>\n
\"Some of the more popular attractions in virtual tourism [eventually] will be places which would be physically impossible to visit,\" he says.<\/p>\n
\"If we wanted to visit Rome, for example, in the medieval times, it's possible to do so via virtual tourism.\"<\/p>\n
Some virtual experiences are also trying to integrate sensoryelements, although Dr Yung saysthere's still much more workto be done in this area.<\/p>\n
\"With smells, they use pods, which emit synthetic smells ... similar to what you'd find in a shopping mall, when you walk pasta cookie stand or something with artificial smells.\"<\/p>\n
\"With taste at the moment, there is no real substitute, but I believe some researchers in Singapore have come up with a technology where they can trick your mind through smell.<\/p>\n
\"This is where you're drinking mineral waterbut, through the trick of colour and smell, you can basically fool the mind into thinking [the person is] tasting something.\"<\/p>\n
Virtual tourism could open up destinations for those who couldn't access them otherwise.<\/p>\n
\"A lot of the technology that's behind it [came in] years before COVID hit, and it was to overcome a lot of issues with barriers with accessibility and inclusivity,\"Dr Yung says.<\/p>\n
\"So people who were not mobilewere able to still get some experience of the outside world.\"<\/p>\n
It offers other opportunities too.<\/p>\n
For example, forthose who arerisk adverse, virtual tourism could be a way to take part in extreme sportssafely,he says.<\/p>\n
\"[People] I've spoken to said something like 'I would love to do something like bungee jumping but my natural fearwould never let me do something like that'.\"<\/p>\n
\"But [with] the comfort of VR, knowing that you physically will not be doing the bungee jumpbut you're able to experience something like that,that could be a substitute for the real experience.<\/p>\n
\"I've heard people say they want to see the Great Barrier Reef, but they are so afraid of water so that could be [an opportunity] in the near term.\"<\/p>\n
Virtual reality can also be used to travel freely withoutany risk of social or cultural stigmas, he adds.<\/p>\n
\"There are certain behaviours [that]certain cultures expect of us when we travel overseas, or when we're out in public. And when we are hidden deep behind this virtual lens, then [virtual tourists] are able to explore different mannerisms or cultures that you normally wouldn't be able to,\" he says.<\/p>\n
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So for those looking to scratch their travel itch, virtual tourism isopening up theworld once again, says Dr Yung.<\/p>\n
\"This is one small positive that has come up with COVID in alerting research and development [and encouraging the] acceptance of the technology byeveryone else.\"<\/p>\n
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Read more from the original source:<\/p>\n
Virtual reality tourism is accessible, inclusive and takes the risk out of a COVID-disrupted getaway - ABC News<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" As COVID-19 continues to disrupt many Australians'travel plans, some of those looking for a risk-free escape areturning to virtual reality tourism. And while it may sound like a downgrade from the real thing,tour guides and designers of these experiences say it's becoming increasingly sophisticated. But what is virtual reality tourism? Continue reading