Queensland, long lambasted for being home to the slowest people in Australia, really can’t be so criticised anymore; they’re ahead of the curve on infrastructure, ousting bad government, and now technology as well. Perhaps not quite, but Brisbane City Council is jumping on the Google Cardboard bandwagon, using the popular (and DIY) virtual reality technology to showcase Brisbane’s tourism wares to Melbourne- and Sydney-siders to increase the draw of their fine city.
In a series of 360º videos uploaded to YouTube, viewers can use Cardboard to experience an immersive, 3D experience. Note, though, that the videos aren’t actually on YouTube yet, but they will soon be. The videos can be viewed without Cardboard, but of course, they’re much more immersive and fun if you can find one of the 3D viewers to use.
This Saturday (27 June) there will be pop-up Brisbane Bubbles at Bondi’s Farmer’s Markets in Sydney, and Prahran Markets in Melbourne , where you can try out the 3D immersive Brisbane experience for yourselves. There are six ‘must-do’ experiences available for visitors to try out.
Tourism and Events Queensland CEO, Leanne Coddington, said Brisbane’s offerings as a winter destination and its year-round calendar of events would be showcased:
“The virtual reality initiative invites Sydney and Melbourne residents to escape the winter chill and explore Brisbane by abseiling down Kangaroo Point Cliffs, going to a local live music gig, enjoying the city’s thriving dining and entertainment precincts or attending one of our exclusive events,” Ms Coddington said.
Lisa Bora, Head of Mobile at Google Australia, said about the experiment:
“We’re delighted to see such a creative use of technology, which will give people a taste of Queensland.”
The six experiences to be tried out include Sunday sessions in the outdoors, to sunset abseiling, running onto the grounds at Suncorp Stadium and watching a live gig at former Powderfinger bassist’s new watering hole, The Triffid.
The videos can (or soon will be able to be) found on the Visit Brisbane YouTube channel. The best experience will be on the mobile with Cardboard, though you can use the 360º view on a desktop Chrome browser as well.
Nice of them to put this tourist stuff out interstate, without making it possible for locals to purchase a Brisbane branded Cardboard viewer IN Brisbane.
Hey what, we’re slow? I must be so slow I didn’t even realise that all of Queensland was considered slow!! Now North Queensland, that’s a different story 🙂
Haha! It sure is .. plus we like to have a dig at our bordering cousins from time to time 😉
Yeah, you’re even more progressive than us in WA. Now that’s embarrassing 😉