ASHLAND – Virtual reality may sound like science fiction to many, but it is quickly becoming a reality and some area businesses are already taking advantage of a very basic form of VR to help their businesses.
Nick Stevens of MultiCraft 360 is introducing that technology in the form of 360-degree tours which businesses can add to their Google business profiles and their websites. Local businesses that have used MultiCraft’s services include Local Roots, Ashland Comfort Control, Bohland Jewelers, Linder’s, The Old Elevator and Studio Rise.
The tours are created using a special camera with four fish-eye lenses that capture images of the business which are then stitched together using the camera’s internal computer. This unique photographic technology allows customers to see what a business looks like before they ever step through the door.
Last year, Stevens was working as an insurance claims adjuster and was driving throughout Ohio taking photos of homes that were damaged by the weather. He realized that many of the roads hadn’t been documented yet by Google StreetView and he was intrigued at the possibility of working for the company.
After doing some research, Stevens discovered the Google Trusted Photographer program, which allows photographers to take their cameras into businesses and create virtual tours for Google business listing pages.
Originally, Stevens planned on only doing the virtual tours as a side gig, but he quickly realized that he needed to dive in to it full time. He’s had some challenges as he explains the value of his services to businesses.
“It really is just trying to get clients to understand where they need to be spending their marketing dollars at now versus where they’ve spent them at in the past,” Stevens said.
The reception to Stevens’ business has been very good, but some companies say they aren’t sure they see a need for the virtual tours right now.
“It’s really, really tough when you are doing something this new, you kind of have to say at the end, ‘You don’t want it now but you probably are going to want it in the future so just remember me when you do,’” Stevens said.
The business tours are just the tip of the iceberg of what Stevens hopes to do with the 360-degree technology and virtual reality.
“It’s great for Google Business Pages, but I want to pivot toward becoming an end-to-end VR production company,” Stevens said. “True virtual reality is immersive. It removes you from the external environment and puts you into this immersive experience where you have audio, you have moving parts. With these virtual tours, they’re static. There’s no depth.”
His brother, Neil, and friend Bryan Kerr have joined Nick as he looks to expand his business. Kerr helps Nick with the business end of things and Neil is a “panographer” who will help capture video that will be used in the VR productions.
Stevens will demonstrate virtual reality technology at the Ashland Public Library at 4 p.m. Thursday. He will bring his HTC Vive room scale VR set up, which allows people to immerse themselves in a virtual environment as they move about their location.
“It’s really just to get the kids familiar with Virtual Reality,” Stevens said.
Registration for the event is required as each family or group in attendance will receive a free cardboard headset. It is recommended that you bring your smartphone to the event. Registrants will receive information via email about the smartphone apps that should be downloaded prior to the event.
Those wishing to attend can register at www.ashland.lib.oh.us, contact the library at 419-289- 8188, ext. 603, or visit the service desk inside the library.
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