Technology

Sygic launches 1st 360° travel VR app in Oculus Store

GPS navigation leader, Sygic, launches its travel VR app, and now anyone with a Samsung Gear VR powered by Oculus VR headset can experience the far corners of the globe in 360 degrees.

With the release of their VR app, Sygic is now offering this social technology free of charge, helping to further its travel offering to millions across the globe.

Described by the BBC as “one of the world’s most successful apps,” the company has turned its focus to utilizing the latest technology in VR and GPS to assist travelers at every stage in their journey.

The app by Sygic lets users walk around and familiarize themselves with top locations across the globe, helping travelers and drivers to research potential destinations before committing to vacations.

You can take a midnight tour under the Eiffel Tower in Paris, or roam the medieval old towns of Belgium, taking in the impressive centuries-old architecture.

All footage is captured by a professional “Sygic Traveler,” an individual employed by Sygic to travel the globe for a year, recording their journey to share in 360° Virtual Reality.

What a lucky job that person has! Hey Sygic! Are you hiring?

The company aims to build a library of thousands of different pieces of VR footage from all the most attractive destinations across the world within one year.

A 2014 report from Webtrends analytics revealed that travelers typically use 6.5 devices and websites in the initial researching stage alone — with some consumers using up to 38 different websites in total. The proliferation of tools designed to enhance this experience has in fact made it more complex.

The Virtual Reality market is experiencing enormous growth, with experts predicting sales of head mounted displays (HMD) growing at nearly five times the rate of the iPhone between 2014 and 2018. By the end of 2016, Samsung will lead sales of VR headsets, selling 5 million units, according to Travis Jakel, analyst at Piper Jaffray. This technology has transformed a number of industries, changing the way that consumers interact with video content.

“Sygic has developed the most advanced travel planner,” said Sygic’s founder and CEO Michal Štencl. “The addition of new VR app to our suite of travel tools means we are now able to offer the best travel experience, on the road, off the road, and now in virtual reality too. Our goal is to inspire drivers and travelers to explore the world with confidence.”

Tim Hinchliffe

The Sociable editor Tim Hinchliffe covers tech and society, with perspectives on public and private policies proposed by governments, unelected globalists, think tanks, big tech companies, defense departments, and intelligence agencies. Previously, Tim was a reporter for the Ghanaian Chronicle in West Africa and an editor at Colombia Reports in South America. These days, he is only responsible for articles he writes and publishes in his own name. tim@sociable.co