[B]usinesses and organisations in Cumbria are being given a first-hand opportunity to see how virtual reality (VR) technology can bring their products, services and projects to life.
Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership, the county’s economic body, is holding a joint demonstration event with Allerdale Borough Council to showcase a current VR tourism project and explain the benefits of using the technology in marketing activities.
The free ‘drop in’ session is on Tuesday 10 July 2018 from 12 noon to 3pm at Cumbria LEP’s headquarters at Redhills Conference Centre, Penrith.
Joe Broomfield, Rural and Visitor Economy lead for Cumbria LEP, explains: “Virtual reality technology can be a valuable marketing tool for many different industries. This free demo event gives Cumbrian businesses and organisations the chance to experience VR technology first-hand and talk to us about fully immersive VR experiences to promote visitor attractions or other local products and services.”
Global brands have integrated VR into marketing strategies. Lowe’s home improvement store’s ‘holoroom’ helps people visualise their home improvement plans, and IKEA’s VR-based app allows customers to ‘place’ furniture in their homes to decide on look, feel, and fit.
The event is building on the Destination Allerdale Virtual Reality Project, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development LEADER programme. Allerdale Borough Council secured the funding to create 20 virtual reality and 7 promotional videos to support its tourism strategy, all being delivered by local Cockermouth-based firm Fluid Productions Ltd.
Joe Broomfield adds: “VR is particularly suitable for the production of 360 degree-view video to promote Cumbria’s fantastic tourism attractions and natural assets. But since launching the Destination Allerdale Virtual Reality Project, we’ve received enquiries about the use of VR technology, its versatility for a range of different applications and the experiences we’ve been filming.
“One of the main benefits of VR technology is that videos and software can be made available to the public more or less anywhere, downloaded direct to users all over the globe and viewed on smartphones or VR headsets at home or in other locations.”
To register to attend this free event, please email [email protected]
Delegates have the flexibility to attend at any time between 12 noon and 3pm on the day.
