VR presentations may sound daunting if you’ve never done it. How to use VR in your architectural firm, or even where to start? In our experience working with 100’s of architects, we can comfortably say you’re likely closer to being prepared to do an architectural presentation in VR than you may believe.
Yulio is the simplest way to host your series of VR presentations... and we don’t make that statement lightly.
You only need four things to present your work in VR (and you likely already have two of them!):
1.Device
If you're deciding on adding virtual reality presentations to your arsenal, you’ll need a computer brain to do it - meaning a device. At Yulio, we focus on a totally mobile experience, which means that most smartphones will do the trick to power your design presentations. Download the Yulio viewer app from any app store, then you can use it to power your designs.
2. Mobile VR Headset (not necessarily needed, but recommended!)
Next, you should consider investing in a VR headset. There are over 250 options of VR headsets to choose from online at all kinds of different price points (starting as low as $10) and they all vary in the level of immersion your client will have when they slip on the headset.
If you’re looking for a higher-end headset, we typically recommend the Samsung Gear VR - in our experience, it delivers the best quality of image, and best level of immersion, and you can get one for as low as $50 CAD on Amazon. There are also some ‘lower-end’, more affordable options that we recommend as well, one being the Google Cardboard, which can be bought for as low as $10 CAD on the Google Store. Another option is the Homido Mini which starts at about $20 CAD - this option is the one we recommend if you’re planning on passing them off to your clients - its design is simple, foldable, and easily the best portfolio for in your pocket.
Now, I want to highlight that investing in a VR headset isn’t mandatory to see your designs, but it is necessary if you want to view them in ‘true’ VR - What I mean by ‘true’ VR is that, with Yulio, you have the option to view your design on any browser (which we call ‘fishtank’ viewing) or in true VR (where you would slip on a headset). ‘Fishtank’ viewing is not viewing in real virtual reality because you’re not immersed into the design, but rather, you’re simply viewing it off a 2D screen. We recommend investing in a headset - it’s a one-time investment that will bring your designs to life for your clients, and truly kick off your work presenting with VR.
3. Content
If you’re designing in a CAD program, then you guessed it - you already have content to present!
Yulio works with your current design software to convert the CAD models you already have (or new ones, if you wish) into amazing immersive experiences. We have the plugins available here, so all you need to do is click the ‘Yulio’ button in your CAD program, upload the CAD file to Yulio (and edit, if needed), then you’re all set to present to clients!
Yulio also works with 360˚ photography, which is an awesome, often-more cost-effective option. A 360˚ camera is an excellent investment if you’re looking to create a fast and amazing portfolio in VR. They start around $200 CAD for quality that isn’t too bad (but obviously, the more expensive the camera, the better the image resolution may be).
4. Platform
And, of course, you need a platform. Whether this means that you’re one of our account holders, or you’ve gone in a different direction in terms of your platform, this is the final ingredient you need to start presenting your designs with your clients in VR.
This platform will be the vehicle that holds your VR projects and designs that you can access to present anywhere at any time to anyone. Here is also where you are able to edit your VR project - you can make changes such as adding navigational hotspots, audio hotspots, access your project analytics, and finally, (and probably most importantly) where you can hold VR collaboration sessions with your peers or clients from around the globe!
Make your VR Presentation Social
When it’s presentation day and you are meeting a client in person, it’s important to realize that VR is a blindfolding experience - when your client puts on their headset, you have no way of knowing what they’re seeing and they may feel isolated. To address this, we developed a “Collaborate” feature, much like GoToMeeting for VR. Collaborate is one of Yulios most popular tools - we understand that having the ability to see what your clients are seeing, or being able to control their vision to highlight certain design details is very important when it comes to feedback. When you client asks about “what that blue thing is in the corner over there” you need to know what they’re talking about - and having the ability to see through their eyes can make for much more valuable and efficient conversation than having to pause to look for yourself.
If you haven’t selected a platform yet, we suggest giving Yulio a try. Sign up for a free Yulio account here, and have access to all of the features that you’d get with a paid plan. New to Yulio? Sign up for our free bi-weekly training webinar for a full walkthrough of the platform, plugin, tips, tricks, advice, and more with our Client Success Manager, Dana Warren! Hosted every other Thursday at 1 PM EST. Grab your seat here!
