Could Microsoft's Photosynth be the future of online walkarounds?

[Alex Snyder]

Props to David at autolahome.com for bringing this to our attention in the "Car Dealers Embrace Video" Article!

On August 20th of 2008 Microsoft Labs launched Photosynth to the world.  It is an online image-stitching tool that renders a series of images into an interactive "panoramic" walk-around.

Imagine taking 20 photos of the interior of a car:  the steering wheel, the shifter, the radio, the driver's door armrest, the gauges, the sunroof, etc and having them all linked together by technology.  No, not like a 2 dimensional slideshow as we have today.  A virtual 3D rendering that someone can click through to view various areas of the interior that interest them.  Think of something like the eVox interior displays most of us already have, but a little more crude, and not done in a studio with special camera gear.  This would be something anyone could do.  Maybe some images will help...





Visit http://photosynth.net to see it in action.  You will have to install some software and it currently works best in Internet Explorer (of course).

Then think about how you could use a technology like this to do full product displays without having to get fancy with the equipment.

Could this be a future tool for retailers?

 

[Mitch Gallant (blog)]

I just took a good look at Photosynth and was a little disapointed. I'm always looking for the next thing to make my boss say good job Mitch and I'm not sure Photosynth would. It's a little awkward and the sharp lines/transparancy of the photos not in perspective had my eyes wandering around. I guess you have to take 100+ photos to get solid results.

The technology is really cool and I can see how somthing like this would find it's way into a dealership in a few years once it's refined. For now I'll keep on keepin on without. In my opinion a cheap flip camcorder and a youtube video would have way more impact... just my thoughts.

 

[Stew Pedasso]

I'm with Mitch on this one, and already checked it out awhile back. Super cool for vacation stuff, and travel photos, but way too much for car shoppers.

100 photos? LOL, just grab a video camera and have at it.

 

[Chip Grueter]

Agree x 2. There's just too many hurdles for this to be viable solution to dealers. From a custom activex control to having to take dozens of photos.

Mitch said it best, pull out the camcorder and start recording.

Chip-

 

[Alex Snyder (blog)]

It is in its infancy guys - this article is about what it could be in the future - not how to use it today.

 

[Stew Pedasso]

There isn't a future for it for dealerships I think was the point being made.

If you have to take 100+ pics then shoot a video of the car instead.

This is a very useful tool for photographers tho.

 

[Aaron (blog)]

Check out:

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www.bugeyedigital.com

I don't have one, but I've seen the results, and they look like the example on the webpage. It's a lens attachment for digital cameras that will shoot a 360 view shot in one picture, just like the eVox shots, and comes with a Java Player. While I'm not a fan of the player, a decent programmer should be able to create a new Flash based one in a relative short time period.

It would be better quality, and easier to do than snapping a ton of multiple images and stitching them together, so just the time saving would make up for cost.

 

[Alex Snyder (blog)]

Stew -

I think you’re being a little close-minded and not thinking about how the technology *could* change to be more retail-friendly.

Yes, in its current state, it is too crude for a simple application. It is definitely a WOW tool for photography right now.

Think a little more about future applications (as this article was originally intended) and try not to be so dismissive right off the bat. It is a Microsoft product, so you know they’re going to find a way to make a buck off of it.

 

[Mitch Gallant (blog)]

I agree with you Alex, on the site they even refer to it as the "Beta" version or 1.0 leading you to beleive they have intentions to improve the software.

The interaction to "virtually" sit in a used car and joystick around to look around at all angles with high quality detail has to be an inovation of the future. We're not quite there yet thow. It has it

I think it would be so much better then even the eVox versions which always seem so sterile and cold. With this type of program you can have a banner (or something) in the background with a little more personality.

 

[Stew Pedasso]

The Bugeye is cool, used for panorama shots, great for real estate and vehicle interiors, but it can't do vehicle 360 exteriors with one shot.

Evox uses a rotating stage and HD digital video: http://www.precisionturntables.com/rotating-stage.html <--- we all need one of these, put this in your budgets @ $50k

Hey Alex, I guess I'm dismissive because shooting a video of the car would be much easier don't you agree?

And what is video?

It's a bunch of multiple photos put to motion, hence the motion picture reference or movies for short.
I think Photosynth is cool, but again how does it rival video for car dealers in function and time alotted?
Should we shoot a car video, then extract 100's of freeze frame photos from the video, then roll it back into Photosynth so we can look at the car??

If you want to talk FUTURE applications, let's crank this up a notch and start a post on holograms:
View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thOxW19vsTg


You see, I've got an open mind Alex