A virtual reality (VR) facility made its debut at Guangzhou Zoo on 1 January 2018. From now on, visitors can not only view rare animals there. They can also interact with them using virtual reality technology.
The advantage of a zoo that only exists virtually is obvious: animals no longer have to be captured and caged. Moreover, animals that no longer exist can at least be brought back to life virtually. The possibilities for interaction will also be greater than ever before. Anyone who has ever dreamed of looking a predator in the eye from a close distance can do so easily and without danger in a virtual zoo. The way in which information about the respective animals is presented in a virtual zoo will also be completely new. Once again, VR offers many new possibilities and opportunities!
Carrying an elephant on your hands
In China, the world's first virtual zoo opened right at the beginning of the new year. Surrounded by prehistoric animals, species from all over the world will be ready to listen to the call of visitors. This is because the applications also allow interaction: visitors can, for example, watch an Asian elephant walk over their own hand. Those who want to revive a dinosaur can do so from a pile of sand. And it is also possible to jump to another place, such as the middle of an African savannah.
VR Zoo accessible worldwide
Der VR-Zoo soll ein Aushängeschild für die südchinesische Provinz Guangdong werden. Man muss aber nicht zwingend so weit reisen, um ihn zu besuchen. Der VR-Zoo werde online für Tierfreunde auf der ganzen Welt öffnen, sagte Chen Zujin. Er ist Mitarbeiter des Guangzhou-Zoos und für wissenschaftliche Beratung zuständig. „Wir tasten uns vor“, sagte Chen. Künftig werden sie auch die VR-Technologie mit derTierforschung und der Projektion wilder Tiere kombinieren.
Source: German / Google
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