“Virtual tourism is a globally interesting and growing theme. Consumers are increasingly aware of the climate impacts of tourism and are keen to make responsible decisions. Virtual tourism also supports Helsinki’s own goal of being a pioneer in sustainable tourism while reinforcing our reputation as a city that utilizes the latest digital innovations.”
― Laura Aalto, CEO of Helsinki
About
What is virtual helsinki?
The experience ”virtual Helsinki – sound of seasons” takes the audience through all the four seasons of the year. The experience starts from Helsinki’s famous landmark, the empire-style senate square and the white church. The tour continues to the home of architect Alvar Aalto, the father of nordic design. Finally you will end up to admire the city skyline and the nature of Lonna island. Visit Virtual Helsinki and read more about the groundbreaking project.
How to visit virtual Helsinki?
Virtual Helsinki is currently available for HTC VIVE, VIVE Cosmos, VIVE Pro, Oculus Rift and for mobile as a YouTube 360 video.
“Helsinki is making the most of its new European capital of smart tourism title”
Application
The Virtual Capital
Virtual city, interactive Helsinki 3D-model can be used for different purposes: tourism, shopping, training, concerts, simulations & virtual citizenship for example.
In the future, there will be v-citizens of Helsinki who can have their home, shop, and participate in activities such as concerts, art exhibitions, and v-games – all in VR.
Virtual Tourism
A virtual tourist might move from present-day to history, visit places that are difficult to access or go shopping in a virtual souvenir store and have the items delivered home through the mail. Virtual tourism will enable fast trips around the world and meeting other tourists and locals, while being the most eco-friendly way to travel.
Simulation
The future of traveling will happen via virtual reality for many. It can deepen the content of physical experience. The city is based on the present-day but it will also have a futuristic and historical version.
Making Of Virtual Helsinki
ZOAN VRsprint brought together some of the best 3D artists all around the world to polish the virtual Helsinki content to be as realistic as possible.
“By means of virtual tourism, the globe can cope with the gigantic growth of tourism. It also offers a traveling opportunity for billions of people who cannot do it due to financial or physical reasons”
― Miikka Rosendahl, CEO & Founder of ZOAN
Zoan VRSprint
What is it About?
Zoan and City of Helsinki are creating an internationally unique virtual city experience. The project called “Virtual Capital of the World” kicked off in the end of October 2018, when a dozen of top 3D developers arrived to Helsinki. Many game houses, such as Ubisoft, Splash Damage and Cloud Imperium Games, were represented in the international team. The task of the team was to fine-tune the virtual experience and make it as realistic as possible. The final result will be revealed in December at the startup and tech event Slush.
“Helsinki wants to be the city in the world that best capitalises on digitalisation and the city is already a significant centre for startup culture and AR/VR development.”
―Jan Vapaavuori, Mayor of Helsinki
The Most Realistic VR In The World
“Our goal is to come up with the world’s most realistic VR experience. The soundscape and the visual quality are important factors in reaching a realistic mood, when the reference point consists of existing environments. Only a skilled 3D artist is able to make, for example, realistic water or a wooden surface”, says ZOAN’s CEO and founder Miikka Rosendahl about the reasons for the visit of the international top developers.
After the Helsinki visit, the team continued its journey to Punkaharju, to brainstorm new purposes of use for the Retretti caverns by means of virtual technologies.
