Google Maps in Street View mode was, for many, the first time that 360 degree panoramas were seen as a new way to explore remotely the world in a more natural perspective.
Suddenly, in the last two years, everyone was talking about 360 video or still images. However, the first approaches needed multiple cameras and powerful computers to “mix” the content and create immerse video from these capture devices.
An incredible midstep between classic video and virtual reality.
Remember the 360 panorama technique that let us see a place in a 360 degree interactive perspective? This media effect appeared decades ago in VRML (later in several other technologies like Java and Flash) and became popular by the fascinating effect of its use in landscapes, buildings, museums, ... and of course Google Street View, .
Yes, we have been hearing such promises for a long time. There are obvious advances in technology but they appear a bit scattered in a wide range of areas lacking integration among them. Because of this we use several devices (partly redundant), spend more money and suffer with their "different" interfaces.
