Mapping Rooms

For virtual visits to a room, interacting with people who are really there, to be as realistic and immersive as possible, the room needs to be photographed and/or mapped.

I suggest 3D models (for efficiency over photos), with photo overlays  that can be downloaded in the background for people who want to look closer. This also means that it will be easier to hide something like a messy desktop from the visitor’s view.

All we need is a robot to drive around a building and film what it sees, converting it to a 3D model. Or in Google’s case, you  just film it on your phone:

Google Tango

 

 

Mapping Cities and Lands

ReRoll is a video game where the 3D worlds are actual maps created by drones flying around real environments. Gaming technology fits the MapMerge concept very well.

ReRoll

GeoSim

This video shows the type of car-carried equipment I would expect Google to use, and the look I imagine for the Then. By GeoSim.