Matterport has been a specialist in capturing VR interiors for years – it calls these “digital twins” – and although its bespoke streak cameras are expensive, it regularly develops its systems down to enable much more VR capture. simpler and easier. And it can hardly be simpler than that.
The Matterport Axis is essentially a motorized phone holder that works in conjunction with the Matterport mobile app to capture a spherical rendering of your surroundings from any location you choose. The Axis itself is an affordable $79 gadget that works with a phone you probably already have.
VR capture is just the first step in the process. The rest is handled by Matterport’s online VR hosting service.
How the Matterport System Works
Once you’ve taken your VR capture, it’s uploaded to Matterport’s own site where it’s assembled into a full VR environment that can be viewed in a standard browser simply by following a shareable link.
The key to the system is that you take not just one capture, but a whole series, as you move from room to room or interior. This way, visitors can “walk through” your virtual environment, stopping to observe the surroundings at key points.
You can see how it works on Matterport’s digital twin example of Warwick Castle in the UK. The system even generates an interactive 3D VR floor plan so you can get an overview of room layouts – or you can just “walk” from room to room.
Matterport Axis and Account Pricing
Matterport’s hosted VR system is aimed at both professional real estate sellers and tourist attraction owners (for example) who want to give visitors a taste of what they can see.
Accounts come with a monthly subscription, but they start at just £7.99 per month (about $10.49 USD/AU$14.00) for two users and five “active spaces”.
The Matterport Axis itself will sell for $79 (around £60 / AU$105), but there are also bundles that include capture devices like the Ricoh Theta, Insta360 ONE X2 and Matterport’s own Pro2 scanning camera .
Previously available at an early pre-launch price, the Matterport Axis will now be available from major retailers including B&H and Adorama.
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