…
Tourist destination VisitBrighton hopes to become the “First Photosynth City” as its use of Microsoft’s cutting-edge technology gathers pace. All eyes are on the vibrant, forward-thinking city and its destination management supplier New Mind as they put brand new Microsoft technology to its best effect and take e-tourism into a new era.
New Mind has incorporated Photosynth, a new feature of Microsoft’s Bing Maps for Enterprise, into its Destination Management System (DMS), which powers many of the UK’s destination websites, including visitlancashire.com and visitdevon.co.uk.
New Mind’s managing director Richard Veal explained that they wanted to launch the technology in a creative, cosmopolitan destination and thought Brighton and Hove, with its great blend of historic buildings and fabulous Regency architecture, provided an ideal location to show photosynth and a city at its finest.
Photosynth allows users to take a selection of photos depicting a scene or object and ‘automagically’ ‘stitch’ them all together to make an interactive 3D experience to share on the web.
With visitors to the VisitBrighton site already exploring synths of popular landmarks including Brighton Pier and the Royal Pavilion – tourism bosses are now encouraging local accommodation providers, restaurants and attractions to seize the opportunity to create their own synths and ‘bring their businesses to life’.
John Carmichael, marketing manager at VisitBrighton, said: “We are delighted New Mind introduced us to this new technology and what we like most is the interactivity of the process. It is for businesses and visitors to get involved, and residents of the city who are interested in photography. People can go out, take hundreds of photos and explore the results through the synth. It also offers visitors an opportunity to explore the insides of restaurants, hotels, shops and attractions before they arrive and actually wet their appetite. It is so important in tourism terms that a picture tells a thousands words when attracting visitors to a destination – so if a picture tells a thousand words, a photosynth tells a million words. To be the first destination site to work with this new technology is just incredible and the ultimate would be for VisitBrighton to become the ‘First Photosynth City’.”
New Mind remains at the forefront of the marketplace by constantly exploring new technologies to integrate into its DMS. New Mind’s managing director Richard Veal said: “We are putting brand new Microsoft technology to its best effect and taking e-tourism into a new era. This is a completely new and enriching experience for visitors exploring new destinations online. VisitBrighton have embraced photosynth technology and we’ve had numerous enquiries from other destinations who have identified the benefits photosynth can bring to their sites. This is a very exciting time for us and we hope to roll this technology out across our client base very soon.”
“The integration of Photosynth marks the next stage in the evolution of Bing Maps for Enterprise” stated Idit Gazit-Berger, Bing Maps for Enterprise Solution Specialist. “We are committed to providing our customers with enhancements that fuel innovation and provide them with the support they need to fully realise the potential of mapping technology. Bing Maps for Enterprise is built on the premise of constant platform innovation, driving greater global coverage and deeper integration across Microsoft’s product offering. The integration of Photosynth is the logical evolution for both products and has empowered customers to unlock the value of complex mapping data in a visually compelling and business-relevant way.”
New Mind, whose headquarters is in Liverpool, also has offices in Winchester and Romania.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
