IC Realtime’s ALLie 360-degree camera
Analysts in the financial and tech sectors have cited virtual reality (VR) as one of the biggest trends for 2016, with huge growth anticipated in the years to come. IC Realtime has been at the forefront of the movement with its 360-degree cameras. The company’s ALLie Home 360-degree Lifestyle Camera streams live video to YouTube and can share recorded content to Facebook. Via these social media sites, anyone can view the 360-videos on their smartphones, tablets, and PCs without needing any special equipment, as well as viewing via VR headsets for a heightened experience.
In the custom residential channel, many AV integrators have begun selling gaming (VR PCs, PS4, etc.) and devices (360-lifestyle cameras like ALLie, headsets such as Zeiss VR ONE Plus, etc.) as standalone solutions or as part of their home entertainment packages. IC Realtime sees an opportunity for integrators take it one-step further—to use VR for their own marketing advantages—and offers three reasons why.
1. Attract Millennials
Selling VR headsets is a great way to attract Millennials. It has been reported that more than 80 million live in the U.S. (that’s a one-fourth of the population), and are anticipated to spend $200 billion annually by next year. Millennials grew up in an electronics-charged world and have a thirst for tech products that bridge home and office.
2. Incorporate in Websites and Social Media Pages
Great benefits can be had by installing a 360-degree video camera in the integrator’s facility, home theater demo rooms, or other special interest areas. Given the popularity of VR, consider setting up a dedicated VR demo room that incorporates the 360-degree camera, 3D gaming systems, and VR headsets.
From the integrator’s website, customers can view these videos without needing any special playback equipment, since the video can be streamed to YouTube. This is a great way to show examples of how the cameras integrate with YouTube and Facebook to share video ranging from personal events to security footage.
3. Demonstrate Design and Installation Prowess
Integrators can leverage the 360-camera to show installations they are proud of. Examples could be vast landscape lighting systems (both day and night); special outdoor audio or TV systems; custom under-bed or in-cabinet TV lifts; extravagant home theater installations with fiber-optic and LED ceiling effects, etc. Place the camera in the center of the action, briefly record, and then share the video. Integrators may even opt to record an install in process and narrate while working.
IC Realtime will hold a presentation titled, “How Integrators Can Use Virtual Reality to Promote Their Businesses” at CEDIA in Dallas. Integrators who attend the presentation can enter a drawing to win an ALLie Home Lifestyle 360-Degree video camera. Conducted at IC Realtime’s booth 6014 and running throughout the day, the presentations are designed to be casual, fun, and informative, as the IC Realtime experts will discuss how selling VR technology is important to attract new clients such as Millennials; how integrators can add VR demos to their showrooms and websites; and how to use VR cameras to capture and show-off impressive installations. At the IC Realtime booth, one winner will be chosen and announced 30 minutes before show closes at the end of each day (September 15, 16, 17).
