Marriott Hotels has launched an exciting project right in the heart of New York that ‘teleports’ users to London. The idea was to simulate traveling in a super quick and easy manner. Here’s the details you need to know:
Virtual Teleportation to London
The Teleporter was designed to transport people to far-off places in just a few seconds using special virtual reality equipment and Oculus Rift goggles. The portals resemble traditional phone booths, with people stepping inside for a virtual reality journey though space, time and the Atlantic Ocean, without jet lag.
The destinations New Yorkers had available included London’s Tower 42 and the beautiful black sand beaches of Hawaii. The Teleporter stands out with its incredible attention to detail including effects like heat, wind, and mist to make the user feel like they are in the real place, From drizzly London to the cool feel of ocean spray in Maui.
A Modern Virtual Reality Experience
The floors have special pumps to make people feel like they are walking on sandy beaches or chilly UK concrete, and they also boast misting nozzles in the walls to simulate different weather conditions and fans on the ceiling to mimic different climates. There was a scent dispenser mixed with a powerful amplifier to make the experience that much more immersive—though we don’t want to know what London smells like!
In 2014, Marriott partnered with Relevant, who, in turn, joined forces with Framestore, an award-winning VR company, to make The Teleporter a reality. Marriott wanted to connect with younger travelers by creating an amusement park in a tiny space. Their effort is considered to be at the forefront of using technology to make travel more exciting and significantly cheaper!