Creation and use of virtual places
An apparatus, method and system facilitate efficient creation of virtual places and provide tools for using the virtual places. The virtual places include a virtual real estate listing, newsworthy place and a virtual box seat. Tools are provided including an automatic declutter tool and a staging tool.
1. A method comprising:
at an electronic device comprising one or more processors and non-transitory memory:
detecting a triggering event at a defined physical place;
in response to detecting the triggering event:
obtaining digital images of the defined physical place;
determining, based on the digital images, a surface geometry of the defined physical place and one or more texture maps; and
creating, in the non-transitory memory, a 3-D model of the defined physical place using the surface geometry and the one or more texture maps;
providing a user interface for remote access to the 3-D model, wherein the digital images used to create the 3-D model of the defined place are captured by one or more devices that are not controlled by a user of the user interface; and
enabling an avatar operated by the user of the user interface to enter, tour and interact with the 3-D model of the defined physical place.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the triggering event includes monitoring queries provided to a search engine including an identifier for the defined physical place.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the triggering event includes monitoring a current popularity of news stories that include an identifier for the defined physical place.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the triggering event includes monitoring a news feed for a newsworthy event taking place at the defined physical place.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the triggering event includes monitoring a real estate listing including an identifier for the defined physical place.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining the digital images of the defined physical place is performed in real or near real time.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein enabling the avatar to enter, tour and interact with the 3-D model of the defined physical place is performed in real or near real time.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the digital images are photographic images.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the digital images are video images.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the user interface providing the user interface includes enabling use of the 3-D model in an online virtual world environment.
11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions encoded thereon which, when executed by one or more processors of an electronic device, cause the electronic device to:
detect a triggering event at a defined physical place;
in response to detecting the triggering event:
obtain digital images of the defined physical place;
determine, based on the digital images, a surface geometry of the defined physical place and one or more texture maps; and
create, in a computer memory, a 3-D model of the defined physical place using the surface geometry and the one or more texture maps;
provide a user interface for remote access to the 3-D model, wherein the digital images used to create the 3-D model of the defined place are captured by one or more devices that are not controlled by a user of the user interface; and
enable an avatar operated by the user of the user interface to enter, tour and interact with the 3-D model of the defined physical place.
12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the electronic device to detect the triggering event by monitoring queries provided to a search engine including an identifier for the defined physical place.
13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the electronic device to detect the triggering event by monitoring a current popularity of news stories that include an identifier for the defined physical place.
14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the electronic device to detect the triggering event by monitoring a news feed for a newsworthy event taking place at the defined physical place.
15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the electronic device to detect the triggering event by monitoring a real estate listing including an identifier for the defined physical place.
16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the electronic device to obtain the digital images of the defined physical place in real or near real time.
17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the electronic device to enable the avatar to enter, tour and interact with the 3-D model of the defined physical place in real or near real time.
18. An electronic device comprising:
a non-transitory memory;
one or more processors to:
detect a triggering event at a defined physical place;
in response to detecting the triggering event:
obtain digital images of the defined physical place;
determine, based on the digital images, a surface geometry of the defined physical place and one or more texture maps; and
create, in a computer memory, a 3-D model of the defined physical place using the surface geometry and the one or more texture maps;
provide a user interface for remote access to the 3-D model, wherein the digital images used to create the 3-D model of the defined place are captured by one or more devices that are not controlled by a user of the user interface; and
enable an avatar operated by the user of the user interface to enter, tour and interact with the 3-D model of the defined physical place.
19. The electronic device of claim 18 , wherein the one or more processors are to detect the triggering event at the defined physical place by a news feed for a newsworthy event taking place at the defined physical place.
20. The electronic device of claim 18 , wherein the one or more processors are to obtain the digital images of the defined physical place and enable the avatar to enter, tour and interact with the 3-D model of the defined physical place in real or near real time.