This concept of bringing the real world into the virtual realm can be extended to the tourism industry. With point-and-click technology and impressive graphics, it is now feasible to create a virtual version of a tourist destination. Live streaming Singapore technology is yet another leap forward in bringing the real world to the virtual one, by providing people with a chance to see live footage of a place, vastly reducing the time discrepancy between the happening and viewing of an event.
The phenomenal growth in technology has led to the development of various software applications that attempt to simulate real-world experiences. Some classic examples of virtual experiences are theme park simulators and flight simulations. These software applications are designed to provide users with a taste of the real experience, and to either complement the real experience or provide an alternative if the real experience is not possible.
In the information age, our virtually wired world is increasingly becoming a part of our everyday lives. Today, people are considering the virtual world as an extension of the real world, and not just as an escape from reality. In fact, the distinction between the two worlds is blurring to the point where people prefer to conduct business, socialize, and even travel in the virtual world.
Benefits of Live Streaming for Travelers
Live streaming Singapore technologies are still in their infancy, but there are some potential benefits for travelers. Travelers may not have to sit through footage to get to what they really want to see. They should also ensure that their computer is free from unnecessary programs such as Active Desktop objects. The last thing they want while viewing a streamed video is to have their player hang because their computer is receiving an Active Desktop update in the background. Another benefit could be that the video streams, paired with enriched content, could provide new ways of seeing the world before actually traveling to a destination. This enhanced content could be an embedded video with interactive hotspots that could take the viewer on a journey within the video, either experiencing the footage through a different cultural context or learning more about the specific events taking place during the video. With enriched content, the possibility for educational value is immense. It is not hard to imagine virtual tours of museums and historical sites around the world right from the students’ desktop. Finally, some live streams could be mixed with social networking to provide online communities with themed events that could simulate an experience such as Mardi Gras or a local celebration of a specific holiday in a faraway destination.
Access to Real-time Experiences
These subjects provide a framework for the key idea in the essay. In this essence, “Access to Real-time Experiences” discusses the benefit of being able to view a venue in real-time situation and making an informed decision of whether to visit it or not. This is juxtaposed against the more static and theoretical 3D reconstructions and virtual models often used in VR. The second REALM paper again provides insight and a foundation for the argument in the essay. It outlines that visitors to a place may be looking for different things out of their experience. It goes on to discuss that the experience of leisure is not solely in the act of visiting an attraction, but in the anticipation, planning, and memory of the event. In terms of before the visit, it might be expected that some visitors only view a place on a live stream once or twice, and then not at all leading up to and during the visit. To them, the live-streamed content has provided an accurate depiction of what to expect from the attraction, while sparing the need to visit it in reality. This is particularly useful if the visit in actual reality is not preferable. The paper discusses the example of visiting a historical site. Live streaming allows the viewer to actively visit the place in question and interact with the guide, without the distress of being around large groups of tourists. Then there are those with no intention of visiting an attraction in physical reality, and those who are unable to. The range and depth of Singapore’s attractions means that some visitors may find it hard to fit everything in around their schedule or visit it at all. High costs of living and work mean that some Singaporeans are hard-pressed to find time for leisure and may even see their own attractions as tourist. In a more extreme case, there are disabled people and the elderly to consider who may not have the physical capability to visit an event. Live streaming may provide an invaluable service to these people, allowing them to experience the sights and sounds of a place without actually being there.
Cost-effective Alternative
A good case scenario for a cost-effective alternative will be based on Singapore’s Formula One night race. A team of photographers and video editors known as Super Import Nights, who were previously tasked to produce a video coverage of the night race and the event itself, has decided to use live streaming as an alternative. By using live streaming of the event, it cuts down the cost of having to pay a huge sum of money for the crew’s track entry passes, accommodations, and the man-hours needed for coverage of the event. This is considering a costly production as everything that is being done within the crew for those three days is all self-sponsored. Using live streaming can allow those not present at the event to watch it live all around the world, with a virtual experience as if they were at the event itself. This would greatly reduce the cost of the crew and at the same time provide a real-time experience of the event to the public.”
“Live streaming (videos of activities in real time to the audience through the internet) is a cost-effective measure chosen by many travelers since the advent of Web 2.0. Previously, people used blogs to tell their story of their travel experience in a country. It was then followed by photo albums, and then moving on to video stories of their travels. Using live streaming now can provide a real-time virtual experience to the audience without the need to edit or post-produce any source of media used. The reduced production of media greatly cuts down the cost of travel while virtualizing the experience for the audience. It is considered as hitting two birds with one stone. The travelers get to experience the country by traveling physically and also virtualizing the experience for public viewing.
Popular Live Streaming Platforms for Travel
Facebook Live The most common live streaming method for travelers these days. A Facebook user could easily live stream directly through their phone devices with just a touch of a button. The live stream would be posted on the user’s Facebook profile or page and it would reach out to their Facebook friends or followers. This method is most ideal for travelers that want to update their travel status real-time to keep in touch with their family and friends and also travelers that are doing some sort of content promotion for their Facebook page or work. As the live streams are posted on the Facebook profile or page, the stream could be saved and used as a Facebook post or video resource. This would significantly help travelers to gain extra exposure and promote their content for the travel.
YouTube Live YouTube added live streaming and the ability to send a live link to your subscribers using your phone or tablet in mid-2018. Also, the fans could be notified when you are going live. The chat and super chat features are also a great plus point as a streamer can interact with their audience real-time and also generate some income through the live streaming. The live streams could be saved as videos after the live streams ended and would be posted on the channel. Great for the stream to be saved as resources for your viewers. The only downside would be you won’t be able to engage as many new audiences as you would like as much of your YouTube subscribers that aren’t notified to tune in are likely to miss your stream. Live streaming for YouTube is best for YouTubers with a large subscriber fan base.
Planning to document your travel experiences via live streaming or to make travel live streaming a part of your life-broadcasting travel channel? Look no further, here are the popular live streaming platforms for your travel.
YouTube Live
YouTube Live is a relatively new live streaming service from Google. To use it, you need to have a YouTube account and a Google+ page. Then, enable your YouTube account for live streaming, and it’s available on a personal computer with a webcam and an internet connection. Using YouTube Live, users can stream their experiences in Singapore in real time so that their followers can get an immediate peek at what it’s like at a particular place at a particular time, which is quite different from browsing through pre-recorded videos. An additional feature that makes YouTube Live stand out from the others is its live chat box, which allows interaction to take place concurrently with the live stream. This can be a platform for the host to answer questions or for tourists to share their own experiences related to the one they are watching. A potential downside is that new users are not allowed to live stream via mobile, which may impede on tourists in Singapore who are often out and about. In general, we consider YouTube Live to be a good platform for travel live streaming as its features make it convenient and engaging for both the host and viewer.
Facebook Live
Facebook Live is a feature of Facebook. This is one of the popular live streaming platforms and has been used for travel channels in introducing and promoting different tourist attractions. Based on previous research, Facebook Live is used by travel pages/sites for consumer engagement as it provides real-time conversation between the viewers and the host of the video. Facebook Live also is the only live streaming platform that has its own ‘sponsored’ feature where the host can pay a certain amount to boost and sponsor the live video in order to gain more viewers and increase the reach of the video. The advantages of Facebook Live is it provides longer shelf life where the live video can be re-watched by viewers on the host’s page or profile and the direct and maintain engagement through real-time comments, wows, and likes from the viewers on the video. One of the famous travel channels that used Facebook Live is Tripzilla who had done a live stream when they were in Bangkok. Based on the interview with the writer, Tripzilla had used Facebook Live to engage with their Singaporean audience as most of their fans are based in Singapore. The video was used to show and promote the different attractions in Bangkok and the on-ground experience by Tripzilla when they were there. During the live stream, the viewers were asking questions and seeking recommendations about Bangkok and the Tripzilla team were answering the questions in real time. At the end of the video, the host had asked the viewers to share and like the video and also the comments from the viewers had showed that there were a lot of engagement during the live video.
Instagram Live
Instagram Live, exclusive to mobile devices operating iOS or Android versions, is a feature presented with the Instagram app and cannot be accessed through a desktop login. Live streaming duration is limited to one hour, granting Instagram users real-time experiences which may be heavily tagged or pinpointed on a map. This can be an effective method to attract fans and viewers to a location or event through visual geography and attention and may be easier to use and view on mobile devices for this purpose. An Instagram Live video appearing on the Explore page can also attract new viewers to a live stream, increasing the potential audience and fanbase of a user. Viewers may then be redirected to recently live and offline content through a user’s story posted on their profile, allowing for longer-lasting access to a video that would have expired directly following the live stream. This can be an effective way to maintain and increase one’s viewer fanbase through easy access and steady content promotion.
Virtual Experiences of Singapore’s Attractions
Now coming to the attractions, Gardens by the Bay is one of the first few local attractions that has collaborated with Google in creating the virtual experience. I felt that this virtual map is a very good branding tool and marketing strategy, as the map captures the lush greenery and floral beauty of the park, which acts as a pull factor encouraging more tourists to visit the actual place. During the virtual tour, there is a voiceover guiding you through the various attractions within the park. Clicking on the icons will provide a brief write-up of that attraction. It’s almost like having a personal tour guide beside you, explaining each individual attraction. Furthermore, there are also 360-degree panoramic views of the rest of the attractions within the park, offering you an immersive experience of being in that place. At the end of the session, there is an assessment quiz that tests your knowledge of the park. Participants who manage to answer the questions correctly may stand a chance to win attractive prizes.
Virtual experiences of Singapore’s attractions provide a glimpse of Singapore’s popular tourist attractions in collaboration with Google Earth, which has transformed the familiar virtual map and placed them into a whole new level in the virtual world. Although some still prefer the traditional method of finding information, I’m going to talk about the different virtual experiences and the benefits it has to offer for using the virtual map to explore Singapore’s attractions. This new innovative and convenient method has opened up new possibilities for armchair travelers who are physically unable to travel or during times where there are travel restrictions, providing them with an alternative to explore Singapore at their own leisure and pace. In addition, the virtual map offers a more interactive and multi-sensory learning experience. It also provides information on almost every single nook and cranny of the place on the map.
Gardens by the Bay
Gardens by the Bay was envisioned as a garden city – a uniquely Singaporean image. The gardens capture Singapore’s essence as the premier tropical garden city with the perfect environment in which to live and work. Tourists will admire the craftsmanship, the plants, and how the whole environment will serve as a perfect escape from the fast pace of city life. With the 25 unique supertrees that are man-made 9 to 16 storeys tall, they will think that they entered another world inside a world. The supertrees are designed with large canopies that provide shade in the day and come alive with an exhilarating display of light and sound at night. Tourists may be able to take a stroll on the suspended walkway that connects these supertrees for a bird’s eye view of the gardens. Gardens by the Bay not only offer a splendid man-made environment, but it also incorporates the sustainability of using the environment to keep the gardens running. Sustainable energy is used for the maintenance of the gardens. Renewable energy sources are used at every opportunity. The developed biomass generated from the tree pruning in the gardens and waste collected from the gardens is transformed into electricity to power the cooled conservatories through the use of a co-generation plant. These are healthy features to educate tourists on the environment while still being able to enjoy the beauty of the gardens.
Sentosa Island
Historical Discovery. Fort Siloso, an old fortress that was built to defend the western entrance to Keppel Harbour and the passageway to Singapore Straits, allows you to capture a glimpse of the history of World War II. A visit to Fort Siloso includes a scenic trip on the 660-meter-long Skyride that provides an aerial overview of the Singapore Cable Car.
Beaching. Siloso Beach is a hip beach and the place to go for volleyball games and other events. There are also a number of bars and restaurants with chill-out music to complete the whole beach experience.
Nature Walks. Sentosa is home to a canopy of native trees that has covered the island for more than 70 years. It also has 3.2km of sheltered nature trails that provide a haven for a variety of flora and fauna.
Sentosa Island is a popular island resort in Singapore visited by some twenty million people a year. Whether a tourist or a local looking to spend a day off, Sentosa offers a wide range of activities that cater to various interests.
Marina Bay Sands
Marina Bay Sands is one of the most iconic destinations in Singapore. It’s known for its premium hotel, Skypark, museum, theatres, and casino. We can enjoy Singapore’s skyline from the hotel, which has 57 levels, and have an infinity pool at the end of the Skypark. There is a high-class shopping area available in The Shoppes, which is near the Marina Bay Sands Casino. The ArtScience Museum and Esplanade Theatres always have interesting exhibitions. But you need to check their schedule because sometimes the exhibitions are not free events. To see the cute and smart animals from the Amazon and Africa, we can go to the river at Marina Bay Sands for the River Safari. Last but not least, to experience the luxury at Marina Bay Sands, we can play games at the casino. This place is also suitable for taking some good photos with friends or family. There are so many spots to take pictures, and this place is very Instagrammable. Marina Bay Sands is quite big and we can explore it all in a day, but don’t forget to always prepare an umbrella because sometimes the weather is unpredictable.
Singapore Zoo
Singapore Zoo is known for ticketed guided tours through the zoo at different times, with many of the animals on display, making the experience enhanced by keen and knowledgeable keepers. Also, at selected times for certain animals, the zoo keepers will demonstrate to visitors how the animal is trained and fed, making it a learning experience not only for kids but for adults too. Gindara loves the polar bear displays and the elephant shows. The last visit was made to the zoo for the tour of the white tigers. One can also plan to visit the Fragile Forest and the Australian Outback, where the visitor can get closer to the animals. Coming years will see the addition of more attractions with the recent opening of the new Asia zone showcasing the animals and natural surroundings of that particular region. A day is not enough to see it all. High-quality indoor and outdoor park and play equipment and a swimming pool are added attractions for children and young adults. All in all, a day spent at the zoo is guaranteed to be an enriching experience in the heart of nature.
One of the most popular tourist destinations in Singapore is Singapore Zoo, a place where numerous animals, birds, and insect species inhabit a ‘rainforest’ environment and can be appreciated. It’s quite similar to walking in a real rainforest. Especially well-known for its free-ranging orangutans, it boasts open exhibits with the animals and birds kept in well-constructed imitations of their natural surroundings. Next to the Zoo is the Night Safari and the recently added Jurong Bird Park. A combined ticket for the zoo and the bird park can be purchased at a lower price. The Night Safari is a unique experience where animals from all around the world, usually viewed in the daytime, are seen at night in special lighting that resembles moonlight. It is known for bringing visitors closer to wildlife.
