Enjoy New York's Christmas Window Displays Without Actually Going To Fifth Avenue

By Precious Gem de Peralta
Google Daydream View VR Headset
Enjoy a virtual tour of New York's iconic Christmas window displays by using a Google Cardboard or Google Daydream View VR headset. There's no need to travel far and spend on airfare to go to Fifth Avenue. Maurizio Pesce via Flickr

Google is taking virtual reality one step ahead this Christmas season. You can now enjoy New York's Christmas window displays even without actually going to Fifth Avenue. You don't need to travel a long way and spend much on airfare. Stay in the comfort of your home and let the Google Cardboard or Google Daydream View tour you to the tech company's Window Wonderland.

According to Adweek, Google has partnered with more than a dozen major retailers. Through the Window Wonderland, people can experience virtual reality and "explore the lights and sounds of the season". Basically, you are able to zoom in on these displays as well as listen to audio guides that talk about how the "magic seen by more than 5 million visitors every year" is created.

In order to give virtual reality tour the sense of reality, Google's Art, Copy & Code projects team had taken hundreds of high-resolution photos of 18 retailers that include Burberry, Bloomingdale's and Saks Fifth Avenue. Among the displays you will find are the Lord & Taylor's Enchanted Forest, Macy's Santa command center and Bergdorf Goodman's almost 10-foot tall jackalope.

The head of the team said in a blog post, "With all the artistry and time that goes into creating these holiday windows, we want to open them up to the whole world." Open them up to the world, they did. But aside from merely admiring the displays, Google has made it possible for you to shop products from your favorite retailers included in the VR tour. The tech company has provided a site that you can visit to make your digital shopping. The tour costs nothing. However, the items that are up on the site are not free.

Macy's group Vice President of Digital Media Strategy Serena Potter said that the VR tour gives more access to those who are usually not able to experience the "wonder and whimsy" of the Christmas windows, according to Adweek. She added, "This partnership captures a unique retail tradition." If you want to get a glimpse of Google's Window Wonderland, they have a preview uploaded on YouTube. You can check it here.

 

Google has expressed their interest in furthering artificial intelligence that also involves virtual reality. Back in October, they have launched a series of products that embody this goal. Among these devices are their flagship smartphones Google Pixel and Google Pixel XL. They also introduced Google Assistant, Google Home, Chromecast Ultra, Google WiFi Router and the Google Daydream View VR headset. The latter of which is only supported by the Google Pixel phones. Unless you own these phones, you have to use the Google Cardboard to delve into Google's Window Wonderland.

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