testsetset
As it’s the holiday season, everyone has special traditions, such as watching “It’s A Wonderful Life,” enjoying Starbucks’ holiday blend coffee, or visiting Santa Claus. Of course, another fun thing to do is view the window displays in New York City, a favorite activity for locals and tourists alike. And if you can’t make it to the Big Apple this winter, Google wants to bring the sights to you through any Cardboard or Daydream-powered device.
Using your smartphone or computer, you can have a virtual tour of the holiday windows from 18 top stores in New York City. Whether it’s the enchanted forest at Lord & Taylor, the couture gowns at Saks Fifth Avenue, or Nick Cave’s artistic sculptures at Barneys, you can enjoy a tradition shared and beloved by many.
And Google wants the experience to be more than just a simple viewing. At any time, you can zoom in on the displays to not only see them in more detail, but to also listen to audio guides developed by the respective store’s creative directors. There’s also a shopping gift window that lets you purchase stuff for that special someone. (A ha! An ulterior motive.)
This latest project is a product of the company’s Art, Copy & Code team, a unit that specializes in creating interesting data visualizations, brand stories, and more. While the project transports you to a faraway destination to make your holidays a little brighter, it is also designed to tout the capabilities of Google’s suite of products. These include products for virtual reality and tours, as well as hardware devices, like Cardboard, and the company’s Daydream products, such as the headwear for the Google Pixel smartphone.
This is one of the first initiatives from Google to be supported by its Daydream virtual reality offering.
