ACTUALITY WEBSITE SHOWCASES CANBERRA TO THE WORLD

A spectacular website was launched on 18 May to showcase Canberra to the world, starting with the 7 million people expected to visit the Australian Pavilion at the 2010 Shanghai World Expo between May and October.

The ‘ACTuality’ website integrates video, photography and text to provide a virtual tour of Canberra, and features stunning aerial panoramas of the city and surrounds.

The creators of ACTuality – the ACT Government in partnership with local firms Simmersion Holdings, Zoo Group and Bearcage Productions – are inviting businesses to set up their own presence on the site and showcase their wares to the world.

Already, more than 25 ACT organisations and businesses have signed up to populate the virtual world, dramatically revealing Canberra’s attractiveness as a tourist, business and investment destination.

Users can navigate high-quality photographic 360-degree panoramas of the city; they can activate two-minute videos on Canberra’s business, lifestyle, government, tourism, education and strengths; and they can click on icon-based hotspots on the panorama to zoom in on a business site, an education facility or a tourist attraction.

Participating organisations and businesses can have their own hotspot icon, and can tailor the level and format of information a user’s click on the icon takes them to.

Though the site was developed for the Shanghai World Expo, it will be an ideal platform for Canberra businesses and attractions to promote themselves well into the future. It will continue to operate as a virtual tour of Canberra towards the Centenary of Canberra in 2013.

The ACTuality website can be viewed at www.actuality.net.au

Businesses and organisations who want to showcase themselves in ACTuality can contact Simmersion Holdings on 6202 4800.

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