SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – In 1999, The Wachowski Brothers’ blockbuster The Matrix awakened moviegoers to a virtual reality/augmented reality in which nothing is what it seems. The movie spawned three sequels, at least one television series and several video games.
More than that, though, The Matrix presaged a new real-world reality that took a while to arrive but now seems poised to revolutionize entertainment.
And marketing.
Michael Rapoport is determined the company he founded, Get Virtual, will be among the vanguard in the new world order.
“Get Virtual produces easily accessible, on-demand consumer experiences that put products and services front-and-center using virtual reality, augmented reality and 360 video,” he said. “Our software creates a seamless relationship between producers, advertisers and consumers. We design and integrate high quality advertising elements into any virtual environment in a non-intrusive and functional manner.”
Rapoport calls the materials his company produces “experiences” because they don’t simply lie still and hope someone watches. The videos, which can be integrated with larger, holistic marketing platforms, incorporate features that encourage viewers’ active engagement: clickable hotspots, interactive gameplay and other attention-getters. (An example interactive ad for the James Bond movie Spectre is the sort of flashy fun interactive advertising can be. Follow the music down the page at the link to play along.)
Rapoport sees almost unlimited uses for the technology in the adult space. Potential applications include 3D products, display ads and videos inside VR, AR or 360-degree content. Think live cam shows, VR-filmed porn scenes and XXX-rated VR video games.
“Developers and actors can finally generate ad revenue in a medium that is currently untapped,” he said. “Users can use 3D-generated products in an VR-immersive world. A live-cam show model can generate additional revenue by placing affiliate advertisements into the background scene of the broadcast, and tube sites can finally generate ad revenue from their streamed content.”
Businesses seeking to increase brand awareness have the most to gain, Rapoport said.
“Imagine the experience of a first-time VR-porn user,” he said. “He goes on his favorite website, watches a few videos and immediately falls in love with the technology. As he immerses himself into the system, he learns he can play with the toys, interact with the posters and even watch linked videos. His new favorite VR actress uses a toy he’s never seen before, but he loves it. He loves it so much he decides to buy it for his personal life directly off the video he just saw.”
Dreaming? Nope. The technology exists.
“Our patented technology allows users to interact with product-placement 3D models in a whole new medium,” Rapoport said. “Choose from an array of toys just as you would in real life. The level of interaction brings the viewer into the scene on a whole new level.
“Virtual reality will be the future of the adult industry because the ability to simulate real life creates a more enticing and immersive experience for the viewer,” he added. “Get Virtual is the tool to help developers finance their content creation and brands expand their exposure.”
More information and fun demos are available at GetVirtual.io.
