Lowe’s Gets Into VR With The ‘Holoroom’ Virtual Reality Area In Select Toronto Stores
It's too bad the sitcom Home Improvement isn't still pumping out new episodes, as star Tim Allen would have been inspired by the announcement that Lowe's is building virtual reality "Holorooms" in select Toronto stores. Could you imagine the trouble the comedian could have gotten into playing around with VR? While that's not going to happen, Holorooms are indeed aimed at home improvement, just not of the sitcom variety.
Lowe's descriebs Holoroom as a home improvement simulator. It uses 3D and augmented reality technologies to provide homeowners an intuitive, immersive experience in the room they're designing. The process begins by having the customer choose their preferred products before viewing them in the Holoroom. Once they go into the Holoroom, they can make changes to the room design or finalize their plan if they like what they're seeing. They can then take home a 3D printout of their room to show their spouse, which is especially handy if you're having trouble explaining to your wife or husband what you're envisioning.
"We know that for many homeowners, the struggle to visualize a completed home improvement project or to share that vision with others can stop a project in its tracks," said Kyle Nel, executive director of Lowe’s Innovation Labs. "The Holoroom is our solution, enabling consumers to visualize their project and share that vision with family and friends."
This is the first concept born out of Lowe's Innovation Labs, which is tasked with building new technology to solve common consumer frustrations while working alongside startups, universities, specialized professionals. and so forth. It's Lowe's goal to lead innovation by developing disruptive technologies through its Innovation Labs division.
Lowe's said it will introduce Holorooms in select Toronto stores in 2014 with an initial focus on remodeling bathrooms. Over the next 12 to 18 months, additional product categories and rooms will get added to the Holoroom.
Lowe's descriebs Holoroom as a home improvement simulator. It uses 3D and augmented reality technologies to provide homeowners an intuitive, immersive experience in the room they're designing. The process begins by having the customer choose their preferred products before viewing them in the Holoroom. Once they go into the Holoroom, they can make changes to the room design or finalize their plan if they like what they're seeing. They can then take home a 3D printout of their room to show their spouse, which is especially handy if you're having trouble explaining to your wife or husband what you're envisioning.
"We know that for many homeowners, the struggle to visualize a completed home improvement project or to share that vision with others can stop a project in its tracks," said Kyle Nel, executive director of Lowe’s Innovation Labs. "The Holoroom is our solution, enabling consumers to visualize their project and share that vision with family and friends."
This is the first concept born out of Lowe's Innovation Labs, which is tasked with building new technology to solve common consumer frustrations while working alongside startups, universities, specialized professionals. and so forth. It's Lowe's goal to lead innovation by developing disruptive technologies through its Innovation Labs division.
Lowe's said it will introduce Holorooms in select Toronto stores in 2014 with an initial focus on remodeling bathrooms. Over the next 12 to 18 months, additional product categories and rooms will get added to the Holoroom.
