Sony has launched a new virtual tour that lets users explore ancient ruins from home. The experience uses binaural audio to create a realistic sense of sound direction and space. This makes it feel like you are actually walking through the sites.
(Sony’s Virtual Tour of Ancient Ruins Features Binaural Audio)
The tour includes famous locations like Pompeii and Machu Picchu. Users can hear footsteps echo on stone paths or wind rustle through old walls. These sounds shift as you move your head, just like in real life. Sony developed this using its 360 Reality Audio technology.
People can access the tour through a smartphone or VR headset. They only need headphones to get the full effect. The project is part of Sony’s effort to bring history to life in new ways. It also shows how audio can shape immersive experiences.
Historians and sound engineers worked together on the project. They recorded real sounds at each location. Then they placed them accurately in the virtual space. This helps users understand how the ruins might have sounded centuries ago.
Sony says the goal is to make learning about history more engaging. The virtual tour is free to use and available online. It works on most modern devices. No special software is needed beyond a web browser or the Sony app.
(Sony’s Virtual Tour of Ancient Ruins Features Binaural Audio)
The company plans to add more sites in the future. They are also looking at including narration from local experts. This would give users deeper context as they explore. For now, the focus remains on sound and presence.
