Chicago, IL (PRWEB) March 05, 2015
Georama, a company that helps people experience the world vicariously in real-time, partnered with the Chicago Chinatown Chamber of Commerce to bring the Lunar New Year Parade to those who could not be there.
The 103rd annual Lunar New Year Parade was held Sunday, 22nd February, and it was the first time it had been live streamed. This allowed people from anywhere in the world to tune in to see how Chicago celebrates the Lunar New Year. Also, this was a welcome addition for those who wanted to be there but couldn’t make it due to the subzero temperatures, as it allowed them to still experience the event from the comfort of their homes. One viewer even commented saying that she loved being able to watch in her ‘jammies’ at home.
“Our partnership with Chicago Chinatown Chamber of Commerce was a success – people from over 45 cities and 5 countries tuned in, and it was great to show those who don’t live in Chicago exactly how we celebrate Chinese New Year!” said Nihal Advani, Founder and CEO of Georama. “Event’s like this showcase how us Chicagoans celebrate and respect all cultures.”
The parade had a host of floats and performances that ranged from the world famous ‘dragon dance’ to the McDonalds float that got all the children very excited. What was unique about this live stream compared to a traditional live stream was that Georama’s vicarious experiences technology allowed viewers to not just watch live, but also interact in real-time with the guide to ask questions and make suggestions – thereby providing a personalized experience to those who were watching. Furthermore, the guide, Samone Hu and the producer, Aaqib Usman, were completely mobile and not only walked with the parade but also got on to floats to provide a different perspective.
“The Lunar New Year Parade is one of the major events held in Chinatown each year. To be able to live stream the parade across the United States and other countries around the world was a unique opportunity to showcase Chicago Chinatown and how it embraces the Chinese culture in real time,” said Sharyne Tu, Executive Director of the Chicago Chinatown Chamber of Commerce. For those who missed the parade and would like to watch it, the recorded version of the live stream is available to view on http://chicagochinatown.org/georama.
About Georama
Georama’s Vicarious Experiences technology allows people to virtually explore a destination in real-time via a guide. A guide using Georama’s technology can live stream their point of view from a wearable camera to viewers around the world in a highly stable HD stream, while moving around freely even in poor network conditions. Viewers can watch the stream live and interact with the guide in real-time to get a personalized tour. Georama currently works with tourism organizations, hotels, airlines, and educational institutions.
About Chicago Chinatown Chamber of Commerce
Founded in 1983, the Chicago Chinatown Chamber of Commerce is a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization dedicated to serving the needs of Chicago’s Chinatown. Its mission is to improve and expand business opportunities; educate others on the history, culture and diversity of the Chinese American community; and to make Chicago’s Chinatown a major destination for all visitors.