The city of Austin hopes that virtual reality can connect foreign investors and proposed development projects in need of funding.

"Through the use of virtual reality, the city of Austin is turning to the thriving local video game industry to help attract overseas investors and billions of dollars in new economic development money," according to an article by Chad Swiatecki.
"The hope is that local developers can create a mobile app that will utilize virtual or augmented reality technology to showcase some of Austin’s most attractive development projects that are waiting for big investors to get them moving," explains Swiatecki.
To prove the city's interest in deploying virtual reality as a tool for marketing the city's development projects, the city's Economic Development Department released a request for qualifications on November 8 for the development of an app.
FULL STORY: Virtual reality expected to help city attract billions in foreign investment

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