Tomorrow's Real Estate Technology Today
One of my favorite things to do at Inman Connect is to see all the new Real Estate Technology that's being introduced to the industry. While I was wondering around the EXPO checking out the vendor booths and different products, I came across one vendor that really got me excited. They are called Infusion.com providing Location Intelligence Services. I was fortunate to have a meeting with Kayla Spiess, their Marketing and Communications Manager, and Tyler Davey the General Manager. When I saw the demo I'm about to share with you, I was blown away.
Real Estate Technology is something we know is always changing. We are constantly trying to adapt to the changes. Most often I find myself struggling just to keep up with it all. Last week I wrote a post about Google Maps and Google Earth regarding the missing link to click on the front door of a property and to go inside, or the lack thereof. Infusion is already ahead of the curve. Using Microsoft Surface technology, they have taken this idea and incorporated INFUSED ways to use it into today's Real Estate Market and Industry.
Here's a Video Preview of Infusions Falcon Eye Application
The Surface Touch Table you see in this video costs around $12,000 dollars and though you might not find one of these in the entry way of your local Real Estate office or Brokerage, this product is available for certain computers meeting specific Hardware and Software requirements. The future of Real Estate Technology may at some point include the requirement to purchase one of the coffee table type touch screens for your Real Estate Office.
Don't laugh, they said the fax machine would never make it as a modern day Business tool either.
Impressive! I'll bet you're having a ball out there.
Wow, Brad, this is freaky. This technology would be quite the magnet for bringing in prospective clients to your office. It would probably pay for itself in a matter of weeks. I wonder how far reaching the technology really is, though. There must be some fairly dramatic programming costs to accomodate specific MLS areas.
Thanks Brad. It's important for us mortgage brokers to stay up with the technolgy out there for Realtors too.
Hi Brad... VERY COOL! I get very few buyers who actually end up in my office, but the promise of something like this if they did, might make very good bait!
Brad,
Holy crap! How do I get my hands on that? That's amazing.
Hi Brad...That's Wild, I want one too..I may have to Fight Terry to get one 1st.
I'm still just getting done plotting my YouTube video's for Google and now this.. Could you Buy one, and with HP's new touch screen computer maybe some how I could link to you and use this New Interactive Mapping System.
Brad You Rock thanks for sharing this find:O))
Wow, costs certainly are dropping fast for this type of technology and are more accessible to the masses. I first saw this technology (although I don't know if it was from the same company) on John King's "Magic Wall" on CNN during CNN's months and months of coverage of the presidential election. The other networks starting using variations of it as well since it was very popular on CNN.
Way cool.
I have a tablet PC. I wonder if it would work on that.
Very Star Trek.
Will it bring me more sales???....Hmmmmmm
Truly amazing. Did the military develop this? I bet they will want it. Not to mention foreign intelligence services.
How do they know what's in a room?
Very "Blade Runner".
Must be an outgrowth of the flight simulators (for pilot training) that have shown the daytime (and nighttime) appearance of airports (located all over the world)...all the way from circling to final approach to landing .. for many years.
I thought those dinasaurs were pretty amazing.
Using "Falcon" in the branding...very descriptive of how it would feel to use....like flying.
Brad - This is impressive, for sure, but it's also scary as all get out! I can see this having application in military surveillance but ... it's kind of 'out there' for me otherwise. Maybe as I learn more ... LOL What absolutely makes me watch in wonder is ... just think of the minds that were able to design this and write the code! Yikes!
Very cool Brad. I never say never when it comes to tech. I grew up in a world where every phone had a rotary dial and needed to be attached to the wall with a cord and computers took up whole rooms; now look at us. This screen is amazing.
I can see how you were blown away by this demonstration. Thanks for sharing it with us virtually.
Brad, I can see this changing everything, including bringing people BACK into the offices. I bet in a few more years all homes available for sale will be showing up, with tours of the homes. Plus, with access to real time traffic and other info, people unfamiliar with the area would have a better understanding of where they are moving before they get there. Thank you, nice video, and I am sure you are having way to much fun!
Very Very Cool. I'm also thinking that - as all things in the computer-technology area - if I can just hold off for a couple years, that price tag will probably lose one of its zeros. :-)
Interesting stuff... could make "showings" completely obsolete
Hey brad right after my wife gets the renovated master bath she wants I am there with this. Ha It does look very cool thanks for the post
I can see myself showing homes in a preview room at my office with this. . one day
That is scary cool....technology is amazing these days. That looks like my kind of conference!
I am constantly amazed at the evolution of technology. Just when you get a handle on one piece of technology, another one sneaks up on you to take it to the next level.
Luckily, we have you to keep us up to date!
Hi Brad ~ I could definitely see this being a draw in the office. But does this mean those guys with the cameras that took shots of my house from the street and the air are going to show up to film inside my house? Should I be pulling my shades?
Liz
Brad, this technology is truly amazing. Hope you are having a great time in SF.
Brad - My wife and I caught part of Minority Report the other night. Watching Tom Cruise scroll through the touch screens as he did his work seemed so cool and everytime I see technology like this I'm reminded of how far things have come - especially in computers. My dad wrote programs on punch cards, now he's goofing around with Google Earth. You should see his face when he sees technology at work.
Very cool, although it seems to be bringing tones of "1984" into every day life. Will Big Brother be watching us all the time from the satelite? Time to keep our curtains closed!
Great stuff for the real estate industry though.
I had to laugh when you said, "No one though the fax machine would make it as a modern business tool, either." You're right; change is occuring so fast, it's hard to keep up with what's emerging, never mind anticipate what might be coming. I'm glad we have you to keep us informed and up to date!
Brad, this really creeps me out, next thing you know they will be in my private rooms! Holy Smokes!
Brad - very cool. Perhaps they'll be at NAR Convention in San Diego? Will be my first time to go, and I'm realy looking forward to the technology stuff.
Saw the surface touch table at the hotel during our CRS Instructor meetings last month...absolutely awesome! CRS Instructor Mike Selvaggion and I played a hotly contested game of chess on it...amazing!
As the cost comes down, which it will, more and more offices will have 'em. Can't wait 'til I can get one for my living room! :-)
Thank you for the warm welcome! I look forward to learning about SEO from you.
WOW, thanks as always, for keeping us on the front edge of the Real Estate world.
WOW that is cool. Imagine a builder putting their models up for you to walk through virtually - maybe I'm in NJ and want to buy a vacation home in FL ... what a concept.
Brad..Isn't technology wonderful! I just got the 3G google phone ..and WOW ..
HELPFULHANNAH
Brad
This totally rocks! Right out of NCIS!
TO GO WHERE NO ONE HAS GONE BEFORE!!
that was very cool... thanks for sharing that with us.
Brad,
All this technology is changing faster than I can keep up:)
Brad,
Technology is moving so fast and as business people we need to keep up. It is so great that we have ActiveRain to keep us posted on all the new fun stuff.
Have fun :)
Sharon
Wow, our industry is changing everyday. I bet most real estate agents are not aware of this new technology, thanks to you and activerain we are kept up to-date on everything. Thanks!!
Brad --- WOW --just amazing. I can see why you got so excited. Thanks for sharing the infusion with us. I know you are in "hog heaven" out there.
Thanks Brad, I didn't see them yesterday and I will visit the booth today.
Hi Brad,
This technology could take the virtual tour to a completely new level. Just wow! The price tag is still quite high for my tastes, but maybe someday I will be able to afford one! :)
-Lisa
Brad - It looks like they are probably using this technology:
http://www.ted.com/talks/jeff_han_demos_his_breakthrough_touchscreen.html
That is pretty nutso, but I would love one!!!!! Thanks for sharing with us!
Seems like this would be available on any computer with a touchscreen. No?
AR always has us ahead of the curve,thanks!
That is so neat - thanks for keeping us informed!
Way cool, Brad! We just have to be careful not to zoom in on a big hairy guy in the shower! Not good!
All I have to say is wow and I need to sell some more houses to buy that baby!!!LOL
Technology is a beautiful and confusing thing. I am behind the curve.
What other cool thingies did you find? I'm so jealous that I don't work for a company who will send me to these kind of events. Thanks for sharing this one and I'm waiting for more!!!
CSI used this about 5 years ago ;-)
Very cool. Thanks for the information.
Brad let them know I'm ready to test one of the surface touch tables for them in the field :)
Just wait until Apple figures out how to scale this down and incorporate this into it's iPod touch...
That is incredible technology.
Brad...
That kind of technology scares the crap out me. Hopefully, I'll be dead before I have to worry about being infused :)
TLW...ROAR!
I've heard about these tables in restaurants but surely they don't cost $12K.
Hi Brad. Seems cool. I hope the price tag is drastically reduced :) Like desktops, VCRs, etc were.
Wow. You get to play with all the cool stuff first! Must be fun.
Awesome stuff. I love the touch screen! Seeing inside virtual buildings? COOL! :)
Remember:
the facsimile (fax) machine was first a piece of military hardware for transferring intelligence information.
The first machines were as about as high and long as a standard office desk (and maybe half as deep)....very ugly black and white.l They cost Sam thousands each.
Hi Brad, this Infusion is really impressive. Having a vivid imagination, I wondered aloud while watching this, about the types of information that can be obtained. While real estate and business would find this information very valuable, wouldn't it also be useful for those that would wish us harm. Be it internal or exterior groups that are evil intent. As I was observing the power grid overlay and any number of other possibilities that might be available, this information could be harmful if in the wrong hands. I am sure it will not slow the progress we have begun but it does give pause to wonder.
Amazing, so advanced! But geez Brad; I just stopped using a tape measure to get room dimensions!
I would love to have this in my arsenal of tech tools. Looking forward to seeing it in the future.
Interesting this Infusion thing. Thanks for posting the video. Maybe you'll meet some of my co-workers from Hawaii Life real Estate Services, who are attending Connect SF in person. Aloha from Kauai...
On second thought Brad, i think that technology is just slightly out of my price range. LOL
Fax machine? I think I heard about those... don't they spit out rolls of paper that become unreadable if left in a hot car?
We can always count on you and others at AR to bring us up to date on the latest and greatest.
Brad, if YOU have trouble keeping up with technology, how do you think the rest of us feel?? But then, that's why we have YOU! Thanks once again for keeping us on the cutting edge. I think the cost of this technology will come down to where pc's will have it within a few years and I can't wait until Mac rolls out their version!
Sharon
This is amazing... thank for bringing all of us to the show with you.
Love, love, love it! I hope it's up and running while I'm still in the business!
As technology advances agents and brokers are being challenged. The consumer has and will have information in "real" time and "we" will have to market ourselves more than ever on the benefits of using a "Realtor" . The acknowledgment of their research and work will have to be addressed.
That's some pretty good stuff. Sure has google earth beat to heck.
Would love to have this software available for my laptop. Would be great to carrie with me and show parents during sporting practices.
Really cool but it looks like it has a lot of work before it's ready to go.
Very cool. However, I think the ultimate future for something like this is desk top, note pad, or smart phone. They want the visual tools, but they need to be usable anywhere, accessible to the client from the home, and cheap.
Brad, yes, definitely cool, I saw a demo of this on YouTube maybe 1.5 years ago.
I wonder, however, (and maybe I'm one of a dissenting few), just how applicable it is today. The visual format is great, but the customer still has to come in to the Broker's office to use it?...Most people I know LOVE my automated emails that alert them of the best deals - in the comfort of their own homes, and they like it that way! It's great to look at "bleeding edge" technology, the sweet spot is in "cutting edge", where it can be used to help people today. Just my two cents!
WOW! What a great response, thanks.
I spoke with the folks at Infusion again yesterday and there is already or will be an application like this for the Touchscreen Home/Office Desktop and Laptop computers. Having a coffee type touch table in your office would be one thing, but having that same power and capability on your computer or mobile laptop device would be just hot diggity superb!! Check out Infusion.com and contact Kayla or Tyler if you want more detailed info. They're good people who know their product, and they are both very customer service friendly. :-)
This is amazing!
I think it would be an amazing and maybe more affordable option to have on your computer. Love the technology and possible applications.
Brad,
Not bad at all. This looks like what the CNN weather guys are using on their reports. Once the cost comes down a bit the technology will be available at forward-looking real estate offices.
Brad - wow!! You must be in TECHNO Heaven...... :)
Does this mean I have to keep my shades in my bedroom closed at all time from here on ???
Wow ! Not that is impressive technology ! And a great video ! I would love just to know how to make a video like that : ) . Being at Inman must be awesome. We were in NYC earlier this year and loved it.
Thanks, I can help you guys make a video like that. It's finding the cool stuff like this that makes it fun. :-)
12,000$ now 120$ in 6 months, just need to wait it out. Remember how much the first computer cost, cost 10,000$ now you can get them for couple hundred, and without a tower...
You can actually play with that Microsoft technology if you visit the 'House of Tomorrow' in Disneyland and Disneyworld. In the house of tomorrow they incorporated the Microsoft Surface Techology into a coffee table for virtual book reading and digital photo albums that flipped the pages with the flick of a finger. This technology was Bill Gates last gift to the computer world before he stepped down from Microsoft.
This is fantastic! I think clients would love this kind of technology while searching for a new home.
Very cool technology! Like most things techno, this will be the norm in a few years and it'll probably be a free download! Amazing!