Dublin City University Business School
& School of Computing
M.Sc. in Electronic Commerce (Business/Technical)
Practicum Proposal
2004 / 2005
Student name /Student Number
1.Tadhg Toomey T / 541586052.David Dolan T / 54156921
3.Damien Crowe T / 97028134
4.Shane McGough B / 98650467
Date of Submission: 18/04/2005 .
Practicum Title: VoIP-Enabled Real Estate
.
Summary Description of Practicum:
(Including: Objectives, Background, Source of ideas etc.)
The purpose of this project is to create a multi-media enhanced Real Estate Agency on the World Wide Web. Operating as a consultancy service, it is our proposal to provide Estate Agents with the opportunity to move away from the dated methods of digital photography, followed by in-house consultancy. Through the use of Voice over IP, we hope to provide a service that creates a virtual view of the properties with which an Estate Agent would be brokering. Using recorded footage, via a digital camcorder, we will create a virtual environment on the Estate Agent’s website that will encorporate VoIP by means of a running commentary. The user will dictate the type of experience they wish to have on the website.
The purpose of this model is to eliminate/reduce the ever-costly transactional process that takes place on the Estate Agent’s premises with each client. Due to the vast sums of money involved in purchasing property, it is a costly, time-consuming process for the agent and the client, that will often result in a non-sale. By using this new method, the agent can advertise the property in a 3-dimensional format, through a voice-enabled virtual tour of the property. As the purchase is so costly, the clients will be able to reduce their property choice down to a fraction of what they would normally take into account, and focus their attentions on those properties which they are serious about viewing through traditional methods.
For the agent, the time-frame that normally exists between the introduction of the voyuer to the position of them being a potential buyer will be significantly reduced. For those users of the website that wish to have further contact with the agency without entering the premises, they will be able to use a VoIP-based support system, where they will be able to speak to an agent if they have further queries, through the website. Furthermore, the Agency will have the opportunity to utilise their website for other product advertising, through Voice-anabled marketing techniques, if so desired.
This approach streamlines the business model for the Agency, provides a new multi-media based approach to the expansive property market, and delivers a consultancy service that will be non-time consuming, cost reducing, and relavant to an extremely stable market.
Resources Required:
(Hardware, software, technical assistance, specific location etc.)
We would expect to purchase off-the-shelf Voice Software package, but the implementation may only require an evaluation copy.
In order to incorporate our market research, the availability of a land-line would be useful, even for a limited time.
It is expected that will will be able to avail of a digital camsorder, in order to demonstrate the virtual tour of the property, but this is not certain.
This form should be sent by email to the Practicum co-ordinator
Students should note that availability of academic staff for
consultation and advice cannot be guaranteed after 1 July