There are more and more 3D and virtual tools appearing, i looked at Shopping Lane last month, you can walk around a shopping mall and enter shops, look at goods and then buy, but i find it boring, i waste time walking etc and would rather just buy from an online shop.

But this site is a good example of how virtual can be applied:

Streets.to, Toronto’s visual search engine can set you up with a personal tour.

Taking you on a simulated 3-D city excursion, Streets.to is touted as “the world’s first and only patent-pending virtual cityscape.” It’s purpose: to turn virtual into reality, giving you a comprehensive visual depiction of what one can expect in and around the Greater Toronto Area (aka GTA).

The site opens onto an animated illustration of the hustle and bustle of Yonge and Dundas, Toronto’s busiest intersection. From here you can hail one of the city’s infamous green and orange Beck cabs and drive to a host of restaurants, hotels, stores and attractions. Follow the arrows to enter each location and you’re instantly morphed into the surroundings of your selected destination, complete with real-life photographs.

If you’re entirely in the dark about what Toronto has to offer, there is an additional breakdown of categories including a Visitor Guide, Toronto Hospitality and What To Do Tonight, featuring a “What’s Hot” section for an up to the minute guide to night life.

Streets.to has only been online for a couple of months so locality selection is somewhat limited, especially in the shopping department. The site is continually updated, so keep checking back for the latest in boutiques and restaurants. No word on whether other Canadian cities are scheduled to follow.

Imagine a guide like this for every City in the world…

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