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n the not-so-distant past, Jonathan Coon was one of the earliest adopters of the Oculus Kickstarter project in 2012. Fast forward to 2025, and he's now at the forefront of a revolutionary technology that's changing the way we experience real estate sales. On a hilltop overlooking Austin, Texas, Coon has collaborated with Pureblink, Agile Lens, and DBOX to create a 5,000-square-foot holodeck – a first-of-its-kind facility that's redefining the concept of "frictionless living."

    The holodeck is an immersive experience that allows potential buyers to walk through a virtual community, complete with homes, amenities, and breathtaking views of Lake Austin. According to Coon, the 30-minute tour has been a game-changer for sales teams, with over $427 million in sales and 52 contracts attributed to this innovative approach.

    As I stepped into the holodeck, I was struck by the sheer scale and realism of the experience. The 11 screens in the control room monitored eight potential client slots, the host, and the motion capture camera system, all working seamlessly together to create an immersive environment. Amanda Watson, the creator of Meta's AirLink streaming technology, explained that the challenge lies not in the amount of data being streamed but in delivering a consistent experience without breaks in immersion.

    The holodeck uses Wi-Fi 6E in a proprietary configuration to connect clients in an active multiplayer session with the host. The routers beam data to headsets modified with custom forehead pads and top straps, allowing participants to see their actual feet below them for grounding while walking around. Even the wood planks on the floor of the physical holodeck align with the virtual wood planks in most scenes.

    As I progressed through my tour, I began to appreciate the potential of this technology to revolutionize the way we experience and interact with spaces. Alex Coulombe, one of the lead technology integrators behind the project, shared his vision for a future where communities can be designed and refined through immersive experiences like the holodeck.

    Imagine being able to walk through a floor plan at 1:1 scale, feeling the distance between rooms as your mind fills in the spaces with activities you might want there. Coulombe's latest experiments in the holodeck have made this vision a reality, allowing users to step forward into homes and explore their layout without walls or furniture distracting them.

    As I left the holodeck, I was handed a box containing a copy of the menu I saw on the table in VR and a 3D image viewer filled with photorealistic computer-generated imagery of the property and its amenities. This is more than just a sales tool – it's an immersive experience that allows buyers to own a piece of their future home, even before construction begins.

    The Four Seasons Private Residences project has been covered elsewhere, but this behind-the-scenes breakdown offers a unique glimpse into the technology driving this revolution in real estate sales. As we look to the future, one thing is clear: the holodeck is not just a tool for selling homes – it's a window into a new world of possibilities.