Being hailed as the biggest step yet towards bringing virtual reality to consumers, 360 video has taken the world by storm. Whether video presentations are designed as part of a marketing strategy or to bring users closer together in a social media setting, 360 degree video enables the viewer to feel as though he or she is right there on site in the most realistic way imaginable. For many years, techies have been working towards bringing virtual reality to life, and now it appears as though 360 video technology has finally opened the door.
How 360 Works
Without getting overly technical, the way in which 360 degree video is able to capture a space from every conceivable angle is with the use of multiple cameras all recording simultaneously. Take for example a live poker game such as the annual World Series Poker tournament held in Las Vegas. Regular video would have perhaps one or two cameras in the room that would pan across pre specified areas. One camera would film one half of the room, the other would be aimed at any point in the other half of the room. A poker game being recorded in 360 would employ multiple cameras that could be called up by viewers in a remote location who wanted to focus in on specifics within the tournament at any given time. Imagine the World Series Poker Tournament being recorded in 360 techniques? What an amazing innovation!
Virtual Reality and 360 Video
Since the viewer is able to focus in on literally any angle within the space being video recorded, it is like being in the room. The person viewing the video, either live or recorded, can pan around the room from camera to camera to get a look at whoever happens to be speaking at the moment or perhaps an item just sitting on a table that captures your interest. A 360 video is the closest thing to virtual reality as you can get with current technology and many are saying it is setting the stage for true virtual reality which is still in its infancy. However, unlike previous generations of virtual reality where special goggles were needed to offer the ‘feeling’ of being in a virtual setting, this is operated in much the same way as any video player but with the capability of panning around the room with on-screen controls.
From sports events to business meetings, 360 video is steps above video conferencing and just a few steps behind being somewhere in person. Some people believe that more sports events will be viewed once the technology has been perfected because it offers a better angle of games as they are played and also the viewer will not be exposed to the elements as they would be on location. Although not quite virtual reality as it is forecast to be, 360 degree video is the next best thing and something that has gamers and marketers alike sitting on the edge of their seats awaiting each new incarnation.
