Virtual Reality

Google makes virtual reality easier for viewers and creators with new VR180 format

Google makes virtual reality easier for viewers and creators with new VR180 format
VR180 ignores the world behind you to make virtual reality simpler for viewers and creators
VR180 ignores the world behind you to make virtual reality simpler for viewers and creators
View 2 Images
VR180 ignores the world behind you to make virtual reality simpler for viewers and creators
1/2
VR180 ignores the world behind you to make virtual reality simpler for viewers and creators
Based on this early sketch, VR180 cameras will feature two lenses and have a "point-and-shoot" feel
2/2
Based on this early sketch, VR180 cameras will feature two lenses and have a "point-and-shoot" feel

One of the easiest ways into virtual reality right now is through the 360-degree videos pushed by the likes of Facebook and YouTube, spherical movie balls that you sit inside and peer around in. Now Google wants to offer an even simpler format for content creators and viewers alike: VR180.

As the name suggests, it's the full 360-degree experience cut in half, so you only see what's ahead of you, though you can take in 180-degrees of immersion. While VR180 might seem like a downgrade, it should be more straightforward for viewers to get to grips with, and will be easier to record, too.

"VR180 videos focus on what's in front of you, are high resolution, and look great on desktop and on mobile," explains Google.

The new VR180 format will work in Cardboard, Daydream, and PSVR to begin with, appearing as a normal flat video on other devices and inside browsers. If you use a dedicated VR device, the 180-degree clips will be shown stereoscopically in 3D, so you can get a sense of depth. Livestreaming videos will also be supported by the new format.

On the content creation side, the camera setup and the editing process should be simpler too – Google says Adobe Premiere Pro support is coming – so for everyone involved it's a more streamlined approach to VR video that aims to keep the immersive aspect and ditch what's less important (everything going on behind you).

Last week Google engineers unveiled a new tool for VR video creators that showed where viewers were looking through heatmaps. It turns out that people spend 75 percent of their time looking at the front 90 degrees of a VR video, even if they've got 360 degrees to look at, so VR180 makes sense from that perspective.

360-degree videos aren't going anywhere but VR180 should provide an easier entry point for viewers as well as fewer headaches for those doing the actual filming. Google says VR180 cameras with a "point-and-shoot" feel are on the way from YI, Lenovo, and LG, with the first ones out before the end of the year.

You can find out more about the new format and sign up for updates at Google's VR180 page.

Source: Google

2 comments
2 comments
Josh!
I'm so torn on 360 2D vs 180 3D.
GoPro is coming out with an awesome looking 360 2D camera, where you can view as 360 or pull 2D 1080p clips from it to form conventional videos.
And now YT is pushing for 180 3D, where you can view as a somewhat conventional video, but with slight freedom to "move".
Which is better is probably best determined on a case-to-case basis because they both have their merits. I still wouldn't bet on either of them (360 2D or 180 3D) beating out conventional (fixed 2D) videography any time soon.
Imran Sheikh
Since its spherical video. Shouldn't it be called "VR720 format"