360 video is here!
And while it is still in its infancy with only a few notable videos, it is a game changer. Youtube has been 360 video ready since March 2015, but Facebook has just released 360 capabilities for it’s news feed. Previously the only way you could see things in 360 was with the help of virtual reality glasses like those made by Oculus. Now you can watch these videos right on your computer or smartphone.
360 bikers
Go Pro has an interesting take on the technology where they take you on a trip through sand dunes on dirt bikes. The one problem is that they don’t shoot the video from the perspective of one of the riders where you would be able to experience the dunes, sliding and climbing, but rather they shot it as if someone is standing atop a particular dune and panning with the camera. This leads to the viewer seeing a very zoomed out view and also the motion happens so quickly that you inevitably miss bits as you are zooming around the screen attempting to find the bikers.
360 music videos
Avicci’s “waiting for love” music video is made with 360 video– it features a room full of doors and as you pan around the room you can see different break dancers. The same goes for this dance video made by the Bui Brothers, who I think actually did a better job with the 3D effect. Unlike in the Avicci video where some parts of the screen have moving dancers and some do not, the Bui Brothers video has dancers from various dance styles (Tango, hip-hop, modern, break dancers, ballet) all dancing to the same music and dancing throughout the video. So, you can choose to pan around the room or you can follow your favorite dancer.
360 Starwars
The greatest 360 video though, was the one produced by Star wars, Star Wars: The Force Awakens Immersive 360 Experience. The creators of this video truly understand how to utilize the 360 technology and have produced an interesting and fun 1 minute video, without the need for virtual reality glasses like the Oculus rift.
What type of video would you like to see in 360? Sports, action movies, music videos?
