AT&T and DevLab - Workshop - [2017.05.03]

Intro to 360 Video & Virtual Reality

What is Virtual Reality?
- "A computer-generated digital environment that can be experienced and interacted with as if it were real."
Reality - Augmented Reality - Mixed - Virtual Reality
Alternative Realities
- AR
- 360 Panoramic Still Images
  - Can produce hi-res images with single camera
- VR
  - Fully virtual worlds
  - 3D modeling and animation tools
VR is not a new concept
- Holmes Stereoscope (circa 1861)
- Mattel View-Master (circa 1962)
- VR arcades in the 80s
  - Costly equipment/low res & lag
Modern VR
- Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, PSVR, Haptics, Hololens, Meta, GearVR [Gen 1-1.5]

VR Equipment
- 360 Camera Gear
  - DSLR 360 camera array
  - Low-light performance
  - 6K+
  - High framerature capture capability
  - Use w/ drones, dive-proof cases
- 360 Image/Video Processing & Software
Parallax
- Displacement or difference in the apparent position of an object viewed along two different lines of sight
- You can either stitch near OR far (background OR foreground objects) ... but not both
Stabilization
- Monopod vs. Tripod
Lighting & Directing
- Natural light is your friend
- Watch for lens flares
- Can add lights, but will be able to see rig in photos
- Hide under/behind camera
- Direct remotely (monitor)

Uploading a 360 video to YouTube
- Video clips on thumbdrive
- Use the "injected" file
- Find uploaded video in YouTube app and select the Google Cardboard icon in lower right corner

Chris Milk
- Look up his work
VR is a NEW LANGUAGE
Why Storytelling in VR?
- Applications - Impact - Immersion - Presence - Perspective - Connection/Empathy
- Experience
Cinematic VR vs. Traditional Filmmaking
- Length of shot (enough time to look around)
Planning & Storyboard
- Subject placement
- Secondary action
- Primary FOV
- Stitch-lines
What is common to all VR development?
- ITERATION! Define - Make - Learn