Facebook has launched a new type of
video that will take its users one step closer to the immersive experience of
virtual reality.
The new video, dubbed “360 video”,
allows users to change perspectives within a video by moving their cursor or
finger on the image as the video plays. It could be a first step toward
integrating some of Facebook’s content with virtual reality products.
While most of the images posted to
Facebook are taken with smartphones, 360-degree videos require dedicated
cameras, limiting the potential supply of content for the new feature.
The launch comes at a time when tech
titans are investing in virtual reality and augmented reality. Both GoPro and
Nokia have launched virtual-reality camera rigs that can record spherical
videos such as those now displayed on Facebook. Sony is preparing to launch a
virtual reality headset, called PlayStation VR, next year. Google has teamed up
with GoPro to launch Jump, a spherical video project, while Microsoft unveiled the HoloLens earlier this year.
Google’s YouTube introduced 360-degree
video support in March and announced it was working on spherical video. The
first such videos will show up in users news feeds today. The first
spherical videos show deep-sea divers
swimming with sharks (Discovery TV Network) and Star Wars "The force awakens" (Lucasfilm's special effects team ILMxLAB).
You can also watch the videos by clicking on the titles below
Shark Shipwreck and Star Wars - The Force Awakens
