Realising the Value in Virtual Reality | Alternative Fruit

The BBC may not be well known for cutting edge techniques and pioneering the use of new technology, perhaps we normally look to the big screen for such things. However Virtual Reality has been something they have worked with on a number of occasions.


Making use of new technology teaches us how it can be used to the best effects, and by trialling various methods and styles, we can learn about how the technology works within the given media. VR has been used in countless projects, from computer games to training simulators, but finding its niche in the media sector has been tricky.


The BBC have worked with several companies over the years to produce virtual reality media, such as the 360 camera shot “Trafficked” which looks at the scourge of human trafficking in glorious panoramic detail. There was also the highly acclaimed “The Turning Forest”, which was run with Google as a virtual reality sound immersive fairytale.


Now, the BBC have turned to the technology again. Pioneering the uses of VR for the television watching generation with the final frontier, the launch shows us an all encompassing tour of a spacewalk outside the ISS.


Taking a leap from the recent Google ISS street view, viewers can now experience the act of floating around in zero gravity with nothing but a space suit to keep the vacuum of space from reaching you.


By paring up with production teams called VR Hub and Rewind, the BBC aim to release short and powerful pieces that make full use of this inventive and inspiring technology. The spacewalk is just the first of many experiences planned for the future.

​Read the press release.

​Download the tour for free.

Watch the short trailer.

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