Imagine sitting courtside when Steph Curry banks in a three from downtown. Now imagine paying only a few thousand pesos for such a seat. You’re probably thinking how preposterous of a scalping scheme I’m proposing right now. If you think about it, though, the emergence of virtual reality and 360-degree cameras makes such a scheme only a matter of time.
We’ve seen 360-degree Facebook videos and virtual reality technology for quite some time now. In fact, we’ve tested some of them on our pages. Are we ready for live? YouTube has announced that it has developed live-streaming, 360-degree videos right on its own site. Not counting the creator’s side, watching live in 360 degrees will be as simple as a YouTube search (and snapping on some goggles when available).
Creators are usually from bigger companies, but the technology required for these videos are available for consumers already. You can even read one of our reviews for the Ricoh Theta, the cost-effective 360-degree camera, in our May 2016 issue. Soon, moments will be able to be streamed live in 360 degrees.
So what’s stopping the world from watching concerts and games from the front? The same problem we’ve had since the internet came into existence—poor net. 360-degree and virtual reality videos look pathetic in low resolutions. I’ve had the discomfort of watching a VR video in 144p; it’s not pretty. While we have the technology, it would still be a luxury enjoyed by those who have fast connections.
Meanwhile, content is already being created for the immersive technology. YouTube’s first live 360-degree video is set to stream this Thursday at The Verge’s YouTube channel, featuring D∆WN.
We’re at the cusp of a revolution in immersion technology. Live-streaming, 360-degree video is set to redefine how it is to be at an event. Are we ready to bring the whole world into our daily lives?
