Think back to the things that give you the strongest memories, the ones you’ll still talk about if given the chance. The thread that connects all these things is the simplicity and directness of the experiences.
It is for this very reason why Video is gaining such grounds as a digital storytelling medium. Motion has always won over inertness, because our minds are drawn to motion and interactivity. Which brings me to the next point.…
The holy grail of digital has always been interactivity, where a user can influence whatever he or she is experiencing. That is why video games are such a big deal, they are basically videos where you influence the outcome.
Enter Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR). These are new but not so new ways of enjoying experiences. VR is viewing an entirely artificial World and AR is overlaying digital stuff over the real world like Ironman’s helmet or Pokémon Go. It used to be that, the only way to experience thes things was with a very complicated high tech set up. But now, there are options where you can use relatively cheap goggles or just your smartphone.
So Why bother about all this?
Simply put, relevance, innovativeness and the wow factor. If you want to be talked about and loved as a digital brand, you need these in equal measure.
How would you use Virtual Reality (VR)?
Even though it can be used as an instructional tool, VR’s biggest application will be for entertainment.
1. Imagine a concert where people could join in and view from wherever they are, and they can turn left and right to see a different part of the stage or look up to see fireworks in the sky.
2. You could record a massive interactive musical in which the viewer can actually move around and see things from another angle.
3. An architect or museum could let people walk through an exhibit or a virtual building without even leaving their house. Eg: Google Expeditions
