VR - The FAQ

This is very important to comprehend, as many people equate VR with computer graphics (CG) and gaming. The reality is, they both have their strengths and weaknesses. VR created in a digital environment allows the participant to interact with the created environment. This is ideal for technical training, where a person is able to interact with a simulation of the real life controls, prior to using the real device. VR created in CG does not provide a realistic environment and, most importantly for many applications, does not provide realistic human beings - essential for people skills training and persuasive narratives. VR 'worlds' created in CG can be very expensive to produce and require careful programming to ensure the interactivity works as intended. VR created with real cameras is the focus of Cameraworks VR's work. The end result is a 180 degree or 360 degree immersive 3D video, where the participant sees the narrative from a third person or first person view. The choice to use first or third person perspective would be dependent on the application. The only limitation is that interactivity is more limited. It is still possible to put interactive elements in a 3D video environment that a user can interact with, or menus/question boxes that then determine then next video to be played.

360 is fully immersive but lower res 180 is much better res and 3D but doesn't offer full look-around