For all of the talk there is in how virtual reality is going to usher in some dark, utopian age where people are huddled in corners with VR headsets strapped to their faces… That’s just not where things are headed right now.
VR has a lot of impact for social change. We’ve talked about VR as an engine for empathy. Now, Oculus is specifically looking to turn VR into a medium for social change through their new VR for Good initiative meant to inspire “the next generation of VR creators.”
The company, that is of course owned by Facebook, is looking to begin their push by targeting Bay Area high schools through a six-week program called the 360 Filmmakers Challenge, which is partnering the students with professional filmmakers to put together short, 360-degree films focused on what life in their communities looks like.
The students in the program will get access to all of the tools they need to make great content, including a Samsung Gear VR, a Galaxy S6, Ricoh Theta S 360 cameras and all of the software they need to stitch, edit and export their footage.
The company is also focusing efforts on a second initiative called 360 Bootcamp for Nonprofits, a program aimed at connecting aspiring filmmakers and powerful non-profits to build content that communicates their missions and the obstacles they’re up against. Read More…
