VRUK Festival #1

Ravensbourne 10–11 February 2016

First impressions

As you may know, the standards at Ravensbourne are high, this two day festival—the first of it’s kind—did not lower the bar. The pace is fast with @davebirss kickstarting the event with a not so virtual Scottish energy ‘who here as functioning arms? Great, as we don’t want any lazy f**** here!

So what and why. We’ll it’s been along time since The Lawnmower Man in 1992 and thankfully all things lime green and cyber. Add you own 25 years here…

What has changed? Well, it’s got cheaper, and it’s far more accessible in some ways. Sadly we still have to wear a headset and yes, we still look like a fly in doing so. There seems to be a few digital archipelagos of how to create and view Virtual Reality.

Mainly your Head space. Your inner (now not so) private space. You’re plunged into a world fabricated by developers and are willingly stripped of your senses. This is why people are fearful of the tech. We’re human and like our touchy feely world. There are two tents pitched up on these shores. 360 Video or True VR 3D generated.

360 Video

This involves a rig. Quite literally taping, GoPro’s, DSLR’s or Red Epics in each direction, with the main focus of what’s infront, as we’re not that interested in what’s happening benind. Each of these captures 4k video and then needs to be stitched together… yes, that’s alot of footage.

Consumer end, we have the very capable Ricoh Theta for the selfie stick generation. It works great. Good enough for everday Facebook and YouTube posts. They’ve both got inline plug-ins that detect the format. So what about the pro-end? Well, according to all the big boys and girls, rapid 3D printing and custom mounts are where we’re at, at the moment. There are a couple of companies that are aiming to own the production pipeline such at JauntVR and Rewind. 360 Video is great for events, and having an over / inner view of ‘being there’ from a first point of view.

True VR

This is pure. Real immersion. Low and high poly’s are strapped across all senses. At the forefront, Rewind’s Founder/CEO Solomon Rogers bring’s a depth of reality to the industry. Very approachable and with both feet on the ground, unlike when he’s flying in the RedBull Air Race simulator. Which is all true data telemetry mapped from a pilot’s actual reactions, for true authenticity.

Let’s get physical

How do use real space with virtual immersion? Again, two smaller islands exist. Sensors and Projectors.

The first: Sensors, HTC Vive Lighthouse being the must have and the darling of the show. These recognise hand controllers, headsets and you, in a scalable space i.e. 5m x 5m. Or there’s Kinect X-Box One route, but that takes alot of Max patch work and a science degree, to get things going.

The second: Projections, This is really owned by the art scene and VJ’s. It involves projection mapping and media to be either constructed in 3D low polygons or video loops. The reason for low poly, is due to the real-time rendering for user feedback. Cause and effect.

Artists such as Performance engine are veterans of this scene with various residencies across the world. One of which they we’re dashing too, after they’re presented. From an academic point of view, Prof. Mike Phillips from University of Plymouth, talk’s about all thing Dome shaped. See i-dat for details. He talks of highly of société des arts technologiques in Canada and UK based Leicester’s own National Space Center as must places to experience.

Keeping it real

I’ve heard alot about good content. ONLY make it with great ideas, quick test’s and get the viewer into it from the start. It’s new/old tech. It’s comes in and out of fashion—just like 3D cinema—but this time, it’s about when it’s the right time to use it. As a creative director, from my ‘POV’, there’s an honesty to these companies, that VR shouldn’t be sold as ‘you need VR’.

Applications wise; Selling housing properties, yes use a headset. To be on the floor with ‘Strictly or The Voice, watch in 360 Video. Right story, right format.

Sound is crucial too. They call it Binaural. It’s a way of placing sound from where it comes from, in 3D space. Without this, your in danger of motion sickness, which I had each day. Advice, move body, not just your head.

For me, I really hope we can build some creative bridges between these platform hardware islands. I don’t want a helmet, as it’s anti social and I look like a twat, really. But I also don’t want plinky plonky low poly cubes in an art world.

Somewhere, there a space for brands in a themed arena. Think secret cinema with moments of disposable cardboard where relevant.

It’s our responsibility to get audiences to reconise VR’s potential and show it off in it best light in a rich and inclusive way and not have to wait another 25years for our kids to tell us all about it.

FurVReading

The following is a list of speakers and attendees:

Host http://www.vrukfest.co.uk/

All speakers http://www.vrukfest.co.uk/speakers/

Images