Podcast Summary
Behind the Scenes of The Verge's 360-Degree Interview with the First Lady: The Verge's innovative 360-degree interview with the First Lady involved collaboration between various departments and marked a significant step forward in immersive journalism.
The Verge produced a remarkable interview with the First Lady of the United States using a unique 360-degree video format, with the team working behind the scenes to make it happen. The interview was shot at the White House and involved the collaboration of various Verge departments, including Verge Video, Verge Creative, and Vox Creative. The team, which included Trey Schalomorn as executive producer, Tom Connors as senior director, James Barham as creative director, and Miriam Neilsen as director and post-production specialist, worked together to create an immersive viewing experience for the audience. The interview was released on YouTube and Facebook, and the team discussed the production process, the reaction to the project, and the future of VR on 360. The interview came about during CES when Trey, Tom, and the team were tired and locked themselves in an incomplete room to brainstorm ideas. The team was excited about the potential of VR and 360-degree video and saw this as an opportunity to push the boundaries of storytelling. The interview received positive feedback and marked a significant step forward for The Verge in the realm of immersive journalism.
Creating a 360 video for the White House: Navigating new technology, securing permissions, and staying adaptable led to success in creating a 360 video for the White House.
Creating a 360 video for the White House was a challenging but rewarding experience. The team had to navigate the unfamiliar territory of first-generation technology at CES, finding a reliable vendor and dealing with the complexities of stitching the footage together. They also had to secure permission and photos of the First Lady, which added an extra layer of complexity. Despite these challenges, they persevered and ultimately found success through networking and backup plans. The experience showcases the importance of adaptability, resourcefulness, and persistence when working with new technology and high-stakes projects.
Unexpected issues during filming force team to adapt: Adaptability and contingency plans are crucial for successful productions. Unexpected issues can arise, but having a backup plan can save the day.
Even with advanced technology and meticulous planning, unexpected issues can arise, leading to last-minute adjustments and collaborations. In this case, a high-end VR camera malfunctioned during a crucial event, forcing the team to bring in a backup 360 production company to save the day. The incident highlighted the importance of adaptability and having contingency plans in place. Additionally, the process of getting cleared by the Secret Service for filming at the White House added an extra layer of complexity to the situation. Despite the challenges, the team managed to deliver the project successfully, showcasing the power of teamwork and problem-solving skills.
Filming at the White House: Overcoming Challenges: Preparation, adaptability, and teamwork are crucial in overcoming unexpected obstacles during filming at the White House, including extensive security checks and tethered camera setups. International collaborations may require additional security measures.
The experience of filming at the White House involved extensive security checks, unexpected challenges, and the pressure of capturing high-quality images for a tethered camera setup in a short amount of time. Despite the complications, the team, including a British photographer named James, managed to produce excellent results for Michelle Obama's photo shoot. The event showcased the importance of preparation, adaptability, and teamwork in overcoming unexpected obstacles. Additionally, James' non-citizenship status required extra security measures, highlighting the unique challenges of international collaborations. Overall, the experience was a testament to the dedication and professionalism of the team in delivering a successful outcome.
Working with Michelle Obama: An Unforgettable Experience: Transforming regular footage into a 360 video involves bringing all footage back, dealing with stitching imperfections, and figuring out Secret Service placement.
Working with Michelle Obama was an easy and captivating experience. The actual shoot was relaxed once everything was set up, and she exuded an aura of intelligence and commanding presence. The process of turning regular footage into a 360 video involved bringing all footage back, receiving proxies from the 360 teams, and dealing with some imperfections in the stitching process. A stitch is the process of seamlessly combining multiple camera angles into a single spherical image. Despite some distortion in the final product, especially towards the edges, the team was impressed with the results. An unexpected challenge was figuring out where to place the Secret Service during the shoot, as they couldn't be on camera. Overall, the experience of working with Michelle Obama was unforgettable and resulted in a unique and engaging final product.
Navigating the Challenges of 360 and VR Video Production: Filmmakers must hide equipment, simplify editing with tools, and create immersive experiences in 360 and VR video production, resulting in visually stunning and engaging content.
Filmmakers have to be creative and resourceful when working with new technologies like 360 and VR video. During the production process, they must find ways to hide their equipment and avoid being seen by the subjects, as well as figure out how to make cuts and hide transitions that don't distract viewers in the immersive 360 environment. They also rely on plugins and tools like metal skybox to simplify the editing process. Despite the challenges, the end result can be visually stunning and engaging, offering viewers a unique and interactive experience. In the case of the team discussed in the conversation, they managed to create a captivating piece with hidden surprises, despite the occasional hiccups along the way.
Designing graphics to guide viewer's attention in 360-degree videos: Graphics in 360-degree videos can emerge from areas of interest and subtly guide viewer's gaze, creating a sense of movement and interaction. User interface design principles can inspire the design of these graphics.
The creators of a 360-degree video aimed to make the experience more engaging and rewarding for viewers by designing graphics that guide the viewer's attention while also allowing them to explore freely. They wanted viewers to feel like they were interacting with the content, even if it was not truly interactive. The graphics were designed to emerge from areas of interest and subtly guide the viewer's gaze, creating a sense of movement and response. This was achieved by layering video, animation, and graphics in the equirectangular format and testing the experience in virtual reality headsets to ensure it worked seamlessly. The team also drew inspiration from user interface design principles, such as the use of an orange dot to help users navigate the scene. The result was a 360-degree video that felt dynamic and interactive, keeping viewers engaged and immersed in the content.
Transforming Traditional Media into VR: VR editing process is similar to traditional media, VR experience allows for 360 degree viewing but not all 360 video is VR, future of VR editing is promising with advancements in interfaces and tools.
Despite the challenges of working with larger 360 degree files, the process of editing and creating content in virtual reality (VR) is remarkably similar to working with traditional media. The transformation into a sphere only occurs when uploaded to platforms like Facebook or YouTube, which utilize their software to render the content in VR format. The future of VR editing is promising, with advancements in interfaces and tools that will allow for more immersive and intuitive editing experiences. Some even envision a future where editors will be fully immersed in VR environments, using controllers to manipulate footage and interfaces that mimic physical objects. However, it's important to clarify the definitions of terms such as VR and 360 video, as they are not interchangeable. VR is an experience that allows for 360 degree viewing, but it is not the same as 360 video. And while VR can be used to view 360 video, not all 360 video is VR. It's an exciting time for the intersection of technology and media, and the potential for VR editing is vast.
Distinguishing between 360 video and virtual reality: It's crucial to clarify the difference between 360 video and virtual reality, promoting accurate terminology to shape the industry culture.
There is a distinction between 360 video and virtual reality (VR), despite the terms being used interchangeably by some. While 360 video allows viewers to look around a stationary camera's perspective on various platforms, VR requires a headset for an immersive experience where one feels they are in a virtual space. The debate over terminology needs resolution, and it's essential to promote the correct terminology to shape the culture accurately. Spherical video, a term proposed for 360 video, has merit as it is descriptive, non-acronymic, and relates to the concept of entering a spherical space. Ultimately, as a media organization, we have the power to influence the terminology used in the industry and should strive to promote accurate and descriptive labels.
Creating 360 Videos: Challenges and Solutions: Creating 360 videos involves complex processes and unique challenges, but tools like FEDA and drones like Solo smart drone simplify it, delivering cinematic shots with long rendering and export times.
Creating high-quality 360 videos is a complex process with unique challenges, such as lower resolution compared to 2D videos and the struggle to find the right software and settings for smooth playback. Despite these challenges, tools like the FEDA and drones like the Solo smart drone from 3DR can help simplify the process and capture cinematic shots. However, be prepared for long rendering and export times, and potential issues that may require manual intervention. Ultimately, the result can be stunning visual experiences that go beyond what traditional cameras and crews can offer.
VR and Drones: Transporting People to New Experiences: VR offers immersive experiences without distractions, while drones provide unique aerial footage. SXSW showcased their potential to captivate audiences and bring them together.
Technology, specifically virtual reality (VR) and drones, has the power to transport people to new experiences and immersive worlds. The solo drone, with its unique features like cable cam and orbit mode, offers unparalleled aerial footage that can't be replicated. On the other hand, VR technology, such as the Oculus headset, can transport users to different realities and keep their full attention, providing a unique and engaging experience. During South by Southwest, people were drawn to the immersive VR experience, demonstrating the potential of this technology to captivate audiences and bring them together in a shared experience, even if they're in different realities. The lack of distractions, like notifications and the ability to look at one's phone, allows for a deeper connection to the content and a more authentic emotional response.
Virtual Reality vs 360 Videos: A New Dimension: Virtual Reality provides a more immersive experience than 360 videos, allowing faster movement and a greater sense of presence. Potential hardware innovations include advancements in smartphones for better VR capabilities.
Virtual reality technology offers an immersive experience that goes beyond traditional 360 videos. The discussion highlights the difference between watching a 360 video and experiencing it in a virtual reality headset, emphasizing the sense of being wrapped in the experience and the ability to move faster than in reality. Additionally, the conversation touches upon the potential impact of virtual reality on hardware innovation, specifically in the context of smartphones. The group also shares their experiences with using virtual reality, including the challenges of quality control and the unexpected issue of unwanted selfies. Despite these challenges, the excitement and novelty of the technology remain apparent.
Exploring the Future of VR: Improving Resolution, Processing Power, and Connectivity: The future of VR relies on advancements in screen resolution, processing power, and internet connectivity to provide a more immersive and comfortable experience, with the Oculus and Apple's potential entry driving the innovation.
The advancement of Virtual Reality (VR) technology requires significant improvements in screen resolution, processing power, and internet connectivity. The Gear VR experience on a Samsung S7 is considered life-altering, but the current VR headsets like the Gear VR and Vive have their drawbacks, such as low resolution, discomfort, and cumbersome cables. The excitement around VR is driving the need for better technology, including smaller, higher-quality screens, faster processors, and faster Wi-Fi and 5G networks. Apple, known for its phones, is urged to join the VR trend. The current phones, despite being boring, are essential for the VR experience. The Oculus, which is soon to be released, is highly anticipated, and the barrier to entry is having a compatible Android phone. The comfort and convenience of using VR are worth the investment, despite the current limitations.
Considering Personal Preferences: Harries.com for Quality Shaves vs Samsung S7 for Advanced Features: Harries.com provides a high-quality shave at factory direct prices, while Samsung S7 offers advanced features like impressive VR capabilities and camera quality, allowing users to choose based on their preferences and needs.
Harries.com offers high-quality razors with five blade cartridges at factory direct prices, ensuring a close and comfortable shave, no cut till burn, and a full refund if you're not satisfied. You can get a starter set with a razor, moisturizing cream, shave cream, and three razor blades for just $15. Apple, on the other hand, was discussed as an alternative for those preferring smaller phones, with a potential upgrade to the Samsung S7 due to its impressive VR capabilities and camera quality. The S7 camera reportedly outperforms the iPhone 6S, with faster focus and a simpler interface. However, some users find the settings on the iPhone confusing, particularly regarding frame rate and resolution. The S7's 4K setting is enabled by default, which may lead to unintentional high-resolution recording and potential storage issues. Overall, the discussion highlights the importance of considering personal preferences and needs when choosing between products, with Harries.com offering an attractive deal for those seeking a high-quality shave, and Samsung providing a compelling alternative for those looking for a smaller phone with advanced features.
Samsung's simple camera app vs iPad Pro's large drawing canvas: Samsung's camera app offers simplicity and accuracy, while iPad Pro caters to artists and professionals with large drawing canvas and vector capabilities.
Both Samsung's simple and accurate camera app and iPad Pro's large drawing canvas offer unique advantages for different users. The Samsung Galaxy phone's camera app appeals to those who find Samsung's software difficult to handle but value simplicity and accuracy. On the other hand, the iPad Pro, with its large screen and vector drawing capabilities, is ideal for artists and professionals who require a more powerful and versatile tool for their creative projects. During the discussion, it became clear that Samsung's camera app has made significant strides in terms of user experience and image quality, making it a compelling option for those who have previously used other brands but were put off by Samsung's software. Meanwhile, the iPad Pro's large screen and drawing capabilities make it an indispensable tool for artists and professionals who need to create detailed and precise illustrations. However, it is worth noting that while the iPad Pro is excellent for drawing, it may not be the best choice for retouching photos due to the challenges of using a pen to tap keystrokes while also retouching the image. Ultimately, both devices cater to different needs and preferences, and users should consider their specific requirements when making a purchasing decision.
Apple's focus on limited product line challenged by shifting consumer preferences: Apple faces pressure to expand product offerings due to consumer demand for larger screens and diverse devices, while also considering the maturity of emerging technologies like VR before entering the market.
Apple is facing challenges in maintaining its focus on a limited product line as consumer preferences shift towards larger screens and diverse devices. The company, which has historically prided itself on offering a select range of devices, now finds itself competing with competitors like Samsung that offer a wider range of screen sizes. The conversation also touched upon Apple's perceived absence in the VR market, with the company waiting for the technology to mature before entering. The discussion highlighted the potential impact of consumer choices on Apple's product strategy and the importance of addressing emerging technologies to remain competitive.
VR content distribution through apps vs mobile web: Apps offer better control and viewing experience for VR content distribution, with Apple lagging behind competitors due to lack of support in Safari.
The future of virtual reality (VR) content distribution lies primarily in apps rather than the mobile web due to the control and superior viewing experience they offer. Apple, with its lack of support for VR content in Safari, is falling behind competitors like Google and Facebook in this area. The discussion also touched upon the potential sale of Google-owned robot company Boston Dynamics and its potential applications. The group expressed disappointment at Google's decision to sell the company, as they saw potential in Google's funding of innovative tech fields. A lighter moment involved the group's reaction to a colleague's sound effects contributions to a video project.
Tech Developments and The End of Bike Sharing: The Verge discussed the end of bike sharing at their company, Sea World ending orca breeding, Samsung's new Tab Pro S tablet, lackluster SXSW experience, and emphasized the importance of genuine connections and The Verge's growth as a tech brand.
The dream of riding bikes around a tech campus may soon be replaced, as the company in question is no longer acquiring new bikes. However, there were other notable tech developments discussed during the podcast, including the end of orca breeding at Sea World, the release of Samsung's new Tab Pro S tablet, and the lackluster experience at South by Southwest. The podcast also highlighted the importance of making genuine connections and the growth of The Verge as a tech brand, with a call to action for listeners to follow them on various social media platforms and subscribe to their shows. The team also expressed their excitement for upcoming tech events and their goal to continue producing high-quality content.
