NEWS In spring 2016, six students explored what Virtual Reality technology has to offer. Using a 360 degree camera, the students have made films and slideshows to inspire international students to apply to Umeå University.
Virtual Reality, VR, is a technology that was all in the coming in the 1990s before interest caught hold of by the more easily accessible Internet. But now VR is in fashion again and interest is rising. Better and cheaper VR cameras, faster wireless connections and affordable VR glasses can now make this visionary world reality.
At a seminar on internationalisation, Head of the Communications Office Gunilla Stendahl and researcher Eva Mårell-Olsson got talking and the idea came up about a student group project: Creating a VR product to inspire foreign students to apply to Umeå University.
“If international students get a chance to experience Umeå University and our campuses beforehand, the step towards daring to move might be easier. They find out more about what they can expect,” says student group project manager Eva Mårell-Olsson, who has also previously led similar projects where students have explored and used Google Glass and other innovative technical aids.
Six students at the Master of Science in Industrial Engineering and Management Programme as well as Engineering Physics bit the hook. And in only three weeks of actual working hours, they managed to shoot around twenty VR films and two slideshows with pictures from campus, IKSU, Umeå town centre – and even the mountains.
“Really soon we realised that the cameras we could afford were not quite good enough to create high-resolution films, and that watching photos and videos through VR glasses for any amount of time is rather strenuous for the eye. That’s why we adapted the films to work on YouTube apps for smartphones, but they can also be watched on regular computers,” says Erika Lyxell, one of the students in the project.
A regular smartphone is, therefore, good enough to experience VR technology. By holding the phone in front of you and moving it to the side, you pan the 360 degree video in the same direction. But not prevent breaking your neck, it might be good to know that you can also slide your finger across the screen to pan in either direction.
The technology is well-suited when it is obvious – and worthwhile – for the viewer to point the eye in various directions. For instance in a conversation between two to three people, or in a beach volleyball game.
“But the best example is a virtual tour of Umeå, which gives a lot of inspiration and can be a much more informative experience for students from other countries rather than watching a traditional film,” suggests Erika Lyxell.
And that goes hand in hand with the whole idea of the project. Take a look yourself!
Watch more VR films and slideshows on the YouTube channel Experience Umeå
Please note! If you want to watch on a computer, the slideshows are the best to watch due to their resolution being the highest. Google Chrome works best; Firefox and Internet Explorer are unfortunately not compatible.
If you are using a smartphone, the films work best through the YouTube app.
Editor: Anna Lawrence