360 Stories & VR Movies
Overview
Put yourself in the middle of the action using apps including YouTube VR, Oculus TV, and Within, to explore unique places that are normally inaccessible. Tours such as: underwater exploration, traveling in the body’s bloodstream, or being in a WWI trench, provide unique viewing and learning experiences.
Benefits and Tips
These movies open an exciting new avenue for educational content - often filling a content area where it is difficult to find an app, i.e Civil War, World War I...
View movies using a stationary guardian; with most you can be sitting down (swivel chair recommended)
Movies are less interactive and typically entertaining or educational - the 360 VR aspect and surround sound audio creates an immersive experience
Many are free or have a small cost
Warning - if used in a location with unfiltered Internet access - be aware that the content will not be filtered
Some movies provide an option to stream or download
Stream
(+) Can view immediately, doesn't fill storage space on the headset.
(-) Must be online, may lag based on available bandwidth and if other students are streaming at the same timeDownload
(+) You can view the movie without being online, fast playback - no lag, ideal if multiple students will be watching a movie on a shared headset, often higher quality
(-) Takes time to download, fills storage space - at a premium on Oculus Quests' with only 64GB of RAM, may need to delete later
Tip: Headphones or earbuds can often make the experience even more immersive and helps when many headsets are being used in the same space. However, the teacher benefits in hearing the audio played through the external speakers - as it allows them to more easily know if a student is viewing the assigned movie or app or need assistance
While the YouTube 360 VR movies could be viewed in a phone's YouTube app - with the phone placed inside a Google Cardboard...viewing the video in the YouTube VR app on the Oculus Quest with the audio is more immersive.
Tip: Within and YouTube allows you to view/preview your movie on your computer before opening it on the headset. This is useful for evaluating movies, sharing a link to a movie with a teacher who may be considering integrating the movie into their curriculum. It is also useful for viewing if a student is unable to wear the Oculus Quest headset.
We will cover VR story creation in the May 20 workshop (9:00 AM instead of 10:00 AM). This is another option for filling the "app void" - create your own!
Stand Alone Apps
The movie may be "stand alone" as an app or be viewed using a free movie viewing app - such as YouTube VR
We Live Here - free
Home After War - free
Ecosphere - free
Invasion (animated short film) - free
Henry (animated short film) - free
Felix & Paul Studios - Groundbreaking immersive experiences, including: The Space Explorers series, Traveling While Black, Cirque du Soleil, Nomadic Tribes, Jurassic World. VR interviews with Barack and Michelle Obama, Bill Clinton, Lebron James, Patrick Watson - some are free
Travel While Black - free
The Key - free
Space Explorers - free
Cirque de Soleil $6.99
Lucid Dreams Productions is also creating many amazing documentaries including The Key however, they may need to be viewed on a computer or on the Meta Quest Browser.
Ayahuasca Kosmik Journey (19:07)
Surviving 9/11 (20:20)
Authentically Us - voices from the transgender community
Within is a platform for VR stories. These stories may be animated, documentary, music, or even horror. They may provide new learning, a different perspective, or lead to relaxation or fright. Movies (some award winners) may be viewed not only from the Within app, but also from the Within website: https://www.with.in Most are short 4 - 10 minutes. All stories are free, however the company is starting to make some fitness, news, and AR apps which require a subscription.
The Leader Dog (7:16) - sled dog team
My Africa (9:13)
BreathePeace World (5:25) - meditate with Aya the panda
Do Not Touch - trapped in a painting at the museum (3:01)
Asteroids! - a follow up to the award-winning Invasion movie (6:58)
The Spacewalker - (5:22)art 360: Benedictus
You can search YouTube with your voice and sign into YouTube (using Google Account) and view videos you've saved to a playlist. This playlist can be created outside of the Oculus Quest. YouTube VR allows the playing of 360 videos with spatial/directional audio. While you could use Google Cardboard and a cell phone or iPad Touch, the experience is more immersive - and it works everything.
YouTube 360° Videos
360 Anatomy YouTube VR Playlist
Meet the largest dinosaur ever discovered - Attenborough and the Giant Dinosaur - BBC one
Dreams of dali (5:09)
Inside the horrors of human trafficking in Mexico (360 VR) - BBC News
Ghost Fleet VR - Slavery in the Thai Fishing Industry - 360 virtual reality video - award winning VR movie
Experience what it is like to have Cerebral Palsy, move through a busy city in a wheelchair - Inside My Head from the Cerebral Palsy Foundation
Lala (360) (6:00) - story told aloud
Inside the Slave Quarters at the Owens-Thomas House | 360° VR Tour
Terre des Hommes VR Experience - the story of a 12 year old child slave in Kenya. Experience what her life is like
WW1 Virtual Trench (2:17)
In 360: 1943 Berlin Blitz - BBC News (12:34)- a bombing raid
Fly Fokker WW1 Triplane (10:39)
Dunkirk VR Experience: Find Yourself On The Shores Of Dunkirk Fighting To Survive (4:36) - worth a watch
Inside Auschwitz (9:36)
Other Resources
Meta's VR for Good - supported the creation of
FoxFire Reality - FoxFire's browser for VR
DEO VR - VR video player - an alternative VR video player
Check Out Films & Animation - starting on page 27