Peak Quality 3D 180 Immersive Video In Oculus Go And Gear VR

Image credit: Eric Cheng using Z CAM K1 Pro

Stereoscopic (3D) video experiences for VR headsets are notoriously difficult to create. The resulting experiences are often beset by technical issues, many of which are insurmountable without large VFX budgets and custom VR app development.

Two particularly-difficult challenges are stitching for stereoscopic output, and limited video decoder resolution. Stitching for stereoscopic output is much more complicated than stitching for monoscopic output, and it is difficult to recover from a failed stitch. Most mobile devices are able to decode a 4K video—plenty of pixels for a flat video. However, in 3D-360, pixels are not only spread across the entire possible field of view (360 degrees x 180 degrees), they are also split between two eyes. More pixels are needed to present a sharp picture.

The goal of content, especially in VR, is to allow users to lose themselves in an experience. In stereoscopic 360, technical challenges issues like stitching artifacts and low viewing resolution can prevent content from getting through. Furthermore, storytelling in 360 is still an experimental art. 360 videos represent a new kind of media experience, and few storytellers know how to do it effectively.

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