Samsung Electronics' ThinkTank Team had developmed 'Project Beyond", a spherical VR camera equipped with a total of 17 lenses[Courtesy of Samsung Electronics' ThinkTank Team]
A few weeks ago, Samsung Electronics had introduced “Project Beyond”, a UFO lookalike camera body equipped with 17 cameras to capture images and video of 360 degrees. Now, a compact version of Project Beyond, “Gear 360” is in development. This new device is very likely to be introduced along with Galaxy S7 on February 21.
According to Sammobile’s report, The Gear 360 is equipped with two 180 degree fisheye lenses. The spherical camera is capable of capturing virtual reality (VR) 360-degree image of its surroundings. It is also able to connect to smartphones via Bluetooth connection.
The VR camera is fitted with its own battery and internal storage. But how big they are is not yet known. Its users can control the camera with a smartphone app, which also supports remote viewfinder features. The camera will have other ordinary features which normal smartphones feature such as HDR, white balance, ISO settings and an option to switch between filming 360 degrees (two lenses) and 180 degrees (one lens).
Sammobile said that the Gear 360’s compatibility with older Samsung smartphones or of other brands, but its compatibility with Galaxy S7 is confirmed.
VR devices and contents have flourished in recent years and according to many experts say that VR will meet its renaissance in 2016. VR devices from tech giants such as Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, and Sony PlayStation VR are to be released this year. Samsung’s Gear VR was released at the start of this year, bringing positive reactions from consumers.
With VR devices already released and scheduled to be released soon, many companies are in the race for developing imaging devices to use in the creation of VR contents. Including Samsung, HTC, Nokia, GoPro and other third party companies are busy developing devices which could take 360 degrees image and video.
VR contents have become favorites of people in recent years. VR contents were consumed up in media sites like YouTube and Vimeo, but imaging devices were too pricey and built for professionals so it was not easy for an ordinary person to create VR contents.
But by the end of 2016, when VR devices and VR imaging devices are released and distributed around the world, the VR market will be overflowing with VR contents. Maybe, it will even become a part of everyday life just like the smartphones did.
아주경제 박세진 기자 = swatchsjp@ajunews.com
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
