Got VR? No? Google’s new ‘VR180’ format likely to be smartphone photog friendly

If you’re a VR fan, you’re not alone…. except you kind of are, since adoption of full-on VR systems is still not happening in a really big way. The headsets are bulky, the computers need to run them are expensive, and you kind of need some dedicated space to enjoy the experience. It’s not exactly something you pop into Best Buy to pick up on a lark. But now, Google is trying to cut down on VR’s complexity – by half. It’s called “VR180.”

It’s more of an initiative than a specific technology, although at its core, the “180” stands for the field of view: 180 degrees, or about what you see with your eyes right now. Shooting video in 180 instead of 360 simplifies things as well, and 180-degree camera systems could easily be integrated into smartphones, making pretty much anyone a VR180 creator. Then, just slip the phone into a headset for playback.

Google is teaming with companies such as Lenovo, LG, Yi and others to get cameras to consumers, and they say the VR180 videos will be playable on Daydream VR kits, Google’s smartphone-VR tech, as well as the Cardboard headsets and Sony’s Playstation VR. A VR push from Google and the simplification of the tech may be the boost VR needs to go mainstream, and I’m sure we’ll have a better idea of how the idea is working out this holiday season. More details:

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