Woman Using VR Headset via Shutterstock
The power of virtual reality is at times questioned, but can serve as a tool for good.
Over the past few months, there have been numerous exhibits and online videos available in the VR space meant to raise awareness of significant issues that affect society today. PSFK was able to experience charity: water’s exhibit, which showcased a film on a 13-year-old Ethiopian girl’s daily treks to retrieve drinking water, and The New York Times‘ use of VR to revitalize the narrative of 30 million homeless children trapped in warfare. Undeniably, even without the use of virtual reality, these pieces are powerful because of potent narratives and excellent filmmaking. Nonetheless, VR’s technological capabilities take storytelling one step further and allows for viewers to truly immerse themselves in an experience.
The idiom that talks about walking in someone shoes has been made more plausible then. Viewers not only see the perspective the director wants you to see, but are given access to 360 degrees of any scene. It makes the experience more wholesome and realistic, providing more opportunities to take control of the experience to understand the story that is being told. This, in turn, creates empathy.
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Source: PSFK