VR experience at the “Wings for Life” run
Published on: May 17, 2017 / Update from: October 27, 2021 - Author: Konrad Wolfenstein
Emotional virtual reality broadcast in Munich
As in many other cities, the fourth Wings for Life run place in Munich on May 7th to collect donations for spinal cord research. At the same time, over 155,000 runners took part in 58 countries. The special feature of the Wings for Life run is that the participants do not cover a fixed route, but run until they are caught by a moving finish line in the form of the so-called catcher car.
This year, the run was accompanied by a special campaign by the ultrarunner and triathlete Moritz auf der Heide: He completed his race with a 360 degree camera that showed the run live as an emotional virtual reality experience on the VR glasses of his paraplegic friend Michael Wiese broadcast in Hamburg. Under the motto “ Michi, I run VR you!” In this way, he offered his friend an unforgettable experience and let him experience the event virtually as a runner.
The enthusiastic athlete had a serious accident at last year's Agency Cup, a soccer tournament for athletes from the advertising and media industry. The shock diagnosis: paraplegia. In order to finance additional rehabilitation measures for the patient, such as daily occupational and physical therapy, massages and baths, the crowdfunding campaign “Make Michi move” was launched. In this context, 30,000 euros were raised. Thanks to their help and Michael Wiese's determination, his health continued to improve.
Wiese himself said of this highly emotional VR experience: “That was impressive! I am currently transferring my sporting and fighting spirit to my therapy. Experiencing the event so closely is something very special for me and brings up a lot of emotions in me. A great idea that really touched me!”
The virtual reality 360-degree live broadcast of the run shows what possibilities lie in this digital form of presentation. In the future, athletes such as cyclists, hang gliders or, if waterproof cameras are used, divers will be able to transmit previously unknown recordings full of emotions to their fans, who can watch the action live and in 3D with their VR glasses.
360 degree film as a multiscreen experience
Widespread broadcasting of such a spectacle as a multiscreen sharing solution is possible with the EMC technology developed by the Munich-based Phaenom GmbH. This creates the parallel integration of any number of users into the virtual experience, whereby each user can continue to design the course of action individually, for example by controlling the camera's viewing angle.
So that interested parties without VR glasses can do the same
Image sources: Shutterstock, Phaenom GmbH
