Emotional virtual reality broadcast in Munich
As in many other cities, the 4th Wings for Life Run place in Munich on May 7th, raising funds for spinal cord research. Simultaneously, over 155,000 runners from 58 countries participated. The unique aspect of the Wings for Life Run is that participants don't cover a fixed distance, but run until they are overtaken by a moving finish line in the form of the so-called Catcher Car.
This year, the race was accompanied by a special initiative from ultrarunner and triathlete Moritz auf der Heide: He completed his race with a 360-degree camera, which broadcast the run live as an emotional virtual reality experience to the VR headset of his paraplegic friend Michael Wiese in Hamburg. Under the motto " Michi, I run VR you! ", he offered his friend an unforgettable experience, allowing him to virtually experience the event as a runner himself.
The avid sportsman was seriously injured at last year's Agency Cup, a football tournament for athletes from the advertising and media industry. The shocking diagnosis: paraplegia. To finance supplementary rehabilitation measures such as daily occupational and physical therapy, massages, and baths, the crowdfunding campaign "Make Michi Move" was launched. This campaign raised €30,000. Thanks to their support and Michael Wiese's unwavering determination, his health has steadily improved.
Wiese himself said of this highly emotional VR experience: “That was impressive! I'm currently transferring my sporting and fighting spirit to my therapy. Experiencing the event so closely is very special for me and brings up a lot of emotions. A great idea that really touched me!”
The virtual reality 360-degree live broadcast of the race demonstrates the possibilities of this digital presentation format. In the future, athletes such as cyclists, hang gliders, or, with the use of waterproof cameras, even divers could transmit previously unseen, emotionally charged footage to their fans, who could then experience the event live and in 3D using their VR headsets.
360-degree film as a multi-screen experience
Widespread distribution of such a spectacle as a multiscreen sharing solution is possible with the EMC technology developed by Munich-based Phaenom GmbH. This technology enables the simultaneous integration of any number of users into the virtual experience, with each user still able to individually shape the course of events, for example by controlling the camera angle.
So that interested parties without VR glasses can also
Image sources: Shutterstock, Phaenom GmbH
