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a16z Podcast | VR, AR, and Beyond: The New Medium of Human Experience
13 segments available
The building blocks for VR and AR are finally here -- but the content is just beginning. So everything you'll actually experience and consume in these new mediums over the next few years is being built right now. Formats aren't yet defined or locked down, and the field is bubbling up with experiments in forms, formats and genres, from narrative to games to live events. As we begin to have real time rendered characters and AI-driven environments that you can interact with, the storytelling structure will also need to completely change. Are these mediums inherently social -- or just the opposite? What will self expression look like? What experiences are being built? Because fundamentally, that is the "celluloid" we are now working with -- human experience, says Within cofounder and filmmaker Chris Milk. Bigscreen founder and CEO Darshan Shankar, Lytro CEO Jason Rosenthal, and Milk join a16z's Kyle Russell in conversation about the challenges, potential, and emotional power of these new technologies -- on this episode of the a16z Podcast, recorded at the inaugural a16z summit.
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Welcome to the Future of Storytelling
In this opening segment, the hosts introduce the a16z podcast and set the stage for a discussion on virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). They highlight the significance of human experience as the new 'celluloid' for storytelling, emphasizing the transformative potential of these technologies.
"hi everyone welcome to the a 6nz podcast I'm sonal today we're kicking off our new series on new mediums storytelling with the conversation about VR AR that's virtual reality and augmented reality and..."
Defining VR and AR: The Basics
The conversation dives into the definitions of augmented reality and virtual reality. The hosts explain how AR enhances the real world with digital overlays, while VR immerses users in entirely different environments. They discuss the implications of these technologies for social interactions and personal experiences.
"cover everything from the challenges and potential of these new technologies to the emotional power and new medium affords why are we excited about putting big goggle style computers on our faces to u..."
The Timing for VR: A Market Perspective
Darshan Shankar shares insights on why now is the right time to invest in VR technology. He discusses advancements in consumer headsets and the shift from software issues to hardware capabilities, paving the way for high-quality VR experiences that were previously unattainable.
"previous medium into the shoes of someone else you get to truly see the world from someone else's perspective and so I'm joined today by three amazing entrepreneurs who are helping to make those thing..."
Hollywood's Investment in VR Content
Chris Milk discusses how Hollywood is beginning to invest in VR content beyond marketing budgets. He highlights the shift towards monetizing VR experiences, using Fox's 'The Martian VR' as an example of cinematic VR that aims to generate revenue, reflecting a growing recognition of VR's potential.
"right and so Chris within is already one of the you know main distribution platforms that our colleagues down in Hollywood are using to reach people with the VR content that they're producing how was ..."
The Evolution of VR Experiences
Jason Rosenthal explores the future of VR as a cinematic medium. He emphasizes the ongoing experimentation with narrative forms and game-like experiences, noting that the industry is still figuring out what works best in VR, similar to the early days of the internet and mobile gaming.
"think about my media diet it's heavily kind of bifurcated between like the blockbusters I go to every couple months in theaters and binging via Netflix HBO now Hulu you talked about a twenty dollar ki..."
Self-Expression in VR: A New Frontier
Darshan Shankar addresses the potential for self-expression in VR, comparing it to traditional media sharing. He discusses the challenges of making 360-degree content accessible and the future of user-generated content in VR, drawing parallels to the early days of the internet.
"think it's gonna I think it's gonna look like a lot of other forms that we've seen right there's gonna be narrative forms of VR there's gonna be inherently game-like experiences there's going to be li..."
Is VR Isolating or Social?
The panel discusses concerns about VR being isolating due to its immersive nature. Jason Rosenthal argues that VR has the potential to be the most social medium, allowing users to interact in virtual environments, thus transforming how we experience media together.
"opens up it's hard to say probably all of the above in a sense that 360 content once it becomes extremely easy to film extremely easy to capture for every consumer the way we capture with our phones a..."
Bigscreen: A Social VR Experience
Darshan Shankar explains Bigscreen, a platform that allows users to share virtual environments with friends. He describes how it creates a social atmosphere where users can interact with each other while engaging with their favorite content, bridging the gap between physical and virtual interactions.
"storytellers perspective you know cinema we go to the movie theater together we sit on the couch and watch Netflix or catch up on Game of Thrones with our friends Jason how do you think about cinemati..."
The Future of Augmented Reality
The discussion shifts to augmented reality, with the panel exploring its advantages over VR, particularly in maintaining real-world interactions. They discuss the challenges of AR technology and how lessons learned from VR can inform its development.
"day-to-day lives that we already do today and so kind of expanding on that I have a recommendation for everyone in the audience of a video you should check out on YouTube later find time to search for..."
The Spectrum of Reality: VR and AR
The panelists discuss the spectrum of experiences between VR and AR, emphasizing the need for a blend of both technologies. They explore how the evolution of these mediums will lead to new applications and experiences that cater to different user needs.
"come up with new acronyms and more jargon to throw at people there's a couple other terms that people are you know kind of talking about a lot in the space mixed reality the idea of kind of merging vi..."
Unlocking New Experiences in VR
The conversation focuses on the advancements in VR technology that enable new storytelling formats. The panelists discuss the importance of immersion and interactivity in creating compelling VR experiences, highlighting the ongoing evolution of the medium.
"philosophical debate asking yeah I know and so I think that was a fun discussion so I'd love to I'd love to kind of rehash nothing maybe I mean I personally I think you should build things that are th..."
Recommended VR Experiences
The panelists share their top recommendations for VR experiences that showcase the medium's potential. They highlight various applications, from storytelling to educational experiences, emphasizing the transformative power of VR in engaging users.
"that you can interact with or you have a a photographed experience that is photorealistic and the people look human and you can at the moment you can't walk around the room and what Jason is building ..."
Personal Anecdotes: The Power of VR
Chris Milk shares a personal story about a powerful VR experience that allowed him to relive a significant moment in his life. He reflects on the emotional impact of VR and its potential to transform how we capture and experience memories.
"thank you problem actually probably say so oculus made a film called Henry and that was the first time where they have you like sit down on the floor and they have this experience that's like happenin..."