Virtual Reality (VR) content creation and development company, SenseVirtual is kicking off another platform to its banner: AthleticVirtual.
SenseVirtual are known for conceptualising and creating a full range of 3D and VR filmed content. In the expanding and quickly advancing industry VR is taking off and SenseVirtual are giving its wings wind. For the first time in SA they are making 360 degree videos for sports teams.
AthleticVirtual purely focuses on using sports to create virtual experiences. They are taking technology that is growing in popularity and honing it into a niche market where VR could soon be the key to success.
Founder of SenseVirtual, Tyrone Rubin spoke to Screen Africa about the strides they are making in the SA sports arena. He says that when they are filming 360 degree they mostly use the multi camera 360 GoPro rigs as well as having explored higher end cameras such as the Mini Eye 4 (4 Black Magic camera rig) and the Nokia Ozo.
They also use existing headsets that they endorse, namely the HTC Vive and the Oculus. Rubin says that they were the first in SA to get developer kits of the HTC Vive and the Oculus nearly three years ago.
SenseVirtual is currently building relationships within the sports industry, working with a cricket athlete and the head analyst of an SA rugby team. The company decided to start tapping into the market after it was approached to create a VR app for the team of physiotherapist who were heading to the 2016 Olympics, the app entailed stretching exercises in VR.
Currently SenseVirtual is developing content around sports training that offers an observational point of view, where the player can immerse themselves. That allows the player to mimic professional moves, like a golf swing where one can master their stroke. Where one can interact and get instant feedback and furthermore where one can view sports in VR no matter where in the world it is taking place. Rubin says they are exploring live stream in sports and they want to be the first to do so in SA.
SenseVirtual is also building the first VR app for Samsung Gear which will include numerous training experiences where you will have an array of lessons to learn from in VR.
“For sports in general there is a massive amount of material out there,” says Rubin. “Sports teams can start exploring VR and getting results from it.” He says studies done by a company using it for immersing people into the sports show that it increases muscle memory and cognitive play. “It’s an incredible form of general education,” adds Rubin. “We are attacking education and training in a good way.”
The company says it is early days for sports training via VR and they are starting from the ground up. Yet the idea of visualising results before an event is certainly not new. Some coaches even go as far as saying that sports are 90 per cent mental, and it is no secret that seasoned athletes already employ mental techniques. Famous studies and sportsmen uphold mental rehearsing so could VR in this arena be positive reinforcement on steroids?
