I remember the first time i was introduced to google cardboard. It was a casual dinner with my friends. We were catching up what each other were up to. One of them had opened an online shop selling google cardboard. I didn't know at that time what it was. He let me try watching a video of under the sea through the google cardboard. I still remember the feeling to this day how amazed i was, seeing the shark so close up, like i could touch it and how foolish i must have looked, holding the google cardboard shouting wow repeatedly in excitement in the middle of a restaurant. Keep in mind this is 2 years ago, not many people knew what is virtual reality, let alone what is this cardboard thing i was holding.

Fast forward 2 years later, studying at S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, when i heard there's a class for virtual reality storytelling, i was ecstatic. This may sound overdramatic, but coming from marketing background, working in tourism and hospitality industry, i was only dealing with pushing promotion, increasing awareness and basically hire journalists to do all media work. Now, to be on the other side of business and producing content really put me in a whole new world, figuratively and literally.

The innovation lab gave me a lot of first experiences. First on the Samsung Gear VR, Oculus CV1 with hand controllers and 3D scan.

Samsung GearVR

When i first tried the Samsung GearVR, i found the screen resolution to be blurry, then as it rolls on, i don't know how or why, maybe my eyes finally adjust to it, then it got better. Addition with the sound i really felt i was there. I watched the skydiving and Hawaii, the fact that i can see things to up close and the sound , everywhere i turned i saw the environment, the surroudings. Yet again, it put in a whole new world. But when i lifted the gear off my head, i did feel a little nausea like woah i'm back on normal grounds.

Oculus CV1 with hand controllers

Definitely my favorite so far. I played with the tilt brush app, painting a snowman. The fact that i paint it as though im outside in the snow, and making these colors appear in 3D is amazing and one of a kind experience.

3D scan

The scan was pretty amazing, it was like building out own digital mini-me. However, we had a hard time creating a 3D scan. Possibly, we needed wider space to scan around the body.

Overall, witnessing people trying these technologies in the innovation lab, i feel it was like playground for adults. We were all eager to try and play while ignoring the fact that we look silly walking around in these goggles shouting woah and wows. I'm definitely looking forward to more parts of this world (or others) i'll be exploring through this VR storytelling class. Woo!