Preview: Virtual Empathy

Global – Virtual reality is being used to create experiences that make audiences feel moments of empathy, excitement and disgust.

• VR now works on high-end handsets such as Samsung Gear VR, as well as cheap DIY kits such as Google Cardboard
• Content developed for VR experiences can also be distributed to a mass market via 360-degree YouTube videos

Brands are beginning to understand that this new form of storytelling is about creating an experience and evoking an emotion. With a wealth of tools at their disposal, from HD cameras to binaural sound to powerful CGI engines, art directors can stimulate an endless variety of situations.

In the app A Walk Through Dementia a user sees what it is like to step into the shoes of someone living with dementia. ‘We worked with people affected by dementia to develop it,’ Tim Parry, head of communications at Alzheimer’s Research UK, tells LS:N Global. ‘They reviewed the content and praised it for its authenticity.’