Samsung unveiled its Gear 360 virtual-reality camera. Here’s what it could do for business.
What: A dual-lens camera capable of capturing 30-megapixel photos or high-resolution video in 360 degrees.
Tunnel vision: It’s intended to work with Samsung’s Galaxy smartphones and its Gear VR virtual-reality headset.
Seeing is believing: The Gear 360 stitches together 180-degree images from its fish-eye lenses to create virtual environments.
Feast for the eyes: With dust- and splash-resistance, the Gear 360 can be used to monitor progress at a construction site or show prospective patrons what it’s like to dine outside at a restaurant. Indoors, it can be used to showcase a newly renovated hotel room.
Seeing eye to eye: The technology has support from Facebook FB 0.39% , whose Oculus VR unit powers Samsung’s virtual-reality headset. Says Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg: “Over the last year we’ve been working to make Facebook the best platform for 360-degree videos.”
Outta sight: Market researcher TrendForce estimates that the virtual-reality market could be worth $70 billion by 2020.
(Fortune)
