Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) – or XR – are now well-established features in the media industry. Thanks to a new cooperation entered into with the First German Business Association for Immersive Media (EDFVR), news and content suppliers attending the DCX Digital Content Expo will gain an intensive insight into currently emerging trends and projects in this sector.
In 2017 the market research company projected 90 million active users of Virtual Reality. Assuming that growth continues at this rate, this year already the number of persons using immersive media could total 171 million – therefore twice as many as to date. The fact that the VR glasses are technologically becoming increasingly sophisticated makes VR products a highly promising field of activity for news media and content producers.
VR storytelling becoming more professional
“At present VR storytelling is rapidly becoming more professional. Production costs are dropping, but the movers and shakers are having to constantly come up with new, intelligent concepts”, says Bolela Likafu. As a Member of the Board of the First German Business Association for Immersive Media (EDFVR), an association that has become a new partner of the DCX Digital Content Expo, he will present the latest developments in XR technology at the upcoming exhibition in Berlin. In a panel event on the DCX Conference Stage as well as in the new DCX Experience Area powered by EDFVR, visitors will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of storytelling with the Samsung VR glasses.
DCX Conference Stage: a comprehensive overview of VR
On the first exhibition day the topic will be featured in a series of 15-minute lectures on the DCX Conference Stage (Tuesday, 9 October 2018, 4.00 – 5.15 pm). Prof. Christian Malterer of Mediadesign Hochschule Berlin, and Torsten Fell, Member of the Board EDFVR (presentation in German), will give a comprehensive insight into the development of technological and storytelling strategies. Sönke Kirchhof, CEO & Founder of INVR, will relate how journalism is possible with VR, while Andreas Zeitler, CEO & Founder of Vuframe, will give a practical example in the form of an app from Siemens Campus Erlangen. Sven Haeberlein, CEO & Founder of Trotzkind, will conclude the event by providing an outlook on how storytelling in VR could develop in the future.
New: DCX Experience Area powered by EDFVR
The high-quality programme will continue on the second exhibition day in the new DCX Experience Area. Moderator of the morning session (Wednesday, 10 October 2018, 10.15 to 11.45 am, in German) will be Jörg Hunke, responsible editor for the Digital page of the Berliner Zeitung. Philipp Wenning of INVR will speak on the subject of “Storytelling in a high-tech era”. He will be followed by Prof. Christian Malterer of the Mediadesign Hochschule Berlin who will span the gap between Augmented Reality, Artificial Intelligence and future prognoses, such as a super high-speed Net.
After the lunch break, Bolela Likafu of EDFVR will take over as moderator (Wednesday, 10 October 2018, 2.00 to 3.30 pm). Speakers here will include Michael Hooper, Managing Director of Text International, on the subject of “Transcreation in Immersive Media”. In his contribution, he will explain why language is an important factor in cross-cultural VR.
More information and tickets at www.dcx-expo.com.