Pushing Limits

For those who have wondered what it feels like to compete in the Olympic Winter Games, the combination of the acrobatic simulator and Galaxy Note8 paired with Gear VR will immerse them in the most thrilling winter sports experience – without ever having to go outside.

The giant Winter Ride, which is only one of the six VR experiences visitors can try, features dozens of rotating chairs that simulate the motions of charging down an alpine slope.

Visitors can also climb onto a specially-designed VR bobsled to navigate the twists and turns of a skeleton course at breakneck speed through the Galaxy Note8 paired with Gear VR headset and 4D motion chairs.

For those who would like to try defying the laws of physics, the snowboard VR ride might just do the trick.

Just like competing in the Olympic Winter Games, the winter sports simulators give sports fans a rush of adrenaline. But that’s only the beginning – the VR rides at the showcase can take visitors out of this world when experienced through the Galaxy Note8 paired with Gear VR.

After exploring the final frontier, why not try going back in time to see the prehistoric world from the point of view of a dinosaur at Flying Dino?

Put on a spacesuit and get ready to head out into the universe. Mission to Space gives visitors the opportunity to feel what it’s like to float on the moon.

And for the grand finale of the showcase’s VR experiences, hop onto the Gyro VR and speed off into another dimension.

A Vision for the Future

Olympians inspire people from all over the world to aim higher, and in that spirit of optimism, Samsung hopes to inspire a better future by developing meaningful technology that helps make life easier.

The Showcase gives visitors a glimpse of what that future could look like. The Smart Home exhibition shows precisely how smartphone technology can enrich our lives and help us achieve more. Packed with demonstrations by experts in different areas, the exhibition shows that having an AI assistant at home is no longer the stuff of science fiction.

Whether it’s cooking, cleaning or relaxing, Samsung envisions a future in which all this can be done with the help of smartphones and other smart devices.

Play Like Nobody’s Watching

Creativity is a critical part of the Olympic Games atmosphere. Whether it’s an athlete’s signature move or the special signs made by fans to cheer on their favorite team, creative expression is everywhere at the Olympic Games.

To generate excitement fit for this global event, Samsung’s showcase offers fans at PyeongChang 2018 the opportunity to rediscover their inner child and unleash their imaginations through the latest technology.

One of the Showcase’s highlights is Infinity Moment – a room that transforms artwork created by visitors with a Galaxy Note8 and S Pen into a mind-bending experience. Just remember to have a camera ready: It’s a selfie moment no one should miss.

Samsung’s Olympic Showcase is perfect for people of all ages. Young Olympic Games fans can head over to the Kids’ Lounge where they can learn how to program robots and draw without constraints on Galaxy devices.

The Samsung Olympic Showcase @ Gangneung is open until the end of the Olympic Winter Games  PyeongChang 2018 and for the duration of the Paralympic Winter Games from March 9-18.

The movie was produced by Hur Jin-ho, a Korean film director and screenwriter known for his works “Christmas in August,” “One Fine Spring Day,” and “The Last Princess.” It features Korean actress Han Ji Min and K-pop star and actor Park Hyungsik as the main characters.

“Two Lights: Relúmĭno” was inspired by the fact that about 86 percent of visually impaired people worldwide have low vision, and that they may experience unnecessary inconveniences as a result.

The film follows Sooyoung and Insoo, two young people who meet at a photography club for the visually impaired, as they learn to take their own photos – and grow closer to each other while doing so.

It also highlights Relúmĭno, a visual aid application developed by a team at C-Lab, Samsung’s in-house incubator program. The app works in conjunction with the Gear VR to enhance the vision of visually impaired people, and thus helps to alleviate some of the everyday challenges they might face.

Watch “Two Lights: Relúmĭno” below.

Co-creators Marc Brew and Giselle Calazans performing in Uchronia, at the Liberty Festival, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London, in 2016

It was really exciting landing in Seoul airport and seeing the mascots for the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic and Paralympics as this performance will be one of the closing performances of UK/Korea 2017-18 in association with the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Cultural Olympiad program.

We visited Seoul from the 25th September – 1st October, arriving after an overnight flight to meet with the team and talk about how the project would develop. The team is made up of UK and Korean artists, with the UK team including composer Angus MacRae and audio describer Emma Jane McHenry.

Audio description is a new thing for South Korea, so we will be working closely with the British Council to try to secure the technology to allow this to happen. We are very excited about the proposed support from Samsung Electronics, who have offered VR (Virtual Reality) headsets with a specialised application called Relumino that enhances the visual experience of watching a show for people with visual impairments. We will also offer an access tour an hour before the show to allow audiences a close-up experience to get a sense of the costumes, props, lighting and movement qualities of the performers and to learn a bit more about the production. We always aim to make our work as accessible as possible for audiences with disabilities.

We had a day off on Tuesday, as there was no rehearsal space available, so had the chance to explore Seoul finding out a bit more about its rich history and culture.

Bora Kim and I began work in the studio the next day. After an initial discussion about our normal working practices, we decided to wipe the slate clean and explore new ways of creating. Bora came up with the idea of asking each other questions that we weren’t allowed to answer, then choosing three questions to answer, and building stories about each other, before exploring these ideas in our own bodies. Throughout the week, we started to develop and understanding of each other’s movement styles and sense of humour.

I felt there was an honest exchange, respect and interest in what we could learn and share from each other that really excited me. The artistic quality of work in the contemporary dance sector in Korea is high and there is a real curiosity in the field around dance, identity and disability.

Brew in his solo performance piece, For Now, I am…

Thanks to Korea Disability Arts & Culture Center and the IEUM Arts Centre which hosted the rehearsals and to the British Council team who supported us during the week.

It was also great to immerse ourselves into the Korean cuisine with our lovely hosts at the British Council and experience the hustle and bustle of the city streets, the subway and the people of Seoul – a very busy and vibrant city. I look forward to coming back next year to finish the project and perform.

*The views expressed in this editorial are the author’s own, and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of Samsung Electronics.

Changes for a more Consistent Brand Experience

Previous Samsung Wearable packages were great at portraying unique characteristics and strengths of different product categories, but had difficulty conveying the overarching impression of the brand. We analyzed countless competitor products and interviewed package and retail experts to create an all-encompassing brand experience through the package. Through this process, we set our design goal to create a packaging system that exudes the exhaustive aura of a brand and enhances the details of the overall experience that covers the journey from opening the package to holding the product in your hand.

Concept that Ties Categories Together

Precious

“Packaging is a nice way to speak to the user.” -Danny Miller, Creative Director of High Tide

Even if you are purchasing a product for yourself, a nicely packaged product that feels like a gift offers a whole new level of precious sentiment. The Samsung Mobile Wearable package acts as its own salesman when displayed on a showcase. The ‘Precious’ concept reflects this idea and provides a modern interpretation of the ‘premium gift’ keyword. From the moment users open the upper box, they are greeted with a ‘Welcome Door’ that creates anticipation for what’s to come. Furthermore, the inbox items, such as the manual and cables, are neatly assembled to express delicate care toward users.

360° Consideration

“To attract human attention your packaging needs to achieve a fine balance between vibrancy, uniqueness and simplicity.” – Kate Nightingale, Consumer Psychologist and Founder of Style Psychology

The package is designed under the umbrella of the ‘360° Consideration’ concept, which organically connects different aspects of a package that each contain unique information. The design is systemically considerate of users and maintains a fine balance of text and images among all six sides of the box, thereby preventing an overload of information coming from a single element of the package. The compartments of the package flow seamlessly while also being exclusive, which enables the product to become a natural eye-catcher and an impressionable storyteller that tells a tale which goes beyond basic spec details.

Message that is Formed through Depth in Detail

A package can create a powerful message when all its elements, from materials to color, font, photography, graphics, constitution, and more, form a harmonious and meticulously detailed ensemble. The Samsung Wearable package design augments its consistency with depth in detail to more effectively communicate the product’s language to its users.

Attractive and Powerful Images

The product images used for the package were all taken in an honest viewpoint that has the product facing the front. The crisp and clean background that is spread behind the product and the soft light that permeates into the product radiate a confident and modern impression. For products like the Gear Fit2 Pro, which is important to properly show the band color, the images are rotated so that users can properly see the color of the band from the front of the package.

Systematic Transmission of Information

Key information such as product and brand names are always placed in the same location of the package for all categories to maintain consistency. Additional information such as the USP, icons, and product descriptions were positioned in order of importance in areas that are easily seen by the user so that all information can be systemically and properly disclosed to the user.

Color that Represents the Brand

The number of colors used in the package is limited to four colors, excluding the colors in the product image. The proportion of how each color is used is carefully determined by its purpose. The Premium Black color that appears universally among Samsung brand products blankets the entire package. The Samsung Accent Blue, used as the Signature Accent, is applied minimally throughout the package just enough to indicate the mood of the brand. White and light-grey are used for typography to immaculately organize product information.

Patterns that Capture the Sentiments of a Product

Patterns differ from product to product, so each pattern is designed to serve as a metaphor of the product’s specific qualities to evoke sentimental resonance. The Gear 360 features a photograph that boasts 360 degree photography, the Gear VR provides a multidimensional view, and the Gear Fit2 Pro shows an image that displays heart rate to exemplify the product.

Intuitive Icon Graphics

The Samsung Wearable package has been produced in two forms and two sizes, which upholds coherence of the brand when displayed. Even when the volume of the package must be larger to accommodate additional accessories, the z-axis of the package is enlarged instead of the x-axis or the y-axis so that the product is always displayed in a constant size when viewed from the front.

Everyone knows the feeling of keeping a package that they were particularly fond of. At times, the package of a product can induce a sensation that is as potent as, if not even stronger, than the sensation that comes from the product itself. The purpose of a package transcended beyond its previous role of simply wrapping up or protecting the product, and has gained its own meaning. The Samsung Wearable package design has come to redefine the identity and role of the package.

Samsung has a long history as a leading pioneer in developing innovative technology that delivers incredible experiences and immerses users in amazing new realities. By combining our expertise in hardware design and engineering with the incredible advancements of our software, we are driving the digital future and creating previously unimagined opportunities for our developers and consumers alike.

The way we experience the world around us has changed drastically over the course of just a few short years. The rise of mobile technology means we are no longer confined to our physical world. Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) have added new layers of entertainment, information and education to our lives in ways that we have never experienced before.

And yet, it is still early days. At Samsung, we believe the democratization of this technology will foster a creative environment for developers to create amazing new applications and experiences. As these technologies move to the mainstream, it’s up to the industry leaders to adopt a collaborative and open approach to help AR and VR flourish.

Expanding our Worlds

Samsung introduced Gear VR nearly three years ago. Today, its rapidly expanding ecosystem features more than 1,000 apps, 10,000 high-quality videos through the premium 360-degree immersive Samsung VR service and noteworthy collaborations with top content creators and media brands. As a leader in virtual reality entertainment and devices, Samsung is already at the helm of building the technology for a next-level VR experience, changing how people use their smartphones and experience the world around them.

As the appetite for VR contents continues to grow, so has Samsung’s spirit of innovation. At SDC 2017 we showcased our latest VR solutions to help educate developers on the possibilities that exist when building within Samsung’s VR ecosystem. Samsung has developed a range of leading VR services including:

• Samsung VR, a premium video service offering the best in 360 immersive content taking you anywhere from the cockpit of an airplane, to the depths of the ocean or the far reaches of the universe with your Galaxy phone and a Gear VR.
• Samsung Internet VR, a Gear VR-optimized browser that allows users to surf the web and enjoy videos and photos on a large, virtual screen creating an immersive experience as if users were at the theater.
• Samsung PhoneCast VR, a first-of-its-kind application that translates 2D apps into 3D VR through mirroring for improved VR playtime providing an entirely new mobile experience.
• VRB Foto, a fun and social 360 photo sharing solution developed as part of Mobile Platform and Solutions lab of Samsung Research America, which allows users to create and share fun effects on top of 360 photos shot using cameras like Gear 360.
• Black River Studios, a division of Samsung R&D Institute of Amazonia (SIDIA) in Brazil, produces titles for Gear VR and Galaxy devices including Angest, Rock & Rails, and Finding Monsters perfectly suited for the upcoming HMD Odyssey.
• Samsung Gear VR Framework, an open source VR rendering engine with a Java interface for developing mobile VR apps offering a simple and familiar SDK for traditional Android developers without having to know multiple underlying VR SDKs.

Developers can pair these services with leading hardware like the Gear 360, as well as the recently released 360 Round – a new camera featuring 17 lenses able to capture a fully horizontal 360-degree sphere for developing and streaming high-quality 3D content for VR. Additionally, the new Samsung Gear 360 SDK now allows developers to build experiences that control Gear 360 cameras directly from an app while new software updates simplify how photos are shared with Samsung cloud integration. With these world-class hardware and software combinations, developers can create new digital environments that challenge our thinking of what’s possible while driving excitement and ultimately adoption of these new technologies.

As these technologies advance, we at Samsung believe that it’s important for the industry to provide greater access to this rapidly expanding market through an open approach to partnerships and close collaborations that drive valuable experiences for consumers. Our recent partnerships with top content creators like The New York Times gives our customers access to professional VR content while integrations with Microsoft have led to new innovations like the HMD Odyssey headset, considered the most immersive Windows mixed reality headset available. With dual 3.5-inch AMOLED displays, 110-degree field of view, and 360-degree Spatial Sound, the Samsung HMD Odyssey promises a journey to a world of games, videos, and socializing that knows no limits.

Delivering the Promise of AR

Samsung is known for creating technology that breaks the boundaries of what’s currently possible. Augmented reality has introduced a new experience by bridging our digital and physical worlds. During the Samsung Developer Conference (SDC 2017), we shared our vision for the rapidly evolving AR landscape through our partnership with Google to extend the ARCore platform to more Galaxy devices (S8, S8+ and Note8) bringing the best AR experiences to our users. While this is driven by the strengths of our mobile devices, we believe the future of AR will extend beyond the smartphone as we apply advances in machine learning and computer vision to move from recording the world to understanding it.

Consider our Galaxy series, which has redefined standards for mobile cameras with dual-pixel sensors and advanced optics. By adding machine learning and computer vision to the equation, we have transformed the camera into a means of comprehending and contextualizing the world quickly and accurately recognizing the people, places and things in front of them.

That’s where Bixby Vision comes in. We introduced Bixby Vision earlier this year, further expanding our AR capabilities. Bixby Vision offers a new way to understand the world, seamlessly integrated into your smartphone camera. It provides a better understanding of the world through objects, scenes and text. Using the camera app and photo gallery, Bixby Vision uses a hybrid deep learning system that allows it to run on both the device and in the cloud, so it can better identify objects and provide new ways of understanding and engaging with the world around you.

As Samsung continues to build innovative applications and expand the AR capabilities of our devices, we envision a future in which digital experiences like AR break through to wide consumer adoption, providing users with a powerful new experience in their daily lives. Imagine the possibilities beyond gaming and entertainment. Municipalities can install digital signposts which overlay directions for visiting tourists. Businesses have the potential to train new employees on safety procedures for new machines and equipment with virtual guides. The opportunities are endless.

Growing the Ecosystem

While today we experience AR on our phones, at Samsung, we believe that tomorrow, this will go beyond smartphones. To ensure such innovations continue to drive the growth of VR and add to the rapid advancements in AR, Samsung is committed to growing its community of developers and collaborators to expand the presence of new reality experiences in our daily lives. By doing so, we will not only open new business opportunities for our partners, but also provide greater access for all to a rapidly expanding market. Through this extensive ecosystem, we envision a future that creates a seamless transition between the world as we know it, to the new worlds and experiences of the new digital reality.

* Bixby vision is currently available on the Galaxy S8, S8+, and Note8. 

Celebrating its 58^th year, the Clio Awards is one of the top three advertising award festivals along with the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity and the New York Festival. It is judged by an international panel of advertising professionals and showcases work that pushes boundaries and establishes new precedents.

The commercial tells a story about an ostrich who learns to fly after donning a Samsung Gear VR headset and launching a virtual flight simulator. The campaign taps into the basic human urge to push beyond what is normal and demonstrates the company’s commitment to providing products and services that allow people to break boundaries and do the incredible.

In June of this year, ‘Ostrich’ took home 3 gold awards at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity under the film craft category for best direction, animation, and visual effects. This golden hattrick was complimented by 4 additional silver and bronze awards, bringing the final tally to 7 awards.

“The Ostrich, which has now won awards both at Cannes Lions and the Clio Awards, is an emotional piece that conveys Samsung’s commitment to defying barriers and making the impossible, possible,” said Younghee Lee, CMO and Executive Vice President of Samsung Electronics. “As a human-focused lifestyle brand, we continue to focus our efforts on creating real human value and this commercial is a great example of this.”

On August 17, fans from over 50 countries put on their Samsung Gear VR headset to witness the spectacular sights and sounds of Coldplay’s ‘A Head Full of Dreams Tour,’ live from Soldier Field Stadium, Chicago. The concert’s full 360 VR broadcast gave Samsung Gear VR users around the world an immersive viewing experience that has never been seen before.

Samsung’s VR Live Pass project kicked off June 3 at UFC 212, where the highly-anticipated featherweight clash between Jose Aldo and Max Holloway was broadcast live in VR, marking the first live VR broadcast event for Samsung and the UFC. The project continued in July at X Games 2017 in Minneapolis, where adrenaline-filled BMX and skateboarding competitions featuring the likes of Chad Kerley, Jagger Eaton and Jimmy Wilkins were also broadcast live to Gear VR users.

Coldplay’s concert in August was the final destination for Samsung’s VR Live Pass project in 2017. Samsung held a number of special viewing events across multiple countries, including Canada, Brazil, and the United States, leading up to the Live Nation concert to help drive user engagement for the momentous event.  

At Samsung 837 in New York, Coldplay fans donning Gear VR headsets enjoy an immersive, 360-degree concert experience.

Samsung showcased the 360 VR broadcast in locations around the world, including its Galaxy Life Montreal interactive space in Canada.

Fans take in the spectacular show while relaxing on the lawn at The Americana at Brand in Los Angeles.

Coldplay and the Gear VR make for a memorable date for a couple viewing the show at Kinoplex Itaim in São Paulo, Brazil.

Samsung’s VR Live Pass marked a special moment in time for the industry, as Gear VR owners were able to strap on their headsets, connect to the Samsung VR app and enjoy world-class entertainment as if they were there in the front row, regardless of their actual physical location.

Gear VR users who were unable to catch these events live can still enjoy replays and highlights from them through the Samsung VR app and the Samsung VR website until the end of October 2017.

This is no different for the students of Samsung Hope School in Xinji County, Hebei Province, China, who dream of visiting faraway destinations like the Great Wall and the Forbidden City, or going on exciting adventures, such as riding a roller coaster at an amusement park.

With a little help from Samsung Electronics, these children’s dreams are becoming a reality.

After interviewing students to determine their dream destinations, Samsung visited the sites that the children said they hoped to someday visit and recorded them with the Gear 360 camera. The students were then able to virtually experience the landmarks in 360 degrees via Gear VR headsets, and thus get closer to the places and people they’ve always dreamed of.

Perhaps the most touching ‘dream come true’ was when a young boy was able to watch a video message from his mother who works some 700 kilometers away from the small town to earn money for the family. The boy, who hasn’t seen his mother for over a year, was even more overwhelmed to see her sitting across from him when his headset was removed.

Watch the heartwarming event unfold and learn more about one of the ways Samsung is working to improve access to education in remote and often underserved regions.

The booth features three sections – an Atelier, Gym, and Workplace – that allow visitors to get their hands on products including Samsung’s newest wearables, the Gear Sport, Gear Fit2 Pro, and the updated Gear IconX, as well as its latest flagship smartphone, the Galaxy Note8. Fun and interactive exhibits showcase how the devices’ premium functions, seamless connectivity and intuitive designs introduce new aspects of convenience that become normal to users as soon as they experience them.

See how Samsung’s latest mobile offerings deliver your new normal in the photos below.

Samsung’s latest mobile offerings may be found at the center of the company’s IFA 2017 booth.

The new Galaxy Note8 features an immersive, 6.3-inch Infinity Display, an enhanced S Pen, and a best-in-class dual camera with Optical Image Stabilization.

An interactive display in the booth’s Atelier offers a breakdown of the Galaxy Note8’s advanced features.

A large display exhibits a ‘digital gallery’ of selfies that attendees have snapped with the Galaxy Note8 and decorated with fun stickers and animated text using the device’s S Pen.

IFA attendees put the Galaxy Note8’s IP68 water and dust resistance to the test by snapping selfies and dunking the device at the Portrait Pool.

The Galaxy Note8 boasts a wide array of compatible accessories, including various covers, wireless chargers and external batteries.

Attendees get hands-on with the new Gear Sport smartwatch, which features a sleek and versatile design, including a wide range of band options, and premium health- and fitness-management functions.

Samsung’s Gear Fit2 Pro, a water-resistant GPS fitness band, has been enhanced through partnerships with Under Armour and Spotify, and comes preloaded with Speedo’s best-in-class swim-tracking app, Speedo On.

Samsung’s update of its cord-free Gear IconX earbuds, which allow users to stream music from their phone and also function as a standalone music player, features improved battery life and a new integrated Running Coach with a voice guide that offers real-time updates on workout progress.

The Gear Sport’s dedicated fitness zone invites attendees to test out the smartwatch’s exercise-tracking functions properly: by strapping it on to take part in fun cycling and rowing competitions.

Attendees donning Samsung’s Gear VR with Controller take part in immersive intergalactic battle in the 4D VR Theater.

The booth’s Workplace section showcases various ways that enterprises can utilize Samsung’s latest mobile innovations, including the Galaxy Note8 and Galaxy Book, to streamline how they do business.

An Expanding Network

Having attracted more than 858,741^* visitors in locations such as the Westfield Parramatta in Sydney, Stockholm Central Station, the Dubai Mall, Hong Kong’s Excelsior Plaza and, most recently, American locales such as Chicago’s Navy Pier, Samsung’s Galaxy Studios are continuously expanding to all corners of the world.

The Chicago Navy Pier location is the latest to be added to the Galaxy Studio network.

A Galaxy Studio in Tokyo, Japan features Samsung’s latest technological innovations.

A Galaxy Studio sits at the center of a public square in Madrid, Spain.

Visitors line up at a Galaxy Studio in Stockholm, Sweden.

Hands-On with the Galaxy S8

Among the Galaxy Studios’ highlights include experiences surrounding the Galaxy S8 and S8+.

Many visitors have particularly enjoyed the Liquid Canvas experience, in which their selfie is recreated underwater in ink, oil or liquid dye as the Galaxy S8 is moved over a ‘Liquid Canvas.’ The activity also showcases the benefits of the phone’s IP68 water and dust resistance.

A selfie comes to life on the Liquid Canvas in Moscow, Russia.

At other Galaxy Studios, guests can explore the various key features of the Galaxy S8 by placing the device on an interactive smart table.

The table connects with the Galaxy S8 via Wi-Fi and acts as a second screen, giving viewers an immersive view of the bezel-less Infinity Display and crisp, clear photos made possible by the phone’s Smart Auto Focus and multi-frame image processing. Visitors can also see Bixby, Samsung’s intelligent interface, in action as it interprets information from users’ surroundings and shares tips from where to grab a cup of coffee to how to get to the closest gym.

An interactive smart table showcases the key features of the Galaxy S8 in Santiago, Chile.

The table also features Samsung Connect, a smart home network that connects the Galaxy S8 with appliances and other devices to simplify day-to-day tasks, and showcases content from the Gear 360 and Gear VR.

Mesmerizing 360-Degree Experiences

At select Galaxy Studios, visitors can witness firsthand the amazing capabilities of the Gear 360, Samsung’s 4K resolution-capable 360-degree camera. By stepping into a cylindrical room illuminated by captivating lights and patterns, they can capture every angle of their experience in 360 degrees with the Gear 360 and then share it with their friends.

A visitor interacts with the Gear 360 at a Galaxy Studio in Sydney, Australia.

Participants capture the moment in 360 degrees at a Galaxy Studio in Chicago, USA.

Gear Up

Many of the Galaxy Studios allow visitors to transport themselves to virtual worlds. For example, a 4D theater powered by the Gear VR with Controller allows them to engage in a space battle or perform stunning aircraft stunts, all while sitting in a chair.

Visitors try out the Gear VR with Controller in Dallas, USA.

Fun and Fitness

But not all of the Galaxy Studios are entirely about play. In fact, at the Galaxy Fitness stations, guests might just work up a sweat. Here, they can strap on a Gear S3 and play a virtual game of tennis or go ‘swimming.’ Kinetic sensors detect the players’ movements for a fun and interactive experience, while the Gear S3 tracks their activity and heart rate.

A game of tennis unfolds at the Galaxy Fitness station in Sydney, Australia.

The Best in Design Concept

The Galaxy Studio has made a splash not only with its engaging tech experiences, but also with its sophisticated Galaxy Studio Design Toolkit, which delivers a simple but alluring invitation to potential visitors.

On July 11, the Galaxy Studio Design Toolkit was selected as a recipient of the Red Dot Award: Best of the Best in Design Concept, which recognizes groundbreaking designs for prototypes and ready-to-launch products. The Red Dot Design Award received a total of 4,724 entries this year, and 43 pieces were recognized with the Best of the Best award. The award ceremony is scheduled to take place on October 18 in Singapore.

Galaxy Studios invite visitors to explore a world of mobile connectivity, bringing to the forefront Samsung’s latest technologies and all the possibilities they hold.

^* As of afternoon hours of August 8, 2017 U.S. Central Time

Check out the results of Samsung’s high-flying initiatives below.

The First Smartwatch Trusted by Aviators

The world of aviation has historically inspired exceptional examples of watchmaking. Samsung’s Gear S3 frontier Special Edition, the first smartwatch to be associated with military aeronautics, is the latest product of this innovative history.

The Gear S3’s IP68 dust and water resistance and military-grade durability distinguish the device as capable of adapting to the requirements of military missions. The PoAF’s special edition enhances that utility with an exclusive watch face – one that combines exceptional functionality with aesthetic cues that celebrate the tradition and innovation of the Portuguese Air Force.

The watch face features a design based on specifications provided by pilots across PoAF divisions. The black dial displays the time, date, day of the week and month, and includes a display for UTC/Zulu time, the worldwide reference time zone for pilots, at 9 o’clock.

The numerals are written in the same font that the PoAF has historically used for the tail numbers of its aircraft. In addition, to honor the anniversary, the 6 and 5 are highlighted either in gold or in the colors of the Portuguese flag, and may be customized to suit the user’s preference. At the top of the dial, in place of the 12, are the PoAF’s symbol – a stylized eagle – and the inscription, “Portuguese Air Force”.

Although it was originally designed exclusively for use by PoAF pilots, the watch face is currently available to download via the Gear App Store.*

Taking Flight with the Gear VR

Over the course of several months, Samsung Electronics Portugal, the Portuguese Air Force and Impresa Media Group shot a series of virtual reality films that allow viewers to experience the sheer exhilaration that comes with piloting a state-of-the-art aircraft.

The films were recorded with Samsung Gear 360 cameras and showcased at the PoAF’s 65th anniversary exhibit in Castelo Branco, two hours’ drive from the Portuguese capital, Lisbon. Upon strapping on Samsung’s Gear VR headset, attendees at the event were transported into the cockpits of Alpha-Jet instruction fighters, Aérospatiale Alouette III helicopters and F-16 AM fighter jets.

By creating an experience that’s as close as can be to actually stepping into the cockpit of a supersonic aircraft, the immersive footage allowed attendees to experience the thrill and beauty of flying for themselves.

*Availability may vary depending on market

The Golden Ostrich

Samsung Electronics’ creative efforts received top marks for its Galaxy S8 flagship ad, ‘Ostrich’, which took home three gold awards, as well as two silver and two bronze. Samsung collected the golden hat-trick under the film craft category for best direction, animation, and visual effects.

The ‘Ostrich’ commercial shows an ostrich who learns to fly after donning a Samsung Gear VR headset and launching a virtual flight simulator. The #DoWhatYouCant campaign and “Ostrich” ad tap into the basic human urge to push beyond what is normal and demonstrate the company’s commitment to providing products and services that allow people to break boundaries and do the incredible.

A Brand Evolution

The Galaxy brand continues to evolve from one focused on product and engineering prowess to one focused on providing human benefits for everyday people. To achieve this transition, a team of specialists first consolidated the brand image before later exploring creative campaign themes with people, not products, as the main focus.

Pio Schunker, SVP of Global Brand Marketing Group, Mobile Communications Business at Samsung Electronics(second to right), on stage at the Lumiere Theatre discussing the evolution of Samsung’s strategy to humanize the brand.

This change in direction resulted in the successful “Sink” advertisement released with the launch of the Galaxy S7, and was reinforced by the 2016 Rio Olympics campaigns, “Anthem” and “Chant”. The brand’s new trajectory culminated in the development of the “New Normal” and “Ostrich” ads, which were well-received by customers and audiences worldwide.

Atelier Samsung: A Creative Hotspot

Samsung Electronics showcased Galaxy S8, Gear VR, Gear 360 and various VR contents at Samsung Atelier during Cannes Lions.

Samsung’s Cannes 2017 presence also included “Atelier Samsung”, a collaborative space featuring interactive sessions and seminars that showcased the power of creativity and immersed visitors in Samsung’s mobile ecosystem.

Visitors to Samsung Atelier experience virtual reality with the Gear VR.

Atelier Samsung’s engaging slate of events included a session featuring YouTube sensation Casey Neistat, director Spike Jonze and visual artist Shantell Martin, who discussed the future of content creation and how Samsung’s products empower creators to produce dynamic material.

The creative space also hosted the premiere of Samsung and Vice Media’s ‘Beyond the Frame’, a new series that brings together musicians, artists and directors to produce content that utilizes virtual reality to foster immersive storytelling.

Alongside the events the studio allowed Samsung to showcase the power of the Creators – a series of films shot by YouTubers solely using the power of the Galaxy S8 video functions. Led by Casey Neistat with Karlie Kloss, Jesse Wellens, Marques Brownlee, Raya Encheva, Akilah Hughes and Davin Graham, these creators have been filming all around Cannes to capture unique content.

The ‘Creative Zone’ within Samsung Atelier offered guests the opportunity to see how various contents can be created with the Galaxy S8.

The Samsung Internet icon

Extensions Offer Increased Functionality

As mobile browsing has evolved, so too has Samsung Internet. With its comprehensive troupe of extensions, users can enjoy some of the interesting new options offered in the latest Samsung Internet, which we take a closer look at here.

The CloseBy extension, an IoT-to-browser application that seamlessly provides users with more information about their surroundings, is now built into the Samsung Internet web browser. When users approach a Physical Web beacon that pushes a URL, CloseBy will provide a notification.

A practical implementation of this technology can be found at city bus stops enabled with Physical Web beacon technology. As you approach a busy bus stop, CloseBy will receive a notification URL that will allow the user to quickly visit a site that provides information on bus routes and arrival times.

Another notable example of how this extension can benefit users is at art museums equipped with the technology – users can quickly access information on a given work of art via notifications received with CloseBy.

The Samsung Internet 5.4 content blocking extension API has enabled a range of 3rd party content blocker add-ons. Simply tap “Content blockers” menu under “Extensions” settings to download the 3rd party content blocker add-ons. The availability of this feature may vary by country.

No one likes installing too many apps on their phones, which can slow down our mobile devices. This is why Samsung Internet utilizes your phone’s camera with its own built-in QR code reader to allow for fast and easy scanning of QR codes. Simply enable the function under ‘Extensions’ and you can find ‘Scan QR code’ added under the menu.

Often, while navigating on mobile browsers, users experience situations where they wish the browser offered a more seamless way to quickly share information with family and friends. With the Quick Menu function enabled, a floating button will appear on your browser, which can be moved to other parts of the screen if wanted. This allows users to quickly access convenient features, including sharing, opening new tabs and modifying text size. Additionally, users can quickly open new tabs by long-pressing the tab button in the bottom-right corner of the browser. Finally, a familiar star button on the upper-left side of the URL bar allows users to quickly bookmark the current page.

Sharing video content with connected devices is now easier than ever, giving users more options to view content where they please. Video Assistant has an additional layer of functionality built into it – simply tap the ‘View on TV’ button to watch content on a connected television screen or tap the ‘View on Gear VR’ button to view the content with the Gear VR. Furthermore, the unique Video Assistant extension plays videos in its own pop-up players, allowing users to search for additional information while viewing a video at the same time.

Samsung Internet Brings Cross-Platform Functionality

Samsung Internet powers multiple devices in the Samsung ecosystem, including Samsung DeX and Gear VR, to further expand your connected world.

The all new Samsung DeX**, released alongside the Galaxy S8 and S8+ flagships, unleashes an extended desktop-like user experience to bridge the gap between mobile computing on larger connected monitors and screens. The Samsung DeX-optimized Samsung Internet browser utilizes this new gateway to provide users with a browsing experience that’s similar in function and feel to a desktop or laptop browsing experience.

Multiple browsers can be opened at the same time, similar to multiple tab browsing, enabling users to work or shop with ease. While shopping, users can make online transactions securely by utilizing the biometric payment features they have already enabled on their Galaxy S8 or S8+. Another added benefit of Samsung Internet 5.4 is the ability for it to seamlessly toggle between mobile and desktop versions of the same page, depending on whether you are using your device or Samsung Dex to surf the internet.

Why wait to surf the web of the future when you can do it now? Connect your compatible Samsung device to a Samsung Gear VR to experience menus, videos and photographs like never before – in virtual reality.

Enhance the way you view web pages and video content on the mobile version of Samsung Internet by plugging in, and using the unique display capabilities of Samsung Internet for Gear VR. Additionally, mobile bookmarks and video history lists can be linked with your Gear VR, allowing users to more seamlessly experience Samsung Internet in virtual reality without delay or disruption.

Syncing your favorite bookmarks on Samsung Internet mobile with Google Chrome browser for PC is done with ease via a handy new extension. Simply install Samsung Internet from the Chrome Web Store on your PC and log into your Samsung Account to link the platforms and gain access to all your bookmarks from both browsers, on both browsers.

All this and more is available now so make sure you update your Samsung Internet app. Visit the Samsung Internet website for more information on the new features and benefits of Samsung Internet 5.4.

* Supported for devices running Android OS 5.0 or above and Google Experience Devices(GEDs)

**Only available for Galaxy S8 and S8+ users

It’s for this reason that Samsung continues to devote considerable effort to initiatives that promote road safety. The technologies outlined below were designed to raise awareness of the dangers of distracted driving, and offer intuitive means for drivers and cyclists to manage their mobile devices while keeping their eyes on the road.

‘Eyes on the Road’: Promoting Road Safety Through VR

June is Singapore Road Safety Month, and to help encourage proper road safety habits, Samsung Electronics Singapore, the initiative’s official technology partner, developed immersive VR content that illustrates the critical importance of staying focused when behind the wheel.

The Eyes on the Road VR experience presents an array of potentially hazardous situations that commuters may place themselves in when distracted by mobile devices. In one such scenario, for example, users take the point of view of a driver who, distracted by his mobile phone, nearly gets into an accident at a pedestrian crossing.

The realistic scenarios are brought to life with Samsung’s Gear VR, and encourage users to be more careful when on the road by allowing them to experience the dangers of such distractions firsthand.

Eyes on the Road is currently available to download for free in the Oculus Store.

In-Traffic Reply: Auto-Responses for When You’re on the Road

Developed as part of an effort to curb road accidents in the Netherlands, Samsung’s In-Traffic Reply app allows commuters to send automated responses to calls and messages while keeping their hands firmly on the wheel.

The app activates as soon as it detects that the user is driving or riding their bike, and allows users to automatically send a standard reply (“I’m driving, so I cannot answer at the moment”), a fun, animated response, or their own personal message whenever they’re on the road.

In-Traffic Reply is currently available to download via the Google Play Store.

Ahead: A Smart Helmet Accessory

It’s always smart to wear a helmet when commuting. Especially a helmet that’s not only capable of keeping you safe, but keeps you connected to your smartphone, too.

A product of C-Lab, Samsung’s in-house startup incubation program, Ahead is a small, triangular device that snaps instantly onto any helmet. When paired with a smartphone, Ahead allows users to seamlessly make and take calls, listen to music, track their fitness data and interact with their phone’s voice assistant, all while keeping their ears open and hands free.

In addition, the device’s lightweight design and water resistance make it ideal for navigating bustling city streets. Those interested in purchasing Ahead may do so via the device’s Kickstarter page.

Samsung’s technologies reflect an ongoing commitment to innovating in the field of transportation. By making it easier for drivers to stay focused and connected when on the road, Samsung is adding new convenience to the driving experience and making streets safer.

The VR Live Pass on Gear VR events will be available through the Samsung VR app in early June, enabling Gear VR users to watch live entertainment events and performances no matter where they are. In addition, Samsung recently expanded its global presence to 45 countries, enabling more consumers around the world to enjoy the Gear VR platform.

“We are excited to offer Samsung Gear VR users the opportunity to experience their favorite live music and sporting events through our industry-leading VR ecosystem,” said Younghee Lee, CMO and Executive Vice President, Samsung Electronics. “Partnering with these companies to expand our VR services helps us to open up a new gateway of opportunities for fans and demonstrate our commitment to delivering experiences that make the seemingly impossible, possible.”

“We’ve always felt that the potential of combining UFC events with virtual reality would give our fans the ultimate enhanced experience,” UFC Chief Operating Officer Ike Lawrence Epstein said. “We’re excited to partner with Samsung on this game-changing initiative to further revolutionize how fight fans consume our content and live events around the world.”

“The X Games is the premier action sports event that continually provides a platform for athletic progression,” said Tim Reed, Vice President, ESPN X Games. “From never been done tricks to awe-inspiring competition, Samsung’s Gear VR technology is perfect to showcase dynamic action sports to viewers across the world.”

The one-of-a-kind live broadcasts will kick off beginning in June 2017 and will include the following:

• UFC® 212: ALDO vs. HOLLOWAY, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 3, 2017: For the first time in UFC history an event will be live streamed in Virtual Reality. Fans will witness this highly-anticipated event in high-quality 360-degree live stream and will have access to additional VR content, including pre-event and post-event show highlights with UFC featherweight champion José Aldo and interim UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway.*

• X Games Minneapolis, USA July 13 – 16, 2017: Gear VR users will be able to experience the thrill of the X Games from the comfort of their homes as they watch the world’s best BMX riders and skaters, including Jimmy Wilkins, Chad Kerley and Jagger Eaton compete at the biggest action sports event of the year.

• Live Music Concert with International Artist, USA August, 2017: Music fans around the world will get the best seats in the house to watch one of the most exciting, high-energy and renowned music acts with Live Nation, the largest live event company in the world.

Through these partnerships, Samsung will provide fans with an electrifying new way to experience live entertainment without the need to physically attend the events.

Gear VR users will be given an unrivaled ‘live pass’ to shows, where they will witness live action shots and extreme close-ups, taking spectatorship to an entirely new level. Gear VR users will be able to access this content at no cost.

Samsung continues to push the boundaries and lead the way in high-resolution VR entertainment, bringing users closer than ever to their favorite music artists or watching the world’s best extreme athletes doing their tricks for a breathtaking, true-to-life experience.

For more information, please visit https://samsungvr.com/portal/vrlivepass and http://www.samsungmobilepress.com

*Live streams of the UFC 212 main card, including the championship main event, are available in countries where Samsung VR is available, except the U.S. and New Zealand. Gear VR users in the U.S. will have access to the UFC FIGHT PASS early prelims.

FaceSense is a product of C-Lab (Creative Lab), Samsung’s startup business program that nurtures its employees’ innovative ideas to develop the technologies of tomorrow. The project presents a new approach to VR navigation that works just as its name implies: by tracking movement in the user’s face.

Whenever we speak, change our expression or shift our gaze, our faces generate electric signals. FaceSense recognizes and translates these biometric signals into input for navigation, allowing users to maneuver through VR worlds with intuitive movements and simple voice commands, rather than reaching for out-of-sight physical controls.

The prototype showcased at the exhibition was designed for Samsung’s Gear VR headset, and may one day lead to the development of further biometric technologies that allow more individuals, including those with various usage impediments, to enjoy immersive VR experiences.

The Samsung employees behind FaceSense showcased the C-Lab project at VRLA Expo 2017, the world’s largest virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) exhibition, held from April 14-15 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

The team based their prototype’s design on Samsung’s Gear VR headset.

FaceSense works by recognizing and translating biometric signals in the user’s face, allowing them to navigate immersive VR worlds hands-free.

The technology registers movement in the user’s eyes and facial muscles, and is also capable of recognizing certain words.

The prototype is currently capable of recognizing voice commands such as ‘home’, ‘back’, ‘select’ and ‘cancel’.

FaceSense’s intuitive controls open the door for more users to experience immersive VR.

Addressing the audience at the opening event, DJ Koh, President of Samsung’s Mobile Communications Business, noted that Unpacked was not just the launch of a new device, but a milestone marking the beginning of a new way to experience the world.

As a continuation of the Galaxy series, the Galaxy S8 promises an entirely new mobile experience with features such as a bezel-less Infinity Display and Bixby, an intelligent interface, that offer a new level of functionality and convenience.

To best showcase these features, Samsung installed an eye-catching screen that stretched up and over the stage. The ceiling-like display, along with a slew of immersive effects, consistently transformed the stage throughout the event, making for a memorable, highly sensorial experience.

The event’s Experience Zone provided an opportunity for attendees to get acquainted with the features of the Galaxy S8, as well as DeX – a new service that lets users power a PC-like environment from their mobile – and new versions of Gear VR and Gear 360.

See the highlights of the event below.

Media representatives gather outside Lincoln Center in New York for the first of three Galaxy Unpacked 2017 events.

The press awaits the commencement of Galaxy Unpacked 2017.

While launching the Galaxy S8 in New York, Samsung simultaneously unveiled the new smartphone at a satellite event in London.

In his keynote speech, DJ Koh, President of Samsung’s Mobile Communications Business, explains how the Galaxy S8 is “a gateway to a rich mobile life that will take you beyond the boundaries of today’s experiences and unlock the full potential of your imagination.”

DJ Koh unveils the Galaxy S8 and S8+.

A spectacular ceiling screen and immersive show effects transform the event stage.

“It marks a new era in smartphone design… the perfect balance of form and function, art and science, design and technology,” Justin Denison, Senior Vice President of Product Strategy at Samsung Electronics America, said of the Galaxy S8’s Infinity Display.

Sriram Thodla, Senior Director of Intelligence & IoT at Samsung Electronics America, explains that with a suite of new services, including the new Bixby interface and Samsung Connect, the Galaxy S8 is “a universal remote for your life.”

Justin Denison announces that the Galaxy S8 and S8+ will be released on April 21.

Suzanne De Silva, Principal Product Manager at Samsung Electronics America, demonstrates how the Galaxy S8 “empowers you to do incredible things” through the introduction of new versions of the Gear 360 and Gear VR.

Suzanne De Silva and Tom Jauncey, Co-Founder at Beautiful Destinations, showcase the 360-degree live streaming capabilities of the new Gear 360.

Event attendees capture a unique moment at Galaxy Unpacked 2017 with the Gear 360.

Jonathan Wong, Director of Product Marketing at Mobile B2B, Samsung Electronics America, gives the audience a live demonstration of DeX, Samsung’s new productivity tool that lets users power a desktop experience from their phone.

In the Experience Zone, event attendees get hands-on with the Galaxy S8, the newest addition to Samsung’s Galaxy line-up, as well as its new services and accessories.

“I can see so much more of what’s on the screen,” said one attendee who tried out the Galaxy S8. “But at the same time, the phone fits comfortably in my hand.”

Galaxy Unpacked attendees get hands on with the new Gear 360. With a more portable design, enhanced grip and live-broadcasting support, the 360-degree camera makes sharing life’s special moments easier than ever.

Beyond the Horizon is a joint initiative of Samsung Mobile, White Cane non-profit organization and Shazam. Creators of the project set a task for themselves to use the inspiring story of Alexander Zhuravlev, a photographer who lost almost all of his sight, to show people what they can achieve, assist with realizing their creative potential and getting the most out of their lives, as well as give a vivid and grounded proof that many obstacles that seem overwhelming are merely a challenge one should counter.

Alexander Zhuravlev lost almost all of his sight when he was 11 years old. Despite all the difficulties, he was able “to see beyond the horizon” of his capabilities and become a photographer, bringing to life his childhood dream. For that, he needed just a smartphone, using which he was able to make impressive landscape photos based just on his senses and hearing. Alexander used the Samsung Galaxy S7 smartphone in his photo shooting activities.

During the presentation of the Beyond the Horizon project guests of the event were able to see the world through Alexander’s eyes using a special app for Samsung’s Gear VR. For every spot where Alexander made photos – on Sugomak and Kyshtym lakes, on the surrounding peaks and in abandoned mines – panoramas were shot using Samsung’s Gear 360 camera. Afterwards the panoramas were specifically processed to reflect how Alexander saw these places when he was there.

“We at Samsung do not create just technologies, our innovative solutions actually help change people’s lives, make them easier and better,” said Seif El Hakim, Samsung Mobile Marketing Director in Russia. “Alexander’s talented works call for us to look at the world surrounding us more closely, appreciate its beauty and immensity and look beyond our own ‘horizon.’ This project is an example of a synergy of ordinary life and hi-tech technologies. It inspires us! It was a great pleasure to support it.”

“The most difficult thing in this world is to see your own possibilities. You already have all of them. They surround you everywhere. Those who at least see the horizon can step beyond it,” commented Alexander Zhuravlev.

The presentation program also included a demonstration of a short documentary about Alexander and his travels in Russia directed by Ivan Sosnin (Red Apple 2017 grand prix winner for his Piter by Bushe Bakery movie).

“This project has become the biggest and the most important one in my career. It got possible due to support from Samsung and Cheil agency. It is not just a movie, but a performance, and not about a disability, but rather about every one of us. Those who watch the movie and live through it will certainly learn something important for them. A large team of ambitious and result-oriented people worked on this project and I can proudly say that these efforts were made for a good reason,” noted Ivan Sosnin, director of the Beyond the Horizon documentary.

A number of other activities are also taking place within the project. Alexander’s pictures are demonstrated on the screen of the world’s largest smartphone placed on the Hydroproject building in Moscow. Using Shazam, everybody can visit the promo page to get all the information about the project. On the page there is also a special platform where Alexander Zhuravlev’s photos can be purchased. The project has been carried out in cooperation with the Zuzza.ru portal.

Alexander Zhuravlev’s exhibition will be open from March 24 to April 9 at the Lumiere Brothers Center for Photography.

About the Beyond the Horizon project

Beyond the Horizon is a joint initiative of Samsung, White Cane non-profit organization and Shazam. This social project is aimed at drawing attention to the inclusion process of people with disabilities and realizing the creative potential of every person so that they can get the most out of their lives.

Created by the award-winning Alchemy VR for the Science Museum Group, Space Descent VR will put visitors inside the descent module of a Russian Soyuz spacecraft, with the UK’s first European Space Agency astronaut, for a first-person ride only experienced before by a tiny number of highly-qualified astronauts.

To achieve the extraordinary level of realism offered in the experience, the team consulted leading experts, including Major Peake himself, and then employed the rendering power of 100 computers for a full month. The exquisite final product is delivered to the Museum’s visitors using Samsung Gear VR headsets.

Tim Peake said: ‘It really is breath-taking – and that comes from someone who has spent an awful lot of time using VR systems while training for my first mission. Science Museum visitors are going to experience something that truly is very close to the real thing!‘

Tim Peake uses the Space Descent VR experience

The Science Museum Group’s first permanent virtual reality experience will give the public a unique opportunity to experience the 360° 3D view from inside a Soyuz spacecraft as it makes the dangerous 400km journey back to Earth from the International Space Station, slowing from a speed in orbit of 25,000km per hour to land safely in Kazakhstan.

Anthony Geffen, Founder of Alchemy VR and CEO of Atlantic Productions, said: ‘We are tremendously proud of this exciting experience, which takes visitors on a journey no other technology could achieve. It builds on Alchemy’s leadership in creating ground-breaking location-based virtual reality experiences to inspire and engage people with museum objects.’

The experience is launched less than two months after Peake himself visited the Science Museum to unveil the actual spacecraft – Soyuz TMA-19M – and parachute which returned him safely to Earth from his Principia mission on 18 June 2016.

Acquired for the nation by the Science Museum Group in December 2016, Soyuz TMA-19M is the first flown human rated spacecraft in the UK’s national space technology collection and was unveiled by Tim Peake on 26 January 2017, as he visited the museum and announced that he will go into space for a second time.

Space Descent VR with Tim Peake

Science Museum Group Director Ian Blatchford said: ‘The Science Museum Group is constantly working to revolutionise how our visitors experience and learn about the past, present and future of science and technology, and the ways in which they engage with the magnificent objects in our collection. Space Descent VR with Tim Peake is an innovative and unique offer and I’m confident it will excite and inspire people in equal measure.’

Space Descent VR with Tim Peake has been made possible with support from Samsung and the generous co-operation of Tim Peake and the European Space Agency and will open at the Science Museum on 24 March. Information and tickets are available now at sciencemuseum.org.uk/VR.

Notes to Editors

About the Science Museum
As the home of human ingenuity, the Science Museum’s world-class collection forms an enduring record of scientific, technological and medical achievements from across the globe. Welcoming over 3 million visitors a year, the Museum aims to make sense of the science that shapes our lives, inspiring visitors with iconic objects, award-winning exhibitions and incredible stories of scientific achievement. More information can be found at sciencemuseum.org.uk.

About the Soyuz TMA-19M Descent Module

• Soyuz TMA-19M carried astronauts Yuri Malenchenko (Commander, Russia), Tim Kopra (Flight Engineer, USA) and Tim Peake (Flight Engineer, UK) to the International Space Station on 15 December 2015 and returned the same crew to Earth on 18 June 2016.
• The crew was part of Expeditions 46 and 47 to the International Space Station.
• The outer surfaces have been charred by temperatures of around 1,500 degrees Celsius experienced during atmospheric re-entry.
• The module weighs approximately 1.5 tonnes.

About the Science Museum Group’s Space Technology Collection
The Space Technology collection is rich in British rocketry and early British and European space science. Significant objects include a Black Knight Gamma 201 engine bay, the R4 Black Arrow launch vehicle (with Prospero satellite flight spare) and the Spacelab-2 X-ray telescope, flown on the Space Shuttle Challenger. Recent acquisitions include the Jet-X telescope, a Eurostar 3000 satellite and an engineering model of the world’s first international satellite, Ariel 1. Significant loaned items include an Apollo fuel cell, J2 and RL-10 engines and the Apollo 10 command module. The Soyuz TMA-19M spacecraft will join the Sokol space suit worn by Britain’s first astronaut as representations of the nation’s evolving human space flight activities. Marking the 110^th birthday of legendary Russian space chief Sergei Korolev and the start of the UK-Russia Year of Science and Education, the display of Soyuz TMA-19M celebrates the truly global effort behind space exploration today. Manufactured by RSC Energia for ROSCOSMOS the Russian Space Agency, the Soyuz tells the story of the UK’s first European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut’s journey to the International Space Station (ISS).

About Alchemy VR
Alchemy VR builds on the world class story-telling and technical innovation of Atlantic Productions to create some of the most compelling virtual reality experiences in the world. Alchemy VR’s combination of storytelling and pioneering use of new technologies has created unique and breath taking experiences including David Attenborough’s First Life VR and David Attenborough’s Great Barrier Reef Dive VR. Alchemy VR’s experiences have shown in some of the world’s most prestigious cultural institutions and will be amongst the first virtual reality documentaries to launch on PlayStation VR. VR projects soon to be released by the studio include experiences that take you deep into the Amazon Jungle, across the sands of the Arabian Desert, and into the heart of Dubai. http://www.alchemyvr.com/

Anthony Geffen, Founder of Alchemy VR and CEO of Atlantic Productions, says “We are delighted to be collaborating with the Science Museum on this pioneering experience, which takes visitors on a journey no other technology could achieve. It builds on Alchemy VR’s track record in creating location- based virtual reality experiences and using this medium to connect visitors with Museum objects in powerful and immersive ways.”

Atlantic Productions was founded in 1992 and in this time has won many of the most prestigious awards in television, including the coveted BAFTA award for best specialist factual twice in the last four years (2014 & 2011), eleven Emmy awards, two RTS awards and the best 3D award at Jackson Hole and Wildscreen. Recent productions include INSIDE THE COMMONS (BBC), and DAVID ATTENBOROUGH’S GREAT BARRIER REEF (BBC). www.atlanticproductions.tv

About the Science Museum and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd 
In addition to supporting Space Descent VR, Samsung have partnered with the Science Museum as Principal Sponsors of Mathematics: The Winton Gallery and Founding Sponsors of Digital Lab. In the role of Principal Sponsor, Samsung is supporting Mathematics: The Winton Gallery to increase young people’s interest and enjoyment in maths, as part of their wider Citizenship Programme to help everyone get excited about technology and science. The Digital Lab will use emerging new technologies, including Virtual Reality (VR), 3D scanning and high definition rotational photography, to bring objects from the Museum’s world-class collections to life like never before. For more information visit http://lab.sciencemuseum.org.uk

Sydney based virtual reality studio Start VR have collaborated with Samsung Australia and Chris O’Brien Lifehouse to develop a ground-breaking initiative to supply Samsung virtual reality (VR) technology to help alleviate stress for diagnosed oncology patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment at Chris O’Brien Lifehouse.

The project showcases the potential for VR to be used as a tool to help ease psychological stress and provide a form of “distraction therapy” during typically arduous chemotherapy treatments. Patients were provided with Samsung Gear VR headsets and the option to select an experience either from the Gear VR store or Start VR’s catalogue of content. Experiences ranged from transporting patients to a relaxing travel destination, plunging off an airplane in a skydiving stimulating experience, taking a boat ride through the Sydney Harbour, snorkeling through sparkling blue waters and petting Koalas at a zoo.

The initiative was spearheaded by Start VR’s Head of Content Martin Taylor, who collaborated with Chris O’Brien Lifehouse and Samsung Australia to bring the partnership to life.

“Our main goal is to create compelling virtual reality content and initiatives that make a positive impact on the lives of consumers,” Notes Taylor. “We wanted to determine if VR had the potential to change people’s outlook on their current environment and we felt that a healthcare setting, where people sit and wait for periods of time, worried about unknown outcomes would be the right place to start. Though after months of theory and planning, the true reward was meeting these incredible patients and seeing them experience instant joy through the power of VR.”

Adds Taylor, “Exploring the application of VR in healthcare, highlights an exciting pathway for this burgeoning medium and we are proud to leverage what we are learning to continually push boundaries in VR content creation.”

Thriving on the inclusion of cutting edge research, discoveries and uncompromising care, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse embraced virtual reality as a treatment support option for their patients and had clinical staff guiding and supervising to ensure patient safety.

Chris O’Brien Lifehouse Complementary Therapy Director Michael Marthick notes, “Allowing patients to escape the experience of chemotherapy gives them a bit of space to forget what’s going on. In settings such as before surgery, patients are even more anxious. This gives them a distraction and allows them to keep their spirits up. Wellness isn’t just about the physical side of things, it’s also about mental wellbeing.”

Martin Brown, Head of Alliances and Enterprise Mobility, Samsung Electronics Australia notes, “This collaboration with Start VR and Chris O’Brien Lifehouse breaks new ground in the way the immersive nature of our virtual reality platform can be applied to a healthcare environment.”

Adds Brown, “We see collaborations with partners like Start VR, and organizations like the Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, as critically important to developing tangible ways for our technology to benefit organizations across a wide range of sectors.”

About Start VR

Start VR is a cinematic virtual reality studio, creating highly immersive experiences and interactive content. A leader in longer form VR entertainment that resonates with viewers, the company is known for its compelling narratives, and best of class, blockbuster-quality visuals. Thanks to the in-depth industry knowledge and vast technical experience of Start VR’s team, the company consistently turns out polished, critically acclaimed experiences that are not soon forgotten. Start VR’s beautifully made work is designed to spark unprecedented levels of engagement and viewer involvement, pushing the envelope to explore the storytelling capabilities of Oculus Rift, Gear VR, HTC Vive, Sony PSVR, Daydream and Google Cardboard–and platforms still to come.

About Chris O’Brien Lifehouse

Chris O’Brien Lifehouse is one of two comprehensive cancer centers in Australia. Using the latest technology in a modern, purpose-built cancer hospital, our highly experienced clinicians see more than 40,000 public and private patients every year – concentrating all their efforts, learning, research and expertise into cancer care alone. We use a multidisciplinary approach to treatment where teams comprising surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, allied health professionals and researchers provide peer-reviewed, tailored, individualised treatment to patients. Lifehouse is also one of Australia’s biggest cancer clinical trials centres, giving our patients access to the world’s newest cancer breakthroughs. International research has confirmed this specialised, cancer-only approach supported by trials and research at comprehensive cancer centres in the United States and Europe, has resulted in outcomes that are 5 to 15 percent better for patients after five years.

Samsung Electronics today announced the Samsung Gear VR with Controller powered by Oculus, the company’s first-ever Gear VR headset with a controller. The Gear VR with Controller expands Samsung’s virtual reality ecosystem and makes it easier for consumers to enjoy Gear VR experiences.

For optimal play and convenience, the Controller features an ergonomic, curved design, offering convenient one-hand control and better motion interaction with minimized head movement for a comfortable user experience. In addition, the Controller provides users with:

• Various Motion Input for a Better VR Experience – The Touchpad provides quicker selection and interaction in VR apps, enabling various forms of motion, including the ability to point, drag and drop, tilt, shoot, among other actions, while the Trigger allows for enhanced gaming experiences.
• Minimized Movement for Long-time Use – The Home, Volume and Back keys located on the Controller give users everything they need in easy reach so that they can keep their focus on immersive content.
• A Secure Grip for Comfortable Play – Even during the most active movements, the Controller’s wrist strap offers a secure grip for comfortable and secure play.

“At Samsung, we are focused on setting and exceeding the standard for VR experiences, making them even more accessible and delivering the highest in quality,” said Younghee Lee, Executive Vice President of Mobile Communications Business, Samsung Electronics. “The Gear VR with Controller expands our VR ecosystem to help consumers get more engaged and immersed in VR content – whether it’s games or videos.”

For an expansive viewing experience, the Gear VR with Controller offers 42mm lenses with 101-degree FOV (Field of View) and advanced distortion correction technology to minimize motion sickness. The Samsung Gear VR with Controller will support both micro USB and USB Type-C port with a converter in-box. Additionally, the Gear VR will have a strap on the headset to hold the Controller when it is not in use.

The latest edition of the Samsung Gear VR is compatible with the Galaxy S7, S7 edge, Note5, S6 edge+, S6 and S6 edge.

New Samsung Gear VR Product Specifications

*All functionality, features, specifications and other product information provided in this document including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability, and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice or obligation.

Germany – Digital technologies take education to an entirely new level, opening new doors and possibilities for teachers and students alike. As part of its citizenship initiatives, Samsung Electronics Germany has explored how these possibilities can help reshape education for a better tomorrow.

A recent survey, conducted by Kantar EMNID, a German research company, asked 606 teachers from schools throughout Germany to better understand what educators think about the application of new technologies – particularly virtual reality – in the classroom.

The Samsung-backed survey  “VR in the Classroom”* revealed 92 percent of the educators surveyed support the use of digital technologies in the classroom, while 99 percent of teachers under 30 years of age are in favor it. According to the survey, many teachers already use devices like computers, projectors and laptops when they are available, and the majority of teachers (67 percent) have no difficulties in integrating such devices.

Moreover, there is a great interest in the use of virtual reality (VR). Although only 18 percent of the respondents have already used VR in private or professional contexts, and the technology is only available at 4 percent of the schools, almost every second teacher (48 percent) stated a willingness to try it out in the classroom. For teachers under 30, the figure is relatively higher at 58 percent.

“The survey clearly shows that teachers are very open-minded when it comes to the implementation of new media in school. They recognize potentials unfolding with digital technologies such as VR,” said Steffen Ganders, Director Corporate Citizenship & Public Affairs, Samsung Electronics GmbH. “Therefore, it is necessary to follow their readiness. It is now a matter of enabling teachers to integrate them into the classroom.”

VR Makes the Grade

It is commonly believed that experiencing something, rather than just reading about it, greatly enriches a class and improves students’ overall performance. More than three thirds of the teachers interviewed (79 percent) agree that VR enables experiences that would not be possible otherwise. Relatedly, 77 percent believe that VR is an appropriate way for students to explore places they would not usually be able to go to.

In addition to enhancing the educational experience, the majority of teachers believe that the use of VR in class can increase students’ motivation (74 percent) and improve their learning success (62 percent). 58 percent of educators also feel that the use of the technology can help students better understand learning concepts. According to respondents, the subjects that VR would be most suitable for are geography (80 percent), history (74 percent) and natural sciences (62 percent).

Despite the fact that virtual reality is a very new technology, almost half of the teachers surveyed (42 percent) believe it will be used in the classroom within the next five years. If the equipment were accessible to them, 74 percent of educators claim that they would integrate VR into their lessons at least once a month, while 41 percent say they would use it at least once a week.

A New Way to Learn

“To integrate the emerging value of new technologies into teaching, it should now be the top priority to develop concepts in cooperation with teachers for educational policymakers,” Ganders stated.

To better understand what these educational VR concepts might look like, Samsung has collaborated with Cornelsen, a Berlin-based schoolbook publisher. In the joint project, educational VR contents were developed to help students visualize the complex biological processes of the human body. The project was tested by 150 students in Berlin, Lower Saxony and Baden-Wuerttemberg in late 2016.

With VR devices, students will be able to experience firsthand a wide range of educational concepts like these, all while learning in a fun and engaging manner.

* For the Samsung-backed survey “VR in the Classroom,” Kantar EMNID interviewed 606 teachers from schools throughout Germany in November 2016. The interviews were conducted in a personal computer-assisted procedure. In addition to focusing on the utilization of digital technologies in schools, the survey was also directed to find out more about the concrete application of virtual reality in education.

Source : Germany Newsroom

Samsung’s Gear VR headset was designed to provide just that, amping up players’ immersion and making gaming more engaging. Available in the Oculus Store, the games and app below demonstrate Gear VR’s ability to bring the gaming experience to a whole new level.

Minecraft: Gear VR Edition

Minecraft: Gear VR Edition optimizes the global gaming phenomenon for Gear VR, allowing players to embark on the game’s fun solo adventures while fully immersed in its sprawling and inventive pixelated worlds.

Players navigate the blocky landscapes in first- or third-person perspective using their Xbox controller and Gear VR. The headset’s wide view not only makes building a personal kingdom more engaging, but also fosters the sensation that one is physically standing within their virtual domain, making it easier for players to explore new terrains and the limits of their imagination.

Herobound Gladiators

Herobound Gladiators is an online multiplayer RPG optimized for the Gear VR in which teams of players progress through challenging arenas battling hordes of ghouls and goblins.

Conquering waves of enemies and seizing victory requires optimizing a character’s arsenal of weapons and abilities and carefully coordinating attacks with teammates. Together with the Xbox controller, the Gear VR makes navigating each battle more fun and engaging, providing a 160-degree, strategic view that allows players to comfortably scan the battlefield and plot their course to victory.

SLIVER.tv

SLIVER.tv is an eSports app that allows professional gaming fans to be immersed in their favorite games even when they’re not playing themselves. With SLIVER.tv, users can enjoy a 360-degree VR gaming experience while watching eSports’ greatest champions do what they do best, through highlight videos and coverage of tournaments pitting the world’s best gamers against one another.

Gear VR’s immersive perspective provides SLIVER.tv users the best possible viewing experience, allowing them to take in the action from new angles, and making it easier to analyze their favorite champions’ in-game strategies.

Virtual Reality (VR) is no longer some distant, experimental technology. It’s here, and it’s transforming the way the world is entertained. At CES 2017, industry leaders have come together to showcase the technology’s latest advancements. Perhaps nowhere is more abuzz with excitement, however, than Samsung’s Galaxy Studio.

The experience zone is best described as a technological playground of sorts, outfitted with four types of 4D simulators that make VR more exciting and dynamic than ever before.

A recently unveiled gyro takes participants on a 360-degree race through space, while a module sends thrill-seekers on an exhilarating ride down a skeleton track. Meanwhile, attendees experience an airshow from a pilot’s perspective via a 4D chair, and a newly introduced Sway simulator takes viewers on a scenic boat ride. The devices offer an adrenaline rush that is sure to leave just about everyone with a smile on their face.

“This is not my first time to try out virtual reality,” said a CES attendee who participated in the airshow simulation. “But this is definitely my first time to experience virtual reality like this. Too cool!”

The Samsung Galaxy Studio also gives CES attendees the opportunity to participate in a unique, 4D interactive game that puts the viewer in the middle of a giant robot war. Utilizing a variety of sensors and cameras, the game enables viewers to virtually become one of the robots and throw items at their opponent to gain points.

Visit the Samsung Galaxy Studio at the Las Vegas Convention and World Trade Center (LVCC) Main Concourse (GL10) until January 8, 2017, and stay tuned to see how Samsung is innovating to transform the way the world is connected and entertained, virtually.

Check out the highlights from the Samsung Galaxy Studio in the photos below.

Samsung’s Gear VR and a newly introduced Sway simulator take viewers on an exotic dinghy boat adventure through the rough streams of Australia’s Murray River.

CES participant follows along on a skeleton athlete’s thrilling ride in Whistler, Canada.

Participants get a feel for extreme aircraft stunts through the new Whiplash Pulsar 4D chair.

The never-before-seen Gyro 4D simulator rotates 360 degrees vertically and horizontally to replicate the motions of a spaceship racing through space.

The Samsung Galaxy Studio lets CES attendees put themselves in the middle of an action-packed robot war game. A variety of sensors and cameras work together to allow viewers to interact with their robot opponent.

Samsung has released a new version of Samsung Internet for Gear VR, the Gear VR-optimized browser. The latest evolution of the app – version 4.2 – follows its beta launch last December, and introduces key features to give users greater control and a more immersive browsing experience.

With the new Change Background feature, users can customize the background of their VR space with premium images provided by cloud graphics company OTOY. Paired with the VR technology, the vivid scenes add depth to users’ browsing, transporting them to a vibrant and realistic world that’s ripe for exploration. In addition to the previously added Skybox feature, which allows each website to set its own background with 360 images, this will provide a more immersive browsing experience.

Samsung Internet for Gear VR also includes support for WebVR v1.0: an experimental JavaScript API that provides the browser with access to the device’s VR features and allows users to view 3D images on websites from various angles.

Samsung Internet for Gear VR allows users to surf the web and enjoy videos and photos on a large, virtual screen, just as if users were at the theater. In particular, it provides seamless integration and a continuous experience with Samsung Internet for Android on Galaxy smartphones by synchronizing data – i.e. bookmarks and video history lists. Once users connect the Gear VR to a smartphone with any web page or full-screen video open in Samsung Internet for Android, users can freely and continuously stream the content using Samsung Internet for Gear VR.

Additionally, with the File Explorer feature, users can effortlessly browse and view images and videos stored on their mobile device, or on USB storage through the USB OTG (on-the-go) support feature. Combine that functionality with voice-recognition support, an on-screen keyboard featuring 11 languages, including Korean, French and English, and an ability to integrate Bluetooth devices such as keyboards, mice and gamepads, and it’s never been easier to immerse oneself in the very best of the web.

Samsung Internet for Gear VR is available for download in the Oculus Store. Additional information on the browser may be found here.

George Enescu is remembered by many as perhaps Romania’s most important musician. He was a classical music icon – a composer, violinist, pianist, conductor and teacher who still inspires many a youngster taking up the piano or violin today.

In Romania, however, as a result of a system that has not been updated since the Communist period, many museums and cultural institutions fail to adequately capture Enescu’s legacy or communicate his place in Romania’s cultural heritage to the younger, ‘digital’ generation. This can lead many children and teens to feel disconnected with classical culture and ultimately lose interest in it.

To spark greater awareness and appreciation of the iconic artist’s work, Samsung Electronics Romania has partnered with the George Enescu National Museum to design a unique and interactive journey that illuminates Enescu’s legacy in a manner that’s engaging and will resonate with the digital generation.

The “Enescu 360” Gear VR exhibit, which uses virtual reality technology to offer visitors a unique glimpse into the great artist’s life, opened on November 10 at the George Enescu National Museum. The immersive exhibit guides guests through Enescu’s formative and most creative years via virtual reality tours of several of his homes, from the small house where he was born in the far north of the country to one of the most beautiful buildings in Bucharest.

The Gear VR immersion allows visitors to stroll through these venues’ hallways and rooms and interact with their contents. Stops on the journey include Enescu’s Memorial House in Liveni where, at just three years old, he played the violin for the first time; the Memorial Museum in Dorohoi, where he composed some of his most famous pieces; the Sinaia House, which he personally decorated; and the Cantacuzino Palace, one of the most architecturally significant buildings in Bucharest.

Those who cannot physically make it to the Romanian capital to attend the exhibit may also experience it via the Gear VR Gateway app, which is available in the Oculus Store.

The Enescu 360 exhibit follows another, likewise engaging Enescu exhibit organized by Samsung this past June. The interactive “At Enescu’s Home” app that Samsung developed for use at the Memorial Museum in Dorohoi completely transformed the visiting experience by spotlighting unique moments in the artist’s life and inviting guests to learn more about them. Art lovers were granted access to pictures, letters and notes that revealed new contours of Enescu’s fascinating personality.

Additionally, later this month, five talented young musicians – winners of Romania’s George Enescu International Competition – will take part in Samsung Romania’s “Symphony of the Future” initiative, which empowers bright young minds with tech with the aim of identifying the next George Enescu.

Recent research by PanelWizard in the Netherlands has found that 18 percent of traffic accidents involving youngsters are caused by people being distracted by their smartphones. In an effort to take charge of the issue and protect children when they’re at play, Samsung, has teamed up with VVN, a traffic safety organization based in the Netherlands, to educate local children on the dangers of distracted smartphone use in a fun and interactive way.

Based on a concept developed by creative marketing agency Cheil, the ‘Beat the Street’ campaign comprises a virtual reality app that simulates potentially dangerous traffic situations for students’ navigation. The game succeeds in conveying critically important lessons in traffic safety and awareness in an immersive and engaging manner.

The first batch of students experience the Beat the Street virtual reality game

Developed by Dutch VR-production studio WeMakeVR, the Beat the Street app allows users to safely experience and manage potentially hazardous traffic conditions. Upon strapping on the game’s Samsung Gear VR headset, users are thrust into pressing traffic situations and forced to make calculated decisions in order to navigate the jungle of cars and motorcycles.

The game requires users to carefully consider whether they should, for instance, cross the street or wait, answer their phone or let it ring, and encourages them to be ever-aware of oncoming traffic. The app educates students on a very serious matter but incorporates key comical elements to create a lighthearted tone, allowing students to learn important lessons while having fun. By letting the youngsters experience these potential dangers in an entertaining virtual world, we help them avoid the same hazards in reality.

Samsung, Cheil, VVN and WeMakeVR officially launched the campaign on September 22 at IJsselcollege High School in Rotterdam, Netherlands. After an informative introduction by Vice President of Samsung Electronics Netherlands Menno van den Berg, Corporate Affairs Manager Michiel Dijkman, Director of IJsselcollege Bram van Welie and VVN Director Felix Cohen, more than 30 children were invited to be the first to test their skills in the virtual traffic scenarios.

VVN Director Felix Cohen experiences Beat the Street for himself

Journalists of media outlets from around the country were on site to report on the campaign’s launch and interview participating children. They managed to catch some of the energetic young students’ more animated responses upon playing the interactive game, such as “I shouldn’t have looked at my phone! Now it’s game over for me!”

Menno van den Berg, Vice President at Samsung Electronics Netherlands, discussed the campaign on local radio

In the coming months Samsung will organize a road tour for visiting high schools across the country to allow more children to experience the Beat the Street game. Many Samsung employees have already enthusiastically volunteered to join us in the endeavor and help share the immersive safety experience with more students.

Hoon Chung, President of Samsung Electronics Benelux, says “Technology and innovation have a big impact on the society. It is important for us to invest in, contribute to and be involved with the society you are a part of.” With this initiative, Samsung hope to help raise more awareness on the dangers of distracted smartphone use in traffic situations and create safer roads for all to enjoy. Together, we can Beat the Street!

A participating child describes the virtual reality experience

Tatyana took a tour of the Galaxy Studio, which went through a transformation to include several accessibility features to ensure all consumers, athletes and fans are able to take part in a variety of interactive experiences. During her visit, the Paralympic medalist experienced Samsung’s latest wireless communications products such as Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 edge and Gear VR immersive technologies, as well as unique, hands-on opportunities.

The Samsung Galaxy Studio, which re-opened this week in the Olympic Park, was revamped to help all fans embrace the excitement of the Paralympic Games. The flagship studio in Olympic Park offers unique opportunities for visitors to experience how Samsung Accessibility technology features are designed and utilized to help those with disabilities.

“I’m thrilled to be selected to be part of the Samsung Blogger Program once again to capture and share my excitement to be competing at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games,” McFadden said while visiting the Samsung Galaxy Studio. “Watching my journey leading up to this moment in the Social Galaxy Room allowed me to put all my hard work into perspective. I can’t wait to see what the rest of the Paralympic Games will bring!”

Inside the Social Galaxy Room, Team USA Paralympic Track and Field Athlete, Tatyana McFadden was able to see her past Instagram moments come to life in full 360 at the Samsung Galaxy Studio in Olympic Park in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Saturday, September 10th 2016.

Team USA Paralympic Track and Field Athlete, Tatyana McFadden, participates in the Galaxy Accessibility Experience Program and tested out the Blind Game at the Samsung Galaxy Studio in Olympic Park on Saturday, September 10th 2016.

Team USA Paralympic Track and Field Athlete, Tatyana McFadden, is all smiles as she experiences the high-speed thrill of simulated Olympic kayaking through 4D motion virtual reality at the Samsung Galaxy Studio Olympic Park in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on September 10th, 2016. The film is displayed through the Samsung Galaxy smartphone and Gear VR.

Team USA Paralympic Track and Field Athlete, Tatyana McFadden takes a selfie at Samsung Galaxy Studio in Olympic Park on September 10th, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil during the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

For more information about Samsung’s involvement in the Paralympic Games, please visit www.samsungmobilepress.com/Olympics/

As part of the brand’s efforts to help make the digital world more accessible for those with disabilities, Samsung hosted the children at the Samsung Galaxy Studio in Olympic Park for a fun and immersive tour and hands-on technology experience, where they learned how Samsung Accessibility technology features can be used in everyday activities.  Accompanied by their parents, the children tried out Samsung´s latest technologies, including Gear VR, which paired with the Galaxy smartphone to provide an immersive 360-degree experience. The children were able to experience the thrill of a roller coaster in high speed kayak tour as well.

The AACD in Brazil is committed to rehabilitation and special care for disabled children. The institution also provides other activities such as professional training, support programs, insertion into Paralympic sport and social integration of patients.

Brazilian Paralympian, Terezinha Guilhermina, and Brazilian Olympic Gold Medalist, Lipe Fonteles, welcome local children from AACD (Disabled Children Assistance Association) at the Samsung Galaxy Studio in Olympic Park in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Local children from AACD (Disabled Children Assistance Association) participate in the Galaxy Accessibility Experience Program and tested out the Blind Game at the Samsung Galaxy Studio in Olympic Park in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Samsung – in partnership with AACD (Disabled Children Assistance Association) – hosted children at a Rio 2016 Paralympic Games sporting event and gave them a hands-on tour of the Samsung Galaxy Studio in Olympic Park in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Local children from AACD (Disabled Children Assistance Association) experience simulated Olympic kayaking through 4D motion virtual reality via Samsung’s Gear VR at the Samsung Galaxy Studio in Olympic Park. Samsung brought the kids to a Paralympic Games sporting event and hosted them for a tour of the Samsung Galaxy Studio in Olympic Park. Inside

Inside the Social Galaxy room, local children from AACD (Disabled Children Assistance Association) watch past latest Instagram moments come to life in 360 degrees at the Samsung Galaxy Studio in Olympic Park in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

For more information about Samsung’s involvement in the Paralympic Games, please visit www.samsungmobilepress.com/Olympics/

Experience the excitement of Samsung’s IFA 2016 booth for yourself by checking out the videos below.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has presented, for the first time in Mexico, a video that uses Samsung’s virtual reality technology to raise awareness about the reality many children in Mexico face. Through the eyes of a Mixtec girl, the video shows what life is like in one of the most vulnerable communities in Montaña de Guerrero.

The video, entitled La Canción del Lobo Feroz (The Song of the Wild Wolf), tells the story of how children try to get their lives back on track after a tragedy, as well as fighting to stay in school no matter how difficult the conditions are.

The video was filmed in the communities of Metlatonoc, San Miguel Almotepec, San Juan Puerto Montaña, Cochoapa El Grande and Loma de San Marcos in the region of Montaña de Guerrero. These communities were severely affected by Hurricanes Manuel and Ingrid in September 2013, which left landslides and floods in their wake, as well as considerable losses of human life and material damage. Furthermore, the communities are at risk given the erosion of the mountain and earthquakes in the region.

The community of Loma de San Marcos is part of the poorest area in Mexico. According to the United Nations Development Program, this area has a Human Development Index 2.5 times below that of the country average. Since the hurricanes in 2013, this community has not had access to basic services, such as electricity or water, nor has it had access to medical treatment.

La Canción del Lobo Feroz is a story of overcoming adversity in a community where children recover from a natural disaster, sing a song to come to terms with their losses and remember the importance of being prepared to act in an emergency. The “wild wolf” can take the form of a hurricane, an earthquake or a storm, and the children need to be ready when it comes back.

“UNICEF is working to ensure that the children go to school and learn, especially those children who need it the most. And it is not just about formal education, but rather about skills that help them overcome disasters, such as hurricanes or floods,” commented Isabel Crowley, a UNICEF Representative in Mexico.

UNICEF promotes school safety through the creation of Risk and Disaster Prevention Plans for Schools, which actively involve the entire community (teachers, parent and children) in order to help them prepare to cope with these dangerous situations.

For this campaign, UNICEF teamed up with Samsung Electronics Mexico, an official sponsor of the program. Thanks to its virtual reality visors, the Samsung Gear VR, people can learn more about these communities and take a virtual tour of the La Montaña de Guerrero as part of a unique immersive experience.

Samsung’s virtual reality technology offers high-definition graphics for improved visual quality, making it possible for viewers to explore new worlds and surroundings in a completely realistic and sensorial manner.

“Here at Samsung, we are always looking for ways to use our technological innovations to drive positive changes in the communities in which we operate. In Mexico, we have focused our social responsibility programs on promoting better education opportunities for children and young people. That is why we are exceedingly proud to be collaborating with UNICEF. We are certain that this creative campaign will successfully raise awareness among thousands of people and get them to actively join the fight to combat these problems,” commented Miguel Jeon, CFO of Samsung Electronics Mexico.

The video is part of a fundraising campaign to invite people to set up a monthly donation using their credit card via the www.donaunicef.org.mx website, or via UNICEF promoters who can be found at malls, parks, museums and companies in a number of states throughout Mexico. Aleks Syntek, Yolanda Andrade, CD9, Javier Jatti and Michel Jourdain have also joined forces with this campaign.

The funds raised will be earmarked for programs that promote education, provide emergency relief, prevent child labor and combat violence in order to offer boys and girls the opportunity to grow up healthily and fulfill their full potential.

Among the visitors include Tsepo Mathibelle, a marathon runner from Lesotho; US track and field athlete Brenda Martinez; and Irish gymnast Kieran Behan.

The athletes not only got a chance to greet their fans, but also had the opportunity to try out numerous virtual reality experiences with Samsung’s Gear VR and get hands on with the Galaxy S7 edge Olympic Games Limited Edition.

Like Samsung, these athletes in particular have overcome barriers to achieve greatness and to realize their own personal dreams and goals.

Check out the photos below to see the highlights of their visit.

Lesotho marathon runner Tsepo Mathibelle takes a selfie with his Samsung Galaxy S7 edge Olympic Games Limited Edition at the Samsung Galaxy Studio in Olympic Village in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In collaboration with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Samsung presented 12,500 Galaxy S7 edge Olympic Games Limited Edition smartphones to athletes competing in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Inside the Social Galaxy room, Irish gymnast Kieran Behan watches his past Instagram moments come to life in 360 degrees. “The technology here in the Samsung Galaxy Studio is absolutely amazing,” said Behan, the second Irish gymnast to qualify for the Olympic Games.

“I’m most excited about my Galaxy S7 edge Olympic Games Limited Edition—it’s such a cool commemorative phone from Samsung,” US track and field athlete Brenda Martinez stated during her visit to the Samsung Galaxy Studio in Olympic Village.

Tsepo Mathibelle is all smiles as he experiences simulated Olympic kayaking through 4D motion virtual reality via Samsung’s Gear VR and Galaxy smartphone. Mathibelle overcame numerous barriers on his way to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. His story was told in the recent documentary short “A Fighting Chance.”

Inside the Social Galaxy room at the Samsung Galaxy Studio in Olympic Park, Brenda Martinez watches her Instagram moments come alive all around her.

Kieran Behan, who defied numerous barriers on his journey to the Olympic Games—including a tumor in his leg at age 10 and a brain injury from a gymnastics fall shortly after—receives a gift of Samsung-themed Rio 2016 Olympic Games pins at the Samsung Galaxy Studio.

Brenda Martinez experiences the high-speed thrill of a roller coaster through a 4D virtual reality film at the Samsung Galaxy Studio during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Martinez overcame a setback in the 800 meters at the US track and field team trials by qualifying for Rio 2016 just days later in the 1,500 meters.

Inside the Social Galaxy Room, Tsepo Mathibelle sees Instagram moments come to life in 360 degrees. He noted, “I feel a connection to Samsung, as the company is all about defying barriers, which is similar to my story, as I’ve had to overcome so many obstacles to get here today.”

Kieran Behan tests out his Samsung Galaxy S7 edge Olympic Games Limited Edition at Samsung Galaxy Studio in Olympic Park. “It truly is a collector’s item,” he said of the smartphone.

Smartphones have given us the ability to easily transition between work and play, and the Galaxy Note7 is no exception. Equipped with HDR streaming capabilities, which make video content look more vivid and lifelike, best-in-class gaming with new titles supported by Vulkan API, and advanced camera technology, the newest Galaxy Note smartphone provides a rich entertainment experience that’s as mobile as we are. Furthermore, an enhanced Gear VR headset, which now supports expanded compatibility, offers an even more immersive virtual experience.

Truer Colors, A Clearer Picture

To provide a better viewing experience, the film industry has continually improved video resolution—from HD to Full HD to Ultra HD. Most recently, the UHD Alliance, a consortium of production studios, content networks, tech companies and TV manufacturers—including Samsung—shifted their focus to High Dynamic Range (HDR). Equipped with Super AMOLED Display, HDR video streaming technology enables a cinema-like experience including brighter colors and a deeper black, to ensure users get the full experience that the filmmaker intended.

Now Galaxy Note7 users can stream HDR video in HDR10 format, a standard that denotes a color depth based on a 10-bit signal. Therefore, they can experience the same HDR color and quality on their mobile device as they can on a television.

Samsung was able to bring this extraordinary technology to the Galaxy Note7 by utilizing Mobile Digital Natural Image Engine (mDNIe) technology and the Super AMOLED display.

The powerful mDNIe chipset, which was designed by Samsung, is the most advanced image processing engine to date, and ensures that dark and bright colors appear the way they do in real life. It also makes use of the Galaxy Note7’s 5.7-inch QHD Super AMOLED display—which exhibits the largest range of colors and brightness among smartphone displays—to vividly and clearly express the colors intended by the content developer.

The chipset also allows the smartphone to seamlessly process streamed HDR content without straining the battery, meaning users can stay immersed in their favorite TV shows and movies for even longer.

All Fun and Games

In February, Samsung set a new industry standard with the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge, which were the first smartphones to support Vulkan, an API that brings more robust and responsive performance and power efficiency to gaming.

Samsung once again incorporated Vulkan into the Galaxy Note7, giving gamers the ability to play high-performance, graphic-intensive games for even longer, and also giving developers an unprecedented tool to create unique gaming experiences.

With the Galaxy Game Pack, available through Google Play, users can access top game titles, an easy redemption process and new user benefits.

Virtual Reality Gets Real

Since the launch of the first Gear VR in 2014, Samsung has continued to innovate in the VR space by offering a robust VR ecosystem with the Gear 360 as well as an enhanced Gear VR headset.

Brought to life by the Samsung Galaxy smartphone, Gear VR provides engaging content, putting users in the center of the action for a more immersive experience. By pairing the Galaxy Note7 with the new Gear VR powered by Oculus, the latest version now supports USB Type-C and micro-USB port connections, giving even more users access to the world of VR.

Furthermore, with improved lenses and ergonomics, the updated headset lets users more comfortably view 360-degree videos and create Gear 360 content. These memories can then be shared with friends via platforms including YouTube 360 and Facebook, and can be relived through the ultra-immersive Gear VR. Together with the Galaxy Note7, the new Gear VR is a gateway to new experiences and great adventures.

Picture-Perfect

The Galaxy Note7 is equipped with the advanced camera that debuted on the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge, allowing users to capture important memories in true-to-life colors. Dual-pixel technology, a wide aperture and fast autofocus work together to capture sharp images, even in low-light conditions, so that users never miss a shareable moment.

While the camera of the Galaxy Note7 boasts the same great specs, it has been updated to provide a more streamlined, intuitive user experience.

For more product information, please visit www.samsung.com/galaxy

*All functionality features, specifications and other product information provided in this document including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability, and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice or obligation.

The Galaxy Studio located within the Olympic Park was specifically designed to help fans embrace the excitement of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and celebrate the Olympic spirit, enabling them to create, capture and share their own experiences. To complement the Samsung Galaxy Studio in the Olympic Park, two additional Galaxy Studios will be stationed in the Olympic Village and Main Press Centre (MPC); as well as several Galaxy Studios throughout local cities in Brazil to help expand the Olympic spirit to a wider audience.

For more information about Samsung’s involvement in the Olympic Games, please visit www.samsungmobilepress.com/Olympics/

Samsung Electronics, Worldwide Olympic Partner in the Wireless Communications Equipment category, hosted the opening ceremony of the Samsung Galaxy Studio in Olympic Park ahead of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (From left) Chief Commercial Officer of the Rio 2016 Committee, Renato Ciuchini; Managing Director of IOC Television & Marketing Services, Timo Lumme; Olympic mascot Vinicius; President of Samsung Electronics Latin America, Jeonghwan Kim; and Vice President of the Mobile Division of Samsung Brazil, Changhoon Yoon.

Timo Lumme, Managing Director of IOC Television & Marketing Services, sit in a 4D motion chair to experience the extreme 4D kayaking VR at the Samsung Galaxy Studio in Olympic Park, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, during its opening ceremony.

Timo Lumme, Managing Director of IOC Television & Marketing Services, experiences the Social Galaxy zone at the Samsung Galaxy Studio in Olympic Park, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, during its opening ceremony.

About Samsung’s Involvement in the Olympic Games

Samsung began its Olympic Games involvement as a local sponsor of the Seoul 1988 Olympic Games. Beginning with the Nagano 1998 Olympic Winter Games, the company extended its commitment to the Olympic Movement as the Worldwide Olympic Partner in the Wireless Communications Equipment category, providing its proprietary wireless communications platform, called Wireless Olympic Works (WOW), and mobile devices. These innovative mobile phone technologies provide the Olympic Family with real-time, user location-based information service, interactive communications, and Samsung Pay. Samsung hosts various Olympic campaigns to share the excitement of the Olympic Games with people around the world and enable everyone to participate in the Games through its innovative mobile technology. Samsung’s commitment as a Worldwide Olympic Partner continues through to Rio 2016, PyeongChang 2018, and Tokyo 2020.

With improved lenses and ergonomics, as well as expanded compatibility with more Samsung smartphones and USB devices, the new and improved Gear VR headset challenges the very concept of virtual reality, redefining the limits of what it’s capable of.

Brought to life by the Samsung Galaxy smartphone, Gear VR provides the ultimate in engaging content, putting users in the center of the action for a more immersive experience. Together with the Galaxy Note7, the device is a gateway to new experiences and great adventures.

A Refined Design

The most evident change of the Gear VR is its new body color, Blue Black. Not only does this new hue enhance the device’s aesthetic, but it also helps to prevent light reflection to provide a more cinematic experience than the previous model. In addition, the device now also features a home key that instantly directs users to Oculus Home, the official landing page of Gear VR.

Expanded Compatibility, Enhanced Connectivity

With two different device holders—USB Type-C and Micro USB—included as inbox items, the new Gear VR is compatible with more Samsung smartphones, including the Galaxy Note7, S7, S7 edge, Note5, S6, S6 edge and S6 edge+.

Furthermore, an external USB port (USB Hub 2.0) has been added to enable connectivity with third-party USB devices, as well as charging during use. With the ability to connect to a wider array of external sensors, motion controllers, 4D experience tools and OTG USB memory, Gear VR offers an experience that is more interactive than ever before.

Optical Lenses That Can See More

The new Gear VR headset is also equipped with larger lenses. With an increased diameter of 42 millimeters, the lenses improve the field of view to 101 degrees to offer a more natural feel.

And, with Samsung’s crystal clear Super AMOLED displays, users can enjoy low persistence images, along with a high 60 frames per second frame rate for less motion blur and juddering. As a result, virtual reality content viewed on the Gear VR is now even more realistic.

Seamless Navigation of More Contents

To enable users to make full use of the new Gear VR, Samsung offers a vaster selection of high quality VR content with intuitive content navigation.

With the Gear VR web browser, users can browse more than 300 VR apps including over a hundred games, along with a variety of videos, educational apps and immersive experiences. The Samsung Picks section offers a list of 15 recommended apps for those looking to try something new.

The browser is easy to use, and the immersive graphic user interface creates a seamless environment so users can enjoy their favorite 2D and 3D contents.

Forward looking and backward compatible, the new Gear VR is capable of breaking down the barriers of what today’s virtual reality technology can do, and what tomorrow’s can offer.

For more product information, please visit www.samsung.com/galaxy

*All functionality features, specifications and other product information provided in this document including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability, and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice or obligation.

A child in Chile experiences riding a boat through ancient Egypt, using the Gear VR

As part of its dedication to global citizenship activities and giving back to local communities, Samsung has been using the immersive Gear VR to bring exciting and unique experiences to many groups around the world.

With virtual reality, people can plunge into experiences that they ordinarily would not have access to, helping them to expand their horizons. By seeing and interacting with new VR landscapes, they can learn, have fun and engage with others.

Three recent programs demonstrated the power of the Gear VR – teaching children about ballet in Australia, helping the elderly celebrate Christmas in July in Australia, and presenting the exotic world of ancient Egypt to visitors to the Centro Cultural Palacio La Moneda (CCPLM) in Chile.

Dancing into Children’s Hearts

At Weave Youth and Community Services in Australia, young people there recently experienced a special four-day program to learn about ballet and even learn some moves, gaining inspiration through dance. The children got to try out movement workshops and experience ballet for themselves.

Students in Australia use the Gear VR to experience ballet

As part of the event, Samsung employees shared VR dance content with the students. For many of them, it was their first experience with the ballet. The students were encouraged to try out some of the dance moves they had seen and even create their own dance routines. The four-day event finished with a performance by the children for their friends, family and the community.

Celebrating Christmas in July

At Greenwood Cottage, a retirement facility and respite center, Samsung employees spent the day with residents of the center, many of whom have limited opportunities for social interaction and are living with cognitive decline and dementia.

At Greenwood Cottage, a respite center, residents celebrate Christmas in July

The theme for the day was “Christmas in July,” and the party events included a Christmas meal, presents, arts and crafts, a Christmas carol sing-a-long and a visit from Santa Claus.

In addition, the Greenwood residents were treated to a VR experience. They were able to enjoy waving at elephants, skiing and even meeting a dinosaur, all from the comfort of their day center.

The Gear VR lets the residents of Greenwood Cottage get out and experience the world, such as seeing elephants and skiing

“We work with them every day, so we can see how much this has meant to them,” said one member of the Greenwood Cottage staff. “I can see how much fun they had. It was very special.”

Ancient Egypt Comes to Chile

Imagine living in ancient Egypt, drifting along the Nile River, the pyramids towering in the distance. Thanks to a citizenship initiative by Samsung Electronics Chile, visitors to the Centro Cultural Palacio La Moneda (CCPLM) have been able to see for themselves what that ancient world was like, using the immersive power of the Gear VR.

Visitors to the CCPLM in Chile rave about the fun of riding a boat through ancient Egypt

Visitors to the Interactive Zone can virtually navigate the ancient Nile and experience it using digital animation, developed under the close supervision of curators and exports from the CCPLM.

The 3D virtual boat ride has become one of the most popular exhibitions, with long lines of people eager to experience life in Egypt. The guest book is full of praise, like “awesome,” “amazing” and “fun.”

At the opening ceremony, Chilean Minister of Culture Ernesto Ottone said that “any technology that can help bring people closer to culture is a significant contribution, particularly in younger generations who have such a visual approach.”

With the curators and experts of the CCPLM, an authentic look at real life in ancient Egypt has been a big hit with visitors

Due to the success of the initiative, Samsung Electronics Chile is already working on extending these efforts to other cultural areas, as well as preparing the contents for the next exhibit coming to CCPLM in September: Imperial China.

One of the most popular exhibits at the CCPLM in Chile is the Gear VR Interactive Zone

A sample of the ancient Egypt simulator from CCPLM in Chile #1

A sample of the ancient Egypt simulator from CCPLM in Chile #2

NBC Olympics announced today that it will provide Virtual Reality (VR) coverage of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games exclusively to authenticated users of compatible Samsung Galaxy smartphones together with Samsung Gear VR via the NBC Sports app, marking the first time Olympics programming will be available in VR.

The 85 hours of VR programming, which will be captured by Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) and supplied to NBC Olympics, will include the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, men’s basketball — including the semifinals and final — gymnastics, track and field, beach volleyball, diving, boxing, and fencing, as well as highlight packages of those sports.

All VR programming will be presented on delay, from August 6, the day after the Opening Ceremony, through August 22, the day after the Games conclude. Only Samsung Galaxy smartphones compatible with Gear VR will be able to access the VR content section of the NBC Sports app. Samsung customers can view the VR content via TV Everywhere on the NBC Sports app after authenticating through their pay TV provider.

“The world’s greatest sporting event is always a showcase for cutting edge technology, and we’re thrilled to partner with Samsung and OBS to bring our viewers even closer to compelling Olympic action with virtual reality,” said Gary Zenkel, President, NBC Olympics. “Olympic fans can be transported to iconic venues such as Maracana Stadium for an unprecedented view of the Opening Ceremony, and Copacabana Beach for an immersive beach volleyball experience in the sport’s ultimate setting.”

“Fans of the Olympics will now get to experience the world’s best athletes as they compete in some of the most popular events of Rio 2016 in a whole new way: through virtual reality,” said Marc Mathieu, Chief Marketing Officer at Samsung Electronics America. “We are thrilled to work with NBC and OBS on this first-of-its-kind endeavor, connecting fans right to the action in Rio, powered by 360-degree storytelling, virtual reality and our Galaxy phones.”

“VR technology carries incredible potential for the sport broadcast industry, offering a truly immersive user experience. Our first test in Lillehammer, together with Samsung, for the Winter Youth Olympic Games was highly successful and we look forward to further exploring this exciting technology with NBC in Rio,” said Yiannis Exarchos, OBS CEO. “VR has the power to enable hundreds of millions of people around the world to have a real sense of presence and participation in the most universal celebration of humanity, which is the Olympic Games.”

Virtual Reality immerses the viewer into an environment, whether real or imagined, creating either a lifelike experience at a place in the real world or putting a viewer into simulated environments such as in a VR game. Samsung’s Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 edge, Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 edge, Galaxy S6 edge+ and Galaxy Note5 phones, when paired with the Samsung Gear VR headset, provide an untethered, fully-immersive experience with 360-degree content for a mobile VR experience that enables people to enjoy an ever-growing library of premium and entertaining games, apps, photos and videos wherever they are.

Samsung is the Official Smartphone Partner of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

The Opening Ceremony of the 2016 Rio Olympics is Friday, August 5, on NBC.

About NBC Olympics
A division of NBC Sports Group, NBC Olympics is responsible for producing, programming and promoting NBCUniversal’s Olympic Games coverage. It is renowned for its unsurpassed Olympic heritage, award-winning production, and ability to aggregate the largest audiences in U.S. television history. The London 2012 Olympic Games were   watched by 217 million Americans across the networks of NBCUniversal, making it the most-watched event in U.S. television history.

About Samsung’s Involvement in the Olympic Games
Samsung began its Olympic Games involvement as a local sponsor of the Seoul 1988 Olympic Games. Beginning with the Nagano 1998 Olympic Winter Games, the company extended its commitment to the Olympic Movement as the Worldwide Olympic Partner in the Wireless Communications Equipment category, providing its proprietary wireless communications platform, called Wireless Olympic Works (WOW), and mobile devices. These innovative mobile phone technologies provide the Olympic Family with real-time, user location-based information service, interactive communications, and Samsung Pay. Samsung hosts various Olympic campaigns to share the excitement of the Olympic Games with people around the world and enable everyone to participate in the Games through its innovative mobile technology. Samsung’s commitment as a Worldwide Olympic Partner continues through to Rio 2016, PyeongChang 2018, and Tokyo 2020.

Source: Samsung Newsroom US

From left: Marc Mathieu, Chris Brewin, Jake Silverstein, Chris Milk

As the world’s largest gathering of creative, marketing and advertising professionals, Cannes Lions is not only an occasion to celebrate successful campaigns but also to discuss and debate hot topics, new ideas and emerging trends in the industry.

This year was no different, with virtual reality (VR) being a key theme of the event’s sessions, presentations and experiences.

Samsung was a major participant in the discussion, hosting a seminar held under the theme “VR Changes the View” on June 22.  The seminar aimed to illustrate how VR and 360-degree video will reimagine the ways we express creativity, engage culture and experience compassion.

Samsung Electronics America Chief Marketing Officer Marc Mathieu moderated the seminar, which was attended by some 500 participants. Noting that VR is “the biggest thing since the creation of cinema,” Mathieu introduced some of Samsung’s current VR projects, including a 4D theater in Rio that brings Olympics fans up close and personal with their favorite athletes.

“It used to be that seeing was believing,” Mathieu stated. “But now it’s about the experience. Now, experiencing is believing.”

He then called upon industry leaders to discuss and demonstrate the power and potential of the emerging media in improving healthcare, transforming journalism and reshaping storytelling. Among them included Dr. Chris Brewin, Professor of Clinical Psychology at University College London, Jake Silverstein, Editor in Chief of The New York Times Magazine, and Chris Milk, Founder and CEO of Within and Founder and Creative Director of Vrse.works.

Virtual Reality Therapy

Dr. Chris Brewin was the first to share his insights, discussing some of the studies he and his team have partaken in to determine the effects of VR on depression, including those involving Avatar Embodiment.

This method, which has emerged from neuroscience and computer science, allows viewers to self-identify with an avatar by experiencing the world from the avatar’s perspective via a VR headset.

Embodiment has already been shown to produce changes in attitudes that reflect the virtual body being used. Brewin believes this virtual reality-powered technique could potentially enhance Compassion Focused Therapy, a technique in which patients imagine interactions with compassionate people who provide protection, reassurance or soothing.

“What we are seeing here is one of the first generations of mental health intervention that is going to use the unique opportunity of virtual reality,” Brewin stated.

The professor explained that preliminary experiments have been effective in boosting feelings of self-compassion and improving levels of depression by one-third. Although results are not conclusive, Brewin said that VR seems to be the most likely explanation, adding, “In our future work, we want to translate this initial proof of concept into a proper therapy.”

A Fresh Perspective

In addition to helping people regulate negative internal emotions, VR is also creating a sense of presence in journalism to transform people’s perspectives about the world around them.

Jake Silverstein explained how by showcasing the various ways The New York Times Magazine is implementing virtual reality.

The company’s first venture into the new medium was NYT VR, an app that puts readers at the center of the magazine’s biggest stories through immersive 360-degree video experiences. At the app’s launch, the publication distributed cardboard VR viewers to all one million of its home delivery subscribers to debut its first film, creating a “mainstream moment” for virtual reality.

Through its efforts, the company was able to generate in its readers a sense of presence, an industry term that refers to the sensation of being in a scene depicted by a medium such as VR. This presence, Silverstein believes, will allow people to more deeply understand the people, places and experiences in their lives.

Other examples of the ways the magazine is enabling its readers to experience presence include films that transport them to American presidential campaigns, to the top of the World Trade Center in New York and even to the icy surface of Pluto.

“VR is a brand new medium,” Silverstein said. “And the opportunity to forge a new part of the language is there for every person, every brand and every creator who picks up a camera.”

The Changing Language of Storytelling

Finally, Chris Milk, one of the leading lights in the field of virtual reality storytelling, discussed the progression from thinking away from a screen and stepping into a story.

“Storytelling in virtual reality is about putting people within a story. To make all of you the hero of these stories,” Milk explained. “No longer are we looking at external worlds and realities through rectangles on walls.”

Milk and his team are building the technology and content that are making VR accessible to the masses. In doing so, they are subsequently rewriting the rules of entertainment, all the while reshaping the ways in which we connect and communicate.

“VR will be the democratization of human experience much in the same way that the Internet led the democratization of information,” Milk noted in his presentation.

In the meantime, he says, the companies are focusing on working with some of the most talented creators across all industries to help shape how VR can be “the next gold standard for storytelling.”

The entire seminar audience simultaneously experiences virtual reality—a first at the Cannes Lions festival.

Throughout human history, advances in technology have led to advances in storytelling. Drawings on caves led to paintings, which led to photography, which led to moving images on the silver screen. With each new form, stories became richer and more engaging, but they never became immersive—at least until now.

To date, visual storytelling has been bound—by walls, and frames, and bezels of screens. But today, for the first time, narrative is breaking free of the box, and storytellers can practice their craft on an infinite canvas. In this way, virtual reality is not an evolution; it is a revolution. It’s 360 degrees of storytelling, and the next great medium.

For our part, Samsung has designed, developed, and deployed the technology at the center of this new medium. From cameras to headsets, to platforms for sharing and viewing content, Samsung’s devices and services have brought VR experiences to life.

Of course, technology alone cannot power a medium. Content—irresistible and immersive stories—will always be the driving force. Pioneering filmmakers are already leading the way, but their work represents only the beginning of the new era of visual storytelling. For VR to flourish, we need an ecosystem in which content is easily created, accessed, and shared.

That is why we are launching Samsung Creators—a program committed to supercharging the next generation of VR content creators through a series of partnerships, events, competitions and more.

Creators—and their stories—have the unique power of making VR of interest to a wider audience; and inspiring the hobbyists, the backyard filmmakers, or even the people who are just a little bit curious to put on a headset or take Gear 360 for a spin, so they can live amazing stories, or create their own.

Through Samsung Creators, we’ll be empowering some of the biggest names in film, tech, culture, and sports, equipping them with the very best VR technology, and letting their imaginations run wild. These Creators will take their own, one-of-a-kind experiences, and open them up to the audiences everywhere.

We are also supporting up-and-coming VR directors and cinematographers who want to not just tell stories, but transport people to the center of new worlds. We’re hosting workshops to give filmmakers the opportunity to learn about Samsung’s VR technology, and competitions to highlight their best work. We’re building a VR infrastructure, so any filmmaker can share their vision with the world.

The future of VR depends on this democratization. VR needs content and it needs creators. Not a few, but a lot—a critical mass. In short, VR needs you.

So, join us on this journey. Get your hands on a Gear 360. Create something awesome. Check out the Samsung Creators website. Enter a competition to for a chance to become an awarded VR storyteller. Go to an educational seminar. Create the stories, experiences, and worlds that we’ve yet to see—worlds that are limited not by boxes, screens, or frames, but only by the reach of our vision.

Source: Samsung Newsroom US

Today Samsung Electronics America launched Samsung Creators, a new initiative that empowers storytellers, partnering with them to generate content across a variety of audiences and channels to show everyday creators what’s possible with Samsung VR technology.

“We want to bring the power of VR technology directly to the people,” said Samsung Electronics America’s Chief Marketing Officer Marc Mathieu. “To help creators learn and perfect the art of VR storytelling, we’ve built an entire VR ecosystem that pushes beyond the frame and empowers them to develop unforgettable, immersive stories, and inspires us all to do the same.”

At VidCon—and, beyond—Samsung Creators will provide seminars and classes, putting VR capabilities in the hands of filmmakers and influencers, further accelerating this new medium. Leading into VidCon, Samsung Creators is working with Casey Neistat to spotlight emerging creators from YouTube and push the creative boundaries of 360 video storytelling. This special curation of content will premiere at VidCon.

In July, Samsung Creators will launch a competition, challenging aspiring, indie filmmakers and creators to develop VR / 360 content, using Samsung’s VR products.  Ten winners will be chosen, one from each of the following ten categories:  Music, Auto, Science and tech, Gaming, Travel, Fashion, Culinary, Cause-related, 4D and Sports.

For more information about Samsung Creators, please visit www.samsungcreators.com

Samsung VR and Samsung Gear 360 Updates

In addition, today Samsung launched Samsung VR– formerly known as Samsung Milk VR – which now supports user generated content. Creators can load their own 360-degree videos to the Samsung VR platform for sharing and for the first time view them in Samsung Gear VR. For more information about uploading content to Samsung VR, please visit https://samsungvr.com

Samsung Gear 360 also launched in the U.S. today, an affordable, high-resolution camera developed for storytellers to create their own 360-degree videos for mobile viewing and VR content for Samsung Gear VR, powered by Oculus. The Gear 360 is priced at $349.99 in the United States and will be available for purchase on a limited basis during VidCon in Anaheim, California. Details about additional availability will follow later in the year. For more information about Gear 360, please visit www.samsung.com/gear360.

With these announcements, Samsung delivers the first end-to-end VR ecosystem that enables creators to shoot, stitch and share like never before.

Samsung Electronics invites game enthusiasts from around the world to enjoy an immersive on-site gaming experience at E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo), one of the largest game events in the world.

Samsung will demo the company’s latest technologies to provide off-the-charts experiences for thrill-seeking gamers. The technology on display includes:

• Vulkan API Game Experience –try the Galaxy S7 equipped with the Vulkan API that enables game developers to deliver amazing graphics and a high-quality gaming experience. Get the chance to play the first games leveraging the technology, Need for Speed No Limits, HIT and Vainglory.
• Gear VR Skateboarding– through a Gear VR headset, users will experience what it’s like to take a leap of faith on a 4D skateboard experience.
• Intuitive Tools– the Galaxy S7 comes with a game pack valued around $200 to kick-start your mobile gaming adventure. The Samsung Game Launcher and Game Tools let you control everything that can record gameplay, prevent from hitting and conserve battery.

“At Samsung, we always aim to provide new, diverse and fun ways for people to enjoy our technologies,” said Younghee Lee, Executive Vice President of Global Marketing, Mobile Communications Business at Samsung Electronics. “We’re excited to couple one of the most cutting-edge graphics technology with the most advanced Samsung devices to bring a better gaming experience to gamers around the world.”

The Samsung booth will be open from June 14 – 16, and will also include a look at celebrated musician Lil Wayne’s new Sqvad Up mobile skateboarding game, along with an appearance and opportunity to meet the four-time Grammy Award winning rapper. During his time at their booth, Lil Wayne will also unveil a VR experience inspired by Sqvad Up 360, which was shot using Samsung’s Gear 360 camera.

Virtual reality (VR) is more than just watching content—it’s about experiencing media in an entirely new way. It can take you places you’ve never been. Show you things you’ve never seen. Open your mind to realities you have only dreamed of.

Pickup, a France-based entertainment company that produces and distributes VR content, hopes to illustrate this point through the Samsung Gear VR at its recently opened PickupVRcinema, the first movie theater offering VR screenings in Paris, France.

PickupVRcinema aims to make VR a truly collective experience by bringing together more than 30 people at a time who simultaneously immerse themselves in the world of virtual reality.

During a typical VR screening at PickupVRcinema, the rush of emotion is tangible. The screams of couples, the laughter of families and the general excitement of the audience are just a few indicators of the uniqueness of the experience.

For their efforts to make VR a reality, Pickup was selected by this year’s Cannes Film Festival committee to manage the VR screening room of the festival’s Marché du Film. Discover VR firsthand at pickupVRcinema, located in the center of Paris, at 113 rue de Turenne.

360-degree videos are all the rage on social media, which means that peoples are now welcoming the arrival of an exciting range of 360-degree cameras. One of them is Samsung Gear 360, whose unique, spherical design has won much positive feedback from the market. However, as four of the device’s software engineers explain, the Gear 360 is more than just a pretty face – practical and fun, it is built to perform.

From left to right: Principal Engineers Taewon Eom and Seungkyoon Shin, Senior Engineer Hyunock Yim and Principal Engineer Jinpyo Gwak

Easy to Use and Distinctive

More than just a new technology, the Gear 360 is offering people a new way to create and share their memories, in a format that’s more immersive than ever. “When I let my friends watch a 360-degree video with the Gear VR, they all looked excited and amazed,” says Principal Engineer Taewon Eom. “The widespread use of 360-degree cameras like the Gear 360 will give more people a much more vivid and expanded viewing experience.”

While the popularity of 360-degree videos is rapidly growing, existing equipment has usually been designed for professionals, making it too elaborate for many people. Often those videos required multiple cameras and tools to shoot and edit. But the Gear 360 is an easy-to-use, all-in-one device that lets everyone make photos and videos in this exciting format.

“The editing process [for existing equipment] is also complicated for ordinary people,” notes Principle Engineer Jinpyo Gwak. “However, with the Gear 360, users can shoot and edit UHD-grade videos using a single device. Also users can use amusing camera features such as Time-lapse and Looping Video for special occasions.”

Shin adds that, in addition to creating 360-degree content, the Gear 360 also makes it easier than ever for people to share. “Anyone who uses a 360-degree camera will find it attractive,” he says. “The more active the 360-degree content sharing platform is, the more people will want to create their own content.”

Stitching Together a New Viewing Experience

The engineers say that one of their main focuses during the software development process was properly implementing the Gear 360’s two lenses. Each one captures a 195-degree field, and to make a complete 360-degree image or video, the team needed to find a way to stitch together the fields in a smooth and natural manner.

Gwak says the team considered both quality and speed while developing the stitching feature. He notes, “Obviously, the more time you can spend stitching, the better the video quality becomes. What we needed to do was find an optimal way to reduce stitching time so that users could use the stitching function with ease.”

“Since a 360-degree video includes subjects shot at both short and long distances, all such subjects need to be stitched together. We developed an algorithm that quickly detects and connects subjects that need to be stitched together on the same line,” he added.

After performing a number of tests, the team created a database for natural stitching. Gwak says, “We took photos of the same subject from different distances. If we came across anything that looked strange in any given situation, we modified the subject and took a whole batch of photos again. In the past, I mostly took photos while developing new camera devices. However, while developing the Gear 360, I was the photographer as well as the subject. It was a new and very different experience for me!”

Software Made-Easy for 360 Video Creation

In order to enable people to get the full benefits of the Gear 360 as simply as possible, the software team created two software programs: the Gear 360 Manager app for smartphone and Gear 360 ActionDirector for PC.

Senior Engineer Hyunock Yim says that for existing devices, editing 360-degree videos required the use of several tools. “The Gear 360 is the only such device that enables users to shoot with a real-time view, stitch and trim their videos on their smartphones, and to edit what they recorded on PCs using a single tool,” Yim explains.

They had to decide whether to only make a viewer function for smartphones and PCs, or if they also wanted to add editing functions at the beginning. Eom says, “After we decided which features to add, we made sure that the Gear 360 Manager app was compatible with Galaxy smartphones, including the Galaxy S7, Galaxy S6 and Galaxy Note5, in terms of reliability. We needed to ensure that the Gear 360 Manager app worked in harmony with a range of smartphone apps such as Gallery, Camera and Samsung Gear, both in terms of look and feel.”

While developing the Gear 360 ActionDirector, adopting the concept of 360-degree video for the PC also provided a unique challenge. “Because the Gear 360’s videos are not flat, we had to choose a viewing mode whereby users could watch the videos they had made,” says Yim. “We decided to adopt a spherical viewing mode so that users could enjoy videos in 360 degrees – from up, down, right and left.”

For people who want to document their memories in new, creative ways, the Samsung Gear 360 offers numerous fun and practical usability options. This video shows how one couple seamlessly connected the Gear 360 to a wide range of camera accessories on their camping trip to capture precious times together in wide, detailed panoramas.

With its universal tripod hole, the Gear 360 can be attached various third-party accessories, such as selfie sticks, drones and helmet mounts, depending on users’ needs. And the fun does not stop there. You can take the Gear 360 for a spin on a car or a bicycle using a camera dock, and attach the device to guitars or other instruments with a clamp.

The Gear 360 transforms the way people share and save valuable moments – and allows people the ability to delve straight back into the action. Check out this 360 video, compatible not only with the Gear VR, but also PCs and smartphones. Watch how this couple used the Gear 360 on a camping trip to create footage they will never forget!

*For optimal viewing, use the YouTube application to watch 360˚ videos on your mobile device.

Samsung Electronics, Worldwide Olympic Partner in the Wireless Communications Equipment category, today launched “Vanuatu Dreams,” a 360-degree virtual reality (VR) film that allows viewers to experience Olympic Games beach volleyball like never before using Samsung Galaxy smartphones and Samsung Gear VR, powered by Oculus. “Vanuatu Dreams,” a 360-degree pieces of VR content developed for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, is now available online and in VR via the Samsung Milk VR app, the company’s premium virtual reality content service.

Academy Award-winning filmmaker Morgan Neville served as creative consultant for “Vanuatu Dreams,” which complements Samsung’s recently released documentary short, “A Fighting Chance.” This documentary short was created in partnership with Neville, which gives an unseen perspective into the lives of four Olympic Games hopefuls from around the world as they defy barriers and persevere through challenges to achieve their dreams of competing at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

The film focuses on the training and preparation of two of the four athletes featured in “A Fighting Chance,” beach volleyball pair Miller Pata and Linline Matauatu from Vanuatu. The three-minute piece of content takes viewers on an immersive experience through the volleyball duo’s quest to qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Filming took place live on location in Miller and Linline’s home country, and involved some of the most extensive use of close-up 360-degree slow motion in virtual reality history.

As part of a meticulous and specialized filming strategy, the camera was positioned 10-12 inches from the athletes without interfering with their movement. This allows viewers to feel nearly as close to the action as they would in person; they will be able to study Miller and Linline’s faces and see the sand kick up when they dive for the ball.

Samsung Galaxy users can stream or download “Vanuatu Dreams” for free on the Samsung Milk VR app (US only). Samsung Gear VR is compatible with Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 edge, Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy S6 edge+, Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge.

For more information and to view the piece online, please visit www.SamsungMobilePress.com/AFightingChance.

Designed in a theme park style, the Adventure Park will be full of Samsung’s latest mobile innovations providing breath-taking experiences for fun-seeking concert goers. The interactive technology available to try includes:

• Gear 360 Sky Diving Selfie – the opportunity to take a mind blowing and unforgettable 360 degree selfie with friends experiencing virtual sky diving
• Gear VR Volcano Bungee –through a Samsung Gear VR headset, users will experience what it’s like to take a leap of faith and bungee jump over a smouldering volcano, not for the faint hearted
• Gear VR Roller Coasters – a nail-biting ride on a rollercoaster simulator using the Samsung Gear VR

This attraction is open for 5 days on the 19^th – 20^th May and the 27^th – 29^th May. The Galaxy Adventure Park also includes a Samsung mobile store, the opportunity to win latest Samsung mobile device in a lucky draw, along with complimentary pods of smartphone chargers and battery packs across the space.

About Rock in Rio
Rock in Rio is now one of the most significant festivals on the planet. Born in Rio de Janeiro, it not only conquered Brazil, but also Portugal, Spain and the USA, always with the intention of bringing all styles of music to a variety of audiences. Much more than a musical event, it became complete and comprehensive in addressing issues such as sustainability and environmental responsibility. It also undertook the commitment to make people aware that, with small actions in everyday life, they can make the world a better place. To mark Rock in Rio’s 30th year, the Lisbon event will include performances from world famous bands and musicians including Queen, Bruce Springsteen and Maroon 5.

Following record pre-orders in Europe for the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge, Samsung Electronics Europe today announced an exclusive Gear VR content package for new Galaxy S7 customers.

For a limited period only*, new Galaxy S7 and S7 edge customers in Europe will be able to purchase the Samsung Gear VR, powered by Oculus, at a special price and get free access to exclusive premium games and experiences, available from the Oculus Store. The bundle includes some of the Oculus Store’s most popular paid-for content, such as Anshar Wars 2, Darknet, Drift, Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes, Ocean Rift and Starchart.

This new reward, in partnership with Oculus, the pioneering virtual reality firm that helps to power the Gear VR, comes as the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge continue to perform strongly across Europe. This strong Galaxy S7 performance has also driven an upsurge of adoption in the mobile VR market in Europe. According to CCS Insight**, the Western European VR market is expected to grow 168% year-on-year in 2016. Samsung has already sold over 300,000 Gear VR headsets in Europe this year, a significant figure given that CCS Insight** estimates that the total number of VR devices sold in Europe last year was 1.8mn.

David Lowes, Chief Marketing Officer, Samsung Electronics Europe, commented: “Our Galaxy S7 and S7 edge are performing extremely well, demonstrating continued strong demand for our premium flagship devices. The smartphone is already so fundamental to our lives but connecting it with a product like the Gear VR opens up incredible new experiences that are often as emotional as they are immersive. With this new incentive, we’re encouraging broader VR adoption so that more people can experience this amazing new technology for themselves.”

“At Oculus, we want people to experience anything, anywhere through the power of virtual reality and we’re starting to see that happen with Gear VR,” said Max Cohen, Head of Mobile at Oculus. “We recently announced that one million people used Gear VR in April – this is an important milestone, which speaks to the great experience that Samsung and Oculus can deliver. Together, the hardware and software provides the absolute best VR experience on mobile available today and we’re looking forward to continuing to excite and engage European consumers.”

2016: Analysts Predict a Year of VR Growth  

Industry analyst house CCS Insight forecasts that revenues for VR headsets globally will reach $10bn by 2020, with Western Europe accounting for $3bn. 4.7mn headsets are expected to be shipped in Western Europe in 2016, with value-priced smartphone VR headsets such as the Gear VR expected to account for 90% of the volume.

Ben Wood, Chief of Research at CCS Insight, noted: “We are at the beginning of an exciting journey with VR. We believe consumers will be keen to experience the wealth of professionally curated 360-degree content that will emerge in 2016. Furthermore, the growth in self-created content generated by the growing number of 360-degree cameras and shared via Facebook and YouTube will only serve to take awareness levels to new heights as the year progresses.”

* The Galaxy S7/ Gear VR content reward is available via Samsung’s online store and selected carrier and retail partners. The time period of the reward may vary according to local market and/ or carrier and retail partner.

** CCS Insight, Market Forecast, Augmented and Virtual Reality Worldwide, 2016-2020, February 2016).

VR Tunnel at Samsung 837

The cynics sometimes look at VR as a gimmick or parlor trick. That’s often the first reaction to a novel technology.

In VR’s case, however, they underestimate one of the most important and significant technological advances in a generation. In no uncertain terms, virtual reality is going to change everything—the way people experience and interact with content. It makes the impossible possible by bringing users to places they otherwise would have never gone to, or by enabling people to better understand and connect with others in an empathic way they may never have imagined. VR is ushering in a generation of immersive storytelling and will revolutionize the way that we think about business, communication and entertainment.

And we’re just at the beginning of this new frontier.

To date, the easiest place to see VR’s mark is in entertainment. Filmmakers are telling more engaging stories than they ever have before. Content is no longer limited to being presentational—it’s immersive—and we’re working with some of the biggest brands, and most creative storytellers, to bring these new worlds directly to our customers.

We joined forces with the NBA to put audiences courtside—or even better, on the court, to experience what it’s like to be a pro-athlete; produced the first ever short form VR comedy sketch with Funny or Die; partnered with the Sundance Institute, to produce new, interactive stories and experiences; teamed up with Wevr and Skybound Entertainment to premier GONE, an original thriller series; and broken new ground in entertainment and the arts with VICELAND.

VR is revolutionizing content, and filmmaking by changing the way we experience stories—but it’s also going beyond entertainment, and challenging us to rethink entire businesses and enterprises.

At Samsung, our VR technology is utilized to develop training simulators for surgeons and pilots. Marriott is using Samsung VR technology to provide custom, premium VR experiences for their most valued guests. Matterport users in the real estate industry utilize the Gear VR platform to provide virtual reality home tours to their clients. And governments are developing software that works with our VR headsets giving greater situational awareness to remotely piloted aircraft operators.

From entertainment, to business, to everything in between—VR is one of the rare technologies that will radically transform nearly every part of our lives. And that’s the most exciting thing about VR—not what we’ve accomplished so far, but what we’re going to accomplish in the future. For all the innovations and breakthroughs, this is still a nascent technology, and a young platform. We’ve barely scratched the surface of what VR is capable of, and which industries, fields it can disrupt.

The technology industry has recognized VR’s enormous potential. The latest estimates from global market research firm TrendForce show the virtual reality market skyrocketing from under $7 billion today to $70 billion in 2020. In the next ten years, it’s estimated that there will be 135 million VR headsets in America alone.* That’s one for every 3 people!

But, there’s a catch— the hardware can’t do it alone. VR is more than just a product, it’s a platform whose hardware, software and content will be just as critical to its success as the experiences that are produced because of it. The reason so many analysts have such high hopes for VR has less to do with the internal circuitry of the headsets and cameras, and more to do with the stories we can tell, the experiences we can share, and the marketplaces we can transform with them. Simply put, the success of VR hardware is inextricably linked to the content and services that power it and the partnerships that are formed as a result of it.

It’s akin to the smartphone market in the mid-2000s. The devices only caught fire when the app ecosystem began to thrive. It was only when the broader developer and content creator communities recognized the potential that the platform offered, that the hardware came to life. Now, just ten years later, we all have a smartphone in our pocket; and we think about them as more than pieces of hardware—but as portals to entertainment, connectivity, and commerce.

We expect the same trajectory for VR. That’s why Samsung is partnering with the best and brightest to build momentum for the medium, and push the limits of the technology.

To keep up the pace of progress, we need developers. VR is a new arena, and that requires an entirely new ecosystem that we have to continue to build, together. It’s not as simple as changing a few lines of code on an app, or changing a setting on a video—we need to empower our partners to create new content and services that are built specifically for the VR platform.

VR Evangelist Dustin Wish helps attendees on Day 0 of the Samsung Developer Conference in San Francisco’s Moscone Center during the Gear VR: Developing Apps for the Virtual World workshop.

And at the 2016 Samsung Developer conference, that’s exactly what we did with VR-focused educational sessions that enabled people who built the technology to connect with those that are writing its future. VR is at the tipping point. Together we can push it over the edge. And when we do, entertainment, business—our entire world—will never be the same again.

*http://www.fastcompany.com/3058836/vr-gaining-steam-but-not-mainstream-yet-report-finds

Source: Samsung Newsroom US

Football is one of the biggest passions of the Portuguese people. This rings true for people residing in Portugal, but even more so for the ones who live and work abroad, as the sport allows them to remain connected to their beloved country.

The Football Portuguese Federation (FPF) and Samsung Portugal decided to bring them even closer by taking four Portuguese nationals into the pitch during a friendly match of the Portugal national team on March 25, ahead of the UEFA European Football Championship 2016.

All four participants were able to be in the stadium, despite their conflicting work schedules or geographic locations. In fact, some of them were very far from Leiria, where the match took place. One was even in Paris, almost 1,700 kilometres away from all the action.

Samsung Gear VR enabled this entirely new experience, paying great attention to the smallest of details.

The minute the Portuguese players entered the pitch, all four participants also stepped out onto the grass, getting a better view of the action than any of the football fans at the stadium. Samsung broadcast this moment live, breaking the barriers of time and distance.

The most touching moment came when the participants, along with Cristiano Ronaldo and the other stars of the National Team, sang “A Portuguesa,” the Portuguese National Anthem, side by side.

As official sponsor of the Portuguese Football Federation, Samsung powered this special event, proving that “impossible” is not an option when technology is involved. In doing so, the FPF and Samsung were able to bring 11 million Portuguese people closer to the 11 players that will defend the nation’s colors during the UEFA Euro 2016 in France in June.

Dedicated foodies crowded into Samsung 837 in New York City on April 6 to learn about food from star chef Daniel Boulud.

Lucky foodies in New York City enjoyed a uniquely immersive dining experience on Wednesday, as Samsung Electronics brought renowned chef Daniel Boulud to the Samsung 837 venue for a fun and engaging cooking demonstration—in virtual and actual reality.

After an introduction by popular emcee Billy Harris, guests experienced an engrossing presentation by Boulud about all the elements of a culinary journey, from inspiration to preparing the food in his kitchen to the table, using the Samsung Gear VR headsets.

People experienced Daniel Boulud’s culinary journey, using the immersive Gear VR.

Boulud—who is one of the culinary visionaries in Samsung’s Club des Chefs—presented a rich food story, made even more riveting and enveloping because of the Gear VR headsets.

Samsung started Club des Chefs in 2013, bringing together renowned chefs from around the world to better understand what is needed for great cooking and to create the Chef Collection line of leading kitchen appliances.

Following the VR video, Boulud appeared before the audience in person, to lead a demonstration on how to prepare Boulud’s special interpretation of the classic croque-monsieur, with black truffle—all the while using the Samsung Chef Collection range of appliances.

Daniel Boulud talking about the finer points of preparing a great croque-monsieur.

Of course, nothing is as immersive as the actual eating, and guests all got to enjoy a delicious sampling of foie gras and chicken mosaic, long island fluke, lobster “en Gelée” and white asparagus—and, of course, croque-monsieur.

Chef Daniel Boulud talking to a rapt audience at Samsung 837 in New York City.

Samsung 837, located in the heart of New York’s Meatpacking District, is Samsung’s new flagship experience center. It is a fully immersive cultural destination that features programming designed to tap into people’s passions, including art, music, entertainment, sports, wellness, culinary, technology and fashion, all powered and enriched by technology.

Chef Daniel Boulud demonstrating how to prepare a croque-monsieur at Samsung 837 in New York City on Wednesday evening.