“Beginning with this early production of the industry’s first 16Gb GDDR6, we will offer a comprehensive graphics DRAM line-up, with the highest performance and densities, in a very timely manner,” said Jinman Han, senior vice president, Memory Product Planning & Application Engineering at Samsung Electronics. “By introducing next-generation GDDR6 products, we will strengthen our presence in the gaming and graphics card markets and accommodate the growing need for advanced graphics memory in automotive and network systems.

Built on Samsung’s advanced 10-nanomter (nm) class* process technology, the new GDDR6 memory comes in a 16Gb density, which doubles that of the company’s 20-nanometer 8Gb GDDR5 memory. The new solution performs at an 18-gigabits-per-second (Gbps) pin speed with data transfers of 72 gigabytes per second (GBps), which represents a more than two-fold increase over 8Gb GDDR5 with its 8Gbps pin speed.

Using an innovative, low-power circuit design, the new GDDR6 operates at 1.35V to lower energy consumption approximately 35 percent over the widely used GDDR5 at 1.55V. The 10nm-class 16Gb GDDR6 also brings about a 30 percent manufacturing productivity gain compared to the 20nm 8Gb GDDR5.

Samsung’s immediate production of GDDR6 will play a critical role in early launches of next-generation graphics cards and systems. With all of its improvements in density, performance and energy efficiency, the 16Gb GDDR6 will be widely used in rapidly growing fields such as 8K Ultra HD video processing, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence.

With extensive graphics memory lineups including the new 18Gbps 16Gb GDDR6 and recently introduced 2.4Gbps 8GB HBM2, Samsung expects to dramatically accelerate growth of premium memory market over the next several years.

* Editor’s Note: 10nm-class denotes a process technology node somewhere between 10 and 19 nanometers.

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. 

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.

From the pyrotechnics, to the laser lights and the phenomenal setlist, Gear VR users in more than 50 countries will be able to experience the magic of Coldplay’s performance at no additional cost. To tune-in, consumers will need a Gear VR headset with a compatible Samsung smartphone, and navigate to the Samsung VR service. A concert replay will also be available on Samsung VR for a limited time.

“Through our industry-leading VR hardware and platform ecosystem, we are thrilled to offer Samsung Gear VR owners access to premium, immersive live entertainment and experiences in full 360,” said Michael Schmier, Vice President of Content and Services, Samsung Electronics America. “By partnering with Live Nation and Coldplay, music fans across the globe with Gear VR can tune in to the live concert, experiencing the energy of the show like never before.”

“Live Nation is a trailblazer when it comes to producing live virtual reality concerts, and we’ve been excited to bring Coldplay into the mix since announcing our collaboration with Samsung and Gear VR in late May,” said Kevin Chernett, Executive Vice President, Global Partnerships and Content Distribution, Live Nation. “We not only give fans the best in-seat experience, but we’re also committed to working with the best technologies to provide every music fan an extraordinary concert experience, regardless of where they are.”

Coldplay’s “A Head Full Of Dreams Tour,” produced by Live Nation, is the No. 5 highest grossing tour of all time, according to ticket sales data reported to Billboard Boxscore. Launching in March of 2016, The “A Head Full of Dreams Tour” has welcomed 5 million people.

A Head Full of Dreams is Coldplay’s seventh album and the follow-up to 2014’s GRAMMY®-nominated Ghost Stories.

For more assets and information, please visit https://news.samsung.com/us/ or http://samsungvr.com. For information on how to purchase Gear VR, please visit http://www.samsung.com/gearvr.

About Live Nation Entertainment
Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world’s leading live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, and Live Nation Media & Sponsorship. For additional information, visit www.livenationentertainment.com.

To inspire a new culture of creating and consuming immersive content, BuzzFeed and NowThis will offer viewers easily snackable content: from simple how-to’s to the front lines of live 360-degree moments and breaking news worldwide. BuzzFeed will push virality to new heights by taking viewers on journeys through new cultures with BuzzFeed News around the world, as well as everyday experiences that are true to BuzzFeed’s style. NowThis will immerse viewers in 360-degree cityscapes and provide exclusive access to new places and ancient traditions from the comfort of their own home.

“Our 360-degree and virtual reality technologies enable more interactive storytelling to help consumers gain a deeper understanding of the world,” said Younghee Lee, CMO and Executive Vice President, Samsung Electronics. “These partnerships are a testament to our dedication to reimagining the way moments are captured and shared, and making these immersive experiences accessible to more consumers.”

Samsung builds on its continued efforts to shape a new era of journalism and content consumption by giving viewers access to news and content from all angles. Through partnerships and collaborations, Samsung hopes to inspire Millennials and Generation Z to contribute, create and share their own 360-degree videos and experiences.

“We’re excited to partner with Samsung to give our audience engaging, social 360-degree video content,” said Matthew Henick, Head of Development, BuzzFeed. “Samsung’s 360-degree technology will enable BuzzFeed to use our ‘test and learn’ strategy to unlock new kinds of shareable content, while learning more about how audiences are consuming and using it.”

“We’ve seen a ton of success with our millennial audience delivering the content they want, on the platforms they want, and in the formats they want,” said Christian Tom, Publisher, NowThis.

“Integrating Samsung’s 360-degree technology allows us to take our storytelling capabilities a step further and give our audience a deeper look into places and experiences they might not otherwise see, through the NowThis lens.”

Samsung recently announced its latest Samsung Gear 360, a 4K-resolution-capable 360-degree camera with enhanced features for easier user operation and high-quality content. For more product information, please visit http://www.samsungmobilepress.com

Catch a glimpse of some of the immersive experiences that Samsung’s Gear 360 partners will have in store below.

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.

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.

Created in December 2012, C-Lab is an internal venture incubation program that encourages a creative corporate culture and nurtures innovative ideas from Samsung employees. The program supports the development of inventing ideas from all areas of the business.

The products on display will include a smart aid for visually impaired people, monitorless PC viewing glasses, a VR home furnishing solution and a 360-degree travel experience platform.

Relúmĭno

Relúmĭno is a visual aid application that works incorporated with Gear VR for near blind and visually impaired people which enable them to read books and watch TV with new levels of clarity. It works as a mobile app that when inserted into the Samsung Gear VR can enhance visuals and text so that they can be enjoyed in better quality. The technology even has the ability to remap blind spots by displacing images and uses an Amlser grid chart to correct distorted images caused by metamorphopsia. Relúmĭno enables visually challenged people to watch TV without using the expensive visual aids currently available in the market.

Monitorless

Monitorless is a remote-control VR/AR solution that enables consumers to use devices such as smartphones and PCs without a monitor. The solution consists of a special pair of glasses that resemble regular sunglasses. They are used to view content from other devices such as smartphones and PCs and can be used for both Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality functionality thanks to the electro chromic glass featured on the glasses. Monitorless addresses the fact that there isn’t enough AR and VR content currently available and also enables users to play high-capacity PC games on a mobile device.

VuildUs

VuildUs is a home interior and furnishing solution enables users to see what a new furniture purchase would look like and whether it would fit in the room before they buy it. It consists of a 360-degree depth camera and a mobile app for VR compatible devices. First, users connect both devices and scan their home using the camera. That data is used to build a VR version of the user’s home which the user can then enter when wearing a VR headset. They can view items of furniture in 3D, and buy it on the spot if they like how it looks in the room. The solution removes the need for measuring space before buying furniture because it enables them to see whether it would fit in real time.

traVRer

traVRer is a 360-degree video platform that enables users to experience realistic virtual travel before and after a real-life trip. Those using the platform are able to visit landmarks and famous places around the world but with the mood, noises and events captured. Users can switch seamlessly between different videos to go in different directions or see the place at a specific time of day – all without the need to navigate menus for alternative video options.

“We continue to support new ideas and creativity, especially when these traits could lead to new experiences for consumers,” said Lee Jae Il, Vice President of Samsung Electronics Creativity & Innovation Center. “These latest examples of C-Lab projects are a reminder that we have some talented entrepreneurial people who are unafraid to break new ground. We’re looking forward to further exploring novel applications for VR and 360-degree video because there are endless possibilities in this area.”

The C-Lab projects will be exhibited at Samsung Electronics’ booth (4YFN G1 in the Fira Barcelona).

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

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.

Samsung Electronics announced today it was participating in the launch of the Global Virtual Reality Association (GVRA), a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the growth of the global virtual reality (VR) industry. Samsung is joined by Acer Starbreeze, Google, HTC VIVE, Facebook’s Oculus, and Sony Interactive Entertainment in the formation of this organization, which together will develop and share best practices for the industry, and foster dialogue between public and private stakeholders around the world.

The goal of the Global Virtual Reality Association is to promote the responsible development and adoption of VR globally. The association’s members will develop and share best practices, conduct research, and bring the international VR community together as the technology progresses. The group will be a resource for consumers, policymakers, and industries interested in VR.

VR has the potential to be the next great computing platform, improve sectors ranging from education to healthcare, and contribute significantly to the global economy in the coming years. Through research, international engagement, and the development of best practices, the founding companies of the Global Virtual Reality Association hope to unlock and maximize VR’s potential and ensure those gains are shared around the world as widely as possible.

For more information, visit www.GVRA.com.

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.

The main characters are a teacher named Ms. Frizzle and her bright young students. Each book sees them embark on a different wild adventure that allows them to explore their every scientific curiosity. They’re aided by their magical, sentient school bus, which is able to change shape, shuttle them for field trips on distant planets, and even shrink down to a microscopic level.

If you read the books when you were young, you may have thought, “I wish I could go on those adventures, too.” Now, the VR Eduthon, an exciting collaboration between Samsung Electronics Germany and Cornelsen, a schoolbook publisher based in Berlin, is making that dream a reality, educating students while awakening their imagination.

“The Magic School Bus” children’s books have sold more than 15 million copies.

Samsung Electronics Germany and Cornelsen introduced the VR Eduthon to focus on biology education and provide students between seventh and ninth grades with practical and interesting lectures.

The main goal of the program is to improve the students’ educational environment. It was developed through cooperation with teachers, electronic-teaching-method specialists, VR developers and other experts. After its conclusion, Cornelsen will assess the program’s educational outcomes, sustainability in classrooms, and ultimate suitability.

After a brief introduction to the program, visitors were given a chance to experience a lesson for themselves with the help of a Samsung tablet and a Gear VR headset.

Visitors participate in the virtual learning experience.

The instructions were simple: two people pair up, and one holds the tablet while the other puts on the Gear VR. The Gear VR user is then presented with a number of vocabulary words for human digestive organs, accompanied by vivid animations of how they function when we consume food.

When the user shifts his or her gaze toward another word, they’re shown its related animation. Meanwhile, on the tablet, the principles of the digestive system are explained in more depth. After concluding each stage, the users then test what they’ve learned with a quiz.

For Anastasia, a tenth-grade student, the program was a first introduction to virtual-reality technology.

“Studying biology through the Gear VR was a very cool and new experience,” she said after participating in the event. “I’ve never tried anything like it before. It felt much easier and more fun to learn, and most of all, it was easy to understand and remember the content because I saw it with my own eyes. I want to use VR in my class to study as soon as possible!”

Speaking afterward on his personal involvement with the project, Mark van Mierle, CEO of Cornelsen, said, “I was very satisfied and pleased to work with Samsung Electronics. Going forward we’ll put more effort into developing various content, applicable to actual education sites.”

“If space and time can be recreated through the VR Eduthon,” he continued, “students will be able to access a completely different studying experience than before. After thoroughly evaluating these newly developed educational methods, we’ll be able to provide them with better educational programs.”

Steffen Ganders, who is in charge of citizenship at Samsung Electronics Germany, echoed the importance of creating engaging educational tech. “Our goal is to develop a digital solution to enhance the quality of school education,” he said. “Revolutionary VR technologies can help us cover complex subjects easily. This is why we believe that VR will contribute true value to education going forward.”

The popular saying “seeing is believing” suggests that experiencing something for yourself is a more effective study method than simply accepting someone’s word as fact. With VR devices, students will be able to experience firsthand a wide range of concepts that they’ve studied in school, all while learning in a fun and engaging manner.

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.

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.

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.

Samsung Electronics participated in UN World Humanitarian Summit which was held during the 23^rd and 24^th of May in Istanbul. At the Summit, Samsung Electronics Turkey lended a hand and provided its Samsung Gear VR and Galaxy smartphones.

The World Humanitarian Summit – the first summit of its kind held by the United Nations – brings together participants  from the global community which include hundreds of delagates and leaders of Governments, crisis-affected communities, CEOs of the private sectors, multilateral organizations, international and national NGOs, youth representatives, civil society, diaspora, civil-military, and academic leaders.

The UN is producing films using the Virtual Reality (VR) technology, and through this new and powerful approach, they are changing the way how organizations raise awareness and funds. These films highlight some of the most pressing global challenges that the humanity faces, including the Syrian refugee crisis and climate change issues.

At the Summit’s VR Hub and UN Women’s booth, visitors were able to watch the 9 immersive films* produced by the UN, using the located Samsung Gear VR and Galaxy smartphones, which were provided by Samsung Electronics.

Highlighting the importance of taking action to prevent and reduce human suffering DaeHyun Kim, Samsung Electronics Turkey President stated; “As a company using technology to improve the world, we are committed to using our global network and innovation to create positive changes for people everywhere, helping them to live a better life that is full of possibilities. We focus our resources on tackling key issues in the areas of education, employment, healthcare and the environment. While we are already in cooperation with UNFPA for a very important local project for women, when the opportunity to extend our cooperation with UN for the World Humanitarian Summit presented itself, as Samsung Turkey we mobilized our resources at once. We are most pleased to support UN`s endeavours in raising awareness for the importance of humanitarian aid, utilizing Samsung VR. We foresee that technology will play an ever increasing role in support of the humanitarian endeavours, and we are happy that Samsung technology can deliver up to the task.”

Samsung Electronics’ Cooperation with UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund)

On May 24, DaeHyun Kim, Samsung Electronics Turkey President, Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin UNFPA Executive Director, Mariarosa Cutillo, UNFPA Chief of Strategic Partnership met at UNFPA’s booth at the WHS Exhibition Hall.

The cooperation of Samsung and UNFPA had recently started with Samsung’s support to the Women and Girls Safe Space founded by the UNFPA for women and girls in Şanlıurfa who have difficult access to healthcare, by providing the two centers with two Ultrasound machines. This granting of Samsung amounts to $150.000, and an estimated 26.000 women are expected to benefit from it.

About their cooperation with UNFPA, Samsung Electronics Turkey President DaeHyun Kim stated that “As Samsung we are most happy to cooperate with UNFPA in Turkey. Samsung is at the service of the communities in every way that we can, and at this time, we are providing our ultrasound machines, making sure that both the present and the increasing demand in the area for women’s reproductive health related services are provided for, with the best technology available.”

The Special Breakfast Event Hosted by the Global Business Coalition for Education (GBC-Education)

DaeHyun Kim, Samsung Electronics Turkey President was also present at the special breakfast event hosted by the Global Business Coalition for Education (GBC-Education), an NGO which aims to bring the business community together to accelerate progress in delivering quality education for children and youth. The event which was held with the aim of making education in emergencies a leading priority on the Summit agenda, was hosted by GBC-Education’s Executive Chair Sarah Brown and was attended by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, as well as more than 150 high level representatives from philanthropic organizations, governments, UN agencies, multilateral organizations, and business leaders.

At this meeting, Mr. DaeHyun Kim and Ms. Sarah Brown spoke about the possibility of Samsung contributing to education in emergencies, and that Samsung shares GBC-Education’s vision regarding the importance of continuing with the educations of the children and youth affected by the conflicts, no matter what.

*About UN’s 9 VR Films

1. Exclusive premier of the new Virtual Reality film of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Mission for Humanity “Home”: As the fish cannot live out of the sea, Syrian people cannot live without Syria” says Zaad, a 16-year-old refugee in Jordan. With more than 60 million people displaced or refugees, the world faces the greatest humanitarian crisis since WW2. From Jordan to Lebanon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan, Home takes us on a humanitarian journey with the UN Secretary-General. Directors: Charlotte Cans (UNOCHA) & David Ohana (UNICEF)

2. “My Mother’s Wing”: In Gaza, foundations are built, destroyed, and built again. This virtual reality experience follows the struggle and strength of a mother coping with the death of her two children in the 2014 war. By UNSDG Action Campaign My Mother’s Wing

3. “Clouds Over Sidra” follows a twelve year old in the Za’atari camp in Jordan – home to 84,000 Syrian refugees. It follows her to school, to her makeshift tent and even to the football pitch.  The Zaatari Refugee Camp is home to 130,000 Syrians fleeing violence and war. Children make up half the camp’s population. This is the story of Sidra, a 12-year old girl who has spent the last 18 months in Zaatari. By UNSDG Action Campaign Clouds over Sidra

4. “Waves of grace”: Liberia has endured the largest Ebola outbreak in history. As communities rebuild, one woman seeks healing through faith. This is the story of Decontee Davis, an Ebola survivor who uses her immunity to care for orphaned children in her village. By UNSDG Action Campaign Waves of Grace

5. “For my Son” is the moving letter from a father to his baby son recalling his journey fleeing the war of Syria. Follow this courageous father, husband and educated lawyer who for the sake of his family left the Za’atari refugee camp to look for a better life in Amman. By RYOT  For My Son

6. “The Crossing” follows the journey of refugees crossing the Mediterranean sea to find a better life for themselves and their family. Experience their hopes, their challenges and their emotions when arriving “on the other side”.  By RYOT The Crossing

7. “Growing up Girl” is the story of a 10-year old girl from a rural village at the border between Kenya and Tanzania. Follow her through her daily life of collecting water and fire-wood, walking miles to go to school and the reason she does her homework under a light post. By RYOT Growing up Girl

8. “Ready for 100” is a virtual journey through the Antarctic glaciers and the effects of climate change on them, and on the animals and communities that depend on them. By RYOT Ready for 100

9. Crossing Tanganyika (Working title), Finess is a refugee once again in the Lusenda Refugee Camp in the Democratic Republic of Congo.  Women in her new community have suffered through sexual violence, discrimination and the loss of loved ones. When fleeing Burundi, she left behind her two daughters, but she never gave up hope of getting them back. Witness her courage and triumph through the power of UN Women’s safe spaces that promote education and vocational training, theater, song, dance, and solidarity in humanitarian crises. A film by UN Women

About United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

UNFPA, the United Nations Population Funds, is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.

UN’s Virtual Reality Hub at the UN World Humanitarian Summit Exhibition, Yunsoo Cho, the Ambassador of Republic Of Korea to Turkey, check out the virtual reality film with Gear VR.

(From left to right) Lucy Doughty Doughty Family Foundation and Theirworld Trustee and Advisory Board Member, Gordon Brown Former British Prime Minister, DaeHyun Kim Samsung Electronics Turkey President, Erdem Erkul Samsung Electronics Turkey Director of Public Sector & External Affairs participated in the UN World Humanitarian Summit.

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

“Software is everywhere you look now. It’s in our phones, our cars, and even our smart watches. Code is the key to unlocking human potential and developers have a big part to play in this rapidly growing movement,” said Dongjin Koh, President of Mobile Communications Business at Samsung Electronics to those in attendance. “The theme of SDC is ‘connecting the future everywhere you look.’ That means: everywhere you go, there will be opportunities to bring devices and people together. It also means there will be opportunities for you to connect with the future, right now.”

New and enhanced developer-driven technologies, tools and opportunities introduced today include:

Internet of Things: Building the IoT Ecosystem

At SDC 2016, Samsung introduced essential new easy-to-use, open APIs and tools for the SAMSUNG ARTIK Platform, an end-to-end, integrated IoT platform that transforms the process of building and launching IoT products. Using these APIs and tools, companies can securely collect, store, and act on any data from any connected device or cloud service in order to quickly bring new IoT solutions and services to market, tap into new revenue streams, and grow their business.

Samsung’s open platform standards enable faster and simpler development of new enterprise, industrial, and consumer applications. Customers with varying levels of skillsets and requirements will benefit from a range of tools and APIs that map to the widest range of IoT devices and projects, all based on a professional-grade, highly integrated, and familiar development platform that includes the essential building blocks and breakthrough technologies to establish a powerful new IoT ecosystem and launch IoT applications into the future.

Entertainment Services & Virtual Reality:

Virtual reality was another key topic at the Samsung Developer Conference this year. Following the popularity of the Gear VR powered by Oculus, Samsung continued to expand its VR leadership with the announcement of the Gear 360 in February. Samsung Gear 360 lets consumers easily create, view and share their favorite experiences through 360-degree video and still image content.

Samsung also introduced an array of developer tools for TVs including the Samsung Smart TV SDK, Samsung TV Toast which enables developer to export their codes to multiple TV platforms, and Samsung Checkout on TV, a new Smart TV optimized payment solution.

Security Signature Services:

Samsung Knox, the award winning security platform, is expanding to include more devices and increase interoperability. Samsung Knox will now serve as the foundation for all enterprise solutions and services including healthcare, automotive, finance and other segments. With this evolution, Knox will now cover mid-tier devices, and be embedded on wearable devices such as the Samsung Gear S2.  Knox will also be extended beyond the Android operating system to include Samsung’s Tizen operating system, allowing millions more Samsung device owners to benefit from defense-grade security, while capitalizing on a networked world to improve productivity.

Citizenship Showcase: Young Coders from around the World

As part of its commitment to STEM education and inspiring young people in coding, Samsung organizes competitions and coding initiatives around the world. At SDC 2016, Samsung invited six young software developers from the United States, Argentina and Korea to present their ideas and meet with professional developers. :

From the United States, two winners of the 2015 U.S. Mobile App Academy presented their respective app creations: Med Kid, which aims to create a fun way to incentivize children who are seriously ill to keep track of and take their medications, and Code Clash, a game that teaches kids coding and helps solve the disparity of available engineers in the specific field of JAVA programming. Three students from Argentina and a student from Korea also attended to each demonstrate their winning mobile apps project.

And while the company continues to enlist the help of external developers, it is also making use of talent within its own employee base through its five C-Lab projects. C-Lab enables Samsung employees to pursuing their own creative business ideas.

For exclusive, one-of-kind content showcasing SDC 2016, please visit the Samsung U.S. Newsroom at: http://news.samsung.com/us and http://news.samsung.com/global. Follow us and engage on Twitter: @samsungnewsus using hashtag #iheartSDC.

Event attendees were especially passionate about wearables and virtual reality, as VR continues to expand its popularity. In two VR sessions, attendees explored the process of Gear VR game production and 3D content development.

Check out the enthusiastic atmosphere at the hands-on workshops in the photos below.

“Gear VR: Developing Apps for the Virtual World” was a hands-on workshop that looked at how developers can create contents and games for the Gear VR. Dustin Wish led the session, offering a wide range of tips for developers, such as how they can register their applications on the Oculus Store and software optimization.

At “Developing for Gear S2,” Dustin Wish also taught how to develop applications and widgets for the Gear S2 with SDKs (Software Development Kits) and tools. He even led an application development exercise session using the Gear Watch Designer, a watch-face making tool.

In “Developing IoT with the Samsung ARTIK Platform,” Dan Gross and Wei Xiao talked about how developers can connect sensors and make applications based on the ARTIK platform. As a production-ready, IoT platform, ARTIK can help developers commercialize their new IoT connected devices quickly and easily.

Samsung’s defense-grade security platform KNOX also got explored in the workshop “Getting to Know the KNOX SDKs.” Victor Okunev led the session, attracting much attention for his introduction on how applications can be efficiently integrated using the KNOX SDK.

In “Printing with the Smart UX SDK,” Ajay Sharma touched on Samsung’s Android-based Smart UX platform for its lineup of printers, which have been enjoying a rapid surge in demand lately. Sharma demonstrated how the Smart UX SDK is easy-to-use for inexperienced developers who want to create printing applications.

The “Project Beyond: Filming for VR” session covered how to create 3D content using pictures, with a lecture by a professional 3D content creator.

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.

As Six Flags’ official technology partner, Samsung is pioneering immersive Gear VR roller coaster experiences in North America. With the Gear VR headset, powered by Samsung’s flagship Galaxy smartphones, The New Revolution riders find themselves transported to a futuristic battlefield—and thrust into the front line of thrilling battle to save the planet from alien invasion.

The New Revolution at Six Flags Magic Mountain will open to the public on April 21. Take a closer look at The New Revolution Virtual Reality Coaster in the photos below.

Samsung Electronics announced its commitment to education and presented its innovations including virtual reality devices at the Brazilian Fair of Sciences and Engineering – FEBRACE 2016, which was held during March , in São Paulo – Brazil. During the event, which was promoted by the Polytechnic School of the University of São Paulo (Poli – USP), students from high school and technical colleges from across Brazil presented more than 300 projects focused on several knowledge areas.

On the third day of the event, three Samsung executives, Gabriel Farias, Guilherme Selber and Antonio Marcon, gave lectures on the Internet of Things (IoT) and Samsung’s innovations. On the following day was an award ceremony, during which a project was awarded the “Samsung Internet of Things Award.” The project was recognized for providing the best solution—using connectivity and technology—to a local community issue. As recognition, the winning team received a trophy, medals and educational kits with electronic materials.

“Samsung uses its global network and its innovations to generate positive changes around the world,” said Helvio Kanamaru, Senior Manager of Corporate Citizenship at Samsung Latin America. “We believe that technology is an excellent mechanism for young people to have access to a world of possibilities and develop new opportunities.”

“FEBRACE invites and encourages students from high school to develop projects and exercise scientific research,” Kanamaru said. “It is an important convergence of social responsibility, education and integration with the academic world – topics that are very important in Samsung’s Corporate Citizenship platform.”

FEBRACE’s coordinator, professor Roseli de Deus Lopes, highlighted the expectations of the fair in relation to the students.

“The most important aspect is not the result of developing a prototype or product, but the whole process, the various stages of research, reflection, construction and observation required for projects development,” Ms Lopes said

Samsung has contributed to improvements in education through its own initiatives carried out in Latin American countries, such as ‘Respostas para o Amanhã’ (Solve for Tomorrow), a contest that encourages students and teachers from public high schools to develop projects that  benefit their communities, using the knowledge acquired in the classroom.

The company has also been developing the Tech Institute Program, which offers opportunities for young people to obtain technical training through the sponsorship of scholarships. Last year, Samsung promoted a special edition in Brazil – the Tech Institute Internet of Things, a course offered to high school students in order to encourage them to create solutions for a smart house using the Internet of Things. This edition of the program was held in partnership with the Integrated Technology Systems Lab (LSITEC) that is also responsible for organizing FEBRACE.

“We live in an increasingly connected world,” Kanamaru said. “Samsung’s electronic devices already offer great interaction between them, but we want to go beyond. Therefore, we are promoting the Tech Institute IoT with LSITEC and sponsoring FEBRACE. The new innovation-based labor market needs young professionals with solid training in those fields.”

Six Flags Entertainment Corporation (NYSE:SIX), and Samsung Electronics America, announced a broad marketing partnership which appoints Samsung as the “Official Technology Partner” of the world’s largest regional theme park company. The partnership includes the debut of ground-breaking experiences coming to nine Six Flags parks—North America’s first Virtual Reality (VR) Roller Coasters, using Samsung Gear VR powered by Oculus.

In partnership with Samsung, Six Flags is taking its signature brand of thrills to the next level and beyond in fully immersive, virtual riding experiences using Samsung Gear VR. Some of Six Flags’ most popular coasters will be equipped to allow riders wearing Samsung Gear VR headsets to feel the heart-pumping adrenaline of steep drops, inverted loops and powerful twists and turns as gyros, accelerometers and proximity sensors synchronize all of the action in an incredibly realistic 360-degree virtual reality world.

“This remarkable technology is a definite game-changer for theme park rides and represents everything our brand stands for—delivering the most thrilling and innovative rides and attractions in the world,” said John Duffey, Six Flags President and CEO. “With the addition of these virtual reality coasters, Six Flags will be introducing more than double the number of new coasters and rides than we did in 2015, and more than any year in the last decade. Innovation is part of our DNA, and news in every park every year is driving higher guest satisfaction and building strong momentum for our company.”

“What makes this partnership so compelling for consumers and the broader tech industry alike is that both companies are committed to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible – and bringing a VR coaster to life is certainly a new and thrilling proposition,” said Marc Mathieu, chief marketing officer at Samsung Electronics America. “Now, people can be immersed into a totally new universe while riding a roller coaster, powered by Samsung Gear VR virtual reality devices. This transforms the modern roller coaster into a totally new, one of a kind sensorial experience – powered by technology. We are excited to work with the premiere brand in theme parks to bring Samsung’s VR technology to nine Six Flags locations across the U.S.”

Samsung Gear VR – designed to accelerate virtual reality into the mainstream – provides an untethered, fully-immersive experience with 360-degree content for an extremely high quality mobile VR experience. Built to work with Samsung’s Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 edge, Galaxy S6, S6 edge, S6 edge+ and Note5, the Gear VR headset utilizes each device’s super AMOLED display to provide the color, clarity and performance needed for an amazing virtual reality experience.

About the VR Roller Coaster Experiences

Six Flags and Samsung will launch the new VR Roller Coasters beginning this month and into the summer, totaling nine coasters across the U.S. On the six New Revolution Virtual Reality Coasters, riders are transported to a futuristic battle to save planet earth from an alien invasion. Riders are the co-pilots in their own fighter jets as they strap in for air-to-air combat. Taking in the view around them, riders will see other aircraft in an underground secret bunker. As the aircraft moves to a landing pad, it begins to launch its thruster engines, lifting the craft straight up through the roof. During the ascent, riders can test fire their weapons using the world’s first-ever interactive gameplay technology on a roller coaster. As riders clear the roof, they realize they are on top of a skyscraper and about to launch off the edge of the building diving straight down on the first drop of the ride. The aircraft races through the city until reaching the edge of the skyline where riders see the mother ship hovering above. The mother ship is heavily protected by drones and the mission is to get past the drones, fire on the mother ship and destroy it. This elite fighter squadron experience will make its debut on the following six roller coasters:

• Shock Wave at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington, opening March 10 to Season Pass Holders as a special sneak preview;
• Dare Devil Dive at Six Flags Over Georgia outside of Atlanta, opening March 12 to Season Pass Holders as a special sneak preview;
• The New Revolution at Six Flags Magic Mountain near Los Angeles, opening March 26 to Season Pass Holders as a special sneak preview;
• Ninja at Six Flags St. Louis in Eureka;
• Steamin’ Demon at The Great Escape in Lake George, New York and
• Goliath at La Ronde in Montreal.

On Six Flags’ three new SUPERMAN Virtual Reality Coasters, once riders take their seats and fasten the headsets, they will be fully immersed in the 360-degree comic-book world of Metropolis. Guests will be taken on a leisurely (or so they think) tour of the city of Metropolis, courtesy of Lex Corp Sky Tours. Just after departing the station riders encounter Lex Luthor who uses an anti-gravity gun along with his army of Lex Bots to create chaos throughout the city with cars, taxis and buses floating in mid-air around the rider’s vehicle. As the Lexbots continue shooting at the vehicle, SUPERMAN uses heat vison to destroy the anti-gravity gun, causing all objects to suddenly fall, including the train as it takes the first giant drop of the roller coaster. Riders then soar alongside SUPERMAN as he battles the evil Lexbots through hairpin twists and turns, loops, dips and dives before ultimately defeating Lex and the Lexbots, and returning safely back into the station. This amazing adventure will debut on these Superman-branded coasters:

• SUPERMAN Krypton Coaster at Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio;
• SUPERMAN The Ride at Six Flags New England in Agawam, Massachusetts; and
• SUPERMAN Ride of Steel at Six Flags America in Upper Marlboro, Maryland.

For more information, visit www.sixflags.com/virtualrealitycoasters and www.samsung.com/gearvr.

About Six Flags Entertainment Corporation
Six Flags Entertainment Corporation is the world’s largest regional theme park company with $1.3 billion in revenue and 18 parks across the United States, Mexico and Canada. For 55 years, Six Flags has entertained millions of families with world-class coasters, themed rides, thrilling water parks and unique attractions. For more information, visit www.sixflags.com.

About Warner Bros. Consumer Products
Warner Bros. Consumer Products, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is one of the leading licensing and retail merchandising organizations in the world.

About DC Entertainment
DC Entertainment, home to iconic brands DC Comics (Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, The Flash), Vertigo (Sandman, Fables) and MAD, is the creative division charged with strategically integrating its content across Warner Bros. Entertainment and Time Warner. DC Entertainment works in concert with many key Warner Bros. divisions to unleash its stories and characters across all media, including but not limited to film, television, consumer products, home entertainment and interactive games. Publishing thousands of comic books, graphic novels and magazines each year, DC Entertainment is one of the largest English-language publishers of comics in the world.

SUPERMAN and all related characters and elements © & DC Comics. (s16)

Sherry FitzGerald, Ireland’s largest privately owned estate agents approached Samsung to work with them on the project as part of a wider business initiative to monitor global technology developments. The Samsung Gear VR headsets, were chosen because of their ability to provide a comfortable, easy to use, high quality 360 degree experiences of new properties for interested house hunters.

The Virtual Reality platform has been tested on two fully functioning VR walk troughs of new client home schemes as well as completed extensive user testing and feedback. One of the tests was part of the marketing campaign for a fourth-coming high-end residential housing development – Rokeby Park in Lucan Village, West Dublin. Working with a local environment artist, they created a virtual reality walkthrough of one of the properties letting potential purchasers experience a more lifelike view of the properties in the development than could be offered by simple floor plans or small scale models.

Speaking at the launch, Ivan Gaine, Head of New Homes at Sherry FitzGerald said “We are hugely excited to be leading the field in this exciting cutting edge technology. The freedom it gives our viewers to go on a virtual walk through of an unbuilt property and appreciate the proportions of the rooms, see the views from the window and experience the expected finish of a show house all by simply putting on a headset, is very futuristic. The Samsung VR walkthrough is now one of the suite of marketing tools available to our developer clients and initial reaction from our clients and our ultimate buyer customers is overwhelmingly positive. We have also developed 3D printed models and touch screen technology at many of our launches and marketing suites.”

Adrian McInerney, general manager – Samsung Business Ireland, Samsung Ireland commented: “Buying a new home is one of the biggest purchases you will ever make so we’re really excited to be able to bring this to life for people who are hoping to buy a property off plan. We are already working with a number of companies in other regions and industries to create similar user experiences. For example, Audi used the Gear VR headset to create the first digital car showroom and offer customers the ability to test drive new cars.

“We are excited to be involved in yet another first by enabling Sherry FitzGerald to offer the first virtual reality experience to house hunters in Ireland. This is such an innovative project, and our Samsung Gear VR headsets give Sherry FitzGerald an unparalleled opportunity for innovation and customer engagement perfect for this kind of retail environment.”

Joanne Geary, Group Head of Marketing and Business Development also commented, We are currently developing the next evolution of the technology and our ultimate plan is to have VR Headsets in every Sherry Fitz office around the country where buyers can virtually view any property on our books simply by viewing through the VR Headset. The technology is just as relevant for large scale commercial developments where we can model up what an office building will look like and conduct a viewing of for office or retail leasing purposes for example. The opportunities are endless and our journey has just begun.”

Music fans across Europe tuned in live to see the band perform tracks ‘Worship’, ‘Shine’, ‘Desire’ and ‘King’, from the band’s platinum-selling album, Communion, in a visually stunning performance. With the option to switch between three different camera angles on their Samsung Gear VR headsets, viewers were able to immerse themselves in a live performance like never before. Fans could opt to view the show from prime position on the front row; on-stage with the band; and even floating above the action on the stage, all during the live action.

Years & Years said: “We are buzzing. The show was like nothing we have done before. The VR element adds a totally new dimension for us as performers and for those watching. We’re proud to be the first artists to offer such a unique and special, immersive experience to our fans. We can’t wait to see the performance ourselves in 360 video.”

David Lowes, Chief Marketing Officer, Samsung Electronics Europe: “Last night’s collaboration gave music fans across Europe a taste of how a smartphone and VR can transform the art of the live performance – and the audience’s experience of it. Years and Years share our passion for progress and innovation and we loved working with them to use our technology to bring this one-of-a-kind experience to life.”

To mark the on-sale date of the new Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge, content from the ground-breaking Years & Years performance Friday will be released on Friday, 11th March in 360 degree video via Samsung’s YouTube and Facebook channels, as well as via the Samsung + Years & Years app, available on the Oculus store.

The performance was curated exclusively for VR viewing by director, Sam Wrench, who devised a 360 in-the-round stage set to complement the VR experience. Sam’s vision was to create an impressive UHD and LED dome structure to encapsulate both the band and audience, creating an intimate ‘world’ that transformed and evolved with the music. Audience members wore programmable LED wristbands and a confetti release at the end added a further interactive element for viewers.

Sam Wrench, Director, who has previously worked with acts including Blur, George Michael and Mary J. Blige, said: “Directing in VR was a whole new experience for me and one I was really excited to be a part of. As a relatively new platform, I was challenged not just to think about how the footage would look aesthetically, but how to add creative layers to help the VR audience feel fully immersed with the music experience.”

Jack Mehuish, Marketing Director, Polydor Records Ltd, said: “We strive to be at the forefront of innovation in music, offering our artists unique ways to create music and their fans new ways to experience it. Thanks to Samsung technology, last night’s event was a step into the future of music and redefines what’s possible for artists and fans alike. While live performance remains important, there will always be limits to how many people can attend a gig. This activity has demonstrated that Gear VR, powered by the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge, now offers a credible and top quality alternative that makes the feeling of a live gig accessible to the many, not the few.”

In the days leading up to Samsung’s most recent product revelation, the air was thick with anticipation, as is usually the case before any big event. But this year was particularly different. That’s because this past weekend’s Unpacked was Samsung’s most boundary-breaking event yet.

Showcasing its latest technological achievements by debuting its Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge flagship smartphones, as well as its Gear 360 camera, Samsung illustrated how it has overcome barriers to deliver innovation inspired by people. It also demonstrated how an ecosystem of seamlessly connected devices and services can enhance the way consumers live, connect and interact. This strategy was the very heart of this year’s Unpacked, and was incorporated into each detail of the event, from the stage layout, to the guest speakers, to the very way in which the new products were introduced.

A New Reality for Product Revelations

For the first time, Samsung unveiled its latest products in virtual reality, enabling all event attendees to get an equally up-close look at the new devices via Gear VR. In doing so, the company illustrated how the technology industry is ever-evolving, and set a new standard in the way products are revealed.

Pulling out all the stops, Samsung prepared a whopping 5,000 Gear VR headsets to enable for a successful presentation. But, as one might image, pulling off an operation of this scale was no easy feat to accomplish and there were plenty of challenges faced during the planning process. Perhaps the biggest obstacle Samsung encountered was figuring out how to keep all 5,000 of the Gear VR headsets powered throughout the event, as well as how to broadcast the live presentation simultaneously on each device.

Samsung eventually opted to develop a customized Gear VR headset specifically for the event, and created special technology to broadcast the presentation. The company ran multiple tests with the new headset from Korea. First, they successfully applied the technology to 100 devices, then 500, then again with 1,000, and so on, until they ran into some problems. As such, they had to make some alterations to the system, but by the time Samsung reached Spain, they were ready to go.

To ensure that the system functioned properly during the event, Samsung monitored every single device by utilizing NFC technology that paired each headset to a specific numbered seat. In case the signal failed to work in a specific device, the problem would be easy to fix. For aesthetics purposes, Samsung was able to conceal the thousands of crisscrossing wires that attached each headset to the central server by constructing an additional layer of flooring over the electrical chaos.

Additionally, Samsung rented the Centre de Convencions Internacional de Barcelona—the venue of the previous three pre-MWC Unpacked events—for a considerably longer amount of time than usual. In the few days leading up to the event, a huge staff was assembled and worked tirelessly to install the advanced network infrastructure necessary to ensure the event would take place without a hitch. To share this unprecedented event with Galaxy fans unable to attend in person, Samsung hosted the first ever livestream in 360 degrees, which 30 million viewers from around the world tuned in to watch.

Thinking Outside the Box

The event stayed true to its name by incorporating the “Unpacked” concept into its complex floor plan that not only impressed visually, but also allowed for a unique interaction between audience members and presenters. The floor plan was so intricate, in fact, that planners continued to make changes up until a few hours before the start of the event to ensure that everyone—even those viewing from home—could get a good view of the Unpacked action. As a result, the set-up enabled for a far more interactive event experience than any traditional product introduction of the past.

A giant square stage was at the center of this elaborate floor plan, and featured four separate transformative display screens that hung above it. At the start of the event, the impressive screens were opened upward, as if the stage itself was being “unpacked.” This box concept was utilized throughout the event’s video invitation and teaser content Samsung published leading up to the event, allowing for a more storytelling-centric approach.

In the end, hundreds of people and dozens of partners collaborated to make Galaxy Unpacked 2016 Samsung’s most immersive event yet. The spectacle of innovation no doubt set the bar high for all future product revelations and will not soon be forgotten.

By pairing Galaxy smartphones with the Gear VR and visiting Olympic.org for a direct link to the Youth Olympic Games VR experience, fans located in Samsung Galaxy Studios in Lillehammer, the Samsung Experience Store CC-Vest in Oslo, Norway, and across the globe were able to fully immerse in the Opening Ceremony and feel the energy of the crowd. The breakthrough experience maximized the excitement of the Youth Olympic Games and allowed Samsung to connect with youth and millennials through interactive VR experiences and spread the Olympic spirit around the world.

Fans at the Samsung Galaxy Studio in Lillehammer experience the feeling of being inside of the Opening Ceremony events through the first-ever Live Streaming of Olympic Games content made possible by the IOC and Samsung Galaxy smartphones and VR technology.

Fans at the Samsung Galaxy Studio in Lillehammer experience the feeling of being inside of the Opening Ceremony events through the first-ever Live Streaming of Olympic Games content made possible by the IOC and Samsung Galaxy smartphones and VR technology.

Fans at the Samsung Galaxy Studio in Lillehammer experience the feeling of being inside of the Opening Ceremony events through the first-ever Live Streaming of Olympic Games content made possible by the IOC and Samsung Galaxy smartphones and VR technology.

Fans at the Samsung Galaxy Studio experience the passion and energy of the Lillehammer 2016 Youth Olympic Games Opening Ceremony through Samsung Galaxy smartphones and Gear VR technology.

Samsung supported the International Olympic Committee to deliver the World’s first-ever Virtual Reality Live Streaming of Lillehammer 2016 Winter Youth Olympic Games Opening Ceremony via Samsung Galaxy smartphones and Gear VR technology.

[Samsung Galaxy Studio – VR Station] The Samsung Galaxy Studio-VR Station in Lillehammer played host to the first-ever Live Streaming of Olympic Games content by made possible by the IOC and Samsung Galaxy smartphones and VR technology.

[Lillehammer 2016 Winter Youth Olympic Games Opening Ceremony] Spectators from around the globe unite in Lillehammer at the Lillehammer 2016 Winter Youth Olympic Games Opening Ceremony to cheer on young athletes as they follow their dreams and pursue their passions in sports and in life.

The main hurdles that we spend a lot of time thinking about are inspiring mass adoption, creating great content, and continuing the discovery of what VR is capable of.

Widening the consumer base is a top priority. VR can (and will) be a revolutionary platform for gaming and entertainment, but we’ve been seeing firsthand just how far the medium can reach. We now have the power to traverse great distances in no time at all and walk a mile in another man’s shoes. VR has the power to transform how people feel about one another. How can VR continue to reshape journalism and news? How can VR affect education and learning? Every new revolutionary technology, be it the cell phone or the laptop, is pushed to the limits by humanity. How do we use this thing in a way where our lives are greatly improved? VR is no different. 2016 will see the continued push to explore how VR can transform existing modes of communication, bring people closer together, and make our lives more streamlined.

Next, creating great content. I think we’re entering a period of rapid experimentation and exploration. I think over the course of the next year we’ll see a lot more narrative exploration in VR. Storytellers are already retraining their brains to think in 360º, and so many great VR experiences already exist. I believe that great storytellers can tell a great story using anything. As more and more companies and studios invest in VR, we’re going to see some really great narrative experiments. We’re still at the infancy of this new art form. It took cinema decades to invent the close-up. Even longer to invent the match-cut. So on and so forth. As technology grows more widespread and the creation of VR experiences becomes democratized, we’re going to hear from new voices.

The simplest way we arrive at compelling content in VR is to imagine what would be compelling to experience in real life. In a lot of ways, VR is the closest we’ve come to inventing a teleportation device. You can take anyone from anywhere and transport them into moments, experiences, and stories. VR can eliminate the proximity between people, places, and things in a way that I haven’t seen done before. It’s helpful to think about what kinds of characters you want your audience to interact with, and how you’ll want the audience to remember them. That’s really what the storytelling goal should be: to create memories. Once you’ve got that in mind, you can reverse engineer everything else. We’re going to start seeing stories that take us to faraway and impossible locations, and stories that blur the lines between our world and the virtual one.

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

In an Olympic first, Samsung Electronics is supporting the International Olympic Committee to bring the Games to life through virtual reality coverage so that just about any Galaxy smartphone and Gear VR user can experience the excitement of the event, no matter where they are in the world.

The experience begins at 19:00PM CET February 12 with the Opening Ceremony—the first ever streamed live in virtual reality. Also, throughout the duration of the Games, daily VR sports highlights will provide a Winter YOG experience unlike any before.

To enjoy immersive views of the Olympic torch lighting and the Parade of Nations, among other event highlights, one needs a Samsung mobile phone (Galaxy S6 and later) and compatible Gear VR headset. From the smartphone, viewers can visit olympic.org to access a direct link to the Youth Olympic Games VR experience. Samsung mobile users will also be able to access all the Lillehammer 2016 content by downloading the NextVR app from the Oculus store.

Installation Instructions

1. Make sure you have a Samsung Galaxy smartphone and compatible Samsung Gear VR headset.

2. On your Galaxy phone, open the Oculus Gear VR app and search for “Next VR”.

3. When you’ve found the NextVR app, click “Install”. When it’s finished installing, click “Start”.

“Sometimes I wonder what I’m doing, getting up early, training for hours in the rain, storms, cold and wind,” said Vebjørn Hegdal, a cross-country skier about to participate in the Lillehammer 2016 Winter Youth Olympic Games. “But if you really want something and like something, go for it. Don’t listen to people who say it’s hard and almost impossible. It’s your choice and your decision.”

As a sponsor of this year’s Winter Youth Olympic Games, which are being held from February 12 to 21 in Lillehammer Norway, Samsung Electronics is passionate about the spirit and power of young people. That energy and youthful defiance against the odds is the focus of Samsung’s “The Only Way to Know” video, which looks at many young athletes as they prepare for the Youth Olympics.

Vebjørn Hegdal, Cross-Country Skier

The video also shows how Samsung mobile devices are an integral part of their lives, whether it is for taking selfies, posting training videos, posting supportive messages and “likes”, sharing photos and more. Samsung is proud to support those young athletes and be a part of their stories, reinforcing the message through the social media campaign #TheOnlyWayToKnow.

In the video, these young competitors struggle to become the best athletes then can be, even while wrestling with self-doubt and the unknown. In addition to Vebjørn, there’s Astrid, a young ski jumper, Ian Rocca, an alpine skier, Daniel Grassi, a figure skater, and many more.

Daniel Grassi, Figure Skater

As viewers listen to their thoughts, the touching video provides glimpses of their struggles, both as athletes and as young people. The questions that haunt them through their endless hours of training are the same doubts that follow young people everywhere. The video shows them preparing, practicing, falling down and wiping out—even breaking bones.

But the athletes never stay down. They all get back up again and keep training. Then, reinvigorated, their determined voices are an impressive example for young people everywhere:

“Maybe I’m already enough.”

“Maybe this will be what pushes me.”

“Maybe I’ll be a leader. The greatest. The best.”

“Maybe this is not the end.”

“Maybe this is just the beginning.”

The transformative power of sports to overcome the fears and uncertainty of youth is inspirational, an uplifting feeling that Samsung conveys in this video. “If I had doubts, I wouldn’t be able to achieve anything,” said Ian Rocaa the alpine skier from Italy. “I’ve always believed in my abilities. I’m no doubter.”

Ian Rocca, an Alpine Skier

For Astrid Moberg, a young ski jumper from Sweden, there is an additional motivation: ski jumping was only added as an Olympic event for women in 2014, and many people still don’t know about it.

“This video gave me the chance to promote ski jumping,” said Astrid. “I want to show what promising ski jumpers we have from my part of Sweden. People don’t understand what a fantastic sport this is.”

Astrid Moberg, Ski Jumper

The Youth Olympic Games started in Singapore in 2010, as a way of encouraging young athletes aged 15 to 18 from around the world not only to get involved, but also to integrate a healthy cultural and developmental program in their lives.

Samsung Electronics announced that registration for the Samsung Developer Conference 2016 (SDC 2016), which will be held from April 27 to April 28 at San Francisco’s Moscone West Center, is now open.

Centered around the theme of “Connecting the Future Everywhere You Look”, the this year’s SDC will offer more than 60 technical sessions, interactive workshops, keynotes and hands-on device experiences across 10 different topics, including: The Internet of Things (IoT), Virtual Reality (VR), Mobile, Wearables,  Business Opportunities, Enterprise, Smart TV, Games & Entertainment, Tizen and Health & Medical.

“We have been working to share our vision for technology, connection and collaboration with the global development community, by hosting the Samsung Developer Conference, since 2013.” said Seung-hwan Cho, Executive Vice President and Deputy Head of Software R&D Center at Samsung Electronics. “SDC 2016 will  offer the perfect chance for attendees to connect with Samsung in person, sharpen their skills, and meet other developers and partners from the Samsung ecosystem. There will also be new, unique technologies and demos that are simply not available anywhere else.”

SDC 2016 will showcase the latest IoT technologies including Samsung’s ‘ARTIK’ and the open source software framework ‘IoTivity’ of OIC*, along with the company’s ‘Tizen’ platform for Smart TVs, wearables such as the Gear S2, and more. Samsung will also unveil the latest plans and technology for its service ecosystem, and key partnership strategies for the likes of ‘Samsung Pay’, ‘S-Health’, gaming, and the enterprise security solution, ‘KNOX’.

The conference’s keynote speakers will introduce brand new products and reveal Samsung’s new initiatives to further support the worldwide developer community.

SDC 2016’s current speaker lineup includes:

• Injong Rhee, Executive Vice President, Head of R&D, Software and Services, Mobile Communications Business, Samsung Electronics
• John Pleasants, Executive Vice President, Media Solutions Center America, Samsung Electronics America
• Pranav Mistry, Vice President, Head of Think Tank Team , Samsung Research America
• Genevieve Bell, Intel Fellow and Vice President, Corporate Strategy Office, Intel Corporation

Early bird registration is available until March 29 on the official SDC 2016 website (http://www.sdc2016.com), where attendees can also find more information about the conference schedule, key visitor information, planned sessions, speakers and technology showcases. Full two-day conference passes are available at early bird rate along with academic, alumni and group booking discounts.

*Open Interconnect Consortium
The Open Interconnect Consortium, a Delaware non-profit corporation, is being founded by leading technology companies with the goal of defining the connectivity requirements and ensuring interoperability of the billions of devices that will make up the emerging Internet of Things (IoT).

Samsung Electronics, Worldwide Olympic Partner in the Wireless Communications Equipment category, announced a new Olympic initiative seeking to unite the world through inspiration and the power of connection during the Lillehammer 2016 Youth Olympic Games. As a global leader in mobile technologies, Samsung is committed to enhancing the Olympic Movement through innovative products and providing athletes and fans around the globe with memorable one-of-a-kind experiences.

With a series of event activations and unique programming, the Samsung Galaxy Studios will make the Lillehammer 2016 Youth Olympic Games inspiring and unforgettable for fans throughout the city and Olympic venues. Leading up to the Youth Olympic Games, Samsung will spread the spirit of the Games to young fans around the world through marketing campaign, “The Only Way to Know.” The campaign will be brought to life through an integrated, cross-platform marketing approach including a wide variety of on-site activations as well as digital and traditional assets.

“We understand that challenges facing today’s youth can be daunting, and we are committed to providing opportunities and programs designed to inspire them along the way to never lose sight of their hopes and dreams,” said Younghee Lee, Executive Vice President of Global Marketing, Mobile Communications Business at Samsung Electronics. “Samsung is proud to spread the Youth Olympic Games spirit both in Lillehammer and around the globe and create new experiences designed to reach youths through our state-of-the-art technology and riveting VR content.”

For the Lillehammer Youth Olympic Games, Samsung and the International Olympic Committee will partner to deliver the first ever Olympic content in Virtual Reality. The action will also be real for fans watching remotely, with Samsung offering the opportunity to tune into the VR Live Streaming of the Opening Ceremony via Samsung mobile device, feeling the energy of the crowd as the athletes enter the stadium.

“Samsung is a longstanding Worldwide Olympic Partner that is dedicated to empowering fans, both during the Olympic Games and Youth Olympic Games, through innovative technologies and breakthrough experiences,” said Timo Lumme, IOC TMS Managing Director. “We are honored to partner with them on this first-of-its-kind VR live streaming offering, just one of the ways that we can ensure boundaries of what are possible for both youths on the ground and those watching remote are constantly being pushed.”

Samsung will further maximize the excitement of the Lillehammer 2016 Youth Olympic Games by utilizing its latest technology with highly-engaging experiences, including:

Feeling the Passion of the Sports: The Gear VR Experience

To celebrate the opening night of the 2016 Youth Olympic Games on February 12, the Samsung Galaxy Studio in Lillehammer and other select locations will provide unparalleled experiences through VR Live Streaming and allow users to feel fully immersed in the Opening Ceremony. By simply pairing the Galaxy smartphones with Samsung Gear VR, the first-ever live streaming will showcase immersive angles of the Olympic torch lighting, Parade of Nations, and other Ceremony events. In addition, daily VR highlights will feature a variety of winter sports, including speed skating, snowboarding, figure skating, ski jumping, and more, and these contents will be available for public following the event.

From February 11-21, three Samsung Galaxy Studios – the VR Bus, VR Monument and the VR Station – will be set up in various locations around Lillehammer to provide a variety of immersive, never-before-felt experiences for youths, spectators and athletes. Visitors will have exposure to Samsung mobile products including the Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+, Galaxy S6 edge, and Galaxy S6 and be given the opportunity to try a winter sport through immersive VR experiences with Gear VR. A unique 4D VR offering will be available at the VR Station, where studio visitors can sit in theatre-like chairs and feel the exhilaration of ski jumping, stepping outside of comfort zones to experience something they never would’ve dreamed possible.

Capturing the Dreams of Young Athletes with Technology

Youth Olympic Games hopefuls, including Norwegian Vebjørn Hegdal, will be featured in the TV/ digital commercial “The Only Way to Know,” dedicated to telling the story of youths who battle through constraints both in life and in sport. Through Samsung Galaxy, youths are encouraged to forge their own path and share their journey on social media with the campaign #THEONLYWAYTOKNOW.

Additional digital and social content will be provided throughout the Lillehammer Games by 47 IOC Young Ambassadors representing 39 different countries around the world. The Young Ambassadors program, which is entering its fourth Youth Olympic Games cycle, encourages youths to be curious and stay active through sports. As part of the program, the youth ambassadors are featured interacting with Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ to share self-expression and stay connected throughout their stories of inspiring bravery in sports and in life.

Lillehammer 2016 Winter Youth Olympic Games will be held February12-21, 2016 in Lillehammer, Norway.

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 mobile payment on-site. 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.

Samsung Electronics America, official mobile sponsor of the Sundance Film Festival, is sparking VR storytelling at the Samsung Studio, the go-to venue for filmmakers, content developers, industry influencers and more to connect, learn and share experiences, all through the lens of the latest Samsung products and services, including the new Samsung Gear VR, powered by Oculus.

“One of the biggest trends and themes for 2016 is virtual reality. At Samsung, we are making VR more accessible by partnering with the best in the industry to deliver a growing library of engaging, rich content for our Gear VR which is all made possible by our latest Galaxy devices,” said Marc Mathieu, chief marketing officer at Samsung Electronics America. “We are excited to engage with the creative community at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival to collaborate and amplify viewpoints, content and new technological advancements as we continue to cultivate development in the VR community.”

There are many opportunities for Festivalgoers to meet and interact at the Samsung Studio. Here is a sampling of what’s in store.

Unique programming at Samsung Studio

The team from Funny Or Die joins Samsung to debut the world premiere of the first-ever virtual reality comedy short, “Interrogation” featuring comedians Paul Scheer and Rob Huebel. Discussions will highlight how Gear VR is empowering comedic storytelling in new, immersive ways.

Samsung Studio will also treat Festivalgoers to interactive filmmaker panels with Deadline, BMI, Broadcast Music, Inc. and Funny Or Die, among other programming to be announced.

GONE Returns from Holiday Hiatus

At the 2016 Sundance Film Festival, Samsung, in collaboration with Skybound Entertainment and Wevr, will unveil the latest cluster of episodes from Samsung’s original thriller “GONE.” During December 2015, “GONE Episode #1: Pilgrim” quickly rose to be the number one most viewed piece of content on the service, with viewers quickly gravitating towards the “exploratory video” technology unique to the series.

Gear Indie Challenge Results

In an effort to nurture emerging and independent VR filmmakers, Samsung recently conducted the Gear Indie “There in 60 Seconds” contest, challenging filmmakers to transport viewers to a place that is special and unique in 60 seconds or less. At the 2016 Sundance Film Festival, details on the winning entries will be unveiled, with the winning content available to enjoy on Samsung Gear VR.

New Frontier Mobile VR Content Coming to Samsung Gear VR

Gear VR will be the way to watch the New Frontier Program’s Mobile VR content stemming from the 2016 Sundance Film Festival. Attendees will be able to experience the innovative works of ground-breaking artists who work in new media technology and get a glimpse of how the VR medium is used to immerse the viewer and take storytelling to a new dimension.

Living the Galaxy Life to the Fullest at Samsung Studio

At the Samsung Studio, Galaxy owners can enjoy premium services with the Gear S2 Concierge, offering priority restaurant reservations and complimentary Uber rides – all ordered from Samsung’s newest smartwatch, the Gear S2. Festivalgoers will also be able to use Samsung Pay – the official mobile payment of the 2016 Sundance Film Festival – at the Studio’s café, which will feature menu items from Salt Lake City’s own, “The Rose Establishment.”

More Information about Samsung at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival

Visitors to the Samsung Studio will have access to the Sundance Film Festival Selfie, and will experience the brand’s full range of product innovations including the Gear VR, Galaxy View, Galaxy S6 edge+, Galaxy Note5, Galaxy Tab S2, Gear S2, SUHD TVs and home appliances. The Samsung Studio will be located at 638 Park Avenue and will be open from January 22 – January 26, 2016.

For additional information and the full list of panel details, please visit the 2016 Sundance Film Festival schedule at sundance.org/festival.

Using insights gained from experts in Samsung’s London based Design & Innovation Centre, the 2016 predictions range from virtual reality innovations that will blur digital and physical environments, to an increase in social conscience of younger consumers that will drive positive social change.

“We predict that 2016 will be a transformative year for technology” says Felix Heck, Head of Office at Samsung Design Europe (SDE). “Thanks to super-fast internet speeds, an explosion of data connections and the development of virtual reality, we believe that this will be the year that the digital realm will increasingly apply itself to the physical world in our homes, on our roads and beyond. These new trends will be driven by younger generations demanding ever more socially responsible businesses.”

Samsung Europe’s 2016 Technology Predictions:

Touching the Next Generation of the Internet

Next year, mobile internet speed and quality is set to overtake home broadband in cities around Europe. This boost in online performance will open new possibilities for entirely new applications and services we haven’t considered before.

As speed of technological change continues to increase, we believe the internet will evolve beyond engaging people’s eyes and ears. The boom in virtual innovation is indicative that the internet will also excite our sense of touch – what we call the tactile internet.

“2016 will see the beginning of a shift towards more emotive, immersive and sensorial technology. This is what we call smart empathy,” comments Camille Hammerer, Head of SDE’s Trend Experience lab. “Buoyed by innovations in virtual reality, we are now on the cusp of a fundamental shift in consumers’ expectations of their interactions with technology, from objects that serve a particular purpose or function to genuinely smart products and services that seamlessly integrate with day-to-day life and amplify and enhance our everyday experiences in new and meaningful ways.”

Virtual Reality Technology will Create a ‘Phygital’ World

The confines between digital and physical environments are breaking down and Samsung expects advancements in virtual reality technology will give rise to a new ‘phygital’ dimension.

As Samsung predicted last year, virtual reality has crossed into retail. Our Samsung Gear VR virtual reality headsets now supports companies ranging from travel operators, through to premium car manufacturers, which are already offering ‘virtual’ access to their products and experiences to people in-store and at home.

Smart Evolution Driving Change

The rise of the smart home has been predicted loudly and often in recent years. Indeed, it is predicted that 18% of houses in the UK will adopt some smart home technology next year*, underpinned by new and exciting products and services that control your home using your mobile phone. Hubs and apps to monitor, control, secure and connect homes like products from the Smart Things range will increasingly move into the mainstream.

But the boom in connections won’t stop at the front door. Smart, internet-connected innovation will move from the home to your car, culminating in the emergence of the first autonomous automobiles in the coming years.

“Driverless cars are no longer the stuff of science fiction, but are bringing a very real promise of greater road safety and significantly reduced traffic,” said Camille Hammerer, Head of SDE’s Trend Experience lab. “We’re at the start of that journey now, but big corporate investment is speeding up the process. Earlier this month, Samsung announced that we are setting up an automotive components team, which will initially focus on building its competencies in infotainment and autonomous driving vehicles.”

Great Expectations for Conscience-Driven Change

Millennials are increasingly demanding that companies adapt their processes and even products in line with their opinions and needs to create a more conscience-driven economy. Samsung predicts that we will develop new, smarter processes and technologies to help companies respond to this desire for more socially conscious brands. Through crowdsourcing ideas and crowdfunding investment to finance them, developments in new technologies will tackle issues such as sustainability or the shortage of ICT skills in the workforce.

In Samsung, we are addressing this shortage of ICT skills; so far, over 125,000 people have taken part in Samsung’s programmes for ‘digital creators’ across Europe.

“With data speeds improving and a groundswell of Millennial opinion supporting them, online communities will wield even more influence when it comes to addressing societal challenges. Crowdfunding and ethical campaigning is only set to grow further”, said Camille Hammerer, Head of SDE’s Trend Experience lab.

“It’s fantastic to see businesses as well as individuals taking a more socially responsible approach in new ways. This wave of ‘shared empowerment will hopefully encourage more individuals to realise the incredible potential of technology to improve the lives of future generations,” explains Camille Hammerer.

For so long, virtual reality was thought of as impractical and futuristic—a mind-boggling technology plucked from the pages of science fiction, solely utilized by diehard gamers and tech geeks. But the past couple of years have shown us that virtual reality has already trickled into a variety of industries, from film and entertainment to education and advertising. This rapidly growing and expanding virtual environment is powered by 360-degree video, a new kind of medium that allows viewers to sense the action from all angles and directions, so they feel as if they’re actually in the scene as it unfolds before their eyes.

In the Middle of the Action

Recognizing the potential of this highly immersive means of delivering content, online platforms such as YouTube, Flickr and Facebook have taken numerous measures to support 360-degree video formats. In doing so, people are now able to experience things they wouldn’t likely encounter in “reality,” such as flying a WWII fighter plane or viewing Earth from the International Space Station, in new and unique ways.

While these kinds of videos generally provide an immersive experience, traditional filmmakers and production companies are exploring how 360-degree video can also transform storytelling and make a viewer feel more emotionally involved. Some of the most favored videos among those already published have been horror films, which trap viewers in eerie, highly atmospheric scenes in which they can literally look over their shoulder to see what’s lurking in the dark.

Engrossing and emotion-provoking videos like these have given way to an unpredictable increase in the popularity of virtual reality elements at this year’s major film festivals—including Cannes, Sundance, Tribeca and Hot Docs—and have accelerated major film and television studios’ recent VR initiatives.

Storytelling in the Age of Digital Video

Journalists are also hoping to evoke similar emotions and create empathy in a field that is often criticized for lacking such components. The New York Times, for example, recently ventured into the world of 360-degree video storytelling with “The Displaced,” their Nov. 5 story about the plight of refugee children forced from their homes by war and persecution. This pioneering journalistic endeavor let viewers move their mobile devices around to take in the full scenery, exploring the refugee experience in a highly personal way.

But storytelling isn’t just for journalism. In fact, the buzzword is also strongly tied to the advertising industry, and 360-degree video provides a way to create intense moments and rich, enveloping experiences that can help boost a brand’s story. So much so that the medium is predicted to be one of the biggest marketing trends to watch for in 2016. Already several large media organizations, as well as athletes, celebrities and TV show producers, have put together promotional videos offering a variety of immersive content options to engage fans. Consumer brands have also begun utilizing 360-degree video technologies in striking advertising campaigns to reach out to the young, tech-savvy consumers of today.

In addition to entertainment, news and marketing, there are a whole host of use cases that 360-degree video creators have only just begun to explore. Such use cases include educational applications, like surgical training tools for medical students, and content that aims to treat illnesses such as post-traumatic stress disorder in war veterans or phantom limb syndrome in amputees.

A New Way to Consume, Create and Connect

The quality of 360-degree video has improved greatly in recent years, due in large part to the technology that enables its creation and consumption. What was once only available for viewing on a personal computer can now also be easily accessed and viewed on a mobile device. Yet 360-degree video is most impressive when experienced through mobile virtual reality devices, such as Samsung’s new consumer edition of the Gear VR headset, which hit shelves last month.

Headsets like Samsung’s utilize gyro sensors, geomagnetic sensors and proximity sensors to shift the 360-degree video and sound in unison with the user’s head movements, tricking the brain into reacting as if it were all real. And, considering the advantages of smartphone capabilities, the masses can now experience virtual reality in all its glory at a comparatively low cost.

Furthermore, with the Samsung Internet for Gear VR app, users can now also browse the web and experience digital content in a highly immersive environment, as if they were at the cinema watching it on the big screen. With the ability to stream both 360-degree and 3D videos from the web, the app provides users with an easily accessible, fully immersive VR viewing experience.

While the technology utilized to view 360-degree video continues to advance, so does the camera equipment used to film the content, making it easier and more affordable for just about anyone to produce their own omnidirectional films. Furthermore, organizations are opening their doors to foster the creation and development of 360-degree video content. The Sundance Institute, for example, has established a residency program for independent filmmakers who hope to lay the groundwork for this new film language. Likewise, YouTube Space is a studio that offers resources for creatives to produce 360-degree video, and conducts periodic workshops and social gatherings to help creators collaborate with one another.

Although 360-degree video has already made its mark on a variety of industries, it is certain that people will begin to share far more VR content—whether personal experiences or artistic endeavors—as technology makes it easier for amateurs to produce it themselves. As more content is created, sites will adapt by adding supportive features, and, soon enough, 360-degree video will allow people to create, tell and share the stories and experiences that are important to them in a richer and more immersive way.

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Samsung Electronics will once again demonstrate how technology can transform the human experience through a live virtual reality broadcast of alternative rock band The Gift’s highly anticipated concert on Saturday, December 19 at 10 p.m. in Lisbon, Portugal.

The concert celebrating the 20th anniversary of The Gift will take place at the MEO Arena and will be the first direct transmission in Portugal of a musical performance in virtual reality. Utilizing two cameras, the transmission will give the viewer the option of watching the show from the front row, or from the stage alongside the band.

To watch the concert in virtual reality from anywhere in the world, viewers will need the Samsung Gear VR headset, a compatible smartphone and the IM360 VR App, which can be downloaded from the Oculus Store. Alternatively, the concert can be viewed at various Samsung Experience Store locations throughout Portugal.

The Gift was formed in 1994 and is made up of Sónia Tavares, brothers John and Nuno Gonçalves, and Miguel Ribeiro. The band has released five albums of Portuguese and English songs over the past 20 years, which were well received in their native country, as well as throughout Europe. They were also recipients of the MTV Europe Award for Best Portuguese Act in 2005.

Thanks to the latest technological developments, and more affordable devices such as Samsung’s Gear VR, virtual reality has become more accessible. Leveraging this, Samsung recently set out to use this increasingly evolving media platform to connect sports fans around the world to their favorite athletes in a way like never before in Portugal.

On September 20, the soccer match between Portuguese teams FC Porto and S.L. Benfica was broadcast to the world in virtual reality using a multi-camera system which featured 360-degree cameras placed on the pitch and in the bleachers. In October, surfing fans from around the globe had the opportunity to be transported to Portugal’s Supertubos Beach to get an up-close view of the Moche Rip Curl Pro. Now, Samsung is expanding its virtual reality efforts to music.

In September, a smartwatch boasting this powerful shape was unveiled at IFA—a design drastically different from the rectangular styles that preceded it. The mesmerizing Gear S2 immediately set itself apart by boasting a more traditionally analog design. Likewise, the concept of the circle was also applied to the Gear VR, another device by Samsung Electronics. The virtual reality headset allows users to watch digital content in 3D with a 360-degree view—an entirely new experience for most.

Yet, it’s not just tech fans that have fallen for the charms of these circle-centric products. They have made their way into the fashion, sports and entertainment industries throughout the world.

In Vogue

On November 28, Samsung held a fashion show in collaboration with BALR., a Netherlands-based fashion brand founded by three professional soccer players. BALR. produces clothing and accessories based on the concepts of simplicity, luxury and comfort. With over 700,000 Instagram fans, the brand is constantly growing in popularity, especially among millennials.

Working hand-in-hand with Samsung, the brand showcased the Gear S2 with the unique styles of BALR. at the show.

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“The union of the Gear S2 and BALR. illustrates the future of fashion and technology. Going forward, we will continue to feature technology unique to Samsung by merging IT devices with fashion.” said Menno van den Berg, Managing Director at Samsung Electronics Benelux B.V.

Gear S2 Goes Global with Circular Experience Zones

With a unique circular design, Gear S2 experience zones have sprung up in a total of 17 countries across the world. At these interactive locales, which have been established in cities such as New York, Dubai, London and San Paolo, visitors have the opportunity to try out the Gear S2 and Gear VR devices that are showcased on circular tables.

Virtually Courtside

In early October, Samsung hosted “Balls Don’t Lie” in Milan, Italy. At the event, basketball fans donned Level headphones as they watched their favorite NBA teams bring the action of the courts to Samsung’s SUHD TVs in real time.

The highlight of the event, however, was the Gear VR experience, which allowed attendees to get courtside access to the big game.

Luca Rossi, a sports enthusiast who tried out Samsung’s Gear VR first-hand stated, “I just wanted to watch the game since I love basketball, but I felt like I was actually playing the game. It was so vivid that I can’t explain. It was so real that I could turn around in a circle and see the entire venue, just as if I were really there.”

Hang Ten

Just about every surfing aficionado around the world has heard of Portugal’s Supertubos Beach, which made it the perfect location for a 4D surfing experience.

At the Moche Rip Curl Pro in October, participants were able to slip into Gear VR headsets and hop on surf boards.

“I can’t believe Samsung makes such a fun device!” exclaimed Pedro Guedes, an impressed participant, as he took off the headset. “I feel as if I just came back from surfing!”

Frederico Paiva of Samsung Electronics Portugal explained, “People will begin to see our products associated with sports more often in the future. We plan to carry out unprecedented marketing activities in an effort to bring consumers closer to Samsung.”

The Charm of the Circle

Moving away from the rectangular shape which has been so prevalent in technology in the past, the Gear S2 and Gear VR highlight the charm of the circle. These products promise satisfaction to consumers, not only in design but also functionality.

Created to display information in a circular design, the Gear S2 is appealing to the eye. The product is not only revolutionary in shape, but the functionality upgrade of the Gear S2—which is easily connected to other Android devices—has taken the world by storm. Similarly, the Gear VR, which places the user at the center of attention, is a product that is taking the mobile experience to the next level.

Both products beautifully demonstrate the power of the world’s most captivating shape and how it has inspired Samsung to lead the way in technological innovation across multiple industries and lifestyles.

Samsung Electronics announced that the new Samsung Gear VR powered by Oculus is available for pre-order in the U.S. starting today. The new consumer edition of the Gear VR is compatible with Samsung’s 2015 flagship smartphones, the Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy S6 edge+, Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge, leveraging each device’s super AMOLED display to provide the color, clarity and performance needed for an amazing virtual reality experience.

“Samsung is leveraging its leadership in mobile, by giving millions of Samsung Galaxy smartphone owners’ access to amazing virtual reality experiences including immersive games, the ability to explore beautiful photographs and exciting videos in 360 degrees, and much more,” said Nick DiCarlo, Vice President, Immersive Products and Virtual Reality at Samsung Electronics America. “The quality of the VR experience provided by Galaxy smartphones and Oculus software is unparalleled, taking virtual reality out of the early adopter space and into the mainstream with this revolutionary product.”

“This is an incredible moment for virtual reality as we introduce the absolute best VR experience on mobile today,” said Max Cohen, Head of Mobile, Oculus. “People all over the world can now turn their mobile phone into an immersive VR experience with made-for-VR games and thousands of amazing 2D, 3D and 360 degree videos and films.”

The Gear VR is now available for pre-order on Samsung.com, Amazon.com and BestBuy.com, and will begin shipping as early as November 20. Gear VR will retail for $99.99 MSRP. It will be available online at Amazon.com, BestBuy.com, Samsung.com and at retail at BestBuy, as early as November 20. T-Mobile will offer the Gear VR beginning November 27 in stores and online at T-Mobile.com. AT&T will offer the Gear VR and will confirm specific availability.

The Samsung Gear VR is 19 percent lighter than the previous Gear VR Innovator Edition, and includes new foam cushioning to make the device more comfortable to wear. In addition, the Gear VR’s touchpad has been improved, providing greater control and easier navigation while enjoying the wide range of film, gaming, 360 degree video and experiential content available for Gear VR.

Samsung Gear VR users can play dozens of new made-for-VR games that are coming to the Oculus platform this year, including CCP’s “Gunjack” and Ustwo Games’ “Lands End”. People can also enjoy a wide range of content from Samsung Milk VR, a premium virtual reality content service, watch the entire Netflix** catalog of original series, documentaries and films, and explore Oculus Video, where viewers can watch thousands of videos and films from Lionsgate, 20^th Century Fox, Twitch, and Vimeo.

Working closely with the major wireless providers, an update for the Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ and Note 5 will be available in time for the Gear VR launch to make the phones compatible with the new headset.

For more information and media assets on the Gear VR, please visit www.samsung.com/GearVR.

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.

**Netflix streaming subscription required.

From the Stage to the Screen

One of the most obvious industries that virtual reality has affected this year is entertainment. From next-generation gaming driven by technologies like movement detection, sensors and beacons, to the release of films that give viewers a 360-degree view of all the on-screen action, entertainment has reached a new level of greatness.

No longer simply about memorable characters and good storylines, the industry has become centered on producing holistic and immersive user experiences. This is becoming such a focus, in fact, that this past August saw the launch of the Kaleidoscope VR Film Festival. The traveling showcase was established to highlight independent filmmakers who are pioneering film’s newest medium. Festival-goers throughout North America had the chance to watch more than a dozen short films using Gear VR.

Similarly, there were numerous campaigns initiated to get viewers excited about new movie launches. Among them, Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron garnered a great deal of attention through a two-minute VR experience for the Galaxy S6 and Gear VR in which viewers were placed dead center in the middle of a thrilling battle between the Avengers and Ultron’s robot minions.

The music industry has also been fine-tuned to pave the way for similar new experiences. In September, the Van Beethoven bus tour commenced in Los Angeles, which let passersby don Gear VR headsets to enjoy the LA Philharmonic’s rendition of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5, performed at Walt Disney Concert Hall. Likewise, across the country at Lollapalooza in Chicago, visitors of both the Samsung Galaxy Experience and Samsung Owner’s Lounge were able to view live performances from the Samsung Galaxy main stage in virtual reality for the first time in music festival history.

Unrestricted Event Access

Although Lollapalooza attendees were able to experience the festival in a unique way on-site, Gear VR also provided the means to get up close and personal with unrestricted, remote access at some of this year’s biggest events. Perhaps the most noteworthy of these was the first Democratic presidential debate of the US 2016 race. CNN made history by hosting the first-ever live stream of a news event in virtual reality, giving viewers a front-row seat to CNN’s 2016 election debates on October 13.

Likewise, Samsung gave consumers a sneak peek of its exhibition at IFA, the world’s leading trade show for consumer electronics and home appliances, in a number of experience zones around Berlin, Germany in September.

Go Virtually Anywhere

While the promise of being able to virtually attend some of the world’s biggest events from the comfort of one’s living room is very exciting, so is the idea of visiting exotic locations and faraway places without having to purchase a plane ticket.

In September, Marriott Hotels launched VRoom Service at New York Marriott Marquis and London Marriott Park Lane, in which hotel guests are offered room-service delivery of a virtual reality loaner kit with Samsung Gear VR. Guests can use the devices to watch “VR Postcards”, Marriott’s virtual travel content platform that features intimate and immersive travel stories. Each follows a traveler on a journey to a unique locale, such as the Andes Mountains in Chile, an ice cream shop in Rwanda or the bustling streets of Beijing.

Qantas Airways, another big player in the travel industry, provided a similar experience to customers in Sydney and Melbourne International First Lounges as well as in the First Class cabins on select A380 services. By providing Gear VR, Qantas let passengers explore the sights and delights of network destinations, new Qantas products and the latest blockbuster movies from 40,000 feet above the ground, thus setting a new standard in premium inflight entertainment.

Trials and Test-Drives

In the same way that travelers can virtually experience tourist destinations before they even set foot on a plane, consumers are now able to try out new products, and even test-drive the latest and greatest cars.

To promote Audi’s launch of the TT S Coupé, the car company gave consumers a chance to test-drive the automobile using virtual reality technology with Gear VR. The ground-breaking initiative added a touch of theater to automotive retail, allowing Audi customers to experience the thrill of the third-generation TTS in all its glory.

Enhanced Experiences

Finally, some of the greatest Gear VR moments this year were those in which simple experiences created tremendous value—both emotional and educational—for those that partook in them.

The Natural History Museum in London, for example, offered visitors a great deal of educational value through David Attenborough’s First Life, a virtual reality experience that combines the museum’s ground-breaking research with Gear VR, vividly bringing to life ancient sea creatures that roamed Earth’s oceans more than 500 million years ago.

LifeLIVE was one of the more heart-warming moments that allowed a father 2,500 miles away from his family to witness his son’s birth—the first birth ever live-streamed using virtual reality—via the Gear VR. The project illustrated how life’s profound moments may soon be shared in a completely new way.

Gear VR has also helped to raise the spirits of hospitalized children through Samsung Italia’s eMotion Project, which virtually transported young patients from the Santa Maria Goretti Hospital in Latina, Italy, to the Movieland amusement park. The experience provided emotional support for the children, helping to improve their moods and mindsets during their hospital stay.

Combining storytelling with technology in an unprecedented way, the Gear VR has most certainly changed the way we travel, shop, connect with others and are entertained in just one short year. It has proved how it can provide unrivaled value across a variety of industries, while its uses are nearly limitless. Only time will tell what kind of virtual reality innovations the next twelve months will bring, but it’s certain they will be “unreal.”

Last year, we introduced the Gear VR, a virtual reality headset that pairs with smartphones to deliver a new type of mobile experience. As a burgeoning field, the virtual reality ecosystem continues to grow. In an effort to accelerate its expansion, we are reaching out to developers through our Gear VR framework, or GearVRf, an open source framework that helps developers produce video as well as apps and games for Android-powered virtual reality headsets.

The GearVRf makes it easy to develop compelling VR applications without requiring extensive knowledge of OpenGL and the Oculus renderer, as the GearVRf uses programming language already familiar to many Android developers, such as C++ and Java. Producing virtual reality content has also been simplified, as the GearVRf does not require a high degree of 3D graphics knowledge. For instance, developers who already have images, videos and even 3D models can easily add and edit them in their virtual space.

The GearVRf is also open source. This means developers can modify and add plug-ins to the GearVRf, and modify the code to their own requirements. For more information about the GearVRf, we ask developers to please visit: www.gearvrf.org.