Google in collaboration with GoPro launches Jump-a set of film technologies that comes with a 16-camera virtual reality rig capable of capturing reality as you see it.
Unveiled by Google Cardboard creator Clay Bavor at the annual I/O Google Developer Conference last Thursday, Google Jump is different from GoPro's upcoming VR video-making camera. Jump is a VR software, while GoPro's VR product is a 6-rig cubic filming kit.
Bavor described it to USA Today as follows:
"Jump is a set of technologies that let's you capture a place in immersive VR video and let anyone experience that place as if they were actually there."
According to Google's VP for product management, GoPro built them a Jump-empowered 16-camera rig that can capture an experience in different viewpoints. This VR video camera, however, is not capable of converting the footage into an immersive VR video yet.
Transforming the recording into a life-like film clip would require the user to upload the video into a Google data center where all the "all of this heavy lifting of creating those in-between viewpoints" can be adopted into 3D form viewable in Google cardboard and other VR headsets.
Bought by Google in November 2006, YouTube will begin supporting Jump in July this year. Mashable is psyched with the new technology and said that it would make VR accessible to the masses.
"The first Jump cameras will clearly aimed at professional content creators (it's not like the average person can afford 16 GoPros). But the point is that those that do invest the money will be able to capture high-quality 360-degree videos with almost as much ease as sending a snap to a friend. And since YouTube supports 3D video, the distribution system is already built."
So, how much will it cost you? Unfortunately, the price has not been released yet.
