The Harvest of Change is a unique Oculus Rift experience that immerses users in a news story about a family farm in Iowa. Although Oculus Rift is typically thought of as something that can be used for virtual reality gaming, it also has a number of other practical applications for the real world. In this case, the Gannett Company's digital division, Des Moines Register, wants to immerse its readers into a journalism like never before. Gannet's Digital Vice President Mitch Gelman declares that "This is the way we, as journalists, are going to need to communicate to the Minecraft generation," since this group is not likely to sit down and pick up a newspaper.
The experience takes Oculus Rift wearers on a tour of the farm, letting them walk through the farm property and examine objects like cows and equipment. For those without Oculus Rift, there's also a 2D simulation on Des Moines Register's site.
Immersive Journalism Experiences
This Oculus Rift Experience Lets You Step Right into a News Story
Trend Themes
1. Immersive Journalism - The Oculus Rift experience offers a new way to engage with news stories, allowing readers to step right into the narrative.
2. Virtual Reality Applications - The practical applications of Oculus Rift extend beyond gaming, presenting opportunities for innovative experiences in various fields.
3. Digital Storytelling - The use of immersive technologies like Oculus Rift revolutionize traditional journalism methods, enabling a more interactive and engaging storytelling approach.
Industry Implications
1. Media and News Publishing - The media industry can harness immersive journalism experiences using Oculus Rift to captivate readers with dynamic storytelling techniques.
2. Technology and Gaming - The gaming industry can explore new avenues by leveraging Oculus Rift for both gaming and non-gaming applications, such as immersive storytelling.
3. Agriculture and Farming - The agricultural sector can utilize virtual reality technologies like Oculus Rift to provide immersive training and educational experiences for farmers and farm workers.