The buzz around 360-degree video has been around for a few years now. In particular, 2016 saw YouTube announce its support of the technology, with other heavyweights, such as Facebook and Google Photos following suit shortly thereafter.
What Is 360-Degree Video?
Aptly named, 360 video allows individuals to capture a film setting in full 360-degree glory. The cameras and camera rigs vary, but all of them allow for shooting on all sides of the camera, and then footage is stitched and edited together using specialized software. The finished products are immersive video experiences that allow the viewer to pan around the video in all positions rather than staring at a single, head-on view.
Viewers can watch these videos through supported platforms, such as YouTube or Facebook, but in many cases, the best results are with VR headsets which allow individuals to really feel like they are part of the filmed experience.
Unsurprisingly, the tourism industry has been quick to integrate 360 video technology into campaigns and promotional strategies. The immersive experience gives potential visitors the opportunity to “experience” a destination before they decide to go—and the technology is just plain cool.
Why 360 Video Is Important to DMOs
360 video is important to DMOs because it is quickly becoming a standard for destination marketing cinematography. As the video technology becomes cheaper and support more readily available, forward-thinking organizations are jumping on the opportunity to become leaders with the style of film, which takes time and expertise to master.
Take Destination British Columbia, for instance. They have been producing virtual reality and 360-degree videos since 2014 and have seen over 65 million media impressions, a 5% increase in visitors and a whole lot of buzz. In an interview with The Skift, Janice Fraser, Managing Editor of Destination British Columbia said, “The cost of 360 has also dropped significantly in last three years. In the past, we’d usually take 15 VR headsets and help people put them on at events. Now we’ll purchase hundreds of Google Cardboard headsets and give one to everyone at a conference and give them instructions to download a 360 video.”
Barberstock Now Supports 360 Video!
Storing and sharing 360-degree video footage requires specialized technology and the files are quite large to send and receive – this is why Barberstock is proud to announce that we now support 360 video on our platform. The new addition makes our technology among the most comprehensive in the industry. Here are a few key points:
- When a 360 video is uploaded to the Barberstock system, the original file size and type is retained. This differs from other videos as depending on the size, smaller sizes are also generated (ex. 4K video also generates HD 1080P and HD 720P)
- The video preview and file itself does not appear in 360, but once you upload the file to a 360 supported system (Facebook, YouTube) or view the video on a 360 specific player, you will get the full 360 effect.
- You can share 360 video via our Collections tool, which is extremely handy when sending large files such as these.
Experience a 360-Degree Video Yourself
And if you’re interested in experiencing 360-degree video yourself, take a look at some jaw-dropping videos from a few of our clients. Don’t forget to toggle around to experience the video at its best!
