360 Video. The next greatest thing? We think so.

Have you been on Facebook recently and seen the video preview in your news feed that moves when you move your phone? In the lower left hand corner it says “Tilt and Rotate, 360 Video”. Of course you find yourself drawn to it. So you click it and find yourself wasting five minutes spinning your phone in circles around your head. It seems everyone from musicians and scientists to the Blue Angels and the Discovery Channel has been using this technology to grab your attention. And it does! You may be looking at these videos and thinking, sure its cool, but it has got to cost an arm and a leg (and maybe a kidney) to create a 360 Video. Well, you’re right… and wrong. In just the last six months, advances in imaging technology have made 360 Video accessible to just about everyone. You’re not going to get 4K (better than HD) quality for bargain basement prices, but with a little creativity in execution you can get something that will certainly attract attention to your product, event, or even small business.

In fact, 360 Video doesn’t even have to be 100% video. You can very cost-effectively shoot 360 photographs and add some whiz bang 360 animations in post-production. The complexity is driven by your budget, as always, but 360 Video in itself is considered so “cutting edge” that perhaps it doesn’t need to be “super fancy” with “super high resolution” 360 Video or 360 Graphics. Just look at your Facebook feed over the next few weeks and see how your eye is drawn to the 360 Video previews. If you’re promoting an event or a product, that attraction is half the battle.

At Sprocket Media Works, we are constantly looking for new techniques and technologies that can create an unbelievable “bang for the buck” for our clients. We think that 360 Video is the next new thing that will do just that. We are already testing several camera systems and creating samples. If you’re interested learning a bit more on how you can use 360 Video for your clients and the costs involved, just give us a shout. In the meantime, here are a few links to some resources on 360 Video.

(Note: Keep in mind that currently 360 Video online only works on mobile devices and through Google Chrome.)

Trevor Wesley 360 Music Video

Seoul Grand Park Rollercoaster 360 Video

Facebook Article on 360 Video

AdWeek says that “Facebooks 360-Degree Videos Are in Fashion”