Technology is emerging day by day. Media is also changing with technological shifts. The emerging technology is also changing the public habits on the consumption of media. Augmented reality, mixed reality, and virtual reality are a few techniques that have shaped public trends of viewing media. Now, 360 format videos have taken the space. The technology is gaining pace and is increasingly available and accessible for the public.
360-degree videos are spherical videos that provide a panorama view. The video covers the whole environment without any restrictions of framing by reporter or camera person. Users feel free to explore the environment by moving around the environment virtually. 360 videos are mostly created on social issues or nature coverage. These videos are exploratory in nature, whether exploring natural settings underwater or from a mountain. 360-videos have been practiced in documentary making. The use of 360 videos for news reporting or news-story telling has been limited. Technology has been less employed in making a news story. The technology needs to be explored in the same fields as well.
In the earliest 21st century, 360 format videos were recorded by using multiple cameras recording a situation at the same time. The video clips were stitched together to turn it into a spherical video. It used to be a costly task. However, with the evolution in technology, today there are omnidirectional cameras that shoot these videos. Till 2015-2017, google and Facebook launched cardboard headsets and VR Oculus headsets for viewing 360 videos. Today, in 2021, 360 videos are easily viewable on mobile devices and smartphones. Users can rotate the video by rotating the devices.
The use of 360 videos is commonly linked with the concept of immersion. User immersion is the notion that is linked with 360 videos. People feel the presence in the actual environment of the videos. However, the broad spectrum of 360 videos is providing multiple stimuli to the user at the same time. It depends on the user to focus on the stimulus they find interesting ignoring the others. This choice can create a distraction from the main subject or information intended to be conveyed.
News story videos are videos that are subject-based. They contain a news story or piece of information to be conveyed. News story videos can be created in 360 technology with or without the reporter. However, the omnidirectional view can offer multiple foregrounds and background factors that the user focuses on. Hence, creating a distraction from the subject of the story. this fact is necessary to be inquired in depth. The exploration can give new insights into the use of 360-format videos for news and journalistic purposes. It can be identified whether news created in 360 technology has similar effects to the regular two-dimensional framed news story, it creates greater immersion and attention into the story or distraction reduction the attention. This area requires detailed research to open new ways of technological use.
