HTC has done quite a bit over the last year in support of virtual reality (VR), creating various programmes such as Vive X. Today sees the launch of another, ‘VR For Impact‘, a $10 million USD initiative created to support positive impact and change in collaboration with the United Nations (UN), helping the organisation achieve it Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
Through VR for Impact, HTC Vive will fund and support content and technologies that create powerful experiences to transform our world. “The potential for Virtual Reality to help us learn, understand, and transform the world is limitless. VR for Impact is a challenge to the VR community and content developers across the globe to help drive awareness and to solve the biggest challenges of mankind,” said Cher Wang, Chairwoman and CEO, HTC. “HTC Vive will fund the best ideas using Virtual Reality that truly drive awareness and positive change in our world. We encourage all players in the VR eco-system to join as only together can we drive real impact.
The Sustainable Development Goals have been implemented by the UN as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity. VR has the unique ability to immerse people into an experience that can evoke all manner of emotions, bring global issues the human race is facing home. So through VR for Impact, the $10 million HTC Vive is investing will go to industry partners and content developers to create experiences that improve awareness, education, and lead to action.
“HTC is a pioneer in recognising the work the UN has done to promote social change through virtual reality,” said Gabo Arora, Creator of the UN’s VR Initiative and Creative Advisor to the World Food Programme. “The Vive’s room-scale VR capability can be a powerful tool for immersive storytelling, education and training; their support will empower more people to effect global change, give voices to the most vulnerable and provide access to new possibilities for the most marginalised.”
“There are millions of untold stories in every crisis, especially on the front lines where much of our work takes place,” said Corinne Woods, Director of Communications for the United Nations World Food Programme, who are utilising the latest innovations in VR. “HTC’s support of new ways to tell important stories, and help in shaping innovation for the UN’s sustainable development agenda, will build on the impact of our work and take it in new and exciting directions.”
VR for Impact is now calling for ideas at its website with the first winning projects announced on “Earth Day” 22nd April, 2017.
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