Tech start-up WeLens has made its mark on the history of virtual reality (VR) by using its software to set a new world record for the largest group in a wirelessly synchronised VR viewing in one location.
The screen occurred as part of Conservation International’s 30th Anniversary fundraiser, where a screening of Under the Canopy was shown. Under the Canopy is an interactive VR film that takes viewers on a journey through the Amazon rainforest, guided through the lush jungle landscape by the indigenous people who live there to discover more about the ecosystem of the rainforest and why it is so vital to the planet and our survival. The film was directed by filmmaker Patrick Meegan, and was shown to an audience of 425 viewers at the gala, which took place in 2nd November in Culver City.
Several well-known celebrities were in attendance, including Conservation International’s executive vice chair, Harrison Ford, along with other celebrity guests such as Calista Flockhart, Sophia Bush and Vanessa Carlton.
“WeLens has developed this new wireless technology to sync audiences together in VR and our LensPass remote control software brings the experience to a whole new level,” said James Levy, WeLens’s founder and CEO. “With LensPass, you can monitor how many devices are connected as well as tract their status and health stats like battery and temperature, not just for one or two devices but several hundreds.”
While large-scale viewings of VR experiences have been done before, the amount of data and the bandwidth required has previously meant such screenings were handled using tethered VR devices, such as one at the 2015 Oculus Connect keynote delivered by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.
The screening formed part of a showcase for the fundraiser, which was dedicated towards a six-year reforestation effort that is seeking to re-plant up to 73 million trees in the Brazilian Amazon by the year 2023.
VRFocus will continue to report on new VR-related events.