Here's something fun for Christmas (or for those times at your family Christmas gathering where you need a moment to yourself, and looking down at your mobile screen might just get old Uncle Geoff to stop talking at you, just for a second).
As we all know, video has been huge on Facebook in 2015. The evolution of mobile networks and smartphone technology has changed the way people are consuming online media - now, people can watch video content at anytime, anywhere, and a great many are opting to do just that, as opposed to reading a post.
The introduction of autoplay video on Facebook has revolutionized the spread of video among its 1.55 billion users - for context, in September last year, Facebook announced that it was serving one billion video views across the platform, every day, an impressive figure in itself. They're now serving more than eight billion. That's amazing growth - and while some have questioned Facebook's methodology for counting video views (Facebook counts a view after three seconds, as opposed to YouTube, which counts a view after 30 seconds), there's no doubt, by any measure, that video has become one of the best ways to connect with online audiences.
So what's next for video? The first thing that comes to mind is virtual reality, with many analysts and experts touting the next evolution of VR content, and both Facebook and Google working to lead the charge on this front - Facebook, through Oculus, will release their first consumer VR headset early in 2016, while Google has already been working to distribute Google Cardboard headsets to the public to help facilitate the take-up of the next iteration of video technology. Truly, the possibilities of VR are huge, and some tech industry insiders are already sharing stories of their experiences with the option, Robert Scoble talked recently about seeing the ideas for VR movies major studios are working on, while Darshan Shankur, who's now working on a VR start-up, tweeted this earlier in the week:
People actually love using the GearVR. Consumer VR is finally here! https://t.co/7zU6a30NHa pic.twitter.com/1VChl8i8dn
- Darshan Shankar (@DShankar) December 21, 2015
Such possibilities sound pretty amazing, but we're not there yet. Were not quite at the stage of a full-blown, virtual reality takeover for consumers just at this stage. But we're close.
There are still a few barriers before we get to that next level - it always takes some time for consumer take-up to be high enough for significant market penetration of new technology, and cost and availability are, obviously, the first barriers to overcome. Another bridge we're yet to cross is creator take-up of VR - as the tech rolls out, it'll take some time for creators to move in-line with the trend and make enough content for people to want to pay for VR headsets. Because of this, I'm predicting VR won't become a major factor till 2017 - but before that, we have another video innovation that'll lead into that next phase. That element is 360 degree video.
360 video content, which is now available on both YouTube and Facebook, allows the viewer to look all around them by tilting and shifting their mobile device. When done well, it's an amazing experience - 360 content offers a wider range of viewing options, with various perspectives and elements that compel multiple views. And given that we know VR is coming, and that 360 videos provide a new, interactive element to the video viewing experience, everyone will want to get on board with 360 video content in 2016. Expect to see a heap of amazing, interesting and fresh perspectives on 360 content over the next year - if you're looking for the next big thing in video content, 360 video is it.
So how does your brand move in line with this trend? How do you create compelling 360 content? What's the best way to use it? To celebrate the evolution of 360 video on Facebook, the platform has today released a blog post which shares some of the top 360 videos uploaded to the platform thus far. The videos, chosen based on a combination of interaction factors (Likes, comments, views), showcase the possibilities of 360 content and the depth of what's possible with this immersive new option.
And while it's not quite VR yet, these videos do give you some idea of what VR will be able to do, how it will take this innovation to the next level.
Here are Facebook's best examples:
Inside North Korea - ABC News
360° View Inside North Korea360° View Inside North Korea: Kim Jong Un watches as thousands celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Worker's Party with cheers for their young leader. More to come from "Inside North Korea," a VR collaboration with ABC News VR and JauntVR
Posted by ABC News on Thursday, November 12, 2015
California Valley Fire Aftermath - BuzzFeed
A 360-Degree Look At The Devastating Aftermath Of California's Valley Fire
Posted by BuzzFeed Video on Thursday, November 12, 2015
Tahiti Surf - GoPro
GoPro Spherical: Tahiti Surf VRAnthony Walsh and Matahi Drollet bring us inside some of the biggest barrels Tahiti has to offer in full 360°.For the most immersive experience, click and drag on your desktop, or move your iOS device in any direction.
Posted by GoPro on Thursday, November 12, 2015
Timelapse of Facebook's Campus - Mark Zuckerberg
Check out this 360 video timelapse of Facebook's campus. I'm really enjoying these 360 videos. They feel like you're really looking around a new place.
Posted by Mark Zuckerberg on Tuesday, November 17, 2015
New Orleans Saints Pre-Season Entrance - New Orleans Saints
360 view of Saints preseason entranceCheck out this 360 view video we took of the #Saints team's entrance during the preseason!
Posted by New Orleans Saints on Thursday, November 12, 2015
Real Madrid Training - Real Madrid
360º Video Real MadridWatch Cristiano Ronaldo, James Rodriguez, Gareth Bale, Marcelo M12, Pepe and the rest of the squad take to the training pitch before El Clásico like you've never seen before with our first-ever Football on Facebook (Soccer) 360º video.Vive en exclusiva y por primera vez con Cristiano, James, Bale, Marcelo, Pepe y el resto de la plantilla un entrenamiento en 360º. Disfrútalo como si fueras uno de ellos y prepárate para El Clásico como si formases parte del equipo.#RMClasico #RMCity #RMLiga #HalaMadrid
Posted by Real Madrid C.F. on Friday, November 20, 2015
Becoming the News - RYOT
Becoming the news using 360° journalismFlying over glaciers, hunting with eagles, entering a war zone...this was the year #360video teleported you anywhere in the world to become the story.Move/tilt your phone around and see if you can name all the places in this video!
Posted by RYOT on Friday, November 27, 2015
Speeding Across Jakku - Star Wars
Star Wars: The Force Awakens Immersive 360 ExperienceSpeed across the Jakku desert from Star Wars: The Force Awakens with this immersive 360 experience created exclusively for Facebook.
Posted by Star Wars on Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Flying with the Blue Angels - USA TODAY
Blue Angels in 360-degree videoWing-to-wing: Fly in formation with the legendary Blue Angels in this exclusive 360-degree video ride.
Posted by USA TODAY on Wednesday, November 11, 2015