360 Video and The Patient Experience

Imagine…recording a 360 Video? It is an amazing video production process that leverages lots of cameras to record simultaneously, 360 degrees. The idea is to allow the audience to experience the video and be able to take a 360 degree virtual tour while the video is playing.

This is achieved with the combination of a bunch of cameras mounted to record the same scene from all perspectives. The video above, you can watch the same scene, yet see Luis talk then click the little navigation button and see what he is looking at while he is talking. So here is how Facebook defines 360 Video below:

What is a 360 video?
A 360 video is created with a camera system that simultaneously records all 360 degrees of a scene. Viewers can pan and rotate a 360 video’s perspective to watch it from different angles.

These videos have a “360 video” label in the lower left-hand corner and are viewable on computer, iOS devices and Android devices.

360 videos on computer
When watching a 360 video on a computer, the viewing angle is changed by dragging with the mouse. Make sure you’re using the latest version of your web browser (ex. Chrome, Firefox). 360 videos on Facebook aren’t viewable on Safari or Internet Explorer.

360 videos on mobile
On iOS and Android mobile devices, the viewing angle of a 360 video is changed by dragging a finger across the screen or by navigating with the device.

From Wired:

YouTube has officially begun supporting 360 degree video formats in the majority of its mobile and web platforms. It’s a smart move, especially considering the growing interest in content-starved virtual reality platforms.

YouTube says it will support 360 video viewing in its existing YouTube Android app, on YouTube’s website, and in embedded videos on Chrome. Mobile users can tilt their device arund to adjust the point of view, much like you would with an augmented reality experience, while on the desktop, viewers can use their mouse to drag the video and see new angles. iPhone and iPad support isn’t available yet, but it should be available in the future.

Google is working with a number of cameras and manufacturers, including Bublcam, Giroptic’s 360cam, IC Real Tech’s Allie, Kodak’s SP360 and the Ricoh Theta, so that the 360 videos they capture are easy to upload to YouTube. In the future, Google will add additional features like auto-detecting when a 360-degree video has been uploaded, the ability to add filters (because what is life when it’s not viewed through a vaguely retro lens?), and better search functionality for finding these videos.

So…lets get back to the video above. Image this…using a 360 video showing an open heart surgery or even a transplant. Imagine using this experience allowing the audience to navigate the room while a procedure is taking place. Yes…this can be planned including going through the release process so that patient and hospital is protected.

Just last February, Baylor Medical Center live tweeted a heart transplant, allowing their team to share pictures in real time images from the transplant. The engagement was amazing from audiences taking part in the live experience, pushing the social media envelope inside a large healthcare organization.

So, imagine using 360 videos showcasing different surgical procedures not only for teaching purposes but also to increase consumer confidence. The videos could record the surgeon as they walk the audience through the procedure allowing them to navigate the different views while the procedure is taking place.

I love leveraging video content in ways that not only showcase innovative opportunities inside hospitals, but also gives the consumer friendly content that is extremely sharable.

Here are a few more links to review about 360 Video:
Engaget: Facebook brings 360-degree videos to iOS as content creation ramps up
Google: Upload and Create 360 degree videos