360 VR Terms – Glossary

We have the definition of every VR term you need to know, on one page! If you think we've missed something out or you would like some more information, please don't hesitate to get in touch.

360VR/360 VR

360VR is short for 360 Virtual Reality and it refers to videos and images that enable the user to explore the entire 360 degrees of a scene. The VR content can be viewed with or without a VR headset. 360 VR video is commonly referred to as VR Video or 360 Video and VR photographs are usually referred to as 360 photography.

To find out more about 360VR, click here to take a look at our in-depth articles.

360 Photography

360 photography refers to the production of images that enable the viewer to explore the entire 360 degrees of a scene. Typically, DSLR cameras are used with a panoramic tripod head. To find out more about 360 photography, check out our full article here.

360 photography is often used in the real estate industry for producing virtual reality property tours. To find out everything you need to know about VR in real estate, take a look at our article here.

6DOF (6 Degrees Of Freedom) VR

In 6DOF (6 degrees of freedom) VR the user is able to move around the space, as well as just rotating. The 6 degrees refer to the 6 directions of movement possible; left, right, forward, backwards, up, and down.

This type of VR can create a more immersive experience by giving the user a level of freedom that is more like the real world. However, it can be hard for filmmakers to control the narrative with 6DOF VR. It is also more difficult to produce, and more expensive as a result.

Chromatic Aberration in VR

Chromatic Aberration occurs when a lens fails to focus all the colours precisely to one point (the eye). This results in blurry images that exhibit a mismatch of colours, especially along the edges of objects.

In VR, chromatic aberration is quite common. VR headsets themselves typically cause some degree of chromatic aberration, which must be accounted for in specialist VR software such as Mistika VR. The user then has the ability to adjust the lens, via the VR headset, in order to account for their eyesight.

Colour Correction in VR

Just like in regular images, the colours in VR images are altered during post production in order to make the images look more realistic and pleasing to the eye.

However, VR poses more of an issue as multiple lenses are used to capture the footage. Each lens will capture colour slightly differently, resulting in colour variation throughout the image. The colours must be matched in specialist VR software such as Mistika to produce a cohesive image.

DSLR Cameras in VR

DSLR cameras are used in VR for 360 photography. These cameras are capable of producing higher resolution images than omnidirectional cameras. A DSLR is mounted on a panoramic tripod head in order to allow for the seamless capture the entire 360 degrees of a scene.

Field Of View (FOV) in VR

In VR, the field of view (FOV) is the amount of scene that is visible to the viewer, measured in degrees. Humans have a FOV of approximately 200 degrees.

The average VR headset currently has a field of view of just over 100 degrees but the industry is pushing towards the 200 degree mark. The larger FOV better replicates the human vision and results in a more realistic and immersive experience.

Immersion in VR

Immersion in VR occurs when a person experiences the feeling of being present in a virtual environment. Rather than understanding that what they are experiencing is not real, they feel that it is.

This illusion is created by making everything seem as real as possible. This is why attention to detail is so important in VR. Anything unrealistic or unusual will reduce the immersion.

Here at Immersion VR, we do what we say on the tin. We want to create unique experiences that leave the user with a feeling they won’t forget. To find out more about the immersive experiences we create on a day to day basis, get in touch today.

Lens Distortion in VR

Lens distortion, or barrel distortion, is where an image can appear warped due to the spherical nature of the lens. The effect is particularly noticeable when straight lines appear bent. Lens distortion can be an issue with regular images and videos, but this is especially the case with VR content.

Because wide-angle lenses are used for VR, lens distortion is more apparent. Fortunately, there are several techniques available that can help to minimise lens distortion in order to produce the most immersive content possible.

Mistika VR

Mistika VR is specialist VR software available for Windows and OSX systems that offers advanced stitching capabilities. Together with a deep understanding of VR, this allows for the production of seamless, immersive VR content.

Monoscopic VR

Monoscopic VR refers to virtual reality content that is captured by a camera, or multiple cameras, and can be viewed with or without a VR headset. Just like a regular image or video, with monoscopic VR 1 image is directed to both eyes.

Although not as immersive as stereoscopic VR, it is more versatile and generally more cost-effective. We explain all the differences between monoscopic and stereoscopic VR in our article here.

Omnidirectional Camera

An omnidirectional camera is a specialist type of VR camera that has multiple lenses and is capable of filming the entire 360 degrees of a scene at once. Most of these cameras are capable of capturing both monoscopic and stereoscopic VR content.

Panoramic Tripod Head

A panoramic tripod head is a mount for a DSLR camera that allows VR photographers to precisely set the point of rotation of the lens. This can be adjusted for each lens and focal length, removing all image distortion. For 360 photography, a panoramic tripod head is the perfect tool to allow the seamless capture of an entire scene.

Spatial Audio in 360 Videos

Spatial audio is a next-generation surround-sound technique that mimics the way we hear in real life. As the listener moves their head, the sound changes accordingly. The audio is delivered through headphones to increase the precision and to reduce outside noise.

With VR headsets, spatial audio can be combined with 360 video content to produce an incredibly real and immersive experience. State-of-the-art omnidirectional VR cameras now offer the ability to record spatial audio.

Stereoscopic VR

Stereoscopic VR refers to virtual reality content that is captured by a camera, or multiple cameras, and can only be viewed with a VR headset. With stereoscopic VR, there are 2 images, 1 for each eye. This helps to achieve a sense of depth perception and more closely resembles the way we say with the human eye.

Although it is less versatile than monoscopic VR, and typically more expensive, stereoscopic VR provides a more immersive experience. To read our article explaining all the differences between monoscopic and stereoscopic VR, click here.

Stitching

Stitching refers to the VR post-production stage in which multiple pieces of footage are carefully merged together in order to produce a seamless image or video.

If stitching is not carried out effectively, the resulting content will feel disorientating and unnatural. In severe cases, this can lead the viewer to feel nauseous.

Advanced cameras and powerful computer software (such as Mistika VR) help with the stitching process but there is no substitute for attention to detail. In order to achieve the most immersive content possible, the producer must carry out the stitching as precisely as possible.

Virtual Reality Property Tours

Virtual reality property tours enable the viewer to explore every room of a property in detail, from the comfort of their own home. These tours are typically produced using 360 photography, which enables the interiors to be shot in ultra-high resolution. It is even possible to produce CGI renders of properties that have not yet been completed.

The user can then view and interact with the tour on any device, including mobile. They are free to move from room to room as they choose, and then can explore the full 360 degrees of every room in great detail. To find out more about virtual reality property tours, click here to find out more about VR for real estate.

VR Headset

A VR headset (or VR goggles) is a head-mounted device that completely encloses the user’s vision. The headset features 2 lenses, 1 for each eye, which direct footage from a screen within the headset to the user’s eyes.

The headsets make use of VR head tracking which enables the user to look around the scene as they would in the real world. VR headsets can display both monoscopic and stereoscopic VR content.

VR Head Tracking

VR headsets have head tracking systems which track the movement of the user’s head. This allows for the VR content to be synchronised with the user. As the user moves their head, the VR content moves with them, creating the illusion of realism.

VR Video/360 Video

VR video, or 360 video, refers to videos that enable the viewer to explore the full 360 degrees of a scene. VR videos are typically shot with an omnidirectional camera, which is capable of capturing 360 degrees of footage at the same time.

VR videos can be viewed on any device, including mobile, or for a more immersive experience, a VR headset can used. 360 videos can be either monoscopic or stereoscopic depending on the application and requirements.

Wide-angle Lenses in VR

A wide-angle lens is a type of camera lens that allows more of a scene to be captured than a regular lens. In fact, the widest wide-angle lenses (fisheye lenses) can capture up to 180 degrees in a single shot. Wide-angle lenses are commonly used in VR in order to ensure capture of the entire 360 degrees of a scene.

Although very useful, these lenses suffer from more lens distortion than regular lenses. This must be carefully managed by the filmmaker in order to reduce the impact on the VR content.

Get In Touch

We are 360 VR specialists

Contact Us