Google and Discovery have joined forces to launch a series of 38 documentaries spanning all seven continents designed to be watched in virtual reality (VR)
Divided into seven chapters, one for each continent, the Discovery TRVLR series will make its debut November 3 on YouTube and on DiscoveryVR.com as well as through the Discovery VR app, and has been designed to work with Google’s Daydream headset and the more budget orientated Google Cardboard VR goggles, which opens up Discovery TRVLR’s VR experience for use with iPhones as well as Android handsets.
As the Discovery VR app and site offers support for the Oculus Rift, Samsung’s Gear VR and the HTC Vive headsets, it is likely that the Discovery TRVLR will work with those headsets, though Discovery didn’t explicitly mention this is the case.
The series will have documentaries looking into the lives and cultures of people from the seven continents, as well as explore exotic locations and visit iconic far-flung cities such as Mexico City, Hanoi, Cape Town, and Auckland, all captured in 360 degree footage.
VR is still a rather niche area of the technology world, despite the efforts of Sony and its PlayStation VR headset and Google creating a design platform and software framework for helping developers and hardware makers delve into VR.
But the likes of Discovery and its work with Google appear to be helping turn VR into a form of tech cottage industry, where various studios, developers, and design organisations are looking at making use of the hardware available to them to increase the amount of interesting VR content available to view and interact with.
Related: HTC Vive vs Oculus Rift
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
