Chris Milk uses innovative technologies to make personal, interactive, human stories. VR is the last medium for storytelling, he says, because it closes the gap between audience and storyteller. To illustrate, he brought the TED audience together in the world’s largest collective VR experience. You can take part with the audience by getting a Google Cardboard and downloading the experience at with.in/TED.
I found this talk really interesting for my project because it shows how VR can show not only simulations but is also a unique path into the emotions, senses and body. It implies you can connect with a user more intimately with Virtual Reality over another medium, and so making it easier to empathise with the users.
Chris says that VR can make anyone feel local, and unlike film you have to guide the users attention using sound.
One of the most interesting pieces of Milk’s was “Clouds over Sidra”. This is a documentary style VR experience based in a refugee camp. This gives us a look into the daily life of a schoolchild, which is along the lines of what I wanted to do but with someone with visual impairment. Milk says that “VR can make anywhere feel local”, and in this film you can see how this is possible. By taking the view of a 12 year old girl you really emphasise and feel for her and what she is going through.
You can watch using the link below: