Exosphere, the award-winning documentary title from immersive technology studio PHOBIA, and Meta Quest, will today release brand new 360° content in partnership with the United Nations. Since its initial launch in 2020, exosphere has wowed Meta Quest users with intimate natural history films, produced with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and Silver back films. Now audiences will see exosphere expand further into the social impact space, to become a hub for stories about humanity — and communities who are working together to overcome conflict, build peace and safeguard their way of life.
“Exosphere started as a PHOBIA produced series, bringing unreachable parts of nature to people with world-first VR camera technology,” emphasizes Samuel Tate Goodie, XR Director at PHOBIA. “Since its launch, the application has found an audience of over half a million visitors. We see the development of the exosphere platform as a way to bring immersive impact stories to a huge audience, but also to explore the way these stories are told. Immersive software allows for shared experience, interactivity, and presence that not only elevates the medium, but will come to define it.”
The exosphere ‘United Nations: suturing Peace’ series will include a series of special episodes, including Sea of Islands and Pathways to Colombia. Muslim, which will take users on an immersive journey into Yemen, will be added soon.
Gemma Hanna photo
Sea of Islands, produced by PHOBIA, Media Farm Studios and UN, explores how Fijians are facing the consequences of climate change and building climate resilience for future generations.
For filmmaker Joseph Purdah, the Co-Founder and Experiential Director of PHOBIA, Sea of Islands is a vital story about how cultural knowledge is helping locals adapt to the global climate crisis:
“Communities in the Pacific islands are under constant and growing threat from impacts of climate change. These stories, of Varela, Lanai, are inspiring case studies that we have the honor of witnessing and sharing. They demonstrate the power of indigenous knowledge to adapt to the challenges of a changing climate, and their wisdom deserves to be recognized on a global stage.”
Climate security is really at the heart of this content, adds Gabrielle Allen, CEO of Media Farm Studios and Executive Producer for Sea of Islands. I believe audiences will come to appreciate just how vulnerable these communities really are, and how much work is being done with the United Nations to forge a more secure future for the Pacific Islands.
“Pathways Colombia is an immersive virtual reality experience about the peace process in Colombia,” explains Martin Waehlisch, Team Leader of the Innovation Cell. “Produced with Guano Films, the VR experience illustrates achievements and obstacles in the reintegration and reconciliation process, while at the same time bringing to light persisting security challenges and resilience of all those committed to achieving sustainable peace in the country. We are excited that Pathways Colombia is added to the exosphere platform, which will help the UN expand outreach to the growing VR community.”
“Virtual Reality is a crucial medium in our interdisciplinary ‘Suturing Peace’ efforts,” adds Naoko Takanashi Taymanov, Political Affairs Officer from the UN Innovation Cell. “We are keen to strengthen public engagement on UN issues such as climate change and peace building. Exosphere allows us to connect better and more easily with VR consumers, while sensitizing them to the United Nations global agenda.”
Exosphere ‘United Nations: Suturing Peace’ is available from June 15th.
To download the series for free, visit the Oculus store or Oculus TV
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