Shot wants to be the Instagram of virtual reality
Whether it's a technology giant like Google or a small startup, nowadays everyone wants a piece of the VR pie. Shot, for instance, was created by a group of friends from Spain who wanted to bring a social aspect to virtual reality. Through a Kickstarter campaign launching today, Shot promises to make it easy for people to create VR content on an iPhone -- which can then be shared with friends via an app. In order to do so, the firm designed a camera adapter for the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, one that will allow users to capture 235-degree videos and 360-degree pictures. Shot says it's able to accomplish this effect by having two fisheye lenses in its adapter, giving it the ultra-wide field of view necessary for VR.
Hardware-wise, think of it as similar to the Olloclip lens add-ons. But once people actually start taking pictures and videos, Shot is looking to have a platform for them to share these on. Simply put, it aims to be the Instagram of VR. Shot's mobile application will let users not only shoot what's around them, but also share those recordings with friends as well as browse, watch and like what others are making. Basically, you build out your own profile and network, like you're already doing on Facebook's popular image-sharing app. Of course, since this is supposed to be snackable VR, whatever you make with Shot's adapter will be viewable on Google's Cardboard headset, too.
The Kickstarter is going to include a lens kit (iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus or iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus) and Cardboard for $55, with the goal being to crowdsource $100,000. If funded, Shot says both the accessory and app should be available in April of 2016. That's still a long way from now, but in the meantime, you can get a quick glimpse of the project in the video below.
As great as Shot sounds, it is a Kickstarter campaign after all, and thus keep in mind that it may be delayed at some point -- or not ship at all, as has been the case with some projects in the past.
