Dentsu Inc. Strengthens VR Business Development Support System Specializing in Sports and Entertainment

The text of the Dentsu Inc. news release distributed on June 18 is as follows.

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June 18, 2018

Develops "Fanglass" to Provide New Sports Viewing Experience Moving Between Real and VR Worlds

Dentsu Inc. (Head Office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Toshihiro Yamamoto) is strengthening its support framework for developing virtual reality (VR) business in the sports and entertainment sector, where market expansion is anticipated.

The company has previously advanced business development in the VR field through investments in U.S.-based LiveLike Inc. (hereinafter "LiveLike"), which develops VR platforms for immersive live sports broadcasting services, and the establishment of the group-wide organization "Dentsu VR Plus." Recognizing sports and entertainment content as a particularly promising area, Dentsu has now taken decisive steps to strengthen its team structure by expanding specialized personnel and external networks.

As the first step in delivering sports and entertainment content experiences, we developed "Fanglass" (http://fanglass.jp), a prototype for a new sports viewing experience that bridges the real world and VR.

＜Fanglass Overview＞

Based on LiveLike's technology, Fanglass features a UI (user interface) and UX (user experience) optimized for sports viewing. Simply wearing the goggles allows users to enjoy sports from various angles—such as behind the goal or in a VIP lounge for soccer, for example. Fanglass's "Social VR Feature" enables friends in distant locations to appear as avatars within VR. Together, they can cheer for their favorite team, predict upcoming plays, and enjoy a next-generation sports experience that fosters a shared sense of being present.

Fanglass primarily consists of the following two elements.

① "Face Flick" – An intuitive VR-based UI

Face Flick, a UI that lets you intuitively select desired information just by turning your head, was designed with entry-level user convenience in mind, free from the constraints of existing VR-based UIs.

② Specially designed goggles that instantly snap together magnetically from an open state.

　Smartphones are inserted for use.

 

Moving forward, our company will continue to develop entirely new services and solutions for the VR sports viewing experience. We will do this by utilizing VR and AR (augmented reality) not only for advertising business but also for business development with our client companies and partner companies.

That's all.

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Dentsu Inc. News Release
http://www.dentsu.co.jp/news/release/2018/0618-009555.html