Google featured a new experimental Android app called Sprayscape, which allows users to easily capture their own 360-degree photo or video. The makers described the approach as "VR-ish," because it is perfectly imperfect.
Mashable explained that Google Sprayscape begins on a blank black sphere that users can fill with images by simply tapping on the screen. Sprayscape will then use the gyroscope of the device to start capturing the surroundings. The app will only capture the portion of the frame that users touch. As a result, taking virtual reality (VR) selfies has become faster and much more convenient. The Sprayscape output is unfocused and blurry but quite easy to share.
Google Sprayscape users can quickly share their captured images and videos by sending a link. Friends can view the 360-degree creation by popping it in a Cardboard viewer, holding their mobile device up to see various parts of the creation, or dragging their finger around the frame. The Sprayscape results are not actually clear VR content, although users generally have the advantage of working very quickly because they do not have to rely on fancy stitching algorithms.
Glenn Cochon, Google Creative Lab Senior Designer, stated that they are fond of VR and taking photos, which helped them decide to fuse the two together through Google Sprayscape. Users are encouraged to test their creativity and come up with trippy images by simply waving their phones and capturing the environment without having to stitch every time. There is not much space to write on the virtual wall, however, but Google is expected to make adjustments in Sprayscape soon.
On Google Play, the developers of Google Sprayscape stated that users will be taking photos on a 360-degree sphere. When they view a scape, they are looking around media with a 360 space orientation. The app is available through Android Experiments, which is a means for Google to emphasize new creative ways that developers can use Android for new kinds of experiences. Compared to Snapchat for VR, Google Sprayscape features a more creative approach. Google is expected to introduce new add-ons based on user feedback in the following weeks.
