Skys new virtual reality experience, Hold the World, is to launch this spring, offering the unique opportunity of a one-on-one audience with the worlds foremost natural history broadcaster, Sir David Attenborough.Watch more about Hold the World here
The ground-breaking interactive experience instantly transports the viewer from the comfort of their own home to Londons Natural History Museum, where they can get their hands on rare specimens from its world-famous collection as they go behind the scenes to explore areas usually closed to the public.
Sir David, who was filmed by more than 100 cameras and digitally recreated as an incredibly lifelike 3D hologram for the experience, acts as a private guide, imparting his expert knowledge on a series of rare artefacts and objects from the museums collection, including a blue whale, a stegosaurus, a trilobite, a dragonfly, a butterfly and a pterosaur.
People will be able to look at these ancient and delicate objects in a level of detail that has only been made possible through the technology of VR. They can virtually pick up, hold, enlarge and expand the rare objects, giving them unparalleled access to explore and understand some of the worlds rarest natural history specimens.
Sir David Attenborough said: Sharing my passion for the natural world is something I have done for many years through different technologies, from the days of black-and-white TV to colour, HD, 3D, 4K and now virtual reality. Hold the World is an extraordinary next step in how we can communicate and educate people about experiences they wouldnt usually have access to in the real world. I am delighted about what users can learn and discover from the Natural History Museums treasures in this new VR experience - it really is one of the most convincing and bewitching experiences that the world of technology has yet produced.
Hold the World marks the next phase in Skys VR development, as it is the first fully interactive production from Sky, using a combination of interactive video game and TV documentary technology. It will be available to Sky customers this spring when the Sky VR app relaunches as part of our customer loyalty programme, Sky VIP.
The experience lasts between 20 minutes and an hour, giving participants complete control over their journey. When entering, viewers can choose from a number of locations in the museum, such as the Conservation Centre, the Earth Sciences Library and the Cryptogamic Herbarium. In each of the locations, Sir David sits opposite the participant and invites them to examine and handle several rare specimens. And in a series of magic moments, the objects also come to life, giving users a chance to learn more about the history and science behind them.
Commissioned by the Sky VR Studio, Hold the World was produced by immersive content studio Factory 42, in association with Dream Reality Interactive and Talesmith and through collaboration with the Natural History Museums digital team. Creature animation was produced by The Mill. The experience was directed by Dan Smith (Factory 42), and executive produced by John Cassy (Factory 42) and Neil Graham (Sky).
Hold the World was created using a variety of new technologies, combining them in a landmark way that has never previously been attempted. Photogrammetry was used to recreate the museum itself, whilst Sir Davids likeness as a hologram was created with more than 100 cameras using volumetric capture. The museums world-renowned CT scanning department then worked with museum scientists and animation teams to create a scientifically accurate model and animation for each specimen.
Gary Davey, Skys MD of content, said: Sky is all about combining innovative technology with world-class entertainment and Hold the World is the epitome of this. It gives people unprecedented access to precious objects and specimens from the phenomenal blue whale to the impressive stegosaurus, with leading nature expert Sir David Attenborough as their guide - a ground-breaking, out-of-this-world experience and a new way we can all engage and learn from the world around us.
John Cassy, Factory 42 CEO and executive producer of Hold the World, commented: Having the opportunity to create a unique interactive experience with Sir David Attenborough - no less has been a privilege. Sky has always had an impressive commitment to innovation and we hope Hold the World gives their customers a priceless opportunity the chance to have a one-on-one tutorial about the natural world from Sir David himself!
Hold the Worlds factual content was led by the Natural History Museum s scientists, whose unparalleled knowledge means it includes the latest, most accurate and fascinating facts about the specimens featured.
Professor Paul Barrett, a Natural History Museum dinosaur expert who worked on the stegosaurus model and animation, said: Virtual reality is a really important new tool for getting our specimens out there and letting the public see them really up close and manipulate them. Its the first time people will actually be able to hold these objects, pull them around and make them larger and smaller. Its been a really exciting development for us here, because we are also seeing it in new ways for the first time too.
The relaunch of the Sky VR app will also see a new piece of VR content released each month. Highlights to come include:
Bringing football fans closer to the action in places they dont normally have access to.
Photorealistic 3D holograms of Anthony Joshua in action, allowing viewers to experience like never before what its like to come face to face with the world champion.
A great range of Sky Original Production scripted content, from the opportunity to delve behind the scenes of Britannia, to a fully narrative story for the smash-hit Italian drama Gomorrah, which was espec
