360-degree video

A 360-degree video lets you look around in every direction while it plays, so you see the whole scene instead of one fixed frame. As a format it has almost caught up with 3D video. YouTube has supported 360-degree video since March 2015, and businesses are slowly starting to use it too.

What is a 360-degree video?

A regular video shows a flat, two-dimensional picture. A 360-degree video records every angle at once, so you can look left, right, up and down and feel like you are part of the scene. Unlike virtual reality, though, you cannot change what happens or what is shown.
Say a plane has several cameras mounted on it and you watch the 360-degree recording. You decide where you look, for example out of which window. You do not decide where the plane flies, because the film was recorded beforehand.

360-degree video vs. virtual reality

People often treat 360-degree video and virtual reality as the same thing, but they are not. You do not need a VR headset to watch a 360-degree video. It plays on a normal computer or smartphone. Virtual reality content only works with a VR headset, and often needs powerful hardware as well.
Because 360-degree video works without a headset, it is useful for businesses. A common use is a virtual tour of the company on its own website.

Pros and cons of 360-degree video

360-degree video is often used for presentations and sports events. More and more companies put 360-degree videos on their website or YouTube channel. The format works best when a visitor cannot take in everything they need to see at a glance: the video gives them the full picture.
There are downsides too. A 360-degree video takes a lot more production work than a regular video, and both the people making it and the people watching it need some technical know-how.

360-degree video and social media

Images and video get a lot of reach on social media, which makes 360-degree video a good fit for marketing. All in all, the format is growing, and that looks set to continue.