TheBlu

TheBlu is a digital media franchise that utilizes virtual reality technology to create 3D-rendered, interactive simulations of underwater environments in the world's oceans. Iterations of TheBlu have appeared as applications for the Samsung Gear VR and HTC Vive headsets and on the Steam and Oculus stores. In 2018, the most recent project in the franchise (TheBlu: Deep Rescue) was launched using the Dreamscape Immersive platform, allowing up to six users to engage in a location-based experience. TheBlu was initially released as an interactive web application and screensaver by Wevr in 2011.

TheBlu
Created by
  • Neville Spiteri
  • Scott Yara
  • Jake Rowell
  • Scott Reeser
Original workTheBlu (2011 web application)
OwnerWevr
Years2011–present
Miscellaneous
Web/mobile appsTheBlu (2011)
Virtual reality
  • TheBluVR (2014)
  • TheBlu: Whale Encounter (2015)
  • TheBlu: Season 1 (2016)
  • TheBlu: Deep Rescue (2018)
Official website
wevr.com/theblu

History

TheBlu was originally conceived in 2010 by Neville Spiteri and Scott Yara, co-founders of Wemo Media (now known as Wevr).[1][2] It was launched as a web application and interactive screensaver in 2011.[3] The application allowed users to explore a virtual ocean that contained thousands of species of fish and other aquatic animals.[1] In May 2012, a version of TheBlu was featured on the large Nasdaq and Reuters screens in Times Square in New York City.[4] With TheBlu's companion mobile app, visitors could see fish swim from the screens to their phones.[5] The creators of TheBlu won the 2012 SXSW Accelerator Award for best entertainment startup.[6] In 2014, Wevr developed a virtual reality version of TheBlu app known as TheBluVR. It was among the first apps made available at the product launch of the Samsung Gear VR headset.[2][7] TheBluVR won the Proto Award for Best Educational VR Experience in 2015.[8]

In March 2015, a new virtual reality experience known as TheBlu: Encounter, which was co-created and directed by Jake Rowell, was unveiled at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco. Exclusive to the HTC Vive headset at the time, TheBlu: Encounter allowed users to explore a shipwreck and eventually encounter a blue whale.[9] TheBlu: Encounter experience was a 2016 Sundance New Frontier selection.[10] It was later renamed TheBlu: Whale Encounter and packaged as part of a three-episode collection known as TheBlu: Season 1 in 2016.[11] Season 1 was awarded the Proto Award for Most Transportive Experience.[12]

In 2017, the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (NHMLA) opened its first virtual reality program featuring TheBlu: An Underwater VR Experience.[13] In 2018, Wevr partnered with Dreamscape Immersive on its first story and location-based virtual reality experience known as TheBlu: Deep Rescue. First made available at the Westfield Century City mall in Los Angeles in December 2018, Deep Rescue allows up to six participants to engage in a 10-minute rescue mission to retrieve a baby whale.[14][15]

Education, Conservation, and Science

TheBlu has been recognized as a platform for ocean education and conservation and earned collaborations with organizations including Mission Blue. Dr. Sylvia Earle, National Geographic Explorer and Time Magazine’s Hero of the Planet, joined TheBlu advisory board in 2011.[16] At the Wild Aid 2012 annual gala a single virtual 3D blue whale from TheBlu was auctioned for $10,000 with proceeds going towards raising awareness for ocean conservation.[17] Dr. Luana Colloca of the University of Maryland conducts research on pain perception in the brain using virtual reality and TheBlu as a platform.[18][19]


References
  1. Verrier, Richard (November 12, 2011). "Exploring the ocean in a new interactive medium". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  2. Feltham, Jamie (March 2, 2015). "WEVR Bringing TheBluVR: Encounter To HTC Vive". VRFocus. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  3. Schaefer, Samantha (November 24, 2011). "Diving into a digital ocean — literally". Southern California Public Radio. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  4. Volpe, J. (February 19, 2016). "Wevr: The virtual reality studio you need to know". Engadget. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  5. Watercutter, Angela (May 4, 2012). "Virtual Ocean theBlu Takes Social Interaction to New Depths". Wired. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  6. "Write a Love Letter to the Ocean, Get Your Tweet Shown in Times Square". National Geographic Society Newsroom. 2012-05-03. Retrieved 2021-04-05.
  7. Stark, Leigh D. (February 18, 2015). "A future on your face: Samsung's Gear VR reviewed". Gadget Guy. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  8. Giardina, Carolyn (September 22, 2015). "Virtual Reality Spy Game 'I Expect You To Die' Tops Second Annual Proto Awards". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  9. Brewster, Signe (March 7, 2015). "Hands on with the HTC Valve Vive virtual reality headset". GigaOM. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  10. "Sundance Institute Celebrates New Frontier 10th Anniversary at 2016 Festival". www.sundance.org. December 3, 2015. Retrieved 2021-04-06.
  11. Volpe, J. (April 5, 2016). "Got an HTC Vive? Now's your chance to swim with a blue whale". Engadget. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  12. Giardina, Carolyn (October 8, 2016). "Proto Virtual Reality Awards Winners Revealed". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  13. "L.A.'s Natural History Museum Takes Virtual Reality Plunge Into 'theBlu'". The Hollywood Reporter. 2017-03-03. Retrieved 2021-04-05.
  14. Roettgers, Janko (November 28, 2018). "AMC-Backed VR Startup Dreamscape Immersive Opens Los Angeles Location". Variety. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  15. Roettgers, Janko (December 14, 2018). "How Wevr & Dreamscape Immersive Reinvented 'The Blu' for Location-Based VR". Variety. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  16. "Sylvia Earle 'Delighted' To Join Board Of Advisors Of Ocean-Themed Web Media Property Theblu.com". Mission Blue. 2011-12-08. Retrieved 2021-12-10.
  17. "What's Big, Blue, Hopes To Save Our Planet And Is Not Facebook?". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2021-12-10.
  18. Colloca, Luana; Raghuraman, Nandini; Wang, Yang; Akintola, Titilola; Brawn-Cinani, Barbara; Colloca, GianCarlo; Kier, Craig; Varshney, Amitabh; Murthi, Sarah (2020-09-01). "Virtual reality: physiological and behavioral mechanisms to increase individual pain tolerance limits". Pain. 161 (9): 2010–2021. doi:10.1097/j.pain.0000000000001900. ISSN 1872-6623. PMC 7584744. PMID 32345915.
  19. "Scientists are unraveling the mysteries of pain". Magazine. 2019-12-17. Retrieved 2021-12-10.
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