Sea And Life: Endless Chains

VR Experience for Immersive Marine Education

This unique VR experience consists of two parts: Movie-Side and Game-Side. In the Movie-Side, students are immersed in a 360-degree documentary film that explores marine environmental problems using detailed facts and real-life examples. The film provides a comprehensive understanding of the issues, showcasing the impact of plastic waste, global warming, and other pressing concerns.

The Game-Side of Sea And Life: Endless Chains offers an interactive underwater experience where students can hunt for creatures and test their knowledge through quizzes. As they explore the virtual ocean, questions are presented only when specific creatures are discovered. This gamified approach ensures that learning is both enjoyable and rewarding.

The technology behind Sea And Life: Endless Chains is built using Unity, a popular development environment for VR applications. The video content is edited using industry-standard software such as Adobe PremierePro, Adobe AfterEffects, and Autodesk Maya. To achieve the immersive 360-degree experience, VR plugins like Mettle Mantra VR series and GoPro VR series were extensively utilized. The filming process involved using specialized cameras like GoPro Fusion for aerial shots, Kodak PIXPRO 4KVR360 for underwater footage, and RICOH THETA V and Panasonic GH5 for ground-level shots.

Sea And Life: Endless Chains is designed to be accessible to a wide range of users. The VR goggles used for this experience are OculusGo, which offers an integrated and cost-effective solution without the need for a PC connection. This ensures that schools and educational institutions can easily adopt and implement the VR experience.

Since its inception in January 2018, the Sea And Life: Endless Chains project has undergone extensive research and development. Filming for the Movie-Side took place in the seas around Japan, while the Game-Side was produced in Tokyo. The project has been showcased at various events, including a one-day event at Hachiyama Junior High School in Tokyo and a month-long exhibition at the Science Center for Children in Shibuya. The project continues to be available for lending to educational institutions upon request.

Sea And Life: Endless Chains is a testament to the dedication and creativity of the design team led by Shin Asaw. Their goal of enlightening children about marine environmental issues has been supported by the Nippon Foundation, emphasizing the importance of raising awareness and fostering a sense of responsibility towards our oceans.

This groundbreaking VR experience has received recognition in the form of the Iron A' Design Award in the Education, Teaching Aid, and Training Content Design category in 2020. The award acknowledges Sea And Life: Endless Chains as a well-designed, practical, and innovative creation that meets professional and industrial standards. By integrating industry best practices and technical excellence, this VR experience contributes to a better world by providing fulfillment and positive learning experiences for young students.