November 4, 2015
Samsung’s Nick DiCarlo, VP and General Manager of Immersive Products and Virtual Reality graced the Content stage with a fast-paced deep-dive into virtual reality video.
DiCarlo started off by turning the tables on the audience. Instead of launching into his background in VR, he polled the audience about their experience with the technology at Web Summit. Most of the room humble-bragged with their their hands held up high to indicate their familiarity with VR.
Many associate virtual reality with gaming, but DiCarlo was quick to dismiss that, without any gaming heritage himself. Instead, he believes that the future of VR lies within video. People spend 150 hours per month watching video – but the focus is more granular than video in any format. Samsung is focused on spherical video to create truly immersive VR experiences.
VR video is different than what we get from our typical TV, and even the iMax experience. It’s a full, 360-degree experience, with challenges in unattractive headsets, but convincing the user to make it part of their screen-time routine will be the next hurdle.
In addition to consumers, DiCarlo addresses the need to attract the content creators. Samsung has over 1,000 filmmakers registered with its platform, all contributing to a shifting approach to video. With VR video, content creators have to think beyond the rectangular frame made for movie screens. When framing the subject, the screen should be seen as infinite.
Smarter tools are popping up that are enabling filmmakers to ditch the GoPro-rigged 3D printed camera in favor of tools like Project Beyond with 8 pairs of cameras designed to take spherical images and video.
Once creators and consumers are onboard, it’s important to convince brands to embrace and engage the technology, and DiCarlo frames the ROI around VR video in a context that steps away from impressions or CPM, but that instead focuses on duration (view time), engagement (no distractions) and sharing (word of mouth).





Meaningful Momentum or Running in Place?
AI Through Our Ages
Liquid Infrastructure: Our Planet's Most Precious Resource
The Impact of Technology in 2025
Quantum and AI: Safeguards or Threats to Cybersecurity?
Why AI Can't Live Without Us
Bits, Bytes, Buildings and Bridges: Digital-Driven Infrastructure
Impact of Technology in 2024
Emerging AI Cybersecurity Challenges and Solutions
The Skies are Unlimited
Smart Cities 2030: How Tech is Reshaping Urbanscapes
Impact of Technology 2023
Cybersecurity for Life-Changing Innovations
Smarter Wearables Healthier Life
The Global Impact of IEEE's 802 Standards
How Millennial Parents are Embracing Health and Wellness Technologies for Their Generation Alpha Kids
Space Exploration, Technology and Our Lives
Global Innovation and the Environment
How Technology, Privacy and Security are Changing Each Other (And Us)
Find us in booth 31506, LVCC South Hall 3 and experience the Technology Moon Walk
Virtual and Mixed Reality
How Robots are Improving our Health
IEEE Experts and the Robots They are Teaching
See how millennial parents around the world see AI impacting the lives of their tech-infused offspring
Take the journey from farm to table and learn how IoT will help us reach the rising demand for food production
Watch technical experts discuss the latest cyber threats
Explore how researchers, teachers, explorers, healthcare and medical professionals use immersive technologies
Follow the timeline to see how Generation AI will be impacted by technology
Learn how your IoT data can be used by experiencing a day in a connected life
Listen to technical experts discuss the biggest security threats today
See how tech has influenced and evolved with the Games
Enter our virtual home to explore the IoT (Internet of Things) technologies
Explore an interactive map showcasing exciting innovations in robotics
Interactively explore A.I. in recent Hollywood movies
Get immersed in technologies that will improve patients' lives