Stanford Athletics’ Foray Into Virtual Reality Includes Storytelling Element

Pasadena, CA - January 1, 2016 - Rose Bowl: The Stanford University Cardinal during the 2016 Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual (Photo by Scott Clarke / ESPN Images)Stanford University’s athletic department is utilizing virtual reality across a number of sports in an effort to enhance athletic performance and engage with fans.

Most notably, Stanford’s fencing team made an interactive video that features a fencer fighting the viewer. In it, a virtual reality rig is set up facing the fencer as he or she is lunging away at you — the color changing as the viewer is hit by the saber.

“Probably my biggest regret from this video is that I said, ‘Don’t worry about hitting the camera,’”…