AMD Unveils Next-Generation Virtual Reality (VR) Journalism in Collaboration with AP

AMD announced that it has realized next-generation journalism utilizing virtual reality (VR) in partnership with the global news agency Associated Press (AP). As part of the collaboration, AP is building immersive virtual reality environments for its news and content using AMD’s Radeon™ graphics technology, while AMD provides hardware platforms, software technology, and virtual reality expertise to support AP’s journalism realized through virtual reality and 360-degree video.

Virtual reality journalism is gaining attention as a new news delivery method that is highly attractive and vivid, as it takes readers to the scenes of various incidents and accidents happening around the world. If one were to imagine moving to a completely different place and time at this very moment, the scope of learning and experience through virtual reality would be even broader. From parade scenes filled with cheers to scenes of sorrow, virtual reality journalism offers a unique opportunity to directly show the world we have only encountered superficially.


▲ AMD supports AP's journalism realized through virtual reality and 360-degree video (AP News website)

Raja Koduri, Senior Vice President and Chief Architect of AMD Radeon Technologies Group, stated, “Virtual reality provides people with a lifelike experience of news and documentaries, giving them the feeling of being right there on the scene. This technology allows the viewer’s field of view to shift with the movements of others, enabling a deeper understanding and empathy. AP is one of the most trusted independent news agencies, and AMD is one of the most innovative companies in computing and visual technology. AMD’s Radeon graphics are designed to enable the most realistic experiences anytime, anywhere, and starting with this collaboration with AP, we will expand the global VR ecosystem.”

2016 is the inaugural year of virtual reality

2016 is expected to be the inaugural year of virtual reality. VR headsets and VR-enabled hardware and software, such as AP's new virtual reality experience unveiled today, have already been released to the general public. It is expected that more and more people will experience virtual reality, and virtual reality holds infinite potential in that it realistically portrays the scene.

AMD Radeon graphics technology, based on the GraphicsCore Next (GCN) architecture and the AMD LiquidVR™ software development environment, is ready to deliver amazing virtual reality experiences to users that are emotionally and intellectually engaging.

AMD LiquidVR provides a comfortable virtual reality environment based on reliability and enables immersive VR performance through plug-and-play compatibility with VR headsets. Through software such as LiquidVR and hardware systems such as AMD Radeon graphics cards, AMD supports developers and content creators in utilizing VR to achieve high levels of realism.

Based on support for AMD Radeon graphics technology, the AP editorial team is operating a new AP Virtual Reality channel (www.bigstory.ap.org/VR360) and plans to continuously provide content that offers a complete virtual reality experience. More detailed information regarding the virtual reality news provided by AP and AMD will be released through separate materials at a later date.