It was a chance to experience the Olympic torch relay, marking the start of the Games. Donning a VR headset, gloves, shoes, and headphones, I picked up a pole and was transported into a virtual reality (VR) world. I saw feet standing on a ski jump and a hand holding the torch. I descended the ski jump following the instructions delivered through the headphones. I walked cautiously, not out of fear from the 90-meter height, but because of the shaky footing and the unfamiliar world within the video. The torch was lit and the bell was rung by pulling the rope prepared in front. It was a moment where augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) were combined. Outside the venue, a self-driving 5G bus was in operation. The basic principle is that the bus connects to a vehicle control center via 5G, sharing location information about other vehicles and obstacles to prevent collisions. As I boarded the bus, the three front windows became displays displaying the vehicle's speed, hazards, and the distance between cars. For a moment, a snow-covered mountain passed by quickly. I wondered, "Was there a forest outside?" before realizing it wasn't real, but a video. As the bus entered the autonomous driving zone, the driver let go of the steering wheel and grabbed a tablet. Soon, an autonomous drone flew in carrying a package. It delivered the package, swaying precariously. The snowy weather in Pyeongchang felt like an unfamiliar drone. On one side, a "super multi-view interactive system" was visible, allowing viewers to view 3D images without glasses. A KT representative explained, "Since this bus will be in operation during the Olympics, you'll be able to watch the live games in high-definition 3D while moving around the stadium." Viewers can now freely explore screens once considered the producer's domain. The "Interactive Time Slice" application installed on the tab allows viewers to view the athlete's jump from different angles in a time slice. Using VR equipment, I was able to take a 360-degree look at the International Skating Union (ISU) Four Continents Figure Skating Championships held in February, from the athletes' waiting room to the kiss-and-cry zone where they waited for the results, to the stadium.
On the side, a presentation was in full swing explaining "Omniview," an app that lets you see everything from Gangneung to Pyeongchang in the palm of your hand. Omnipointview, which completed a pilot service at the International Ski Federation (FIS) Cross-Country World Cup last month, displayed video, records, and locations of athletes at the time. By comparing your favorite athlete with their competitors and past records, you can now cheer them on in a more "realistic" way. Furthermore, you can see where the athlete is at the stadium, allowing you to track them from anywhere in the world with a "finger." The 50g GPS chip attached to the athlete's body was rectangular, reminiscent of a DSLR battery, but a KT official said, "For more comfortable wearing, we will reduce the weight to around 40g and develop a streamlined shape."
We were also able to see 'Sync View', which transmits the first-person perspective of a bobsledder jumping 1200-1300m at 135km. We also held the 'Sync View Cam' installed at the front of the sled. It looks like a common auxiliary battery with a cam attached, but it is lighter than an auxiliary battery. Every reporter who held it exclaimed, "It's so light!" A KT bobsled official said, "We were satisfied with the vividness of the experience in the previous test." The first pilot service will be applied to the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) Bobsleigh World Cup training day starting on the 17th. If this application is successful, all four realistic services will have completed field testing.
A KT technology official said, "We are in the midst of developing a 5G terminal." Machines bearing the logos of Samsung, Intel, and Nokia were visible. As you can see in the photo above, current 5G devices are the size of desktops. Will we be able to experience 5G in our hands by 2020, when it's scheduled for commercialization? For now, the PyeongChang Olympics, which will be held in our hands, are something to look forward to.