Virtual reality is gaining some good ground this year with the release of the multiple new VR headsets like the Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, PlayStation VR and more compact options like LG's 360 VR headset. Facebook in particular seems to be interested in the field of immersive video content and while they do own Oculus and the Facebook timeline just recently opened up the gates for VR content, this new Surround 360 camera announced earlier today during Facebook's F8 is the next step Facebook is to popularize this new form of media.

Just like a lot other 360 cameras currently available, Facebook's open sourced VR camera has a round shape but somehow looks like a UFO due to it's dome like structure. Inside the Surrond 360 camera, there are 17 4-megapixel cameras that are capable of shooting up to 8K video. Additionally, this design also corrects the part of the image used to stand the device so that viewers can be fully immersed in the content.

Facebook says the camera is designed to be a versatile system and don't expect to buy one of these systems any time soon but this does add up to all the hype about virtual reality. While the system will not be physically available for purchase, Facebook will be open sourcing the technology and hardware designs of the Surround 360 camera in the Summer. The hardware required to build this system will cost $30,000 to build.


 ORIGINAL SOURCE: TECHCRUNCH