In a world-first, a father has watched the birth of his son via live-streaming virtual reality using Samsung’s Gear VR headset.In a demonstration of the applications of virtual reality technology, Jason “Jace” Larke donned the Gear VR headset to experience the birth in real-time after a work commitment required him to be away on the due date.
While wife Alison gave birth to the couple’s third child, son Steele, in Perth on February 20, Jason, working over 4,000 km away in the remote Queensland mining town of Chinchilla, watched from afar as part of the Samsung project.
“Jace was able to see our son born and experience the birth as if he was in the room with me, even though he was working away on the other side of the country,” Alison Larke commented.
“For me it was like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders knowing he would not be missing out on such a precious moment in our lives and we would virtually be experiencing the birth together. It has been an absolutely amazing, once-in-a-lifetime experience that has changed our lives forever.”
Samsung has produced a short film to tell the story.
Arno Lenior, Samsung chief marketing officer, stated Samsung “wanted to demonstrate the potential of virtual reality and how this unique technology can address real challenges people face every day”.
“Through Alison and Jason’s story, we’re excited to be able to demonstrate how technology can help tackle the tyranny of distance and bring our loved ones closer,” Lenior commented.
