The core of ImmeriveEDU is enhancing the Jewish community through dynamic Jewish digital content through Virtual Reality(VR) and Augmented Reality(AR). This initiative was conceived as I was looking to celebrate the life of my grandmother who was a holocaust survivor. Technology is transforming the way we learn and connect. In using VR/AR we can enhance the way we learn about history, cultures, holidays and religion. ImmeriveEDU will be a platform and open stop shop for creators to develop dynamic content. ImmeriveEDU will give the Jewish community access to the latest technologies on the market and provide tutorials in how to develop VR/AR content. Content such as holocaust education can be showed through VR/AR and 360 degree experiences. You can go on March on the Living and create immersive content for students, programs on yom hashoah and for the next generation. The hope is to develop VR seders, Chanukah experiences, Israel education and advocacy thorough a VR/AR lens. This is scalable endeavor. This is not just for the Jewish community but to individuals that are looking to learn more about Jewish history, Israel holidays and much more. Technology has a way in transcending religious and cultural boundaries.
As I was look at opportunities to tell dynamic stories I thought that the Celebrate Israel event in NYC which features Israeli day parade would be incredible to develop as a VR/360 project
In 1965, thousands walked down Riverside Drive in support of the young State of Israel. This impromptu walk evolved into the Salute to Israel Parade on Fifth Avenue. The Parade features over 40,000 marchers from many organizations. Hundreds of thousands enthusiastic spectators watch American and Israeli community leaders and dignitaries, entertainers, artists, musicians, dancers, celebrities, floats and marching bands.
Over the past 10 years, I have helped organizations in telling their stories through video engagement. As a early adapter to new technologies, I have been successful in scaling and enhancing experiences through Point of View(POV) stories. I created the first Google Glass Israel experience for the Jewish Federations of North America ( First Google Glass Israel Experience).As a producer and video journalist I helped Jewish news outlets in covering Israeli start ups, news and events. I have a strong passion for technology, storytelling and disruption.
Now, lets get into what is virtual reality(VR)? VR is an artificial environment that is created with software and presented to the user in such a way that the user suspends belief and accepts it as a real environment. On a computer, virtual reality is primarily experienced through two of the five senses: sight and sound. Facebook and YouTube have aggressively dialing up their VR/360-degree video efforts in recent months, the immersive video format has emerged as the latest frontier for the two online video giants to battle it out. It turns out that, so far, both are equally effective at tapping the tech’s potential. Both platforms are already video behemoths, with users watching hundreds of millions of hours of video daily on each. A new format, 360-videos are interactive and immersive videos that offer a 360-degree viewing experience with the click or swipe of a finger. They have quickly gained momentum on them since launching last year: Users uploaded more than 20,000 360-degree videos on Facebook up until February; the number of 360-degree videos on YouTube has doubled over the past three months alone.
This project will tap into this latest trend to create dynamic content, develop VR holocaust survivor testimony and share the Celebrate Israel experience through a unique lens . We are looking to utilize several different camera’s to capture the different experiences at the parade. During Celebrate Israel we will conduct VR/360 degree live video streams. This will allow people who can’t attend the event to virtually experience the truly dynamic experience. We are going to interview people at the parade and show the march from different perspectives
I have fond memories of marching in the parade and always amazed how many people come out for this incredible event. I want to share this experience with the world through a dynamic lens. After the parade people will be able to re -experience the event in the comfort if their own home. With the rise of anti antisemitism and BDS we need to have content that inspires people to get involved in the pro Israel movement and show how the community comes together from different backgrounds to celebrate Israel. In addition to the VR/Israel experience will develop pictures montages of the event. The money we are looking to raise will go to purchasing the equipment for this initiative. This is my own initiative and is not connected to any organization.
In order to bring this project to the forefront I need additional funds to scale this project. I’ve already invested $1,500 of my own funds to do a test run to see how this could work
(360 Dorot Passover Package Delivery). It was successful and I know the different processes that need to occur to be successful. I have buy in from organizations to use the content but they do not have a budget to support this type of initiative. I am turning to my friends, family and virtual Jewish community to bring this dynamic project to the forefront. I have worked in the Jewish non profit field for the past 10 years helping organizations with fundraising, marketing and community development. What I have found is how our community can come together for innovative projects. The money raised will go to purchasing a Macbook Pro, 360Fly 4k camera, Giroptic iO 360 degree camera, Nikon D500 DSLR Camera, SENA Bluetooth Mic & Intercom Kit and Mettle SkyBox Suite.
I am going to make the content available for any organizations to use after this project. My hope is that this will be a stepping stone for myself and organizations to explore VR/360 degree Jewish storytelling.
