The virtual reality (VR) library on Samsung’s Gear VR head-mounted display (HMD) does feature a reasonable amount of varied content. From fun-filled videogames to thought provoking documentaries. Today UK-based newspaper the Guardian is trying its hand at VR with an experience that’s a little different to the rest. Available to download for free is 6×9, a title that puts you in solitary confinement.
6×9 has been created to let you understand what it’s like to be confined in a 6×9 cell. As the official description explains: “Our first VR piece, 6×9 takes you to a virtual cell, telling a story of the psychological damage of extreme isolation. Right now, more than 80,000 people are in solitary confinement in the US. They spend 22-24 hours a day in their cells, with little to no human contact for days or decades. We invite you into this world.”
Whatever your thoughts are on the treatment of prisoners – it’s their fault/they deserve it – 6×9 aims to express whether solitary confinement really has any uses in terms of rehabilitation, for the thousands currently incarcerated in this way.
The experience isn’t likely to be one of the most popular on Gear VR, but may serve as an example of the many uses of VR. That the immersive technology can enable viewers to see many aspects of our world that most don’t see.
VRFocus will continue to keep you up to date on the latest Gear VR releases as new content is released.
