VR used to explore undersea hydrothermal vents

Rachel Boschen, a biologist at the University of Victoria in British Columbia, explores the ocean floor using the Oculus Rift.
Rachel Boschen, a biologist at the University of Victoria in British Columbia, is one of the scientists exploring the ocean floor using the Oculus Rift.

The Schmidt Ocean Institute is using virtual reality to help scientists explore the ocean floor.

Virtual reality offers a wider and detailed view of the vents when compared to traditional cameras typically used on remote-controlled submarines,  Tom Kwasnitschka, chief scientist at Germany’s Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research, told Smithsonian Magazine.

“Imagine walking through Manhattan and only being allowed to see [the city] through the viewfinder of a camera,” he said. “What kind of experience would you get?”

Read the full story at Smithsonian Magazine or watch a video below.