IN REAL LIFE? | In Echt?
A VR EXPERIENCE With Volumetric NS-WITNESSES
PRESERVING MEMORIES, SHAPING THE FUTURE WITH VOLUCAP TECHNOLOGY
In August 2023, in collaboration with the Film University Konrad Wolf and the House of Brandenburg-Prussian History, Volucap embarked on a groundbreaking project: “In Real Life? – Virtual Encounters with Witnesses of the Nazi Era” (“In Echt?”).
This initiative leverages the transformative power of volumetric capture and virtual reality to preserve the narratives of Holocaust survivors, ensuring their stories endure for future generations.
CONTEMPORARY WITNESSES
Aloida Witaszek
Charlotte Knobloch
Fam Michalski
Ib Katznelson
Inge Auerbacher
Kurt Hillmann
Leon Weintraub
Rahel Mann
Ruth Winkelmann
Thomas Walter
Wendelgard von Staden
PROJECT PARTNERS
Film University Babelsberg Konrad Wolf
House of Brandenburg-Prussian History
THE ESSENCE OF VOLUMETRIC CAPTURE IN HISTORICAL PRESERVATION
At Volucap, we recognize the vital role of preserving history through firsthand accounts. In our advanced volumetric studio, we have captured Holocaust witnesses for a digital archive, immortalizing their testimonies with detailed clarity and offering immersive virtual reality experiences that deeply connect users to the past.
BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN PAST AND PRESENT
Holocaust survivors were recorded in the volumetric capture studio. Volumetric capture can be compared to traditional 2D cameras, but with a key difference: it captures every movement and facial expression in three dimensions. It’s as easy as just pressing “record”, and the video starts recording.
This allows for the creation of a real digital human without any animations that can be placed in any digital environment—across all XR platforms (Virtual Reality, Mixed Reality, Augmented Reality), and in engines like Unity and Unreal.
BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN PAST AND PRESENT
The project “In Real Life?” examines the capabilities and constraints of virtual reality for historical education and memory culture, as the era of living Nazi-period witnesses concludes.
Integrating advanced technologies, it pioneers new approaches in educational practice, setting international standards with volumetric filmmaking and virtual reality.
NEW POSSIBILITIES
As we advance our technology at Volucap, we continue to open new avenues for creative storytelling.
Now viewers can actively engage with history, exploring and experiencing NS-Witness narratives from unique perspectives. As we continue to innovate, we are leading the way in revolutionizing historical education and remembrance, making history more accessible and immersive.
