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Associated Press released a video report about the VR Days Europe 2017 in Amsterdam. The opening shot? The showtank of the Dolphin Swim Club, where we let visitors swim with wild dolphins using our Waterproof VR goggles. “It was like being submersed in dolphins surroundings. You know its not real, but because of the colour of the film, and the colour of the water you are swimming in, it feels like you are really there.”
A short interview with Marijke Sjollema and a ‘test pilot swimmer’ starts at 0:42. “It is such a great experience and we wanted everyone in the world to be able to experience this. Especially people that cannot go into the ocean. For example because they are hospitalised or handicapped. There are therapies with dolphins in captivity. We wanted to make a great alternative, so dolphins can stay in their own homes,the free oceans.”
Language: English
Language: English
Founder and creative director Marijke was invited to share about the Dolphin Swim Club at the Dutch 5 Uur Show. We discussed our project and are so happy for the coverage. We hope to spread the word and be able to help so many more people. A special thank you to expert Jade Vening of the Dutch Fund for the handicapped, for her comments.
Dutch newspaper het Algemeen Dagblad featured us online and in their daily paper. Reporter Renske Baars visits handicapped expertise centre ‘s Heerenloo with us and swims in the pool with our wild dolphins. Dolphin therapy is a long-cherished dream for many people with disabilities. The costs and challenges of traveling may make this impossible. A Dutch couple, Marijke and Benno, can change all that. How? With WaterproofVR goggles, their own wild dolphin 360°VR content and a snorkel.
As published in the NOMMER by Dutch Investment & Development Agency NOM. The Dolphin Swim Club launched her newest gadget during the VR Days 2017 in Amsterdam: WaterproofVR, where virtual reality is applied in the swimming pool. “It’s so great,” Marijke says enthusiastically. “If you’re in the water with the waterproof VR glasses, very naturally, one starts to follow the movement of the wild dolphins and swim along.”
The Dutch magazine Computer Idee featured the Dolphin Swim Club in their magazine. The magazine focuses on new technologies and (online) tools. When science meets art… Next to a two-page picture spread of our cameraman and the dolphins, the feature covers the origins of the Dolphin Swim Club and offers readers a sneak preview of the full theatrical version. Computer Idee appears every two weeks in the Netherlands.
These days, Virtual Reality is used more and more for medical purposes. An example of one of these applications is to relieve pain. Due to the immersive power of virtual reality, patients experience less pain. This may lead to less use of medication and thus improve patient well-being. And of course, a drug-free medicine has no environmental impact! Which is great news for our wild dolphin friends. We are excited that Dutch newspaper NRC once again mentioned us in this article about the use of VR in the medical world.
Ever since encountering wild dolphins for the first time, it was Marijke’s dream to bring the magic of dolphins closer to the people. When she discovered Virtual Reality, she thought this is the perfect way. She founded the Dolphin Swim Club in 2015. ‘Dolphins are magical. They bring us great wisdom and joy. Just look at the effect they have on people. They make everybody happy. No other animal touches us the way dolphins can.’