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Over the past few years, we've seen a large increase in virtual reality adoption. But, like any media type, it can only be a success if there is content to support it. Videogames have been the go-to content type for virtual reality, but developing VR games is not inexpensive. VR has also had its costs, both in monetary investment, as well as in the size of gear. If you wanted to produce anything of quality, you needed a large camera. But, 360Rize is trying to change that.

The company's new Penguin camera is smaller than a smartphone and can produce some impressive results. The front and back each have a lens, which sits off the body of the camera. This is done because each lens has a field of vision beyond 180 degrees. With this wider field of view, the camera has more room to create a healthy stitch without an incredibly visible seam - a common problem with small 360 cameras.

The camera's small size also gives it the ability to record in places that would normally be prohibitive, including in residential settings. Imagine being near the water and being able to take the Penguin out on a boat with you. You could capture a full, immersive recording of your experience. Using the 360Rize's streaming capabilities, you might even be able to let people experience the journey with you live, from their browser or VR headset. With these capabilities and the small size of the camera, VR and 360-degree videography are finally hitting a point where it could become mainstream.

The 360Rize Penguin camera is available now on Amazon starting at $149, and in bundles of varying price. To learn more about the product or the camera bundles, check out the company's website.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.