VRScout

Wallace & Gromit City-Scale AR Adventure Now Available On Smartphones

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 20:24:17 GMT

Become an employee of Spick & Spanners and help the duo “Fix Up” Bristol.

Available now on iOS and Android devices, Wallace & Gromit: The Big Fix Up is a narrative-driven interactive experience composed of CG animations, in game phone calls, comic strips, XR portals, and city-scale augmented reality elements that allow you to digitally “Fix Up” the city of Bristol, England.

Fans of the long-running comedy franchise can, for the first time, immerse themselves in the world of Wallace & Gromit as they take on the role of an employee at the duos latest business endeavor, Spick and Spanners. After the company lands a big contract to “Fix Up” the entirety of Bristol, you’ll assist the pair in sprucing up the location via city-scale AR powered by 3D mapping platform Fantasmo in combination with Unity’s AR Foundation toolkit.

The app was developed by award-winning animation studio Aardman, AR media firm Fictioneers, Sugar Creative, and Tiny Rebel Games with support from the University of South Wales.

“It was one of those really big, blank-sheet briefs which you very rarely get,” said Scott Ewings, venture lead and co-founder of Fictioneers in an official statement. “So we put together a vision for enhancing storytelling—particularly how storytelling could evolve through harnessing a whole variety of trans-media types and playing out in real time.”

According to the developers, The Big Fix Up is “an entirely home-based experience,” making it easily accessible across a wide variety of compatible devices. Thanks to the aforementioned 3D mapping technology, you can also access bring to life Bristol’s famous city center to life at home.

“Aardman is a multi-faceted creative studio and is just as happy with classic film making as it is with new and emerging technologies,” said Aardman’s Merlin Crossingham, Creative Director of Wallace & Gromit. “Wallace and Gromit’s heart and soul is in stop motion, but they have often dabbled in the cutting-edge of tech, and this is one of those occasions. We are delighted to join forces with the amazing folk at Fictioneers to take Wallace and Gromit on a new adventure in such a groundbreaking way.”

The project first came about after Fictioneers was awarded a multimillion-pound R&D grant by UKRI (as part of its Audience of the Future program) dedicated towards the development of immersive technologies. After linking up with Aardman Animations, the original studio behind Wallace & Gromit, the team settled on using its resources to bring the plus 30-year-old franchise to life in AR.

Wallace & Gromit: The Big Fix Up is available free (with in-app purchases) in the UK, US, and Canada via iOS and Android devices.

Image Credit: Aardman Animations

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Japanese Instrument Manufacturer Korg Teases VR Music-Making App

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 18:23:50 GMT

A short video shows VR music production on the Oculus Quest 2.

Legendary electronic instrument manufacturer Korg this week unveiled the Korg Gadget-VR, a new music-making app for VR headsets that allows you access to a range of professional synthesizers, electronic keyboards, and software in a virtual studio settings.

Image Credit: Korg

The video, released as part of the companies future product preview, shows a user interacting with an assortment of electronic instruments within a dedicated virtual space. At one point we can spot a catalogue of popular synths also featured in the KORG Gadget 2 app, including the Kingston Polyphonic Chip Synthesizer, Brussels Monophonic Anthem Synthesizer, Amsterdam PCM SFX Boombox, Helsinki Polyphonic Ambient Synthesizer, and Tokyo Analog Percussion Synthesizer just to name a few.

Image Credit: Korg

Other than that there’s very little information available at the moment. We’ve yet to receive any news regarding which headsets will receive support, although you can clearly see an Oculus Quest 2 headset at the very beginning of the video. Whether the app will be released on PC VR headsets or PSVR remains to be seen.

According to the video, Korg GADGET-VR was developed in collaboration with Detune using the Unreal Engine and is expected to launch sometime later this year.

Image Credit: Korg

Those interested in VR synthesizers will definitely want to check out SynthVR, a unique VR patching experience featuring a wide variety of complex modular synthesizers. You can pick up this app for free on the Oculus Quest and Oculus Quest 2 via SideQuest.

Image Credit: Korg

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SWEAT Partners With Snapchat On AR Fitness Lens

Tue, 19 Jan 2021 23:33:29 GMT

This fitness-focused challenge will leave your leg muscles screaming.

Online fitness community SWEAT has released an interactive Snapchat Lens designed to get your body moving via a miniature fitness challenge powered by augmented reality.

“We’ve partnered with Snapchat, using new and exciting augmented reality technology to give you a mini challenge with our Snapchat lens that’s SO fun, you’ll forget you’re even working out,” stated the company on YouTube.

Available free via the Snapchat app (available on iOS and Android), this full-body Lens tasks you with completing a series of exercises lead by fitness personality Cass Olholm. This includes everything from basic squats and lunges to Russian twists and other cardio-based challenges. Using your smartphones forward-facing the camera, the app tracks your movements in real-time, keeping tabs on everything from your number of reps to the quality of your form. The goal is to perform as many reps as you can before the timer runs out.

To get started download the Snapchat app (available free on iOS and Android) and scan the QR code provided below. From there it’s just a matter of finding some open space and setting up the forward-facing camera so that your entire body is in the frame.

You can download SWEAT’s fitness-focused Snapchat Lens 100% free-of-charge here.

Image Credit: SWEAT

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Three Ways VR And Gaming Are Driving Modern Edutainment

Tue, 19 Jan 2021 22:36:06 GMT

VR & AR lead the way for a new generation of immersive education.

Over the past year there have been varying levels of learning options for students ranging from in-person learning and hybrid learning to a mix of in-person and remote online learning. For kids who are spending the majority of their time at home, VR edutainment offers an immersive escape that’s as entertaining as it is educational.

By the Numbers

Edutainment experiences have been around for a while and will continue to evolve as the gaming industry grows. While some experiences might skew educational – those that blend entertainment and elements of gaming will win.

Image Credit: Adobe XD

The World Economic Forum listed problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity as the top three skills that children need for success.

Newzoo states, the games market will reach $200.8 billion by the end of 2023.

Juniper Research has found that consumer virtual reality content will bring over $7 billion in revenue in 2025, an increase of over 160% on the $3 billion it is expected to generate in 2020.

According to Common Sense Media, “overall, 62 percent of parents believe that VR will provide educational experiences for their children, and that number is higher (84 percent) among parents whose children are already using VR.”

Statista are predicting that by 2025, VR education will be a $700 million industry.

Here are a few companies paving the way for immersive edutainment.

Kooring VR Coding Adventure – Block Based Coding + Gaming

Kooring VR Coding Adventure takes students of all ages on an immersive block-based coding adventure filled with deductive logic puzzle challenges.

Created by Koren XR edutainment startup Vrani, the adventure follows Kooring, a young alien boy on a mission to rescue his dear friend Tooring “in the name of justice and bring back the laughter to the “Wonderland” of mysterious adventurous worlds.” Accompanied by a cast of curious and quirky characters, you’ll travel from planet to planet on a fun storytelling adventure.

Kooring VR coding. // Image Credit: Koren XR, Vrani

Through the power of storytelling players learn the basics of coding while expanding their creativity, critical thinking skills, and confidence.

Kooring is not just a captivating lead character, however, he is also a supportive learning coach there to support you in building a sense of confidence and persistence.

New concepts are introduced throughout the game; the further you progress, the more challenging the experience. “The best way to learn problem solving, having fun!” said Vrani.

Kooring VR Coding Adventure is now available on Steam and Viveport.

Merge – Kid-Friendly Ecosystem

Merge’s educational AR cube. // Image Credit: Merge

Merge is helping shape the future of play with its immersive ecosystem of affordable products and experiences. The Merge AR/VR headset has a flexible, durable design with marshmallow-like comfort thanks to the rugged foam material which fits any face and is easy to clean.

Kids, parents, and teachers alike can discover educational VR experiences via the Merge Miniverse, a hand-picked collection of engaging VR games and virtual field trips from brands like SpaceX, BBC, NASA National Geographic, Discovery VR and more.

The Merge Cube is an award-winning STEM tool that allows kids to manipulate, inspect, and hold virtual 3D objects. The Merge Cube works with 3D creation software like Paint 3D and Tinkercad. Now you can preview, play, and iterate on designs before hitting print.

The Merge AR/VR Headset and Merge Cube are compatible with most modern iOS and Android smartphones.

Spree Interactive – Exploring New Worlds

While location-based entertainment and family entertainment centers may have limited openings depending on the market, SPREE Interactive this past year launched Mission To Mars, an interactive location-based VR experience which tasks students with working together to complete a series of challenges in an effort to survive the unforgiving surface of Mars. Each game begins with groups of up to 10 players being broken up into smaller teams and assigned specific roles for a 15 minute VR adventure.

Mission To Mars was developed in partnership with European mass media broadcaster ProSibenSat.1, VFX studio Pixomondo, and the Forum Schwanthalerhohe Mall in Munich, Germany.

Looking Ahead

While we are unsure what the future holds for in-person, hybrid, and remote learning, we can expect to see more brands merging and mixing education with immersive technology to keep kids engaged in their studies.

Image Credit: Koren XR, Vrani

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Atari Bets On Blockchain & NFT Gaming With ZED RUN’s AR Horses

Mon, 18 Jan 2021 19:52:12 GMT

Atari lends its IP to ZED RUN’s digital horses, the up-and-coming Tamagothchi of AR.

What if you could combine virtual worlds, blockchain, and digital ownership to create a Tamagotchi 10.0? That’s what Virtually Human Studio (VHS), the team behind ZED RUN, has been developing with digital racehorses that you can buy, own, race, breed, care for, and invest in.

Since its beta launch last year, ZED RUN has developed a strong foundation for a new type of non-fungible token (NFT) gaming. NFTs are digital assets that exist on the blockchain, a way to track and prove authenticity and ownership using the Ethereum blockchain.

It means that ZED RUN’s digital racehorses hold real value and can be traded and showcased across multiple platforms, not just within ZED RUN. “You being able to really own your digital asset, that in itself is going to change the landscape of gaming,” says Chris Ebeling, co-founder of VHS, as we talk about ZED RUN’s vision of gaming that spans across AR, VR, and various other interactive online worlds.

This past week was an extra especially exciting one for the company with the reveal of a new partnership with Atari to introduce rare and collectible in-game items. This will include Atari’s games assets from classic titles such as Asteroids, Centipede, Missile Command, Pong, and more.

It’s indicative of a not-so-distant future where open gaming ecosystems evolve and digital assets can be ported in and out of various worlds.

The Game

The first step in ZED RUN is to buy your own horse. At the moment, you can buy-in for about $40. From there, you can enter races, buy additional horses to build up a stable, breed your horse and sell the fillies or colts on the market, and view them in detail on the ZED AR app.

When I asked Ebeling about the steep $40 entry point, he explained how he wants people to start the game with an understanding that it’s an investment.

Ebeling says that horses are already being sold for over $1000, with owners collecting horses to accrue value over the long term. It’s similar user behavior when compared to CrytoKitties, a blockchain game centered around collecting and breeding digital cats. One CryptoKitty that sold for $170,000 in 2018 is now back on the market for $650K.

The most expensive ZED RUN horse to date sold for around $6000 on the third-party market OpenSea, but this might all change as ZED RUN will offer an exclusive Atari Breeding Program, featuring a series of rare racehorses from which players will be able to spawn offspring for a limited time. Each of these collectible Atari digital racehorses will be auctioned off to the highest bidder.

Image credit: NonFungible.com

Outside of the Atari Breeding Program, there are a few primary factors that determine the value of a digital horse. This includes bloodline (Nakamoto, Szabo, Finny, and Buterin) and genotype (Z1-Z10). These attributes play a role in how well your racehorse will perform, its value on the stud farm, and its performance on the racetrack. Here you can pay a small fee to run your horse and potentially take home the winnings that are divided between the first three horses to cross the finish line.

Atari will also contribute its own cryptocurrency, Atari Tokens, as it sponsors ZED RUN races with qualifiers and main events set to a weekly schedule. This is a push to increase the utility and demand for its tokens.

Ebeling further explains that as you progress in the game, your horse’s performance and career stats will also contribute to its value.

“When your horse wins a few races, its value will also go up. The more you race your horse, the better it is. Like a horse owner, you also have to find out what race your horse is good at. Is it a sprinter out of the gate? Is it a fast horse or does it prefer distance races? It’s all random, but based on lineages as well so you can put the pieces of the puzzle together,” says Ebeling.

“There are also racing classes based on your XP [experience points]. That’s to make sure that owners with more experience don’t just beat up on the small guys. So there’s an amateur class so people who are starting out can get a bit of momentum behind them and actually enjoy it without getting their butts kicked all the time,” he says.

The Economics of ZED RUN

Ebeling describes how ZED RUN will release a limited number of horses capping at 38,000.

“After those are sold, the rest will be bred,” he says, stating that to date there are nearly 12,000 horses in the ecosystem, and just over 4,000 have been bred. Our first point of conversion is selling someone a horse,” says Ebeling. “Horse racing is our second point of conversion.”

The team will also soon release a dedicated “horse inspector” which I was able to preview. This enables owners to view their horse walking, galloping and jumping, in addition to viewing its stats and characteristics. The next iteration will be to implement more digital assets that can be bought and sold, like bridles, saddles, blankets, and other horse accessories. I wouldn’t be surprised if this tool is next to launch as Atari’s in-game assets become available across the platform.

“The horse inspector is like try before you buy, then there’s track ownership which we will be implementing. Imagine owning a level in Fortnite, or owning a level in Call of Duty,” he says.

As they roll out the tracks, track owners will have the ability to interface with the design of the track itself as another opportunity to create events, attract sponsors, create prize pools, and monetize the experience.

“Now that a user owns a track, he or she can do anything they want in terms of advertisement placement, we’ve got banner flags and digital billboards,” he says.

“Our goal is to create an ecosystem where people can make a living, or at least a good amount of pocket change through their investment in the game. I think that’s the future of gaming with true ownership and NFTs,” says Ebeling.

Digital Realities & Relationships

Here, our conversation shifts to how this ecosystem is evolving across digital realities, and the importance of the emotional relationship that owners can develop through AR and VR technology.

“AR is a portal for your horse to come into your world from that universe and VR is for you to step into that universe. It’s about creating a narrative with a golden thread through it that weaves the virtual, augmented, and the digital reality of the various experiences with the IP,” he says.

ZED RUN released their AR app in June 2020, enabling users to view multiple racehorses in the real-world, interact with them, check their stats, and snap a few photos.

As for the companies next steps, “[w]e’re waiting for Apple or Facebook when they come out with their specs,” says Ebeling.

“I only see AR and VR enhancing the game, creating that fully mixed reality experience where no matter what device you have, whether it’s mobile AR, VR, or desktop, you can engage.”

CEO of ATARI Fred Chesnais said on the partnership; “We see the vast potential in NFT gaming on the blockchain. VHS showcases what is uniquely possible with blockchain technology for entertainment. Working together with VHS enables us to introduce our loyal ATARI community to an exciting new game such as ZED RUN as we take steps to play our part in shaping the blockchain gaming and technology space.”

The Gamer & Digital Asset Economy

ZED RUN is a part of the growing trend of in-game digital ownership that is continuing to become more mainstream, changing the behavior of gamers and our relationship with digital assets in the process. It’s the emergence of a new digital economy, outside of esports, where a strategic combination of NFT online, AR, and VR gaming has the potential to lead to significant real-world monetization.

Some games, like ZED RUN, are built on this foundation, but what would happen if you took these same principles and integrated them into an insanely popular game like Fortnite? Implementing true asset ownership will change the way gamers play, increasing the importance of informed gamer communities and third-party verified marketplaces.

It means that open ecosystems with interchangeable assets may add real value, becoming a sought-after game type that may become just as mainstream as or even a part of narrative-driven games like World of Warcraft.

This is an exciting time for gamers and online communities to be evolving as microcosms of what could one day make up major segments of the global economy.

If you are interested in learning more about how this ecosystem is evolving, you can check out ZED RUN’s White Paper here. The company is based in Sydney, Australia.

Feature Image Credit: Virtually Human Studio

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Wave VR Concerts Put On Pause

Sun, 17 Jan 2021 18:57:40 GMT

After five years of virtual performances, the company is pivoting away from music and art.

When Wave launched in 2016, it served as this incredible VR platform that brought people together through virtual entertainment. It merged VR with music to create these over-the-top VR performances impossible to re-produce in the real-world. It even caught the attention of Grammy winning artists such as The Weekend and John Legend, who both performed in VR via the music-focused social platform.

In June of 2020, Wave announced it had raised $30 million in series B funding. Towards the end of 2020, Rolling Stone wrote a story stating that Justin Bieber, The Weekend, and J Balvin were in talks to potentially invest in the company. Wave CEO Adam Arrigo was also listed on Rolling Stone’s Future 25 list.

Image Credit: TheWaveXR

Things looked incredibly bright and exciting for the “interstellar music festival.”

Now, 15 days into 2021, Arrigo tweeted out a press release stating that the company will be shutting down Wave on the Steam and the Oculus Store in order to protect the future of the company. So, what changed?

Not seeing the VR adoption they were initially hoping for, the company pivoted away from immersive tech in 2018 in favor of gaming and live-streamed events because, according to Arrigo, “the VR industry didn’t develop as quickly as we’d hoped.” To his point, VR headsets still aren’t a household an item, even with more affordable all-in-one headsets like the Oculus Quest 2 now widely available to consumers.

Lindsey Stirling live performance // Image Credit: TheWaveXR

To make things more difficult, Wave built all of their user tools via Google Poly, which will soon be shutting down. Even with its superstar backers and $30 million fundraising, the company isn’t in a position to “spend the resources to build a new backend pipeline.”

Talking with VRScout, Social VR Researcher Michael Zhang said, “TheWaveXR served as the role model of what social VR concerts could be,” Zhang adds, “Their recent pivot is a harsh reminder of the difficulty of scaling social VR apps. I wish the team the best of luck!”

Twitter also reacted to the news of Wave shutting down their VR App with people around the world chiming in.

Wow sorry to hear this news but I’m sure it will be greater later
— Fokis 3.0 (@Fokeezy) January 15, 2021

I hope to see you guys return in 5 years or so. The day we can have live artists wearing headsets at home and using consumer cameras for their mocap, with spatial audio, and better visuals, is the day this becomes a serious space.
— DarthBuzzard (@DarthBuzzard) January 15, 2021

my favorite app on VR I am absolute crushed reading this Thank you for the awesome times and wonderful community. I have met some talented people there that have inspired my career in 3D art so much. With that said, I cannot wait to see what you guys bring in the future
— smashotakustv (@VickyBooo) January 15, 2021

This is the app that got me into VR. Still my favorite app. It's sad to read this but I wish you guys the best of luck. Thank you for the good times.
— Edgar Lopez (@EdgarJLopezXR) January 15, 2021

In a tweet from Lucas Rizzotto, he points out that the company focused more on established stars rather than focusing on the community; instead of empowering users, they were empowering the industry. Rizzotto goes on in another tweet saying, “It went from being this crazy, forward-thinking social platform to a studio big companies hire to do a cool livestream every now and then.”

While this news marks a significant loss of for the immersive industry, it doesn’t mean VR is dead or it’s not a hit. It just may take a little longer before people and industries can figure out the best way to use it.

So what is next for Wave? Are they abandoning VR shows for good? Arrigo says, “VR shows will come to a pause,” and says they hope to someday be able to revisit this and bring it back in an even more evolved form.

Obviously the company plans on moving forward in some shape or form. They are still a startup with funds and Arrigo seemed very optimistic about the companies next chapter.

Image Credit: TheWaveXR

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Baobab Studios Rolls Out The Virtual Red Carpet For The Premier Of ‘Baba Yaga’

Sat, 16 Jan 2021 20:58:14 GMT

Jennifer Hudson and Daisy Ridley Jump into AltspaceVR to Promote Baba Yaga.

Baobab Studios hosted a virtual premier in AltSpaceVR for the launch of their latest adventure Baba Yaga on the Oculus Store. The virtual red carpet event immersed attendees in a the VR films fantastical world where they were able to step into the story and even meet the stars.

On hand for the virtual premier were two of Baba Yaga’s stars, Jennifer Hudson (Oscar-winner and Executive Director of Baba Yaga) who plays the role of several trees in an enchanted forest, and Daisy Ridley (Star Wars sequel trilogy) who plays the brash and fearless Magna. While in VR, the two mingled with attendees, participated in a live Q&A, and even took photos with fans.

Joining them in AltspaceVR was director/writer/co-founder of Baobab Studios Eric Darnell, co-director Mathias Chelebourg, Baobab co-founder and CEO/Executive Producer Maureen Fan, co-founder and CTO/Executive Producer Larry Cutler, Head of Content/Executive Producer Kane Lee, and Head of Product and Marketing David Kahn. Also in attendance was Oscar-winning director Glen Keane who greeted people as they entered the virtual space and served a moderator for the Q&A.

Designed to look and feel like a real-life red carpet event, complete with photo ops and live interviews, organizers were able to take advantage of the unlimited possibilities that come when utilizing VR environments. Lining the perimeter of the virtual space were both 2D images and 3D models of characters from Baba Yaga. Attendees were able to walk around certain parts of the story and explore an enchanted forest. At one point during the event, Ridley—while mingling with attendees—moved her avatar next to a full digital 3D version of her character for a spontaneous photo op.

At the start of the event, organizers played a pre-recorded video message from co-founder and CEO of Tribeca Enterprises and the Tribeca Film Festival, Jane Rosenthal. She took the time to not only celebrate the launch of Baba Yaga on the Oculus Store, but to also praise the hard work being done by the people at Baobab Studios, and talk about how VR is changing entertainment.

The decision to opt for a virtual premier was because of the current Covid-19 pandemic. Travel restrictions have made it very difficult to get the actors, directors, and people from the production team into a single location. Using AltspaceVR eliminates those boundaries while keeping attendees safe. Maureen Fan told attendees that the entertainment industry had to “innovate a new way to do a premier.” Both Hudson (who was in Chicago) and Ridley (who was London) addressed this during the Q&A, with Ridley saying, “I’ve been holed up for a year, so this is the first party I’ve been to in a year and it’s great.”

Baba Yaga is a great adventure but it’s also a story that explores climate change and sustainability through the eyes of two adventurous young girls, Magna (Ridley) and her sister (played by you). It’s an adaptation of a Slavic folklore where two girls must head into an enchanted forest in search of a witch named Baba Yaga (Kate Winslet). She possesses a cure that can be used to heal your ailing mother (Glenn Close), but be warned, your decisions matter and could even impact the balance of humanity and nature. During your travels you meet tree spirits (each played by Hudson) who tease you and Magna throughout your travels.

The story is visually beautiful, bringing together animation, conventional film, and theater in a way that’s completely unique to other VR animations; there is real meaning behind Baba Yaga.

Baobab Studios, winner of multiple Emmy and Annie Awards, has crafted a wonderful immersive experience with Baba Yaga. “We wanted to make you the main character and let you make different choices that have huge consequences at the end,” said Fan during the virtual Q&A, adding, “For every film project, we choose something that’s really difficult but also more creative.”

Baba Yaga was produced in collaboration with Leila Amirsadeghi of MESH. Because of the environmental themes featured throughout the story, Baobab Studios has partnered with the United Nations ActNow program to create a Baba Yaga campaign focused on promoting individual climate action.

“Just like in Baba Yaga, every choice we make matters,” said UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications Melissa Fleming on an official UN page. “Our daily actions and behaviors cumulatively have a big impact on the health of the planet. ActNow aims to empower people to be part of the solution to the climate crisis. Baobab’s creative power will help us engage even wider global audiences at this crucial moment in time.”

To get the word out, Baba Yaga was featured on the UN’s mobile app developed by AWorld. Baobab has also partnered with Conservation International to co-sponsor a global community challenge on the app that triggers a donation to the non-profit’s ‘Protect an Acre’ initiative, making a tangible impact for the conservation of forests.

Organizers of the Baba Yaga virtual premier left their event space up in AltspaceVR so you and your friends can jump in and explore. Not sure if you’ll run into Hudson or Ridley, but hey, you never know!

Baba Yaga is available now on the Oculus Store for $5.99.

Image Credit: Baobab Studios

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Facebook Announces Multi-User Support And App Sharing For The Oculus Quest

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 18:07:38 GMT

You and up to three friends can now share a single Quest headset.

Oculus Quest and Quest 2 owners are finally getting several features they’ve been asking for since launch: support for multiple accounts and app sharing. Yes, family and friends will soon be able to log into the same headset via multiple accounts, allowing you to split your headset with others without sharing information like progression, stats, and various other personal game data. App sharing, on the other hand, allows anyone with a secondary login access to every VR game and app on the primary account. You can even earn achievements and save your progress.

Facebook anticipates that this move will help promote the growth of VR adoption with users as well as help with app exposure for developers. It’s also a move to help the company with any or future piracy issues.

Primary account owners will have the ability to add up to three secondary accounts per headset. Support for multiple accounts will extend first to the Oculus Quest 2 followed by original Oculus Quest headsets at a later time.

In a recent developer blog post, Oculus explains that multi-user support is still in its early stages and that the number of secondary users could change depending on feedback from both consumers and developers. I expect consumers are fine with support for additional accounts. After all, why buy 3 VR headsets when you can buy just one to share? Developers, on the other hand, may be less accepting of the new feature, as it could potentially eventually lead to a decrease in app sales.

Secondary account users not only have access to the primary account owners content, but the ability to purchase their own games and experiences as well. They are not, however, able to share their purchases with the primary account.

It was reported back in August of 2020 that all Quest 2 owners would require a Facebook account in order to access future Oculus hardware. This policy still stands and is required for all secondary accounts.

Any VR app developer who has a game or experience in the Oculus Quest store will automatically be opted into Facebook’s App Sharing feature beginning February 13, 2021. You can, however, opt out by visiting your Org Manager page. Just know that you have until February 12, 2021 to do so.

All new Oculus Rift/Rift S or Oculus Quest/Quest 2 apps submitted to the Oculus platform beginning February 13, 2021 will be required to support App Sharing and must follow Oculus’s App Policies.

Multi-user support will begin rolling out next month on Oculus Quest 2 headset.

Image Credit: Facebook, Oculus

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Panasonic’s AR HUD Could Be The Future Of Automotive Safety

Thu, 14 Jan 2021 22:42:43 GMT

Eye-tracking, AI navigation, and 3D imaging radar promise next-level road traffic safety.

Japanese electronics manufacturer Panasonic took CES by storm this year, revealing new changes to its mysterious UHD VR glasses as well as a new augmented reality heads-up display designed specifically for automotive vehicles.

Revealed earlier this week during the all-digital showcase, this futuristic heads-up display uses a combination of AR visuals and AI technology from the companies SPYDR cockpit domain controller to deliver crucial information in real-time without distracting the driver. Features include advanced collision detection, AI-powered route guidance, eye-tracking, near-field and far-field content for basic vehicle information (like speed), and a variety of other useful functions designed to keep you aware of what’s happening on the road.

According to Panasonic, the AR HUB was built using a proprietary development process referred to as PRIZM (Precise placement, Reflection, Intuitive, Zonal, Mission Control) in order to address a variety of driver needs. Here’s a quick breakdown of the key features, as provided by Panasonic:

Advanced optics – Advanced optical design techniques provide expanded field-of-view (beyond 10 x 4 degrees) for virtual image distance of 10m or greater; detects pedestrians and objects through enhanced low light and nighttime view; tilted virtual image planes adjust visibility of objects in the driver’s field of view; embedded camera system allows discrete monitoring for the driver’s eye location.
AI navigation accuracy – AI-driven AR navigation technology detects and provides multi-color 3D navigation graphics that adjust with moving vehicle’s surroundings, displaying information like lane markers and GPS arrows where turns will occur and sudden changes such as collisions or cyclists in one’s path
Vibration control – Panasonic’s proprietary camera image stability algorithm enables AR icons to lock onto the driving environment regardless of the bumpiness of the road
Real-time situational awareness – Driving environment updates occur in real-time; ADAS, AI, AR environment information updates in less than 300 milliseconds
3D imaging radar – Sensor-captured full 180-degree forward vision up to 90 meters and across approximately three traffic lanes
Compact size – Efficient compact packaging to fit any vehicle configuration
4K resolution – Crisp, bright 4K resolution using advanced laser and holography technology, with static near-field cluster information and far-field image plane for AR graphic overlay.

“Panasonic’s AR HUD solutions cover more of the roadway, with traditional cluster content like speed and fuel in the near field as well as 3D overlays in the far field, showing navigation and other critical driver data mapping spatially to the road ahead. And in a future with more self-driving vehicles, our AR HUD could provide an important added level of comfort and assurance for AV passengers as well,” said Scott Kirchner, President at Panasonic Automotive and Executive Director, Panasonic Smart Mobility, in an official release.

The company states its AR HUD was developed in collaboration with hologram technology expert Envisics alongside Phiar, a company specializing in AI-driven automotive computation.

For more information on Panasonic’s AR-enabled HUD visit here.

Image Credit: Panasonic

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Finding Peace Through VR Therapy

Thu, 14 Jan 2021 19:18:50 GMT

Visitations VR brings the world of art and science together to help lift the weight of the world off of your shoulders, even for just a moment.

Equal parts meditative experience and immersive art project, Visitations is a VR art therapy app designed to help center your mind in a way where you feel whole again and completely refreshed. The idea is to remove you from the weight of uncertainty by offering you a moment for yourself with no outside pressure of any kind.

This zen-like full-body experience immerses you in a VR world filled with hypnotic music that engulfs your audio senses, along with a series of digital vignettes specifically designed to make you feel relaxed by entrancing you with hypnotic visuals. Think of it like a virtual journey to a therapeutic world made specifically for you. The goal is to mesmerize, not overwhelm.

Visitations was created by award-winning designer David Lobser under the moniker of light.clinic. Lobser wanted to use VR as a way to uplift and heal users through digital technology. Each vignette inside of Visitations are based on real lessons in neuroscience and psychology.

“The power of VR to change people’s minds is just beginning to be understood,” said Lobser in an official press release. “Visitations has grown organically out of a desire to create beautiful and transformative virtual spaces. Experimentation and refinement using artistic intuition and real world feedback is how traditions and practices are born.”

One big driver for home wellness and the wellness industry recently has been the Covid-19 pandemic. Digital therapy resources like Visitations could help individuals find solace during these difficult times by providing a digital escape from our harsh realities.

To create Visitations, Lobser worked with several individuals to make sure his VR app stayed on course to his goals for self-help. He partnered with artists and creators including Deirdre Barrett, a PhD Harvard Medical School author and psychologist focused on dream research; East Forest, a musician and leader in the field wellness; and EMBC, a creative lab focused on modern contemplative experiences that promote healing and renewal.

Lobser came up with the idea for Visitations during the explosion of consumer VR devices, such as the Oculus Quest. At the time he was in the midst of shifting from animation direction to creative code. This was when he discovered an immense passion for building hypnotic, trance-inducing VR experiences. He took this passion and ran with it, working alongside doctors at the Comprehensive Spine and Pain Clinic of NY and collaborating with researchers to test his VR experience on patients during infusions as a form of non-invasive pain management, much like how dentists are exploring the use of VR for their own practices.

Dr. Tim Canty of the Comprehensive Spine & Pain Center of New York said, “We treat patients who suffer from chronic pain and comorbid depression and we’ve been using Visitations in our clinic for over a year and patient response has been very positive,” adding, “They prefer using Visitations during their infusions and find it to be a comfortable, soothing, and inspiring experience.”

According to Saundra Dalton-Smith MD, there are 7 types of rest needed to properly re-energize yourself both physically and mentally:

Creative: The type that inspires and motivates you.
Mental: When you quiet your mind and focus on what’s really important.
Physical: The rest that relieves your body of muscle aches and tension and helps improve your sleep.
Social: You spend time on relationships you cherish and with people who enhance your life.
Emotional: The ability to express your deepest feelings and be your genuine self.
Sensory: Gives you a respite from background noise, including negative self-talk and digital devices.
Spiritual: You feel that you are part of something bigger, as well as a sense of belonging and fitting in.

Yes, these 7 different things are incredibly important for all of us, but wow….they all require effort, motivation, and sometimes can be stressful just to maintain. Taking a break from these things in a way that is non-destructive and helps us achieve a variety of different therapeutic and aesthetic goals is vital to our health.

Ever get a full 8 hours of sleep only to wake up feeling exhausted? That’s the result of an ongoing culture of “high-achieving, high-producing, chronically tired and chronically burned-out individuals. We’re suffering from a rest deficit because we don’t understand the true power of rest,” according to Dalton-Smith.

Visitations could absolutely help you in achieving that much needed rest as suggested by Dalton-Smith and other health experts.

Visitations is available now on Oculus Go, Oculus Quest and Oculus Quest 2 via SideQuest and Steam.

Image Credit: light.clinic

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SenseGlove Nova VR Haptic Gloves Are Straight Out Of ‘Ready Player One’

Wed, 13 Jan 2021 19:34:43 GMT

CES 2021 continues to deliver with the reveal of SenseGlove’s motion tracking haptic gloves.

Haptic feedback specialists SenseGlove this week unveiled the SenseGlove Nova, the latest iteration of its force-feedback exoskeleton capable of simulating everything from shapes and impact to stiffness and resistance in VR.

Designed for use by companies for a variety of professional training purposes—such as the proper handling of hazardous material and the use of complex tools or machinery—these futuristic-looking devices allow users to interact with digital objects in a virtual world just as they would in real-life. They can feel the softness of a virtual pillow or the handle of a virtual tool, resulting in a new level of immersion impossible to replicate using conventional motion controllers and basic haptic vibrations.

“Unlike research applications, VR training projects are all about quick implementation. We created SenseGlove Nova—a new glove using stretchable, easy-to-put-on material—specifically for VR training, based on direct customer feedback. The ability to experience digital worlds through intuitive real-world behaviors coupled with a low $5,000 USD price make the SenseGlove Nova the most accessible device for the future of work and a new sense in VR training,” said Gijs den Butter, CEO of SenseGlove in an official release.

So, how does this motion tracking hand gear work exactly? SenseGlove actually based the design of its exoskeleton on the human tendon muscle system. Mechanical wires attached to magnetic friction brakes offer 20n of force across each finger. Voice coil activator technology provides realistic impact simulations, such as the feeling pressing a button, as do vibrotactile actuators located in near the thumb and index finger. A new form-fitting design promises more comfortable interactions as well.

For a better understanding of the Nova’s inner workings, take a look at the SenseGlove DK1, the companies current exoskeleton design. Unlike the Nova, the DK1 is much less subtle in its design; you can clearly see the mechanical components move with and against the user as they interact with various objects in VR. The DK1 has been employed by over 100 companies and organizations, including Airbus, Honda, Cambridge University, Fraunhofer, Procter & Gamble, Scania, Siemens, and Volkswagen to name a few.

“The next big step towards truly immersive VR training is to have haptic interactions. Therefore, Volkswagen collaborates with SenseGlove to make this vision of scalable haptic VR training a reality,” stated Malte Hedemann, Referent Digital Realities (VR /AR) at the Volkswagen Group.”

The SenseGlove Nova is currently available for pre-order at $5,000 per set of gloves with plans to begin shipping March 2021. Those who purchase 10 or more gloves will receive a discounted rate of $3,500 per set of gloves.

For more information visit senseglove.com.

Image Credit: SenseGlove

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Panasonic’s Ultra HD VR Eyeglasses Return To CES With New Improvements

Wed, 13 Jan 2021 17:10:24 GMT

Panasonic’s HDR eyeglasses are as gorgeous as they are mysterious.

Panasonic turned heads at last year’s CES with the reveal of its ultra high definition VR eyeglasses. Resembling something out of a William Gibson novel, this steampunk-esque device features a combination of Panasonic technology, including Technics audio drivers and LUMIX digital cameras, resulting in what company claims is the world’s first high-dynamic range capable ultra-high definition VR eyeglasses.

With CES 2021 currently in full swing, Panasonic this week returned with several new design updates to its mysterious VR eyeglasses as well as additional information regarding internal specs.

Image Credit: AVWatch

The most noticeable change compared to last years design are the improved arms. Whereas the original eyeglasses featured a slimmer, eyeglasses-like frame, Panasonic’s new design actually wraps around the users head, no doubt providing several improvements to comfort and weight distribution. This new design also appears to have done away with the detachable earbuds featured in the original 2020 promotional imagery. The company states that the eyeglasses will feature acoustic technologies powered by Technics audio products.

Dual built-in cameras can also be seen towards the front of the headset, most likely housing the aforementioned LUMIX optical technologies. The glasses themselves feature 2.6K micro-OLED panels for each eye, offering crystal clear visuals that do away with the dreaded “screen door effect” plaguing lower resolution hardware.

Image Credit: AVWatch

Inter-pupillary distance and diopter options allow users to maximize the visual quality of their experience. According to Panasonic, these HDR VR eyeglasses will connect to both PCs as well as 5G mobile devices, allowing users to access UHD content anytime, anywhere.

Even after today’s update, there’s still so much we still don’t know about Panasonic’s mysterious VR eyeglasses. We’ve yet to hear anything regarding compatible software, let alone a price or release date.

For additional information visit Panasonic’s official CES exhibitors page.

Image Credit: Panasonic

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Nolo VR Reveals $200 6DoF Cloud VR Bundle At CES 2021

Tue, 12 Jan 2021 20:35:11 GMT

This alongside a brand new all-in-one headset.

VR motion tracking specialists Nolo VR revealed several new additions to its lineup of VR hardware during CES 2021 this week, including a brand new 6DoF cloud VR solution costing less than $200.

Composed of the Nolo N2 mobile VR headset, a Google Cardboard-style head-mounted display, and the Nolo CV1 Pro motion tracking kit, the platform utilizes smartphone technology and high-speed in-home broadband to stream cloud VR content over a 5G or WLAN connection. Developed in cooperation with China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom, the aforementioned bundle is aimed specifically at mobile network operators focused on cloud VR projects.

While the company stresses this is by no means a replacement for high-fidelity PC VR experiences, the 6DoF cloud VR solution could serve as a cost-effective alternative to higher-priced standalone VR headsets, such as the $299 Oculus Quest 2.

In addition to this money-saving cloud VR solution, Nolo used this years showcase to unveil a brand new standalone headset. This “plug-and-play” ODM solution uses the companies own SodarTraq® ultrasonic positioning technology and a dual-camera SLAM system to deliver 6DoF inside-out tracking without the need of additional external sensors. Instead of relying on manual downloads, users stream cloud VR content over a 5G or WLAN connection.

Users interact with cloud VR content using two motion controllers nearly identical to those of the Oculus Quest/Quest 2 and Oculus Rift S. Aimed for use by mobile networks and commercial brands, the X1 can also be customized to meet a variety of needs. This includes alterations such as regular and short-focus displays, differentiated configurations, and ID design just to name a few. Other than that little else is known about Nolo’s unnamed headset.

Then there’s the Nolo CV1 Air, a 6DoF motion tracking solution aimed specifically for use with short-focus “glasses-type” headsets such as HUAWEI VR Glass. Much like the Nolo CV1 pro, this motion tracking kit sits above the headset itself and comes with two motion controllers similar in shape to the PlayStation Move controllers.

And wrapping things up we have the Nolo X1, a 6DoF cloud-based standalone VR headset featuring PolarTraq® spatial positioning technology, a Qualcomm X1 chipset and 2.5K/4K screen resolution options.

“We hope to work together to provide a more innovative 5G Cloud VR experience for global users and drive the popularity of immersive VR through deep collaboration with telecom operators,” stated the company in an official release.

For more information on all of Nolo’s VR products, visit nolovr.com.

Image Credit: Nolo VR

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‘System Shock 2 Enhanced Edition’ Will Feature VR Support

Tue, 12 Jan 2021 17:07:43 GMT

Nightdive Studios teases official headset support in a short gameplay video.

Survival horror fans rejoice! After lengthy radio silence from Nightdive Studios, the Washington-based developer this week provided fans with a long-awaited update on System Shock 2 Enhanced Edition.

In a shaky 8-second video posted yesterday on Twitter, Nightdive confirmed official VR support for its remake of the beloved survival horror classic, showing off several brutal interactions in the process. In the video provided, a developer can be seen using a Valve Index controller to swing an in-game monkey wrench in order to break glass, destroy certain objects, and kill a horrifying creature.

Our Notifications: "Is System Shock 2 EE still a thing?"
Us: pic.twitter.com/nYgX0xnVBa
— Nightdive Studios (@NightdiveStudio) January 10, 2021

Released back in 1999 to widespread critical acclaim, System Shock 2 is considered highly influential on the first-person shooter and horror genres. Players could actually customize their protagonists and progress through a development system similar to that of a conventional role-playing game, elements which—at the time—were considered to be revolutionary for the survival horror genre. Combined with a captivating plot and engaging open-world gameplay, System Shock 2 blew away both critics and players at launch, setting the groundwork for a new generation of terrifying survival horror experiences.

In August of 2019, Nightdive Studios announced that it was working on System Shock 2 Enhanced Edition for the PC, and that additional information would be “coming soon.” After extended radio silence, however, many expected the project to be dead. That was until yesterday’s tweet.

“We’re going to experiment with other platforms mostly to evaluate how the UI from [System Shock 2] would transition to a controller, but that doesn’t guarantee you’ll see [it] appear on console anytime soon,” said Nightdive CEO Stephen Kick while speaking to GamesRadar in regards to other goals. “Our priority with the Enhanced Edition is to be able to deliver an updated co-op multiplayer component. As of right now starting a co-op campaign is needlessly complicated and we’re going to address that by implementing features that will enable a more modern and streamlined experience.”

No word yet on an official release date.

Image Credit: Nightdive Studios

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‘Bigscreen VR’ Launches Over 172 Free TV Channels, Including ‘Rick And ...

Mon, 11 Jan 2021 20:24:27 GMT

Bigscreen’s social VR platform adds new TV to its lineup of 3D movies, sports, and news.

A recent Statista report shows that users spent 71% more time using VR in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdowns. One social VR platform in particular, Bigscreen, saw a massive spike in usage as people around the globe flocked to the platforms virtual theaters to watch films like Star Trek: Into Darkness, World War Z, or Interstellar together in VR.

During this time, Bigscreen also launched a dedicated video player, allowing you to access personal files—such as downloaded films and tv, home movies, or the music video you made while quarantining at home.

As if that weren’t enough to keep you occupied, Bigscreen today launched an additional 172 free TV channels, allowing you to stream popular Adult Swim shows such as Rick and Morty, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Samurai Jack, Robot Chicken, The Venture Bros, The Eric Andre Show, and more! This is a huge leap from the 50 channels the platform launched back in 2019.

Each Bigscreen TV channel serves as its own social space. You can invite your friends, family, or even someone you just met on another social VR platform over to your Bigscreen living room, or host a private viewing party for you and that special human being in your life.

Like Bigscreen’s virtual movie theater, each room features a variety of tools and interactions designed to spice up your viewing parties. This means you’re still be able to throw popcorn or tomatoes at the screen (or at each other) and play games while you watch TV.

Bigscreen will continue to offer a library of 3D movies to rent, as well as a variety of scheduled screenings available in the movie theater lobby.

If you are a parent and want to make sure your kids aren’t watching something they shouldn’t be watching, Bigscreen’s new TV channels will require you to check a box confirming that you are 18 or older; foolproof, I know. As an additional layer of security, Bigscreen’s has a built-in Parental Control that will give you the ability to stop your children from entering any of the 18+ plus rooms, public rooms, or even certain social situations that they could encounter.

This is just the start for Bigscreen. The company is promising even more updates in 2021. The team is currently in development of a friends system to make meeting up in Bigscreen easier, as well as new servers that will dramatically improve your VR experience with better audio and video quality and a new remote desktop feature with ultra-low latency desktop streaming to the Oculus Quest and Oculus Quest 2. But that’s all Bigscreen is telling us right now. The company is promising us more updates as we continue further into 2021.

Bigscreen and is available now for the Oculus Quest and Quest 2, SteamVR, and as a desktop WebVR experience.

Image Credit: Bigscreen Inc.

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‘Defunctland VR’ Brings A Legendary Disney Ride Back To Life After 25 Years

Mon, 11 Jan 2021 17:27:08 GMT

Creator Kevin Perjurer is bringing Disneyland to life in VR, one digital attraction at a time.

It was all the way back in 2017 that Defunctland, a YouTube channel covering the history of dead theme parks and entertainment centers, announced plans for a digital interactive theme park brought to life using VR technology. Much like the channel itself, this virtual theme park would be composed of numerous rides and attractions that have since shut down, allowing users to explore a bit of entertainment history from the comfort of their homes.

If you need a 15-minute break today, I suggest taking a trip to Defunctland VR and riding a long lost attraction. https://t.co/tCp9L8UN1K pic.twitter.com/6b10SVHrWC
— Defunctland (@Defunctland) January 7, 2021

After nearly four years of radio silence on the project, Defunctland creator Kevin Perjurer surprised users this week with the release of the virtual parks first interactive attraction, Disney World’s “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.” Based on the classic 1954 film, the roughly 20-minute ride first launched in 1971 at the Magic Kingdom theme park at Walt Disney World. Visitors would ride in a mechanical submarine as they explored an exotic lagoon filled with various sea life as well as mermaids. Unfortunately, the ride closed in 1994, leaving many classic nautical-lovers high and dry.

Defunctland VR brings the infamous underwater attraction back to life, letting you to explore a fantastical undersea environment littered with all the cheesy animatronics you’d expect from an earl-70’s theme park ride. Perjurer even included the audio from the original ride, just in case you were concerned about authenticity. Trying the virtual ride out for myself, I was genuinely impressed by the level of detail featured throughout the experience. Everything from the carefully-constructed environments to the somewhat-unsettling animatronics left me with an intense feeling of nostalgia.

A free alpha of Defunctland VR is available now to all PC VR users. The channel has also uploaded a 360-degree video of the experience to YouTube, allowing those without a headset the opportunity to relive a bit of history.

Image Credit: Defunctland

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Education’s Next Big Leap: Immersive VR Education For Better Learning

Sun, 10 Jan 2021 20:46:40 GMT

Immersive education presents a safer, more effective alternative to conventional learning.

Training and education barriers exist at all levels of education—from primary to post-secondary students and on through these student’s careers into Enterprise and business training programs. Enterprise training programs at every level are often associated with feelings of dread rather than an important tool in keeping employees safe and setting them up for success. And in higher risk industries, having efficient and effective training is of utmost importance. The ideal training program safeguards employees in higher stakes cases, and ensures people have the right response in a situation through their training recall.

VR training programs drastically improve a user’s ability to understand and retain content compared to the traditional methods of textbooks and desktop learning. While investing in VR education and training applications may seem unnecessary, time-consuming, or just a “nice to have”, immersive technologies can play a large role in educating students and employees efficiently and effectively. So, let’s explore how exactly immersive technology can make a difference in a student’s learning journey.

Oxford Medical Simulation offers VR medical training to remote students. // Video Credit: Oxford Medical Simulation

VISUAL LEARNING

The way that certain material is taught and presented can make a significant difference, especially when it comes to learning abstract concepts that are new, foreign, and unfamiliar to students. One early study conducted by Mehryar Nooriafshar, Tek Narayan Maraseni, and Ron Williams explored the effects of how VR education could be a useful tool in helping students learn content more effectively. Researchers gave a tutorial on topics related to basic human anatomy to two groups of students from two very different backgrounds: nursing and business.

In the end, 88% of students reported enjoying their VR experience more than studying diagrams from a textbook. Participants also stated that they found it “easier to learn by visible examples rather than textbook” and that immersive technology helped them “see where [various parts] are in relation to other[s]”. These results are similar to findings from a 2018 study conducted at the University of Maryland, during which VR learning was key in helping participants retain information. It’s also supported by the anecdotal evidence we hear from our architecture and design clients daily, where VR is critical to understanding size and scale; the ratio of how things fit, and their relative size are far more clear in VR than other media.

Findings from both of these studies clearly indicate how visual learning is a key factor in the modern education process. VR helps put various bits and pieces of information into a larger perspective, giving more context to enrich a student’s understanding and improve people’s overall learning capabilities and retention.

“This data is exciting in that it suggests that immersive environments could offer new pathways for improved outcomes in education and high-proficiency training” – Amitabh Varshney, Professor of computer science and dean of the College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences.

HistoryMaker VR lets students step into the shoes of famous figures. // Video Credit: VRScout

ENJOYMENT = BETTER LEARNING

Designers of children’s educational programming, apps, and video games know a basic truth: when people are entertained by the material, they are more likely to retain said information. Also known as Edutainment, the combination of education and entertainment can play a large role in helping students gain a deeper understanding of theoretical subjects. The bottom line is that when students are engaged, perhaps even without knowing it, learning new material becomes a lot less painful.

One aspect that sets VR apart from other mediums of learning is its interactivity. Users are transported into a digital environment where they can complete a series of tasks, answer questions, and interact freely with their surroundings. Compared to studying a manual where reading can often be laborious, using VR for educational or training purposes offers a high-definition platform in which students learn while they play.

Police using VR technology for deescalation training. // Image Credit: Associated Press

SAFETY IN PRACTICE

As discussed, VR’s immersive capabilities can provide effective and memorable training for a variety of education levels. In addition, VR also provides a safe environment for employees working high-risk jobs to learn the adequate health and safety training required to perform their duties, whether it be learning how to diffuse tense situations or the operation of large vehicles.

When it comes to industries like construction or mining, even the smallest mistake can end up putting you and everyone else around you at risk. While current training programs may include a seminar presentation, role-playing, and a list of scenarios, very few offer hands-on education. VR-based safety training, on the other hand, gives employees the confidence to explore and make mistakes in a safe virtual environment.

Multiplayer VR experience challenges users to survive the harsh conditions of Mars. // Video Credit: SPREE Interactive

VR EDUCATION & TRAINING

Educators are always looking for better ways to engage with students and employees. Virtual learning immerses users in their content, resulting in higher retention rates. The nature of VR also means that people are better able to focus, experience content at their own pace, and do so from a more memorable first-person perspective. Long story short, VR is poised to be a significant disruptor to education and training.

Image Credit:

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How To Play SteamVR Games On The Oculus Quest 2

Sat, 09 Jan 2021 21:43:51 GMT

Expand your offerings with a massive catalogue of PC VR games & apps.

The Oculus Quest has developed quite an impressive library of standalone games and apps. From original titles such as Phantom: Covert Ops to PC VR ports like The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners, there’s pretty much something for everyone on the Oculus Quest. Then again, why settle for just the Oculus Quest Store when you can have the entirety of the SteamVR library? Today we’re going to be discussing the best, most affordable, and easiest ways of accessing SteamVR on your Oculus Quest 2 headset.

Before we get started, however, it’s important to note that you still need a VR-ready PC in order to access PC VR games on SteamVR and the Oculus Store. That being said here is our super simple breakdown:

THE BEST WAY

Available for $79.99 via the Oculus Store, Oculus’ official Link cable is by far the best option for those interested in quality and performance. The 16-foot fiber optic USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C to USB Type-C cable features high-quality spiral shielding, a 3A power supply, and 5 GBps bandwidth. Long story short, this cable is designed from the ground-up for running PC VR content on the Oculus Quest and Oculus Quest 2. This is without doubt the best option for those seeking maximum quality.

THE COST-EFFICIENT WAY

That being said you don’t technically need an Oculus-brand USB Type-C cable in order to access the Oculus Link software. Many 3rd party cable manufacturers, such as Anker, offer more affordable alternatives to the official Link cable. Thanks to several updates introduced last year, pretty much any USB Type-C, though we recommend a length of 15 feet. This ensures you have enough slack to properly move throughout your room-scale space. You might be able to get away with 10-feet if your PC is close to your play space, but I wouldn’t recommend it. When all else fails you can even use the cable that came with your Oculus Quest 2! How’s that for convenience?

THE MOST COMFORTABLE WAY

But maybe you’re concerned less about quality and more about your comfort. Those looking to ditch the cord all together will want to check out Virtual Desktop. While it’s true there are several wireless streaming options available for the Oculus Quest 2, Virtual Desktop is at the top of the pack. It’s easy to setup, affordable, and runs way better than it has any right now. A recent update even enables PC VR streaming at 90Hz, which is insane for a real-time wireless solution.

Simply purchase and install the Oculus Quest app on your Quest 2, download the PC client and Virtual Desktop add-on from SideQuest, launch Virtual Desktop on your headset, and boom! You’re now streaming PC VR titles wirelessly on your Oculus Quest 2, no cumbersome cable getting in the way.

The Oculus Quest is available now beginning at $299. The official Oculus Link cable can be purchased for $79.99 via the official Oculus website. Virtual Desktop can be purchased via the Oculus Quest Store for $19.99; the desktop companion app can be downloaded free-of-charge.

Image Credit: VRScout

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Build Your Own Open-Source AR Headset For Under $80

Fri, 08 Jan 2021 17:18:02 GMT

CheApR is the open-source headset you build on your own.

When Jeri Ellsworth and her team launched a Kickstarter campaign for their Tilt Five tabletop augmented reality glasses, it caught the attention of tech enthusiast Arnaud Atchimon. Atchimon loved the idea of how cutting-edge hardware like the Tilt Five glasses and AR could be a big game-changer for tabletop gaming and remote socialization. What he didn’t love, however, was the pricey and difficult-to-purchase hardware.

His solution was cheApR, an open-source AR headset built using 3D printed parts and electronics lying around his lab. Atchimon, who is tech savvy but doesn’t have an engineering or electronics background, conducted lot of a good deal of research in order to bring his proprietary AR device to life.

For inspiration, Atchimon turned to the work of creator Lovyan03, whose ScreenshotSender project was, “mind-blowing and eye-opening,” according to Atchimon. He used this project as a guide to help him develop his CheApR headset. According to Atchimon, the development of his open-source AR headset wouldn’t have been possible if not for Lovyan03’s expertise and guidance. You can explore more of Lovyan03’s work via his Github page.

Atchimon broke his build down into multiple steps; some simple, others a bit more complex depending on your knowledge of 3D printing and assembly. The secret is to take your time and and enjoy the process; maybe play a few tunes in the background as you fiddle.

Atchimon used a 3D printer to print out parts (which he has conveniently uploaded to his own Github page), spare electronics he had sitting around his house, and parts he purchased online. To help you with your build Atchimon has created links on his Instructable site for each part, including information on where they can be purchased. Here’s what tools you’ll need (in addition the aforementioned 3D printed parts):

Cutter
Screw drivers
M3 nuts & bolts
Hot glue gun
Double sided tape
Kapton Tape
Permanent markers

When all’s said and done the entire build should cost you roughly no more than $80USD.

Atchimon turned to free tools on the internet such as open-source electronics platform Arduino and Processing to upload the system libraries and get the headset up-and-running.

During an interview with VRScout, Darren Prodger, Manager of the IdeaLab at Skidmore College, talked about the importance of DIY projects like cheApR saying, “Barriers crumble when people have the space to explore and companies offer modeling software for free,” Prodger adds, “Now nearly anyone can tinker around with it and this all leads to new innovations.”

Atchimon knows his AR headset isn’t perfect. As a matter of fact, he’s asking users for any improvements he can make to the coding and design. For now, however, Atchimon is excited to see where cheApR could go in the years ahead and how people can use his steps to tinker on their own designs.

Prodger agrees, saying, “The information is out there on Instructables, YouTube, Thingiverse, or manufacturer websites. It’s just a matter of looking for it.”

Image Credit: a-RN-au-D

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TikTok’s First LiDAR-Powered AR Filter Now Available

Thu, 07 Jan 2021 18:49:37 GMT

Ring in the new year with this 2021-themed AR effect.

Social media app TikTok this week released its first LiDAR-powered augmented reality filter, offering those with the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max access to a unique interactive effect perfect for ringing in the new year.

Available now on compatible smartphone devices, this 2021-themed filter simulates the New Year’s Eve ball drop in Time Square, including the official countdown. Once the golden ball has fully descended, it explodes, revealing a giant inflatable “2021” balloon and showering you with a sea of shimmering confetti. Thanks to the power of LiDAR technology, the digital confetti—rather than fall uniformly on the floor—scatters randomly throughout the environment, interacting real-world objects as well as you yourself.

Image Credit: Chesnot/Getty Images

In a video provided by TikTok, we see a user draped in confetti as the ball explodes on cue above him. The confetti reacts to his movements, falling to the ground as he drops his arms and walks off frame. Numerous pieces can also be seen scattered realistically across the couch and floor. How is this level of depth perception possible, you ask?

By emitting a certain type of laser light via specialized cameras, LiDAR technology is able to determine how far away an object is by measuring how long it takes the light to hit said object and reflect back. The result is more realistic AR visuals, once that interact with physical objects as well as the light itself.

“To ring in 2021 we released our first AR effect on the new iPhone 12 Pro, using LiDAR technology which allows us to create effects that interact with your environment – visually bridging the digital and physical worlds. We’re excited to develop more innovative effects in 2021!,” states TikTok in a tweet sharing the video.

To ring in 2021 we released our first AR effect on the new iPhone 12 Pro, using LiDAR technology which allows us to create effects that interact with your environment – visually bridging the digital and physical worlds. We're excited to develop more innovative effects in 2021! pic.twitter.com/6yFD2FfHta
— TikTokComms (@TikTokComms) January 6, 2021

As previously stated, TikTok’s LiDAR-powered AR filter is available now to all iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max users. According to a report by Techcrunch, TikTok is expected to introduce more liDAR-powered filters throughout 2021.

Fellow social media platform Snapchat has been employing LiDAR technology in its AR-enhanced Snap Lenses for some time.

“The addition of the LiDAR Scanner to iPhone 12 Pro models enables a new level of creativity for augmented reality,” said Eitan Pilipski, Snap’s SVP of Camera Platform, in an official release. “We’re excited to collaborate with Apple to bring this sophisticated technology to our Lens Creator community.”

Feature Image Credit: TikTok

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