Within Co-Founder Chris Milk on the Biggest Challenges of Augmented and Virtual Reality Storytelling
The company launched its first AR app, Wonderscope, in late 2018. Primarily aimed at kids, Wonderscope brings interactive stories to life, allowing viewers to talk to characters and actively participate in the experience. The AR stories run between seven and 13 minutes long, depending on the pace of the viewer.
The app is made possible by Apple’s ARKit, which allowed developers to create AR apps for about half a billion iOS devices around the world. Now, months after launching, Wonderscope has reinforced Milk’s belief that viewer participation will play a key role in the future of entertainment and education. (Wonderscope, which is up for a Webby Award in the Education and Reference category, declined to share just how often the app has been downloaded.)
See the full story here: https://www.thewrap.com/augmented-reality-virtual-storytelling-within-ceo-chris-milk-wonderscope-vr-ar/
Tinder becomes the top-grossing, non-game app in Q1 2019, ending Netflix’s reign
TikTok, notably, has held onto its No. 3 position, having grown its new users 70 percent year-over-year, by adding 188 million in Q1. The growth was driven by India, where 88.6 million new users joined the app, compared with “just” 13.2 million in the U.S. — or 181 percent year-over-year growth.
See the full story here: https://techcrunch.com/2019/04/11/tinder-becomes-the-top-grossing-non-game-app-in-q1-2019-ending-netflixs-reign/
The 7 habits of highly effective AR/VR startups
Digi-Capital's User Strategy Director, Isabelle Hierholtz, has published results from her discussions with AR/VR CEOs thriving in 2019 (despite some market sentiment to the contrary). A few common themes came out, with CEOs sharing lessons learned on how to:
1. Solve a critical use case (Streem, Houzz)
2. Make money from day 1 (VNTANA, zSpace, Xesto, Holo-Light)
3. Know what you look like to VCs (Scope AR, Conquer Experience)
4. Make powerful friends (Taqtile, RE'FLEKT, Embodied Labs)
5. Not leave money on the table (Periscape VR, Two Bit Circus)
6. Be the best at what you love (Emblematic Media, Felix & Paul)
7. Be ready to catch the whale (Strivr)
You can read an overview here, which was extracted from our new Augmented/Virtual Reality Report Q2 2019.
See the full story here: https://www.digi-capital.com/news/2019/04/the-7-habits-of-highly-effective-ar-vr-startups/
Saudi Entertainment Ventures’ complexes to include virtual reality, performing arts
Saudi Entertainment Ventures (SEVEN) plans to include virtual reality and live performance centres across its 20 planned entertainment complexes across the kingdom, according to CEO Bill Ernest.
In January, SEVEN announced plans for a 100,000 square-metre entertainment complex in Riyadh, located on Riyadh’s Eastern Ring Road at the intersection of King Abdullah Road.
In an interview with Arabian Business, Ernest – a 25-year veteran of the Walt Disney Company – said that the project, and the subsequent ones, will have “a lot going on.”
The PIF expects SEVEN’s collective projects to serve more than 50 million visitors each year, provide 22,000 direct jobs and contribute SAR 8 billion ($2.13 billion) to the Saudi economy by 2030.
See the full story here: https://www.arabianbusiness.com/media/417191-saudi-entertainment-ventures-complexes-to-include-virtual-reality-performing-arts
Hospice residents enjoy virtual reality thanks to East Linton company
Using the latest high-tech VR headsets, one individual was transported to Jerusalem, a place he had always dreamed of visiting.
In another session, a 101-year-old woman was thrilled to revisit her childhood home in Darjeeling and indulge in a trip up the Amazon river for the first time.
The experience triggered happy memories with the opportunity to reminisce about old times, as well as encounter new places.
See the full story here: https://www.eastlothiancourier.com/news/17570615.hospice-residents-enjoy-virtual-reality-thanks-to-east-linton-company/
9 Augmented Reality Technologies for Architecture and Construction
Fologram
Fologram transforms 3D models into full-size construction instructions through augmented reality glasses, such as the Hololens. The program seeks to facilitate the construction of complex projects that require a series of measurements, verification and specific care through digital instructions that are virtually superimposed on the work space, directing a step-by-step guide for masons during the construction process.
See the full story here: https://www.archdaily.com/914501/9-augmented-reality-technologies-for-architecture-and-construction
Why Virtual Reality’s Disruption Of Hollywood Isn’t Here Yet (But It’s Not Dead Either)
Virtual Reality is another area that has plenty of potential but not mass adoption by Hollywood but that may be about to change if Robert Rodriguez (Sin City, Ugly Dolls) 'THE LIMIT' is an early taste of a future that's almost here.
The trailer for Rodriguez's 'THE LIMIT' is fast-paced and offers a glimpse at an immersive thrill-ride that involves jumping out of a plane, a high-speed car chase amongst other heart-rate elevating elements. The drawbacks are not the desire to make content like this but the challenges that come with filming. Aside from costs, creating in this medium is a challenge according to Rodriguez; "I couldn’t really plan even simple things, like how close the vehicles should get to each other until we were there on the day and I was looking through the camera because the lens is very wide. POV works much better in VR than in traditional film and TV, but it takes a lot of coordination between all involved."
Creating cinematic VR requires new 'languages' that lead to a different relationship with the audience according to Rodriguez; "Designing a story that is immersive and a lean-back experience [is tough], one where the audience has freedom of movement and can choose where to look, but at the same time you want to direct them as well to see and hear what you want them to in order to get the most out of the film, is harder."
Speaking to the DGA, Jon Favreau (Avengers) isn't convinced on VR's cinematic future either; "Part of the job of the filmmaker is to support that immersion. And often it relates to how you make choices that you believe the audience would make. So, if you're cutting a scene properly, it's almost like you don't need VR because you're looking where they want to look anyway."
See the full story here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/paularmstrongtech/2019/04/13/why-virtual-realitys-disruption-of-hollywood-isnt-here-yet-but-its-not-dead-either/#845227f1b607
Immotion to install its virtual reality pods at two major US aquariums
Immotion will install a range of VR cinematic motion pods on a revenue-share basis at Odysea Aquarium, in Scottsdale, Arizona, and The Maritime Aquarium, in Norwalk, Connecticut
Customers will be able to ‘swim’ alongside some of the most mysterious and amazing creatures in the world.
The installations follow the recent release of Immotion’s live-action VR movie ‘Swimming with Humpbacks’, which it said prompted a “large number of enquiries” from zoos and aquariums.
“Demand for immersive edutainment is growing, and interest from the zoo and aquarium industry is at an all-time high. Immotion Group can deliver something new and unique to their customers, while also providing valuable ancillary revenue.
See the full story here:https://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/companies/news/218553/immotion-to-install-its-virtual-reality-pods-at-two-major-us-aquariums-218553.html