Disney and Universal put a spin on reality with latest patents
Universal has filed five ride-related patent applications that have been published within the past week or so:
- Passenger Restraint With Integrated Lighting
- Dome Theater Ride System And Method
- Motion Simulation Amusement Park Attraction
- Annular Motion Simulation Amusement Park Attraction
- Seated Motion Simulation Amusement Park Attraction
...while Disney has filed for a "Multisensory Augmented Reality" system. Let's start with that one. Basically, Disney has created an interactive version of those souvenir videos where you stand in front of a green screen and then they make it look like you are in some other location.
See the full story here: https://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201811/6387/
Oregon Senator Proposes a Consumer Data Protection Bill
Oregon Democratic Senator Ron Wyden drafted a data privacy bill akin to the recent General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) legislation in Europe. Dubbed the Consumer Data Protection Act, Wyden’s bill would give users more control over selling and sharing their data, and would give the Federal Trade Commission authority to set privacy and security standards and fine those companies that do not protect consumer data. One provision is a “Do Not Track” feature that would allow people to opt out of being tracked.
Digital Trends reports that the latter is “the digital equivalent of the popular Do Not Call Registry established by the FTC in 2003, which allows people to opt out of receiving phone calls from telemarketers.”
Companies would have to offer alternative payment options “such as subscription fees instead of ad-supported ‘free’ models.”
At Georgetown Law’s Communication & Techology Clinic, teaching fellow and attorney Lindsey Barrett tweeted that Wyden’s bill “injects sorely needed accountability” into today’s flawed “information ecosystem.” But Rendition InfoSec co-founder Jake Williams, a National Security Agency veteran, noted that the bill is unlikely to pass. “Even if it does, it won’t mean what you might think,” he said. “It won’t create a SOX-style environment around cyber. Sorry.”
See the full story here: http://www.etcentric.org/oregon-senator-proposes-a-consumer-data-protection-bill/
20th Century Fox, Google Use AI to Analyze Movie Trailers
Researchers at 20th Century Fox published a paper to reveal how they are using artificial intelligence to analyze movie trailers. Published last month, the paper described Merlin, the code name for machine vision systems examining trailers frame by frame and labeling the objects and events. Then this data is compared to data from other trailers, with the idea that trailers with similar labels will attract similar kinds of people. Movie studios already cull similar data via interviews and questionnaires.
The Verge reports that the researchers added that, “understanding detailed audience composition is important for movie studios that invest in stories of uncertain commercial [appeal].”
The goal with using AI is to break down the audience into “micro segments.”
See the full story here: http://www.etcentric.org/20th-century-fox-google-use-ai-to-analyze-movie-trailers/
How Owlchemy’s new virtual reality game turns vacationing into another job robots take from humans
- "Vacation Simulator" — a follow up to the lab's hit game, "Job Simulator" — is set in the year 2060.
- The premise involves robots (the same ones who stole most of humanity's jobs in "Job Simulator") doing some research, and discovering that when people were not working, they would take vacations.
See the full story here: https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/02/google-owlchemys-simulator-turns-vacation-into-spectating.html
Virtual Reality is Transforming into a Niche Sub-Industry
Earlier this year, research firm IDC reported that shipments of VR and augmented reality (AR) headsets plunged 30.5 percent between the first quarters of 2017 and 2018. Enthusiastic early adopters snatched up their Oculus Rifts and HTC Vives, but that didn’t ignite a broader market. Perhaps that’s why Facebook has decided to drive down the price of headsets.
For the moment, virtual reality is very much a niche (and still gaming-focused) product. Those developers and other tech pros who thought that VR would quickly spread to the enterprise and other contexts might be disappointed. But those who love and create games might still see VR as an opportunity, albeit one that might prove hard to monetize.
See the full story here: https://insights.dice.com/2018/11/04/virtual-reality-transforming-niche-sub-industry/
Scientists hail quantum computing breakthrough
To solve the issue of “environmental noise”, the team have worked with theoretical scientist Dr Florian Mintert and colleagues from Imperial College London to make use of quantum physics and microwave technology – similar to that used in mobile phones – to help insulate the new computers.
Prof Hensinger, head of the Ion Quantum Technology Group at the University of Sussex – which last year unveiled the first blueprint for a large-scale quantum computer – said: “With this advance we have made another practical step towards constructing quantum computers that can host millions of qubits.
Prof Hensinger’s group is now using the new technique as they put the final touches to a powerful quantum computer prototype that is currently in their laboratory at the University of Sussex.
He added: “It’s now time to translate academic achievements into the construction of practical machines.
ABC News Is Using AR to Deliver One-of-a-Kind Election Night Viewing Experience
ABC NEWS - ABC News debuts a new 2018 election set with live continuous coverage on Election Day, Tuesday, November 6, 2018. (ABC/Danny Weiss)
ELECTION SET
[PhilNote: If you aren't there for the visceral experience of controlling what you see, then what ABC is doing is just on-screen VFX by another name.]
“It’s the most ambitious set we’ve ever undertaken, including for a presidential election,” ABC News special events senior ep Marc Burstein told TVNewser. “The set and the use of augmented reality are designed to enhance our reporting of the story,...
At various points throughout the broadcast, viewers will be able to see a graphic of the Capitol building and up-to-date information about the House and Senate push up through the “Your Voice Your Vote” slogan inside the circle.
The viewer will see the set spin around when the panel is moving to a different story.
See the full story here: https://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/abc-news-is-using-ar-to-deliver-one-of-a-kind-election-night-viewing-experience/383089
Riot Games uses AR imagery to kick off League of Legends 2018 World Finals
In the AR demo, the in-game band K/DA will deliver a debut performance onstage (yep, they’re real!) of their pop song POP/STARS through the use of augmented reality technology, alongside folks such as Madison Beer, Miyeon and Soyeon of (G)I-DLE, and Jaira Burns.
K/DA is comprised of League of Legends champions (left to right in picture above) Akali, Ahri, Kai’Sa, and Evelynn. While the look and champions for the K/DA skin line have already been previously announced — the existence of a new original song, collaboration with Madison Beer, (G)I-DLE, and Jaira Burns, and live augmented reality performance for the League of Legends 2018 World Finals Opening Ceremony will be a complete surprise to audiences attending the finals and watching worldwide.
The ceremony begins at 12:30 a.m. Pacific on November 3, and is being broadcast live from the Incheon Munhak Stadium in Incheon, South Korea.
See the full story here: https://venturebeat.com/2018/11/03/riot-games-uses-ar-imagery-to-kick-off-league-of-legends-2018-world-finals/
Riot puts on an augmented reality K-Pop concert for Worlds in tandem with a brand-new music video
The 2018 League of Legends World Championship finals were the talk of the town all throughout the competitive community today. But there was one brand, shiny new thing that Riot showed off during the opening ceremony that can’t be ignored.
It was a small K-Pop concert featuring artists Cho “Miyeon” Mi-yeon and Jeon “Soyeon” So-yeon of the group (G)I-DLE and American pop artist Madison Beer. Perhaps the most exciting part of the concert, however, were the augmented-reality Kai’Sa, Ahri, Akali, and Evelynn dancing and singing on-stage alongside them. Not only that, but Riot released a music video to celebrate the new song and the Worlds performance.
See the full story here: https://dotesports.com/league-of-legends/news/riot-puts-on-an-augmented-reality-k-pop-concert-for-worlds-in-tandem-with-a-brand-new-music-video