philip lelyveld The world of entertainment technology

Virtual Reality Allows Patients to Preview Their Own Surgery (video)

Collins has loaded the 3-D reconstruction of Felicia Luna’s aneurysm and a virtual craniotomy so students can follow in virtual reality as Steinberg explains his surgery strategy.

Steinberg uses his controls to turn the virtual skull. He virtually “erases” a bone, glides along a vessel, and reveals his target.

“That’s exactly where the aneurysm is, where that turn is,” he says.

He shows where he plans to place a clip, cutting off the blood that can thin the aneurysm’s walls, causing it to rupture. The virtual procedure, which Steinberg describes as a “kind of GPS navigation with 1-2 millimeter precision,” is invaluable to him.

“In a sense, it allows me to plan for surgery ahead of time and rehearse it,” he says.

See the full story here: https://www.voanews.com/a/virtual-reality-patients-preview-own-surgery/4144852.html

Virtual Reality: It’s About Changing the Game Not Playing It

CandyLab AR game – Wisconsin county settles suit over augmented-reality games

Milwaukee County plans to settle a lawsuit from an augmented-reality game developer that challenged an ordinance requiring companies to get local permits for apps like Pokemon Go to be played in parks.

Under the settlement agreement announced Thursday, the county won't enforce its rule and will pay $83,000 in attorneys' fees for California-based developer Candy Lab Inc.

How Blockchain Is Breathing New Life Into Virtual Real Estate

Virtual reality platform Decentraland, for example, uses blockchain to identify and designate ownership of land in its virtual world.

Because of the various possible applications of VR, virtual real estate can now function similarly to real-world properties that they can be sold, leased, and used for virtual activities. Blockchain could help formalize the market for these virtual properties.

The improvements in the VR hardware are allowing for richer experiences. “Environments in VR are completely malleable, down to the setting, physics, and social parameters. This allows blockchain developers to experiment in ways that would be impossible in the physical world,” writes Franco Zeoli from Zeppelin. New decentralized VR platforms also liberate users from the usual constraints imposed by virtual world developers. Blockchain ensures that the trade of virtual properties becomes fair and secure.

See the full story here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/omribarzilay/2017/11/30/how-blockchain-is-breathing-new-life-into-virtual-real-estate/#2dec7302511e

Why Virtual Reality Design Needs Empathetic Storytelling

The idea of technology bringing about a dehumanizing dystopia is not all that unfamiliar and pervades major artefacts of culture (books, films, and general discourse) of the past century. The reaction to Zuckerberg’s “journey” to Puerto Rico shows that virtual proximity does not always bring us emotionally closer, and that people can clearly feel the emotional void in virtual spaces. While technology designers could compensate by introducing emojis and facial expressions to fill the emotional gap of the technological experience, marketers can battle the dehumanizing image of technology by telling the story of VR as a true emotional enabler.

OPen Geospatial Consortium Calls for Sponsors for Augmented Reality Pilot Project

The Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC), and the World Wide Web Consortium(W3C), together are calling for sponsors for an upcoming Augmented Reality (AR) Pilot Project that seeks to advance W3C and OGC standards related to Augmented Reality.

As part of the Pilot, models, interfaces, and an architecture will be advanced to enable the seamless integration of ‘real world,’ geospatial, and web data.

An open architecture needs to be advanced to not only allow AR systems to access and merge data from a specific location, but also for them to be able to send data (e.g. capturing pictures and videos) to a server and to subscribe and be notified of events related to that location.

The OGC and W3C AR Pilot Project aims to help solve these problems.

The Pilot will run as an Initiative of the OGC Innovation Program, co-branded with W3C.

Benefits to Sponsors of the W3C OGC AR Pilot include:

• Assess and affect market direction based on your and other sponsor organisations’ needs.
• Improved visibility as a global leader in information technology critical to Augmented Reality.
• Amplified funding of solutions by working with multiple sponsors with common/similar problems.
• Accelerated process for workable interface specifications, with results delivered in 4-6 months. Follow-on procurements using proven standards-based architecture then lead to more robust AR solutions.

For more information on the pilot or any sponsorship opportunities, contact Luis Bermudez, Executive Director Innovation Program lbermudez@opengeospatial.org or visit www.opengeospatial.org/projects/initiatives/arpilot2017. To submit your interest as a sponsor, please respond to the following form, by February 5th 2018.

See the full story here: https://www.directionsmag.com/pressrelease/7081

Also see https://www.w3.org/blog/2017/12/w3c-and-ogc-augmented-reality-pilot-an-exciting-adventure-for-w3c/

Samsung Begins Installation of ‘Cinema LED’ Movie Screens

The screen displays 33.6 x 17.8 feet and supports 4K resolution and high-dynamic range images.

“Based on elimination of the projector beam and the high luminosity of Samsung Cinema LED screen, there are a host of new possibilities for interior design,” said Arena Cinemas owner Edi Stöckli. “We are entirely removing the existing furnishings and implementing an innovative seating concept to provide audiences with a totally new kind of cinematic experience.”

Samsung reveals that its Cinema LED screen “illuminates its vast display area through use of around 8.8 million LEDs, as well as immerses audiences in true-to-life audio utilizing technology developed in partnership between HARMAN Professional Solutions and Samsung Audio Lab.”

See the full story here: http://www.etcentric.org/samsung-begins-installation-of-cinema-led-movie-screens/

Intel, Warner Bros. Unveil AV Entertainment Experience Plans

During this week’s LA Auto Show, Intel and Warner Bros. announced a partnership to develop in-cabin, immersive experiences for autonomous vehicles. The companies are creating the AV Entertainment Experience, which Intel chief Brian Krzanich describes as “a first-of-its-kind proof-of-concept car to demonstrate what entertainment in the vehicle could look like in the future.”

Krzanich emphasizes the importance of perception and adoption in addition to safety and the need for standards. Riders will need to be comfortable and trusting of the technology behind autonomous systems and related safety features, which Krzanich sees as “the logical extension of seat belts, air bags and anti-lock braking systems.”

See the full story here: http://www.etcentric.org/intel-warner-bros-unveil-av-entertainment-experience-plans/

The new FDA-cleared Apple Watch band adds real-time EKG

The Apple Watch already has a heart rate sensor, and it can even help flag potentially dangerous cardiac conditions.  Apple is working on having the heart rate sensor check for heart rhythm abnormalities (atrial fibrillation), and has just launched a heart rate study with Stanford that anyone can opt into and test. But there is a new strap for the Apple Watch that does have FDA clearance right now.

AliveCor's KardiaBand is an FDA-cleared device that checks on-the-spot EKG readings in a Bluetooth-connected strap. Unlike the Apple Watch's optical heart rate technology, the KardiaBand uses your finger or thumb to complete an electrical circuit via two metal contacts: one for your finger, one that rests against your wrist. It works with Apple Watch Series 1, 2 and 3 models -- that is, every version except the original "Series Zero" model.

AliveCor's Kardia app tracks heart rate continuously with the Apple Watch's sensors and then pings you to take an extra EKG reading when your heart rate seems out of place with where your activity and previous history would indicate, using what AliveCor says is AI that learns over time.

SmartRhythm monitoring involves a deep neural network that runs directly on the Apple Watch, constantly acquiring data from the Watch’s heart rate sensor and accelerometer. It compares your heart rate and changes in your heart rate over time to what it expects from your minute-by-minute level of activity, and gives you a graphical display of where your heart rate falls within the boundaries predicted by the neural network. When the network sees a pattern of heart rate and activity that it does not expect, it notifies you to take an ECG.

Beyond detection of arrhythmias, AliveCor is working on other technologies that utilize the power of machine learning and wearable ECG devices like KardiaBand to expand the clinical and diagnostic significance of the ECG even further. For example, in partnership with the Mayo Clinic, we’re working towards reliable detection of life-threatening electrolyte abnormalities, like hyperkalemia, directly from an ECG, and screening tools that may one day enable detection of genetic abnormalities, like congenital long QT syndrome. The ECG has been around for more than 100 years.

What type of security do you use?

See the full story with video here: https://www.cnet.com/news/the-apple-watch-now-has-an-fda-cleared-heart-rate-band/

Also https://www.alivecor.com/technology/

Bringing Interactivity Into the Theater

With a focus on providing a seamless experience for moviegoers, CtrlMovie has developed a patented technology platform to efficiently create “Choose Your Own Adventure”-style movies that audiences play on their phones. To demonstrate the effectiveness of their technology, the company debuted its own film, Late Shift, a fast-paced crime thriller shot in full HD across London.

Developed by CtrlMovie and written by Michael R. Johnson, author of Sherlock Holmes (2009 film), Late Shift has over 180 decision points. Using their smart phones, audiences make decisions on behalf of the main character, Matt, such as “Does Matt steal a car?” or “Does he follow or disobey orders?” Each decision is made in seconds while the film continues to roll. There are no pauses and no looping footage.

According to Johnson, what attracted him to the project was “the idea of a truly interactive film. It’s been attempted before with limited degrees of success, but what I feel puts Late Shift ahead of the pack is bringing the player into the experience in a very intuitive way. I like the fact that rather than saddling the viewer with a series of arbitrary ‘go left’ or ‘go right’ choices, Late Shift instead puts you into the shoes of an actual character—Matt—and the decision-making process always draws on Matt’s ongoing experiences and train of thought. You feel that each separate decision is weighted with careful consideration and the possibility of multiple consequences, good or bad.”

See the full story here: https://www.manatt.com/Insights/Newsletters/Manatt-Digital/Bringing-Interactivity-Into-the-Theater