Are HoloTats augmented reality’s next big fad?
Balti Virtual created temporary tattoos called HoloTats that include an additional layer of augmented reality. The temporary tattoos interact with a mobile app. Holding the phone over the tattoo animates it in 3D. See the full story here: http://technical.ly/baltimore/2016/09/09/holotats-balti-virtual/
Proximie uses augmented reality application as part of telesurgery platform
[Philip Lelyveld comment: this is very low level AR - two cameras and a tablet/laptop with on-screen annotation, but it does address a serious problem in a low-cost, easily implemented manner.]
Approximately two-thirds of the world’s population lacks access to many common, safe surgeries. One software company, Proximie, is using telemedicine to to try to help fill that gap.
Proximie is an an application designed for mobile devices that allows a surgeon in one location to view the operative field and provide instruction in the operating room at a different location. The Proximie platform is based around the concept of having two mobile devices, one in each location, that has a camera for viewing and screen/microphone setup for communicating.
Visual Effects Pros Are Virtual Reality’s Vanguard
[Philip Lelyveld comment - nice quote]
“There are no entities better suited to harness and advance the VR medium than visual effects studios,” said Luma Managing Director Jay Lichtman. “We’re world builders who are now able to generate fully immersive and interactive worlds that VR allows for.”
See the full story here: http://uploadvr.com/visual-effects-vr-pros/
The new iPhone 7 camera, debuted on Wednesday, gives users the ability to zoom further into images, and a new “portrait” software mode creates the shallow depth of field or bokeh (where a subject is in focus against a blurred background) that was previously a hallmark feature of high-end digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) cameras. As predicted, the Plus also has two rear 12-megapixel cameras — one with a wide angle lens and one with a telephoto lens. A new chip uses machine learning to detect objects and set exposure, focus, cinema-standard color and white balance within 25 milliseconds — 60 percent faster than before.
The new iPhone 7 camera, debuted on Wednesday, gives users the ability to zoom further into images, and a new "portrait" software mode creates the shallow depth of field or bokeh (where a subject is in focus against a blurred background) that was previously a hallmark feature of high-end digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) cameras.
As predicted, the Plus also has two rear 12-megapixel cameras — one with a wide angle lens and one with a telephoto lens. A new chip uses machine learning to detect objects and set exposure, focus, cinema-standard color and white balance within 25 milliseconds — 60 percent faster than before.
...the theory of mass-market virtual reality lends credence to CEO Tim Cook's comments that virtual reality is not a "niche" technology.
See the full story here: http://www.cnbc.com/2016/09/08/the-iphone-7s-powerful-camera-could-take-virtual-reality-mainstream.html
Virtual reality is too expensive for most people — but that’s about to change
The best VR experience is going to cost a lot of money for a while. But really good VR experiences, at much lower costs, should be the real VR growth driver in the short term.
In the coming weeks, Google will release a Daydream VR platform, according to Bloomberg. The platform will be a way for mobile users to access VR videos, apps, and other content. It'll be the first VR content hub of its kind and I think it's going to be one of the most significant ways that virtual reality is adopted by consumers.
Google...is also paying some content creators up to hundreds of thousands of dollars to make videos for Daydream, and is partnering with device makers to ensure that smartphones will be ready to handle all the content the platform offers.
...Mobile VR will be much cheaper than Oculus' headset, and Sony's headset will fall somewhere in between. ...
See the full story here: http://www.businessinsider.com/why-is-virtual-reality-so-expensive-2016-9
Intel Acquires Movidius, Plans Next Wave of RealSense Tech
Computer vision is a critical technology for smart, connected devices of the future. (Credit: Intel Corporation)
Intel has major plans for its RealSense technology, which it sees as “the next wave of computing.” According to the company’s release on the Movidius deal, Intel is aggressively pursuing connected devices, computer vision, deep learning, perceptual computing and much more.
“Intel is seeking to move into new markets beyond the shrinking personal computer business, where sales of microprocessors are its largest source of revenue,” reports The Wall Street Journal. “The company, which failed to build a major business in chips for smartphones, has announced a series of moves to provide technology for drones, wearable devices and other connected gadgets associated with a trend called the Internet of Things.”
While rival Nvidia may currently have a leg up in artificial intelligence, with graphical processing chips designed for rendering images in video games, Intel recently unveiled plans for a new version of its Xeon Phi processor specifically for artificial intelligence applications.
See the full story here: http://www.etcentric.org/intel-acquires-movidius-plans-next-wave-of-realsense-tech/
Virtual reality now has Emmy winners, too
Virtual reality has official entered awards season territory.
Henry, a VR animated short about a hedgehog, received an Emmy for Outstanding Original Interactive Program. It's part of the juried Emmy awards given before the ceremony on Sept. 18, and it's the first piece of VR narrative to win such an award.
"People really feel for him, in a different way than in a movie.That emotional connection made people feel differently. They'd say, 'I really want to reach out and hug him,' or 'I really want to help him out," Dau said.
The eventual success, and the Emmy jury's recognition of it, gives Dau hope for the future of VR storytelling.
"It shows the industry is really backing us, by giving us big, massive, important award is going to VR," Dau said. "There's so much potential for great storytelling down the road."
See the full story here: http://mashable.com/2016/09/08/henry-oculus-emmy/#EESl5.X.qgqz
Henry is available to watch for free through the Oculus storefront.
Virtual Reality, with Feeling
In the past, external cameras have been used to monitor the movement of facial features as a means of adding emotion to VR. The new system, developed by Emteq, uses small sensors embedded into a VR headset to measure electrical signals, heart rate, and muscle movement. According to Engineering & Technology, that allows the system, known as Faceteq, to capture a wider range of emotional response than visual approaches.
...observing another person’s emotions in the virtual world could add an extra layer of realism.
It’s not the only approach being used to make VR more convincing. A small startup called Midas Touch Games is developing more accurate physics engines to help make human movement in the virtual world look more realistic, and the likes of Dolby are trying to make 3-D sound as convincing as possible.
See the full story here: https://www.technologyreview.com/s/602323/virtual-reality-with-feeling/