What E3 Taught Me About the Future of Virtual Reality By Todd Knaak
“E3 showed me the marketer’s approach to VR, one that involved a whole bunch of smoke and mirrors to just advertise engrossing gameplay.”
“…once virtual technology becomes mainstream, after the initial explosion calms, it’s going to find its place as a much more simple utility: one that works like a roided-out Google Maps, where you can tour hotels before you book, check out apartments across the country before you move, attend concerts, meet with doctors, conferences, and so on.”
See the full story here: https://thehundreds.com/blog/what-e3-says-about-the-future-of-virtual-reality/
166-Year-Old Cemetery Goes Modern with Virtual Reality Tours
Forest Lawn is developing an app that will allow users all over the planet to tour the 166-year-old cemetery from their mobile device.
The project is funded by a more than $37,000 grant from M&T Bank.
The app will offer both smart phone and VR users a 360-degree view of famous grave sites.
They'll be able to choose from several pre-programmed tours with stories told by professional voice actors.
Forest Lawn officials say they'll also be providing iPads to physical visitors who wish to take a self-guided walk.
The tourist season runs through October 22nd.
See the full story with audio here: http://www.twcnews.com/nys/buffalo/news/2016/06/19/166-year-old-cemetery-goes-modern-with-virtual-reality-tours.html
Patents, AR/VR, and the future of Hollywood
Summary by Phil Lelyveld;
This data-rich article starts with a 2014-2016 timeline of company acquisitions and investments related to VR and AR. Sony dominates US patent filings related to VR, followed by IBM, Samsung, Microsoft, and Canon. Magic Leap and Reveo are the leading start-ups when it comes to published patents related to VR. Microsoft, Sony, and Qualcomm have the most published patents related to AR, although they do not necessarily lead in the number of AR inventions. Osterout Group and Magic Leap are the clear leaders in published AR patents. All 10 companies on these lists have far fewer inventions than patents because multiple patents may be included in a single invention. The author reports that several non-practicing entities like Searete (part of Intellectual Ventures) have already ventured into strengthening their IP in the domain of VR and AR. In the ETC’s Phil Lelyveld’s opinion, it is important to start the dialog of defining what defines Hollywood-quality VR experiences and what the key aspects of an interoperable VR and AR ecosystem are now, before technical walled gardens fortified by patents become entrenched.
See the full article here: http://www.ipwatchdog.com/2016/06/18/technology-startups-virtual-augmented-reality/id=70162/
AP Interview: Jia Zhangke plans virtual reality romance
Critically acclaimed Chinese director Jia Zhangke says he will make a virtual reality film next year with a romantic story as he and viewers get used to the new medium, and declared: "I think VR is going to be the next big thing."
The director, better known for films that depict China's social changes and acts of violence, told The Associated Press that the short film would be a gentle romance as "it takes time for people to feel comfortable" in virtual reality.
"The speed and direction of movements may make people feel physically uncomfortable, so we're starting with a romantic story," he said in an interview.
"In the past, the audience could only imagine the world inside and outside the frame," he said. "VR liberates an audience and allows people to independently choose what we want to be concerned with. Audiences become more important."
See the full story here: http://www.usnews.com/news/entertainment/articles/2016-06-18/ap-interview-jia-zhangke-plans-virtual-reality-romance
White House to release virtual reality video of Obamas’ Yosemite trip
As the first family visits Yosemite National Park this weekend, National Geographic has teamed up with several organizations to produce the White House’s first ever 360 virtual reality video, according to a Saturday pool report.
National Geographic announced in a Facebook post that it would partner with Facebook's Oculus unit and Felix & Paul Studios to produce the video experience.
The video, which will be released in August, will include footage from the visit as well as a conversation between the president and Don Neubacher, superintendent of Yosemite National Park.
See the full story and short video here: http://www.politico.com/story/2016/06/obama-virtual-reality-facebook-national-geographic-yosemite-224514