Raw Data by virtual reality startup Survios
[Philip Lelyveld comment: this is a full motion walk-around VR game where you and one other player hold weapons in both hands.]
See the video at http://techcrunch.com/video/survios-virtual-reality-game-demo/519496219/
Meet the Virtual Reality Talk Show Host Living Out of an RV
Among the early adopters of virtual reality is Gunter S. Thompson, a part-time web developer in Florida. After getting an Oculus Rift development kit 1 headset by backing the Oculus Rift Kickstarter, Thompson began hosting a virtual reality talk-show originally called Virtually Incorrect, which was later renamed Gunter’s Universe.
Each episode of the show involves people logging into an online program called VR Chat to watch Thompson interview his guests. The majority of users wear virtual reality headsets and have custom avatars, but it's not a requirement.
Over the last year or so, Gunter has hosted several notable guests including Chief Visionary Officer of The Void James Jensen, co-founder and star of the first 3D live cam Ela Darling, and Futurist at 20th Century Fox Ted Schilowitz.
The difference between Thompson and the developers riding the booming virtual reality business is that Thompson is probably the only one of them who lives in an RV.
See the full story here: http://motherboard.vice.com/en_uk/read/vr-in-an-rv
Surgeon Dr Shafi Ahmed brings augmented reality to medics in Gaza
Last month, laproscopic and colorectal surgeon Dr Shafi Ahmed visited Gaza with Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) team, on a mission to assess training needs for medics working in the territory’s overburdened hospitals.
Famous for being the first surgeon in the UK to live-stream a surgical procedure via Google Glass, Dr Ahmed is a pioneer of technical innovation in medical training. ...
Can you tell us about the seminars you ran on the use of Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality in medical training?
I did two lectures – one to the Palestinian Medical Society, and one to a medical school. I focused on augmented reality as a tool to support surgical training, which hasn’t been used in Gaza before. I used it as an opportunity to show them what was available around the world and to use those products for the first time.
There was such enthusiasm and openness to new ideas among the students. We want to look to how we can use these technology for training medics. At the new medical school at the Turkish Hospital in Gaza, they want to integrate new ideas from outside Gaza, such as simulation training and using remote training via online platforms.
...
Any final reflections from your trip?
I’m quite encouraged by the standard of care, the knowledgebase, the clinical expertise, and the commitment of medical staff to healthcare in Gaza. They have good motives and aims.
What is disappointing is that doctors of all descriptions have aspiration – everyone wants to improve their standards – but in Gaza the only way they can do that is by trying to visit other countries or bringing other people in to help them. That’s where the frustrations arise from. It is impossible for doctors to easily access continuous professional development – a basic requirement for all doctors – with the blockade in place.
See the full story here: http://english.pnn.ps/2016/02/13/surgeon-dr-shafi-ahmed-brings-augmented-reality-to-medics-in-gaza/
Unity Warns VR Forecasters “Wrong,” Sets Course Correction
John Riccitiello, CEO of game engine company Unity, set a course correction for virtual reality adoption in his keynote address at the Vision VR/AR Summit conference in Hollywood this week. Riccitiello warned, without equivocation, that analyst prognostications suggesting VR will become a $100 billion industry by 2020 “are wrong.” He assured the audience of 1,500 plus developers that VR is a transformative platform that will reap financial rewards in the long run and give birth to great “century companies” like Netflix and Disney.
There are three hurdles that VR must overcome —cost, content and user interface — and they will be addressed. VR will be affordable, but not in 2016. Great VR content will be available, but not until 2017 or 2018.
See the full story here: http://www.etcentric.org/unity-warns-vr-forecasters-wrong-sets-course-correction/
‘Pokemon Z’ Unlikely to be Released This Year, but Pokeman Go is on!
According to the latest reports, while “Pokemon Z” may not come out this year, the mobile augmented reality game “Pokemon Go” is already good to go and it is likely to be the game that shall come out either this month or during the first quarter of 2016.
Game developer Niantic has almost confirmed the release of “Pokemon Go”...
In fact, the company stated in its website that over the last three years, it has been defining the genre of real-world gaming using smartphones and tablets to connect the digital world to the physical world.
As a location-based reality game, “Pokemon Go” will make gamers go to real-life places to find certain things. According to rumors, it will be hard to locate a Pokemon Gym in “Pokemon Go” and that those who live around the water shall also be able to find a water-based Pokemon.
See the full story here: http://masterherald.com/pokemon-z-unlikely-to-be-released-this-year-latest-speculations-now-say/35283/
Magic Leap and Virtuix are the newest members of the ESA
[Philip Lelyveld comment: The ESA ( http://www.theesa.com/ ) is focused on gaming. The similaringly named Entertainment Merchant's Assoc ( http://www.entmerch.org/ ) occasionally coproduces events with the ETC@USC.]
President and CEO of ESA, Michael D. Gallagher, said: "Magic Leap and Virtuix are leading pioneers in augmented, mixed, and virtual reality-entertainment's newest frontier. These innovations promise to provide exhilarating new ways of experiencing the world. We look forward to collaborating with these highly creative companies as our industry continues to elevate the standards in technology".
See the full story here: http://www.tweaktown.com/news/50303/magic-leap-virtuix-newest-members-esa/index.html
GooseBumps Night of Scares Review
This title is a real surprise coming out of Left field to the delight of those with a love of being frightened half out of your skin. And on that score, this one really steps up to the plate. Fair warning, every death animation is a jump scare.
But there are plenty of other psychological scares here, too, like having things hunting for you while you are hiding and are able to see them going about hunting you just inches from your face.
This game contains no motions sickness features, so I rate it … very comfortable.
See the full story here: http://gearvrnews.com/2016/02/12/goosebumps-night-of-scares-review/