Apple patent Describes Tangibility Visualization of Virtual Objects within Various Headset Environments
Because the experience is realistic and immersive, the user can easily confuse a virtual (and thus intangible) object within the CGR environment as being a real tangible object that exists outside of the CGR environment.
Thus, the described techniques enhance user convenience and further provide the user with an enhanced degree of safety when interacting with a CGR environment by enabling the user to quickly and easily visually recognize whether an object within the CGR environment is a non-tangible virtual object or corresponds to a real, and thus tangible, object in the real environment.
There are many different types of electronic systems that enable a person to sense and/or interact with various CGR environments. Examples include head mounted systems, projection-based systems, heads-up displays (HUDs), vehicle windshields having integrated display capability, windows having integrated display capability, displays formed as lenses designed to be placed on a person's eyes (e.g., similar to contact lenses). A head mounted system may have one or more speaker(s) and an integrated opaque display.
See the full story here: https://www.patentlyapple.com/patently-apple/2019/11/apple-patent-describes-tangibility-visualization-of-virtual-objects-within-various-headset-environments.html
Is virtual reality the next frontier for Arab cinema?
There has been criticism that virtual reality cinema threatened to comprise the artistic integrity of filmmaking but Latiri argued that it could enhance the industry.
“Digital technologies are here to serve cinema, not denigrate it,” Latiri said. “We want to show there is a structure in Tunisian labs to execute these techniques. We want to show we can produce visual effects and use these digital techniques here in our labs.
The Carthage Film Festival included panel discussions on visual effect techniques, African animation, immersive technologies in the cinema industry and virtual films.
There was considerable debate regarding the use of virtual reality in cinema. Zied Meddeb Hamrouni, a multidisciplinary artist who researches virtual reality cinema, said the genre has the potential to reshape viewers’ experiences in a profound way.
“New media have radically changed the industry,” he said. “We should ask ourselves what it could do for entertainment. What we seek when watching films is empathy. This is the most important element of storytelling.
The festival set up a virtual reality lab on Tunis’s main boulevard, where members of the public experienced the new technology firsthand.
See the full story here: https://thearabweekly.com/virtual-reality-next-frontier-arab-cinema
How Survios has navigated the rocky shoals of consumer VR
Survios has been toiling away in virtual reality since 2013. The Los Angeles company has seen the hype cycle around VR since before Oculus was acquired by Facebook, and it has persevered through the slower-than-expected growth of VR in the past couple of years.
Other companies have pivoted into video games or enterprise VR, but Survios has stayed true to its roots in consumer VR games. And it has had strong titles such as Raw Data, Creed: Rise to Glory, and the newly launched Battlewake. It also teamed up with HBO to create Westworld Awakening, it launched a VR arcade, and its games are now played in 2,600 VR arcade locations around the world.
See the full story here: https://venturebeat.com/2019/11/02/how-survios-has-navigated-the-rocky-shoals-of-consumer-vr/
Ten Colorado state parks launch augmented reality trail missions
Colorado Parks and Wildlife is partnering with Agents of Discovery, an educational mobile gaming platform, to create augmented reality trail missions at 10 different state parks.
The missions, which task users with accomplishing educational and fun outdoor activities at state parks, can be accessed by smartphone users by downloading the Agents of Discovery app from the App and Play stores. Missions are free to play and, once downloaded, do not require Wi-Fi or a data connection.
“So many people have smartphones. Instead of fighting with them to keep it in their pockets, why not let them use it to discover interesting things about the park?”
State parks with augmented reality trail missions:
Barr Lake
Chatfield
Cherry Creek
Cheyenne Mountain
Eleven Mile
Ridgway
St. Vrain
Staunton
Steamboat Lake
Trinidad Lake
See the full story here: http://www.chaffeecountytimes.com/free_content/ten-colorado-state-parks-launch-augmented-reality-trail-missions/article_8db59456-fc21-11e9-9786-37ab42b06258.html
What to Read, Watch, and Listen to In Preparation For the Robot Apocalypse
PhilNote: yes, its a list. But an interesting list!
See the full story here; https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/movies/g29653413/best-ai-artificial-intelligence-movies-tv-shows-books-podcasts/
Amazon will pull its movies from theaters to Prime faster
An Amazon prime video logo it's displayed on a Sony Xperia Z5 premium during the Mobile World Congress on the third day of the MWC in Barcelona, on March 1, 2017.
Phone makers will seek to seduce new buyers with artificial intelligence functions and other innovations at the world's biggest mobile fair starting today in Spain. / AFP / Josep Lago (Photo credit should read JOSEP LAGO/AFP/Getty Images)
In an interview with Hollywood Reporter, Amazon Studios head Jennifer Salke said the company is working on getting movies to its Prime subscribers "as soon as possible." Part of that means fulfilling contractual obligations around theatrical release, but it's prepared to take a hit on that if it means a later pay-off on Prime. She cites Late Night as an example, noting that while it's been used as a cross to hang Amazon -- because no-one saw it in theatres -- it's still been watched by "tens of millions" of people on the streaming service.
The upshot is that people are essentially a lot less picky about what they choose to watch on their devices, compared to what they're prepared to see at theaters. Netflix's deal with Adam Sandler is a good example of this: Murder Mystery racked up more than 30 million views during the first three days of its release -- figures that would be difficult to replicate in cinemas. As Salke says, if a theatrical release is necessary in order to get to that stage, so be it.
See the full story here: https://www.engadget.com/2019/10/31/amazon-movies-theaters-prime-faster/
VR Simulation Puts You On The Frontline Of The Hong Kong Protests
To help spread awareness of the protests and assist users in empathizing with protestors, a team of Hong Kong students has developed a VR simulation that puts you on the frontline of the ongoing conflict.
Players take on the role of a frontline protestor and are tasked with dodging tear gas, ducking behind barriers to avoid projectiles, and avoiding capture by riot police. According to an interview with one of the developers, it was important for the team that the player only be allowed to commit non-violent actions, as to more accurately represent the non-violent behavior of real protestors. As a result, payers are unable to inflict damage on riot police or engage in any illegal behavior.
Along with participating in anti-government demonstrations, players also have the opportunity to learn about the actual protests. Player can visit a VR recreation of one of the cities “Lennon Walls,” which feature words of encouragement written across colorful post-it notes; this includes phrases such as “fight for freedom” and “five demands, not one less.” There’s also an interactive element that educates players on major protest events, such as the Yuen Long Mob Attack, the Prince Station Attack, and the highly-publicized shooting of an 18-year-old protestor by law enforcement on National Day.
The development team is currently speaking to online distributors in the hopes of releasing the title to the public next month, though past events have shown the process to be anything but simple.