Wearable Computing & Fashion News - Page 17

The latest and most important Wearable Computing & Fashion news - Page 17.

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Smart contact lens technology is now here thanks to Australia

Chris Smith | Feb 22, 2016 6:29 AM CST

Wearable computing is just becoming a little more insane. If you told me 15 years ago that I could be carrying a computer in my pocket, strapping one to my wrist and even having the option to slide one on my finger - I would have called you quite mad. In comes 2016 and Gizmodo has just told us that researchers in Australia have developed the basic technology needed for a smart contact lens.

Developed by RMIT University and the University of Adelaide, this new technology is a stretchable nano-scale device that can be used to manipulate light, allowing it to be fully transparent yet still alter light for the person looking through it. While not a full smart device itself just yet, this is the first (and a major) step towards technology being further incorporated into the lives of many.

Wondering how it works? Adelaide University's Dr Withawat Withayachumnankul stated that "With advanced techniques to control the properties of surfaces, we can dynamically control their filter properties, which allow us to potentially create devices for high data-rate optical communication or smart contact lenses." He further explained that "The current challenge is that dielectric resonators only work for specific colours, but with our flexible surface we can adjust the operation range simply by stretching it."

Continue reading: Smart contact lens technology is now here thanks to Australia (full post)

After 48 hours in the HTC Vive, one man experiences no nausea

Anthony Garreffa | Jan 27, 2016 5:49 AM CST

One of the first things people think about when VR is talked about; would be the fact that people will eventually 'live' in the virtual world - which is no different to spending 12-18 hours a day playing any form of games (mobile/PC/console).

Well, one artist has spent 48 hours inside of the HTC Vive, reporting a nausea-free VR experience. Thorsten Wiedemann, the founder and artistic director of the A MAZE Festival, told VICE: "I had no physical problems, no burning eyes, killing headaches or nausea". This was after 48 hours inside of the HTC Vive, for an art project called 'Disconnected' earlier this month. In the 25th hour, Wiedemann had a panic attack which nearly caused him to drop out, but he powered through - and all went well.

Wiedemann said that spending considerable time in VR will be common in 2026, where he said: "normal that you jump into VR to meet your international friends in Social VR Rooms and go on crazy adventures together. But a long trip will be still special and could be understood as a controlled drug experience".

Continue reading: After 48 hours in the HTC Vive, one man experiences no nausea (full post)

Apple has reportedly delayed the release of the Apple Watch 2

Anthony Garreffa | Jan 17, 2016 2:24 AM CST

It looks like Apple will not be unveiling the successor to its first wearable in a few months, with the Apple Watch 2 to arrive later in the year.

It looks like the original 18-month refresh cycle for Watch is true, and there won't be much changed from the original wearable. According to TechCrunch's Matthew Panzarino, Apple Watch 2 will include newer casings and improved battery life, but it won't arrive in the March-April timeframe that has been previously rumored.

Panzarino still says that Apple might unveil new "design partnerships" for Watch 2 in March, and new accessories to keep the momentum of Apple Watch chugging along. He also added that we might see a minor update to Apple Watch with a FaceTime camera early this year, but it will not be a "full Watch 2.0". Panzarino added that he talked with Creative Strategies analyst Ben Bajarin, who said that there's no evidence that Apple would be releasing a full-fledged Apple Watch 2 anytime soon.

Continue reading: Apple has reportedly delayed the release of the Apple Watch 2 (full post)

Oculus founder says 'VR displays will surpass traditional displays'

Anthony Garreffa | Jan 12, 2016 12:38 AM CST

Oculus founder Palmer Luckey has been on a Reddit AMA spree, saying that the PlayStation VR isn't as high-end as the Rift, and that Nintendo's Virtual Boy 'hurt' the VR industry.

But when it came to the Rift headset itself, he said: "Our OLED displays and control over the viewing environment make it one of the most accurate displays you can get. In the near future, VR displays are going to surpass traditional displays in almost every way".

Palmer continued, saying that the Rift display is calibrated out of the box, so that PC gamers won't have to do it themselves. As for virtual desktops, Palmer did tease that developers are building virtual desktop applications right now. He said: "There are several people building virtual desktop applications. The biggest limitation is resolution per degree and lack of 1:1 pixel mapping compared to traditional displays. You can do it, but applications like PS and Maya are better on a normal monitor for now".

Continue reading: Oculus founder says 'VR displays will surpass traditional displays' (full post)

Oculus founder says Nintendo's Virtual Boy 'hurt' the VR industry

Anthony Garreffa | Jan 11, 2016 10:38 PM CST

Oculus founder Palmer Luckey has been giving some golden nuggets of information thanks to his AMA session on Reddit, where he even referenced the failed Virtual Boy from Nintendo.

Palmer responded to a Reddit member asking on his comment for the Virtual Boy, where he said that it doesn't qualify as true VR. Palmer said the Virtual Boy had "[no] head tracking, low field of view, [and was] essentially a monochrome 3DTV". He added that the Virtual Boy failing was a "real shame, too, because the association of the Virtual Boy with VR hurt the industry in the long run".

Palmer did say one positive thing about Nintendo's 'VR' device, is that "It did have the first LED display in a consumer device, though - probably the best contrast of any display up to that point!"

Continue reading: Oculus founder says Nintendo's Virtual Boy 'hurt' the VR industry (full post)

Oculus founder on PlayStation VR: 'isn't quite as high-end' as Rift

Anthony Garreffa | Jan 11, 2016 6:51 PM CST

Palmer Luckey, the flip flop wearing founder of Oculus, has come out slamming the PlayStation VR during his Reddit AMA. During the AMA, he also said that jump scares in VR are "such a cheap way to get a reaction in VR".

Talking with the International Business Times, Luckey said that PlayStation VR isn't as high-end as the Rift. He said: "It's also worth noting that their headset isn't quite as high-end as ours - it's still, I think, a good headset - and the PlayStation 4 is not nearly as powerful as our recommended spec for a PC". I agree, the PS4 just isn't anywhere near as powerful as a PC - and so the PlayStation VR will suffer in some way.

He continued, saying that the PlayStation VR itself is good, but the Rift is better quality - as it requires a better PC than what the PS4 contains, hardware wise. He continued: "I think that there's not many people who already own a PS4 who don't own a gaming PC who are going to go out and make that roughly $1,500 all-in investment in the Rift. It really is a separate market. They're bringing virtual reality to a different group of people who I don't think were ever really a part of our market anyway".

Continue reading: Oculus founder on PlayStation VR: 'isn't quite as high-end' as Rift (full post)

Oculus warns developers against using jump scares on the Rift

Anthony Garreffa | Jan 11, 2016 6:30 PM CST

With the release of the Oculus Rift now cemented on March 28, Palmer Luckey has been doing some damage control - an AMA on Reddit.

Luckey said that jump scares in VR are a tool that developers will use, but he recommends they don't. Luckey said: "... We are strongly discouraging developers from using jump scares. They are such a cheap way to get a reaction in VR".

Personally, jump scares are what VR horror games should be about. Oculus has promised to keep jump scares out of its games, but I'm sure we'll see developers using them to their advantage.

Continue reading: Oculus warns developers against using jump scares on the Rift (full post)

Casio unveils its first smartwatch, the waterproof Smart Outdoor Watch

Anthony Garreffa | Jan 11, 2016 12:36 AM CST

CES 2016 - Casio has entered the smartwatch game at CES 2016 with the Smart Outdoor Watch, its new wearable powered by Android.

Casio unveils its first smartwatch, the waterproof Smart Outdoor Watch

The Casio Smart Outdoor Watch features a 1.32-inch display with its resolution hitting 320x300. It's water-resistant to 50m, US military standard, has Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.1, and weighs in at just 93g.

The watch has two screens - a touchscreen, active color LCD display, as well as a monochrome power-conserving display. The monochrome display can work like a regular watch for a month between charges, which is pretty damn good. Both screens can be customized, with market availability in April and a price of $500.

Continue reading: Casio unveils its first smartwatch, the waterproof Smart Outdoor Watch (full post)

HTC says 'VR is more important' than its smartphone business

Anthony Garreffa | Jan 10, 2016 11:23 PM CST

After trying the new HTC Vive Pre at CES 2016 (more than once), I've fallen in love with it over the Oculus Rift (even though I pre-ordered the Rift in the first 2 minutes of pre-orders opening).

But HTC seems to be confident in VR, so much so that company CEO Cher Wang has said that VR and wearables has the company more excited than ever. During an interview with The Telegraph, Wang said "Virtual reality is something people have talked about for 20, 30 years, in movies, in books and finally, it is real. VR has been on our minds for a long time, and now HTC has made virtual reality real".

But it was a particular quote from Wang that had my eyes opened wide, where she defended HTC's stance on smartphones but reiterated their position in the VR market with Vive. She said: "Now we are more realistic. We feel that we should apply our best design to different type of sectors. Yes, smartphones are important, but to create a natural extension to other connected devices like wearables and virtual reality is more important".

Continue reading: HTC says 'VR is more important' than its smartphone business (full post)

Oculus 'don't make money on the Rift' at $599

Anthony Garreffa | Jan 7, 2016 1:31 PM CST

CES 2016 - Oculus opened up pre-orders on the Rift yesterday, with gamers split on the thought of $599 for their VR headset.

Oculus founder Palmer Luckey took to Reddit, where he said: "To be perfectly clear, we don't make money on the Rift". He added: "The Xbox controller costs us almost nothing to bundle, and people can easily resell it for profit. A lot of people wish we would sell a bundle without "useless extras" like high-end audio, a carrying case, the bundled games, etc, but those just don't significantly impact the cost".

Palmer continued, where he said: "The core technology in the Rift is the main driver - two built-for-VR OLED displays with very high refresh rate and pixel density, a very precise tracking system, mechanical adjustment systems that must be lightweight, durable, and precise, and cutting-edge optics that are more complex to manufacture than many high-end DSLR lenses. It is expensive, but for the $599 you spend, you get a lot more than spending $599 on pretty much any other consumer electronics devices - phones that cost $599 cost a fraction of that to make, same with mid-range TVs that cost $599. There are a lot of mainstream devices in that price-range, so as you have said, our failing was in communication, not just price".

Continue reading: Oculus 'don't make money on the Rift' at $599 (full post)