Extended Reality (XR) - Page 70

CES 2015 - Gesture-based specialist eyeSight is demoing its singlecue gesture-based control system during CES 2015. The device is able to support Infrared controlled electronics, including HDTVs, cable and satellite boxes, Blu-ray players, and AV receivers.

When implemented, singlecue connects a user's IR and Wi-Fi devices and brings them to a single interface, opening the door to gesture recognition technology.

"Since launching, we've heard from people around the globe that they can't wait for singlecue to enter their homes and completely change the way they interact with their favorite devices," said Gideon Shmuel, eyeSight CEO. "We look forward to fulfilling this promise and bringing gesture recognition, the Internet of Things [IoT] and smart home control to everyone under the singlecue brand."

CES 2015 - 3D printing specialist MakerBot is attending CES 2015 to help promote its MakerBot 3D Ecosystem, designed to drive interest and innovation in the booming 3D market.

The company is promoting new MakerBot PLA composite filaments, MakerBot 3D Professional Services, a new mobile true remote printing and monitoring service, and the MakerBot Kit for MODO 801. Its PLA composite filaments will be available in late 2015, the company noted.

"We know there is a lot of hype around 3D printing," noted Jenny Lawton, CEO of MakerBot. "We also know that 3D printing is not plug-and-play. It can be challenging and that is why a major emphasis is on creating a MakerBot 3D Ecosystem that helps make 3D printing easier and more accessible. At CES, we want to ground the hype and showcase how educators, businesses and real users have incorporated MakerBot 3D printing into their daily work and lives."

CES 2015 - Six15 Technologies has introduced a new wearable headset designed for heads-up data delivery and text messaging during CES 2015. The glasses allow wearers to maintain their situational awareness while out and about, because they don't need to look down at a mobile device.

The new glasses connect to a device via Bluetooth and have a built-in rechargeable battery that provides up to 1,500 text messages sent and received during one battery charge. Six15 will release thermal and visible cameras for the headset, designed to assist in using business applications.

"Our glasses are a more realistic and less obtrusive application to wearable tech and head-mounted displays, unlike other devices currently in the market that have struggled to go mainstream," said Rich Ryan, CEO of Six15 Technologies. "Merging some of the capabilities we have delivered to defense customers with some of the key attributes of the consumer market, our new device is a testament to how advanced technologies can provide solutions to a wide range of problems from everyday issues, to safety in a warehouse, to critical medical data in an ER, to GPS displays for first responders."

CES 2015 - The Open-Source Virtual Reality (OSVR) ecosystem was announced during CES 2015, with Razer and other industry leaders hoping an open source SDK will help get more developers on the VR bandwagon. The OSVR platform will support all VR devices, including the Oculus DK 2 and Vrvana Totem headset.

OSVR includes hardware and software support for the gaming industry, working with the Unreal 4 Engine, Unity 3D, for example - with hardware device plugin support from the likes of Razer, Bosch, Sixense and LeapMotion.

The OSVR SDK limited developer access is available now, with public release slated for Q2. The OSVR hacker dev kit, designed by Razer, will be available in June with a $199.99 MSRP - and features the HMD module.

SoftKinetic, a maker of 3D vision technology, is showcasing its new product for augmented reality mobile platforms during CES.

The SoftKinetic DepthSense 3D Time of Flight (ToF) camera - powered by the Qualcomm Vuforia mobile vision platform - makes it possible for users to interact in 3D with devices in various environments. The live demonstration uses depth sensing technology to create a room-sized environment so testers are able to carry out natural AR experiences, such as arranging items in the virtual room - and tinkering with items using AR.

"Augmented Reality and Robotics are such exciting arenas, with more and more technologies coming to market that support truly sophisticated capabilities for users to engage with the world around them in fun and beneficial ways," said Michel Tombroff, CEO of SoftKinetic, in a press statement. Qualcomm's Vuforia is a perfect example of a platform that allows our DepthSense technology to deliver at its fullest capacity, creating the most robust mobile AR experience available to anyone, anywhere."

CES 2015 - At the Samsung CES 2015 press conference, teh South Korean giant reiterated the important of the latest emerging technology VR. Samsung of course has its Galaxy Note 4-powered Gear VR headset that it worked with Oculus VR on, but there's also Milk VR.

Milk VR is Samsung's VR content delivery service, where there will be new apps, games and content every week. The company announced today at CES 2015 in Las Vegas that it was partnering up with many different companies, such as Boiler Room, Matador, Mountain Dew, NBA and Red Bull Media House.

The company pulled up David Alpert, who is the Executive Producer over at Skybound Entertainment, the company behind AMC's infamous The Walking Dead. Alpert teased the company is working on VR content for the Gear VR headset, that will be distributed through Milk VR.

With Oculus Rift and PlayStation's Project Morpheus virtual reality gaming systems looking to hit retail by the end of the year, movie studios such as 20th Century Fox are keen to get a piece of the action too. Speaking to the Hollywood Reporter ahead of Samsung's CES presentation, 20th Century Fox Fox Home Entertainment worldwide president Mike Dunn is looking to embrace the Gear VR platform to release interactive movie experiences that can act both as "a promotional, marketing medium and a product category", complimenting the release of an upcoming film, but also act as a standalone product for sale.

Fox and Samsung will be demonstrating a three minute narrative VR experience based on an upcoming film 'Wild' starring Reese Witherspoon, which will place the viewer in 360-degree environment, utilising the Samsung Gear VR and Galaxy Note 4.

CES 2015 - Augmented reality display maker Seebright has unveiled the Wave head-mounted display (HMD) system that turns an Apple iPhone or Google Android smartphone into see-through augmented reality displays.

Once live on Kickstarter, Seebright will also include a 9-axis, 3D-visually tracked motion controller, so users are able to easily use AR applications. The platform will hit Kickstarter in February.

During CES, expect to see Seebright showcase its Seebright SDK with WebGL and Unity3D, in an effort to appeal to interested AR developers.

Ralph Osterhout was responsible for creating underwater vehicles featured in two James Bond films, he's developed smaller and cheaper night vision goggles for the military, he has invented many children's toys throughout the 90's (Yak Bak, TalkBoy and Power Penz) and is now working with his company, Osterhout Design Group. on a Google Glass competitor - the ODC Smart Glasses.

Powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 chip, these glasses are described as "basically a full Android Tablet you can wear on your head", giving users a transparent heads-up display instead of a touchable surface. The screen is quoted to feel like a 55-inch 3D floating screen floating eight feet in front of your eyes, provided by two 720p micro displays.

This product also features a five-megapixel camera and various different sensors for application purposes. Theoretically you could use these glasses as your own personal 3D Cinema like the Sony HMZ headset, however no cords are needed.

CES 2015 - Green Project-owned GP3D will show off its $549 Sprout 3D printer during the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), as the company tries to gain interest via Kickstarter.

Sprout is 11.7" x 8.7" x 15.9" and is designed to be ideal for a compact desktop printing environment - using PLA plastic filament, able to print at 0.18mm resolution. The printer unit will be ready to ship "in a few months," with additional details released during CES.

"Our focus is to make an affordable and high-quality 3D printer for everyone," said Joseph Wu, president of Green Project.

The Osterhout Design Group (ODG) has unveiled a consumer-oriented version of its Smart Glasses system, providing a lighter and smaller version than its military-grade counterpart. The headset will be unveiled later this year and should have a retail price tag less than $1,000.

However, the headset will still be able to show high-definition video, record video, utilize a 3D graphics overlay, and provide line-of-sight directions for wearers. The headset runs a Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 CPU, Wi-Fi, global navigation satellite system, Bluetooth, and custom-built orientation sensors.

"Our Smart Glasses are proving their worth in some of the world's toughest environments and we look forward to bringing our innovative technology closer to everyday customers," said Ralph Osterhout, Ostherout Design Group founder and CEO, in a press statement. "At ODG, we're working to change the world of computing by changing the way we interact, connect, and explore information, and I am happy to introduce the next step on this journey."

"I've got your back bro" exclaims Virgin Media. If you're prone to falling asleep on the couch or have had a long day at work, Virgin Media has developed a new device that will auto-record your show to a connected TiVo box when you slip off to sleep.

This wristband is named be KipstR and works in conjunction with a TIVo box, designed by 15 year old Ryan Oliver and 14 year old Jonathan Kingsley - two youngsters who were commissioned by Virgin Media to develop this 3D-printed device in their Manchester Creative Studio.

We've seeing more 3D-printed devices hit the market which is awesome to see. The way this hot piece of tech works is to utilize a pulse-oximeter to closely monitor the wearers blood flow and content of oxygen located within. When your heart slows down due to you nodding off, the KipstR will sense this and start recording your session.

GIGABYTE and EVGA have been on the market with external VRM solutions for serious GPU overclocking, but it looks like ASUS is stepping into the game with its own external voltage regulator module, or VRM.

ASUS has already deployed GPUs with advanced 10-phase and 14-phase VRMs in the form of the ASUS Strix GeForce GTX 980 and the ASUS ROG Matrix Platinum GTX 980, but this is an entire new ballgame. The ASUS GPUs with the advanced VRMs still have limitations as they're consumer GPUs, with certain restrictions that stop too much power flowing through the card. The external VRM card will allow for far higher voltages being pushed through the GPU and memory, which should unlock some massive potential for extreme overclockers.

The VRM card in question features a "single 8-phase output with output voltage of up to 2.5V (with output voltage offset switches [+0.4V, +0.3V, +0.2V, +0.1V]) and current up to 500A. The card has on-board voltage control/monitoring, output current monitoring, VRM temperature monitoring, load-line calibration (0%, 60%, 80%, 100%), hotwire setting/monitoring and other features required by extreme overclockers. The board sports four six-pin PCIe (4*75W) input power connectors, which means that it can deliver up to 300W of power to the graphics board, enough power to break world's records" reports Anton Shilov from KitGuru.

Thanks to Oculus and their advanced technology, scientists are conducting "virtual body swapping" studies - putting clients through a literal experience of the "don't judge a man until you've walked a mile in his shoes" common saying.

One of the main reasons behind conducting these experiments is to test negative attitudes geared toward specific groups - as according to Manos Tsakiris from the Royal Holloway University of London. Tsakiris is one of the authors of a new paper published in a journal named "Trends in Cognitive Sciences".

Further commenting on this study, Tsakiris said "once you change people's representations of what their bodies are like, then you can change their social cognition, which is the way in which we relate to others" - wrapping up the success of multiple studies conducted over many years, set to fight bias.

It looks like Microsoft could continue its rampage into 2015, with the latest rumor that the Redmond-based giant will unveil a VR headset at E3 2015 in June. We heard earlier in the year that Microsoft was working on "an investment in VR," so we shouldn't be surprised of this news.

The report is coming from DigiTimes, according to their sources within the Microsoft supply chain that the company is working on a new VR gaming device. Development of the project is handled by the same team that has built the Surface line of devices, but that's all we know. We don't know if this VR device from Microsoft would work as a standalone product, or whether it would tie into the Xbox One.

I think we will see Microsoft step into the VR game at some point, because their major competitor, Sony, is already ahead of them with their own PlayStation 4 exclusive "Project Morpheus" headset. Oculus VR is obviously at the top of their game with the Rift, which will most likely lead the pack and have everyone else just following through trying to cash in on VR, unless they do it right.

Oculus VR has teamed up with Runtastic for some upcoming VR-based workout and fitness applications. Runtastic will reportedly use the Oculus Rift, allowing users to use the VR headset to transport them to exotic locations around the world for their workout.

Runtastic is only running with a prototype application at this time, but the developer is aiming for a totally hands-free experience. Within the VR world, users will see their virtual trainer, and a heads up display that will show them real-time stats and other details. I think the idea of a VR workout is incredible, as people could choose to work out on the Moon, on the beach at sunrise or sunset, or on the side of a cliff. It will open up a new world of app development for wearables and workout 'maps'.

It looks like Facebook has been spending big on its most exciting acquisition, Oculus VR, to acquire two companies that would better position Oculus VR as the absolute champion of VR technology... when the Rift launches that is.

Oculus VR has acquired two companies this week, the first being Nimble VR while the second one being 13th Lab. Nimble VR is a two-year old company that took to Kickstarter a while ago, developing skeletal hand tracking and software, as well as a depth-sensing camera dubbed Nimble Sense that would see the hands of Oculus Rift users in the VR world, all with gesture recognition. 13th Lab is the other company Oculus VR acquired, which makes accurate, maker-less augmented reality tracking and real-time 3D construction framework technology.

Oculus VR talked about its acquisition of 13th Lab in a blog post saying: "The ability to acquire accurate 3D models of the real-world can enable all sorts of new applications and experiences, like visiting a one-to-one 3D model of the pyramids in Egypt or the Roman Colosseum in VR". Oculus isn't finished just yet, as it also announced it has hired motion capture expert Chris Breglar, who is a professor of Computer Science at New York University and contributor to motion tracking special effects in big Hollywood films like Star Trek Into Darkness and The Lone Ranger. Bregler will lead a vision research team at Oculus VR.

Samsung's Gear VR headset is now available for purchase in the US, for $199. The Gear VR had Samsung and Oculus VR, the makers of the Oculus Rift, collaborating together. One thing that the Gear VR does differently, is that it requires Samsung's flagship Galaxy Note 4 smartphone in order to work.

Coined as the "Innovator Edition", Samsung are confidently displaying this fact on their purchase page with reports claiming as the customer you must agree you understand that this is a "device targeted specifically to developers or early adopters of technology." It's not too big of a deal in the grand scheme of things, just a precaution put in place by Samsung to cover their back should anything go wrong.

Last seen at IFA 2014, news outlets reported very positively of this new device besides the fact that it needs a Note 4 for operation. It's a little disappointing that you need to tie this up with another Samsung product for use, especially when compared with the Oculus or 3D HEAD that are both said to be operable without any added features.

Voted in my personal top five worst advertisements of all time, the 3DHEAD was seen popping up around the internet in recent times - consistently claiming to be much better than what Oculus had to offer, the title even including the words "Oculus killer". Featuring amazing specification as a 2K resolution, the ability to use it in conjunction with controllers on your PC and the ability to make your voice one of the most annoying things on the planet - what's not to love?

Thanks to a Reddit thread made by 'crazy_goat', we've come to the knowledge that 3DHEAD has just randomly disappeared off the internet. This post contains information including the disappearance from the internet and following the apparently crazy original investor - Alki David.

How crazy could he be? Billionaires often make silly technology investments without knowing the full information, surely! Alongside David offering millions of dollars to Chris Brown and Drake to fight in a boxing match, he also once tried to convince news outlets that he had aired the first assisted suicide live on the internet as publicity for his website.

Tech company KOOM VR has announced pre-orders are now being accepted for the company's NOON virtual reality headset, a device being promoted as the first high-quality headset. The unit is compatible with most smartphones and virtual reality apps, and is optimized for the KOOM app, able to utilize your smartphone's sensors, on-screen display and computing power. The NOON VR headset will be available for just $79 - and pre-orders begin on Dec. 1.

The NOON VR has large, wide-angle lenses that offer 95-degree field of view, and head movements can be used to help navigate custom interfaces.

"We have set out to facilitate the creation and sharing of immersive video and making virtual reality content accessible and affordable to more people," said Kwang-Jin Choi, KOOM VR Chief Technology Officer. "Virtual reality can give us a new way of communication experiences, without any abstraction or interpretation. NOON VR and the ability to share content through the KOOM VR app will allow anyone to be completely submerged in a new reality."