Author name: Rejus Almole

 

 

In 2021 Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg was quoted saying that AR glasses are “one of the hardest technical challenges of the decade.” That might really be the case, as several innovations for example in the fields of displays, processors, batteries, sensors, miniaturization, and manufacturing technology will still have to be mastered before metaverse becomes a seamless part of our everyday lives in a way similar to our use of mobile phones and Internet. This will require extensive cooperation by both deep tech SMEs and industry-leading global corporations.

In Finland, the opportunities for cooperation between deep tech SMEs and large corporations have been proactively created by both the XR companies themselves and by private and public accelerators.

Finland at the Forefront of the Metaverse

Finland has got a globally unique and versatile ecosystem of XR companies, which covers all stages of the value chain, ranging from XR headset and technology development to various XR development platforms, use case-specific solutions, and customer-specific XR content.

The thriving ecosystem of companies has been enabled by decades of research at several universities and research agencies in several supporting technologies such as machine vision, mobile phone technologies, and photonics/optics. Particularly the Finnish Photonics Cluster, consisting of several research agencies and growth companies is, from a global perspective, one of the “gems” of the Finnish XR ecosystem.

Internationally the most successful Finnish XR companies include Varjo Technologies, which is developing high-end XR headsets for enterprise use, OptoFidelity with its XR testing solutions, Dispelix with its augmented reality waveguide technologies, and VRKiwi with its Cave Digger VR games available on all VR platforms.

Nokia, the Finnish telecom giant, has been focusing on telecommunication infrastructure development after selling its mobile phone business to Microsoft in 2014. In an interview at the World Economic Forum in 2022, Nokia’s CEO Pekka Lundmark stated that mobile phones will be overtaken by smart glasses by the time 6G is introduced in 2030s. Nokia has also very openly talked about its commitment to metaverse development as part of its 2030 strategy.

In the transformation that metaverse will bring about, we can easily see parallels with the growth of mobile phone markets in the 90s. That’s why it’s great news for the Finnish XR ecosystem to have Nokia onboard this time as well.

Enormous Business Potential

In early 2022, the “Growth Opportunities in Extended Reality” report was released. There were four main categories of business opportunities identified in this report.

Firstly, Finnish companies should strengthen the XR ecosystem by partnering with industry-leading technology companies in technologies and businesses convergent with XR. The opportunities for partnering were identified in trending markets and technologies, for example in remote assistance, cloud software, and 5G.

Secondly, as XR enables tracking users’ actions on an unprecedented level of detail, a lot of attention will have to be paid to user privacy. This trend will open opportunities in e.g., edge computing, data encryption, and standardization work.

Thirdly, certain technologies are currently clearly underserved in XR, and they open market opportunities for significant improvements, for example in displays, edge computing, batteries, and high-speed connectivity.

Fourthly, there are certain key application areas or industry vertical-specific solutions that Finnish companies should pay more attention to. These include at least smart retail, tourism, and architecture.

In my opinion, one way to advance the industry and promote collaboration might also be a consortium of companies around Open-Source projects such OpenAR, which is an initiative by the University of Eastern Finland, the University of Oulu (Finland), and many prominent individuals from the academia such as professor Steven M. LaValle, who was also an early founder and head scientist of Oculus VR.

Indian System Integrators Supercharged With Finnish Technology

HCL Technologies (HCL), a leading global product and technology company recently launched HCLTech MetaLabs for exploring, building, and adopting the metaverse to strengthen its enterprise architecture along with that of its clients’. According to the Tech Trends 2022 by HCLTech, the metaverse holds the potential to change how we will live and interact – a place where reality meets imagination.

In recent years, innovative Finnish SMEs and research institutes have been actively creating contacts with large Indian system integrators such as HCL Technologies.

HCLTech MetaLabs is backed by an open innovation ecosystem with more than 40+ identified use cases, supported by 300+ startup creator partners, and 500+ identified HCLites interested in exploring this burgeoning and futuristic tech solution.

During 2022, HCL Technologies, together with SMEs and other interest groups, organized the HCL Metaverse Startup Exploration Series of events. During these events, several Finnish metaverse companies and Professor Jussi S. Jauhiainen, University of Turku (Finland), met with HCL to investigate concrete ways in which all parties could benefit from the fast-emerging metaverse.

The HCL Metaverse Startup Exploration Series is a perfect example of the advantages and necessity of cooperation between SMEs and corporations with global reach. The companies not prepared to collaborate will either be late for the metaverse or are in danger of not reaching it at all.

Guest Post

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Retreat is a VR app and social education platform that connects users with world-class experts and courses focusing on self-improvement and personal development. The app transports learners to immersive virtual worlds with the goal of helping users upgrade their “real-world avatars” by equipping them with “tangible real-world skills.”

Unlike conventional e-learning channels, which are often described as isolated, passive, and static, Retreat offers a communal and interactive approach to learning. It also allows users to explore interactive worlds and immersive environments.

A VR App for Transforming Lives

This unique VR app, that’s soon-to-be-released on the Meta Quest Store, connects learners with educators who specialize in teaching practical skills such as holistic wellness, art and creativity, career and entrepreneurship, and financial well-being. With Retreat, students are more likely to get better outcomes, such as having better focus, establishing deeper emotional connections to content, and being more confident in applying their skills after their lessons.

“This platform will change the face of well-being in VR and beyond,” said wellness, transformation, health, and fitness expert Nicholas Pratley, who is also one of the Retreat instructors. “This is what new education in a new world looks like.”

Developed by immersive tech company GeniusX, Retreat aims to usher in a new era of education that complements today’s more technologically-advanced world. It also gives experts a platform with which they can engage their audiences across different tech platforms, further enriching their educational experiences.

“Our goal is to revolutionize education through the use of virtual reality,” said Retreat CEO, Nick Janicki, in a press release shared with ARPost. “We are changing the way that personal growth and self-improvement can be experienced by students.”

The social education platform currently offers a handful of carefully curated content. Courses cover a range of subjects, from mindset and relationships to career and entrepreneurship. Some of the currently available courses include:

• Holistic wellness course “True Well Being” by Nicholas Pratley;
• Art and creativity course “Therapour Mannequins” by Leila Parnian;
• Relationships course “5 Levels of Listening” by Gisele Wyne;
• Holistic wellness course “The Flow State” by Jason Campbell;
• Career and entrepreneurship course “Land Your Right Fit Job” by Chad Silverstein;
• Holistic wellness course “Your Daily Reset” by Gisele Wyne.

Aside from delivering valuable content and teaching practical real-world skills to learners, Retreat also gives users a glimpse into the stories behind the courses. It also provides outlines for each course’s learning process.

Many more courses are currently in development, with new courses added monthly.

How Retreat Works

To access Retreat’s immersive virtual worlds, users will need to download the VR app first. Until recently, the app was available only through Meta Quest App Lab, but beta testing is now over, and the full release of Retreat is planned for December 1, 2022.

Once the VR app is downloaded, users should launch the app to explore the app’s selection of courses and instructors.

After selecting their preferred course, users will meet their instructor and interact with them as if they’re meeting in person. With their instructor, the user will go on an adventure and navigate the virtual space to participate in its various learning environments. To add another layer of fun to the whole experience, users can use magical portals, find interactive items, and answer quizzes.

Upon completing a module, the user’s progress will be saved. The modules, which are usually 8-15 minutes long, are designed to minimize fatigue, especially for newer VR users.

 

 

The development of mobile-based VR will usher in a new era for location-based entertainment (LBE). HTC VIVE and The Park Playground have partnered to bring mobile-led VR experiences to the public. So far, 75,000 users have been able to test out the capabilities of the HTC VIVE Focus 3 headset across various The Park Playground venues in Europe.

The Journey to Innovation for Location-Based Entertainment

After a nine-month testing phase that allowed both parties to fine-tune their product proposition, HTC VIVE and The Park Playground are now giving users the opportunity to enjoy a new level of freedom and immersion in VR environments.

Unlike traditional VR gear, which makes use of cables and unwieldy equipment, the HTC VIVE Focus 3 is capable of delivering a fully wireless VR experience for players. Without having to wear the hardware as backpacks, users can now have more freedom to move. The VR content is streamed directly into the mobile device, further allowing users to enjoy fully immersive and unrestricted VR experiences.

“The Park Playground has been an interesting partner for us since we first collaborated in 2018, because it attracts people of all ages with its exclusive VR adventures, not just gamers and tech enthusiasts,” said Fabian Nappenbach, Director of Product Marketing at HTC VIVE EMEA, in a press release shared with ARPost. “The partnership has also had a positive impact on our VR product development. Our research and development teams have a close relationship . . .  Their input helps tremendously to drive the technology and also our LBE software.”

Aside from providing a hassle-free gaming experience, the HTC VIVE Focus 3 headset delivers stunning 5K visuals and an expansive 120-degree field of view. Furthermore, it boasts a 90Hz refresh rate. The headset is also designed to offer convenience to users. It has an ergonomic design, removable batteries, and an easy-to-clean magnetic face gasket.

Through the HTC VIVE VR headset and The Park Playground, users can unlock unique yet accessible VR experiences that break down the boundaries of the digital and physical worlds. Furthermore, this lets players of all ages enjoy an array of co-op and competitive games in the same space.

Addressing the Needs of Today’s Location-Based Experiences

The location-based entertainment market is projected to have a compound annual growth rate of 34.4% from 2021 to 2028. This significant expansion is due in part to the growing demand for immersive content. Furthermore, XR technologies are viewed as key players in taking location-based experiences to the next level.

Location-based entertainment has the potential to change how users approach not only social but also emotional experiences. However, customer needs and expectations in this industry are ever-evolving. With the HTC VIVE Focus 3 headset and the company’s partnership with The Park Playground, more users can now access this technology. For instance, up to eight players per play area can access this new VR experience. Plus, the technology is being distributed to over 10 of The Park Playground’s locations.

Furthermore, it allows users to make their own choices while playing the game, giving them the opportunity to build one-of-a-kind and memorable experiences.

 

 

Nreal Air is available to US consumers. For those looking for more use cases for the virtual screen display, the company has big news: major console support, and betas for its AR YouTube app and the mac version of its Nebula operating system.

Further, we have a hands-on review from a long-awaited trial of the Nreal Air in action.

The Road So Far

Just two months ago, Nreal Air launched for US consumers. Nreal Air is a lighter-weight model than the Nreal Light, a full-force AR smart glasses product.

This means that Nreal Air has a lot lighter technical demands (it doesn’t require select 5G networks and flagship phones, for example) and is significantly more affordable. It also means that the product had less immediate appeal to consumers hungry for a more robust AR experience, as Nreal Air is primarily a virtual screen solution.

What’s New With Nreal?

Until recently, that meant that Nreal Air was largely a way to screen-mirror an attached phone onto a heads-up display. The device also worked with Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch. This was a boon for users of those devices but it still left other gamers – a major market for this device – out in the rain. Recent announcements change that game.

Nreal for Entertainment

Nreal last week announced support for the latest version of SteamOS, Xbox Series S and X, and the PlayStation 5. For PlayStation 5 users, this means getting your games on the Nreal virtual screen, which is pretty great in itself.

“AR glasses are a fantastic gaming companion, and serving the gaming community is an important strategy for us,” Nreal co-founder Peng Jin, said in a release shared with ARPost. “Users can now connect Nreal glasses to the popular gaming devices to enjoy playing games on a 130” portable HD screen via mirror mode.”

For Xbox and Steam gamers, it means all of this as well as streaming onto the device via cloud services. The announcement also reports that support for GeForce Now, Nvidia’s game streaming service, is coming before the end of the year.

Nreal also announced a beta version of an AR YouTube app. To be clear, YouTube on Nreal was already possible via standard phone mirroring. It was an improvement, but still kind of a letdown because the phone itself had to be used as the input device. The YouTube AR app makes much better use of the Nreal controls. But, more on that in the hands-on section.

“We really appreciate the team at YouTube, who were so supportive of this trial,” Jin said in the release. “This beta is a small step to defining spatial entertainment. We still have a

a lot of ideas to explore in this area, and I hope people will find this first-look experience

entertaining and easy to use.”

Nreal for Work

Last week’s announcement was big for gamers but it wasn’t just for gamers. There’s an important piece in here for desk workers who use Mac.

Nreal is not a super Apple-friendly device. For example, Nreal Air works with iOS, but requires an additional $59 adapter. This extended to functioning with the desktop – which has gaming applications, sure, but could really be big for desk workers using AR for extending their workspace with virtual screens. That’s what makes the Mac Nebula beta so exciting.

“Working within the boundaries of someone else’s technologies is not easy. This release is meant to give people a preview of what is possible. We want to bring everyday AR experiences to the mass consumer market, so we’re excited to offer this solution for Mac users,” said Jin.

A Hands-On Review of Nreal Air

Nreal put a pair of the $379 Nreal Air in my hands. I got a sneak peek of Nreal Air at an expo before their consumer release, but it was just a look-see. This time I got to spend some meaningful time with the product in my own home entirely unsupervised. These are my honest thoughts on the device.

Device Setup and First-Day Jitters

The setup for the device was pretty simple. At least, significantly less complicated than the initial setup for a device like the Quest 2 (review). It also helps that the Quest app is a companion app for the headset, while the phone is a companion device for the Nreal Air so doing things like confirming my email address went a lot more smoothly.

I had some hiccups on the first day, when the display on the glasses would freeze and sputter, and I would have to reconnect it. However, this seems to have been a one-time thing that only happened the first day that I was using the device.

Most of the setup was software, but there are one or two points on the headset itself that you can tweak as well. For example, buttons on the arms control the brightness of the display. The arms can also be manually adjusted up and down. This is huge because the display itself is at an angle to your eye, so adjusting the arms can really improve the comfort of the experience.

While we’re talking about things like display and comfort, the glasses beyond the display are tinted like sunglasses. This reduces “eye glow” as perceived by others, but it also means that the glasses work really well in bright conditions as well. Incidentally, your eye can also focus past the display to see what’s going on in your environment behind your virtual screen.

Screen-Mirroring and Apps

As mentioned above, the screen mirroring works just fine but it maintains the phone as the input device. So, if you’re doing things that require a lot of activity on your part, you’re usually looking at the phone anyway. So this feature is handy for, say, navigating to a video file and then watching it, but isn’t necessarily a huge improvement for things like email.

Further, I found reading the fine print in the glasses a little trying. For example, scrolling through YouTube I could read video titles just fine but reading the smaller description text was more challenging. To be fair, I didn’t notice that problem trying out the Lenovo ThinkReality A3, but – despite a similar form factor – that’s an enterprise device that costs a thousand dollars more than the Nreal Air.

Using the actual AR mode is a different story. The phone is still the input device, but in its touchscreen capacity. The phone casts a ray into your view on the glasses and then tapping the screen makes selections. Scrolling on the touch screen of the phone also scrolls through menus etc., and pinching the device controls the location and zoom level of your virtual screens.

Returning again to YouTube but this time in the beta app, I found the controls much more organic, but I was also able to blow up the screen such that I had a much easier time with that small type. At this point, I pulled up a Looney Tunes short and handed the glasses to my brother so that I could see what they look like in action.

From the Outside Looking In

When the glasses are in use, reflections within the glasses are virtually non-existent. Looking at the glasses as my brother wore them, I would have been hard-pressed to tell whether the light in the lenses was from the glasses operating or just reflections from the environment. In any case, I couldn’t tell by looking at the glasses from the outside what was playing within.

The audio was a similar case. Nreal Air has onboard speakers in the arms. The audio quality is really good, and I assumed that the volume would be pretty noticeable for others as well, but this isn’t the case. As with the “eye glow,” I could tell that the glasses were making noise while he was wearing them, but I couldn’t make it out. The speakers are effective and discrete.

I also noticed that, while the lack of gesture controls was admittedly a bit of a put-down for me, using the phone as the input is also very discrete. Instead of looking like one is swatting imaginary flies to navigate menus, it’s a subtle tap of the screen – maybe a slight movement of the phone itself. Someone in, say, an airport with the device would blend right in.

For all of my input, my brother’s was perhaps the more impactful. He’s a more avid console gamer than me but has far less exposure to XR. After about 20 seconds of watching Looney Tunes on Nreal Air’s virtual screen he asked me, “So, we basically don’t need TVs anymore?”

Virtual Screens for the Win

There are times when you’ll still want a computer to do your work. There are times when you’ll still want a TV to play games or watch movies. But AR glasses and virtual screens are increasingly gaining ground. I’m glad that I’m typing this on a laptop. But, watching a video on my phone screen felt kind of silly after using Nreal Air. And it’s only coming to more devices.

 

Is your mind full of ideas for immersive games and social experiences? Now, you can stop dreaming about them and start creating them. Meet Zoe – the platform where you can create VR experiences without writing a single line of code.

That’s right, no need to worry about Java, Python, and other programming languages. You have all the tools available in the form of templates and drag-and-drop building blocks. Zoe does the rest, with the power of automation.

Zoe Is Now Available for Meta Quest

In order to make the Zoe platform come true, Zoe Immersive partnered with Meta. The two companies worked together for almost a year, which resulted in the platform now being available on Quest.

Over this time, users within various industries, including education, healthcare, and business got access to the beta version of the Zoe platform, creating remote workshops, virtual classrooms, meetups, and events.

This is the goal of Zoe Interactive: to open the metaverse to anyone who wants to help build it. The company believes that anyone should be able to contribute and create VR experiences for educational, business, and social purposes, or even just for entertainment.

With Zoe, Every Dream Becomes a Virtual Reality

“In just minutes, Zoe gives the ability to create and monetize truly interactive experiences and activities,” said Emilie Joly, the CEO of Zoe Interactive, in a press release. “With Zoe, there are truly no limits to 3D innovation.”



With the metaverse market expected to generate up to $5 trillion in value by 2030, accelerating the adoption rate is a top priority for the industry. And one great way of enticing new users is by empowering them to become stakeholders. Instead of being just content consumers, they have the power to become content creators.

What You Can Do With Zoe: Create VR Experiences, Worlds and More

Zoe allows each user to create at their own pace and in their own style. Those who feel less inspired can watch what others have created or use templates. Some want to start from scratch – and they can do it. Also, you can create VR experiences with friends by sending them an email invitation to join your project.

According to the company, Zoe already has over 30,000 users. They are not just people who want to create VR experiences for fun, but also:

• Businesses, creating team-building activities and collaboration workspaces;
• Education providers, creating STEM activities and explaining processes in a fun way;
• Marketing and entertainment professionals, generating branded experiences;
• Healthcare providers, creating mini-games for therapy and mindfulness experiences.

How to Start Using Zoe

Zoe is available for download in the  Meta Quest Store. The company plans to later also launch a mobile app. The pricing plans start at $6 per month (billed annually), ideal for individuals who want to create VR experiences with friends. Using Zoe also gives users access to nearly a million free 3D models in the Sketchfab library.