virtual reality

Treble Technologies Brings Realistic Sound to Virtual Spaces

audio, featured, Immersive Technology, virtual reality / Rejus Almole / March 17, 2023

Immersive spaces can be very immersive visually. But they can still sound pretty flat. This can disrupt immersion in games and social applications but in automotive, engineering, and construction (AEC), understanding how a space sounds can be crucial to the design process. That’s why Treble is working on realistic sound reproduction for virtual spaces.

We spoke with Treble CEO Finnur Pind about the opportunities and obstacles in believable immersive sound in enterprise and beyond.

Sound Simulation and Rendering

A conversation inside of a car can sound a lot different than a conversation in your living room. A conversation in your living room can sound a lot different than a conversation in an auditorium. If you’re trying to hear that conversation with an assistive device like hearing aids, the conversation can be even more complicated.

Right now, a conversation in any of those spaces recreated in a virtual environment probably sounds about the same. Designers can include environmental sound like water or wind or a crackling fire as they often do for games, but the sonic profile of the environment itself is difficult to replicate.

That’s because sound is caused by vibrations of the air. In different physical environments, the environment itself absorbs and reflects those vibrations in unique ways based on their physical properties. But, virtual environments don’t have physical properties and sound is conveyed electronically rather than acoustically.

The closest we’ve come to real immersive sound is “spatial audio.” Spatial audio represents where a sound is coming from and how far away it is from a listener by manipulating stereo volume but it still doesn’t account for environmental factors. That doesn’t mean spatial audio isn’t good enough. It does what it does and it plays a part in “sound simulation and rendering.”

Sound simulation and sound rendering are “two sides of the same coin,” according to Pind. The process, which has its roots in academia before Treble started in 2020, involves simulating acoustics and rendering the environment that produces them.

How Treble Rethinks Virtual Sound

“Solving the mathematics of sound has been developed for some time but it never found practice because it’s too computationally heavy,” said Pind. “What people have been doing until now is this kind of ray-tracing simulation. … It works up to a certain degree.”

Treble - Acoustic simulation suite Treble uses a “wave-based approach” that accounts for the source of the audio, as well as the geometry of the space and the physical properties of the building material. In the event that the virtual space includes fantastical or unspecified materials, the company assigns a set of physical characteristics from a known real-world material.

That kind of situation doesn’t arise often so far because, while Pind is open to Treble working with entertainment and consumer applications, the company is mainly focused on enhancing digital design models for the AEC industry.

“It’s not just seeing what your building will look like, but hearing what your building will sound like,” said Pind. “As long as you have a 3D building model … our platform connects directly, understands the geometry, building models, and sound sources.”

Pind says that the concept may one day have applications in augmented reality and mixed reality as well. Say in a platform like Microsoft Mesh or Varjo Reality Cloud where users are essentially sharing or exchanging surroundings via VR, recreating the real spaces of one user as the virtual space of the other user can greatly aid immersion and realism.

Treble - sound in VR

“Research has shown that having realistic sound in a VR environment improves the immersion,” said Pind. “In AR it’s more the idea of being in a real space but having sound augmented.”

Machine Learning, R&D, and Beyond

As strange as it may sound, this approach also works essentially backwards. Instead of recreating a physical environment, Treble can create sound profiles for physically-based spaces that may or may not exist – or ever exist. Why? To model how sound would behave in that environment. It’s an approach called “synthetic data generation.”

Treble - synthetic data generation “AI is kind of the talk of the town these days and one of the major issues of training AI is a lack of data,” said Pind. Training AI to work with sound requires a lot of audio which, historically, had to be sourced from physical equipment transported and set up in physical environments. “Now they’re starting to come to us to synthetically generate it.”

This same approach is increasingly being used to test audio hardware ranging from hearing aids to XR headsets.

Sounds Pretty Good

Pind thinks that the idea of using sound simulation and rendering for things like immersive concerts is interesting, even though that’s not what Treble does right now. It’s another resource already in the hands of forward-thinking companies and potentially soon coming to an XR venue in your headset.

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Arthur Releases Productivity and Display Updates

collaboration, Enterprise, featured, remote work, virtual reality, VR platform / Rejus Almole / March 15, 2023

Arthur, an immersive virtual collaboration platform for enterprise, has recently rolled out its first major set of updates since its “Pro” version launched in 2021. The update brings solutions that are helpful in the platform but that VR in general has needed for a long time.

To learn more about the platform’s growth in the space and the technology coming of age in the enterprise sector, I met in the platform with Arthur Business Development Consultant Lakshman Lattipally. We also showed off our full-body avatars and explored the platform’s many features both old and new.

The Road So Far

Arthur was founded in 2016 but became publicly available in 2020. The platform rolled out its first major updates the following year, which is when ARPost first introduced our readers to the platform. At the time, the company was largely presented as a “virtual real estate company” before that language was adopted by consumer applications in the NFT space.

“We see ourselves as a virtual real estate company. We just provide the office,” Demand Manager Simon Berger told ARPost at the time.

At the time, the company seemed to be doing a new thing – just like everyone else. The main distinguishing feature between Arthur and other solutions in what has since been dubbed “the officeverse” were the avatars featuring a photo-realistic face on a poorly-matched and semi-corporeal frame.

Later that year, the platform’s professional version came out of beta. This version introduced more hosting tools, larger capacity spaces, screen sharing, and other productivity features, and – perhaps the largest differentiator – end-to-end session encryption. The free version still works and you can use it to explore the platform. You can also request a demo of the Pro version.

Recent Improvements

Some of Arthur’s most recent updates are completely new tools, while others are developments building on the platform’s existing tools and features. In either case, all of the updates are great advancements.

New Access Options

Arthur has long had desktop access – a website and an app. The website is a sort of back-end way to manage assets for and from the VR version, similar to an AltspaceVR profile. The app offered many of the conveniences of the website and some of the accessibility of the VR version, similar to the desktop version of ENGAGE.

This update brings an option for users to join virtual environments entirely via browser. There are pros and cons to a browser-based virtual collaboration space over an app. For example, the browser interface allows users to use the platform when they’re away from an office computer with the app installed. But, web users can’t join app sessions. At least, not directly.

VR platform Arthur

One of the big updates that Lattipally showed me was the ability of a VR user to open an Arthur browser window and screen share it with VR users creating an entirely virtual version of a hybrid meeting. The solution was a little disorienting but entirely practical.

Of course, that browser window can be used for other things as well. While the pinboard and note features already provided on the platform can be used to create things like workflows and project management boards, your favorite dedicated tools can exist in-world through browser windows or in some cases through direct app integrations.

Display Updates

After all of the shade thrown on earlier iterations of avatars, they really have gotten a lot better in this most recent update. The avatar creation process still starts with a photograph, but that photograph is better mapped onto a better-proportioned head on a full body – complete with arms and legs. The more responsive faces are even compatible with eye tracking if you’ve got it.

Jon - Arthur VR platform

My favorite update overall might be the MR desk – a feature that I’ve long wanted in every VR productivity app ever. The tool allows you to draw in your physical desktop to appear in your VR space. This process is similar to when you first set up the Quest’s seated play space. However, the desktop isn’t just an opaque rectangle, it’s a passthrough window to your actual desk.

Other users can’t see this desk, but you can turn it on and off when you need (or don’t need) to access your computer, notes, or anything else in the physical world while in VR. The obvious downside is that this feature is only as useful as your available passthrough. If you have a Quest 2 (review), this isn’t great. But, if you’re rocking a Quest Pro (info), word is it’s a lot better.

Everything Else Is Still Good

A lot of the quality features that Arthur had before are largely unchanged, and that’s okay. Spaces are still beautiful and easy to set up, complete with private audio zones. The larger main menu is still powerful and navigable, but the smaller menus for things like the notes feature and some basic in-world assets are even easier to use.

Arthur VR

And, maybe this is just me, but I’m a big fan of the desktop user back-end. Taking screenshots in VR is a simple operation and those screenshots are easily accessible from the web profile. Further, user support is great if you need a helping hand.

The New and Improved Arthur

Arthur is holding its own in the developing world of enterprise VR solutions and remains one of the best offerings that I’ve seen in the space.

One of the most enlightening parts of my time in the platform with Lattipally was his stance on the maturity of the space as he says companies are moving from presence to productivity to complete virtual work environments. And Arthur is rising to that challenge.

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FitXR Workout Classes: New Pop Music Collection to Add Variety to Your VR Fitness Routine

featured, fitness, FitXR, News, Sports & Fitness, virtual reality, VR Apps / Rejus Almole / March 13, 2023

It is no secret that music makes exercise routines fun, but it actually does more than that. In fact, music has been scientifically proven to improve the quality of workouts. One research shows that music is particularly helpful during endurance and high-intensity exercises. It also shows that a faster tempo increases energy demand during exercise. Aside from promoting metabolic efficiency, upbeat music has also been found to be effective in increasing endurance as it distracts people from discomfort.

The VR fitness app FitXR understands the key role music plays in fitness. So the team continues to expand and diversify music content on its platform to cater to individual preferences. FitXR workout classes across five distinct studios are constantly updated with new music collections to give users more motivation to achieve their fitness goals.

New Pop Music Collection Amps Up FitXR Workout Classes

Recently, FitXR launched a new pop music collection that gives users more music options in all workout classes across its five studios—Box, Dance, HIIT, Sculpt, and Combat. It features hits from the best pop, hip-hop, and rock artists. Whether you’re in the mood for a high-intensity boxing class or a beginner HIIT session, you can definitely find the right workout for you.

There’s a whole collection of workout classes with smash hits from Dua Lipa, Lil Nas X, Megan Thee Stallion, and other popular artists. Let Pink and Lady Gaga set the mood and inspire you to finish the 11-minute “Get This Party Started” HIIT class for beginners. Groove to the beat as you do a quick 4-minute workout in the intermediate boxing class “Green Day Blitz.” You can choose from a variety of classes based on your fitness level and time availability.

“FitXR is all about making fitness fun, and music is so often what fuels a workout, and makes it an enjoyable experience,” said Kelly Cosentino, Director of Fitness at FitXR, in a press release shared with ARPost. “This is just another way we’re showing our commitment to creating experiences unique to each member’s personal preference and motivators!”

The new pop music collection is just another addition to FitXR’s already extensive music offerings, which include top billboard artists, independent artists, and international artists. With the app’s wide range of classes and music options, there are no excuses for skipping a workout.

Committed to Elevating Immersive VR Workout Classes

FitXR’s new pop music collection is a testament to the app’s dedication to creating unique and engaging fitness experiences for its users. Continuously adding new music and themed studios to its already robust offerings shows its commitment to making fitness more fun and accessible for everyone.

FitXR workout

Leading the way to the future of fitness, we can expect to see more additions and innovations on the platform. These will allow beginners and seasoned fitness enthusiasts alike to personalize their fitness journey and enhance their overall workout experiences.

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Lark Optics is targeting your retinas for AR without nausea and other sickness

augmented reality, Deep tech, Next Featured, Startups and technology, Tech, UK, virtual reality / Mike M. / March 8, 2023

This story is syndicated from the premium edition of PreSeed Now, a newsletter that digs into the product, market, and founder story of UK-founded startups so you can understand how they fit into what’s happening in the wider world and startup ecosystem.

Whether you believe it’s the future of everything, or just a useful tool that will be part of the mix of tech we regularly use a few years from now, augmented reality is a rapidly developing field with one major drawback – like VR, it can leave you feeling sick.

For example, US soldiers who tried Microsoft’s HoloLens goggles last year suffered “‘mission-affecting physical impairments’ including headaches, eyestrain and nausea,” Bloomberg reported.

While the technology could “bring net economic benefits of $1.5 trillion by 2030” according to PwC, this sickness is a massive inhibitor to the growth of AR and VR.

One startup looking to tackle the problem is Cambridge-based Lark Optics, which has developed a way of bypassing the issues that cause these problems.

“In the real world, we perceive depth by our eyes rotating and focusing. Two different cues need to work in harmony. However, in all existing AR glasses, these cues fundamentally mismatch,” explains Lark Optics CEO Pawan Shrestha.

Having to focus on a ‘virtual screen’ on augmented reality glasses, means users have to switch focus between the real world and the augmented one. This depth mismatch causes physical discomfort and conditions like nausea, dizziness, eyestrain, and headaches.

What Lark Optics does differently, Shrestha says, is it projects the augmented reality image onto the user’s retina. This means the AR is always in focus no matter what your eyes do to adjust to the real world around you.

So far the startup has developed a proof of concept and is now iterating to refine its demonstrator model. Shrestha says they conducted two successful user studies with their proof of concept; one in their own lab and another with an external partner he prefers not to name.

When the tech is ready, they want to use a fabless model for producing the components they design, which they will then sell to original equipment manufacturers who make AR headsets.

Given they’re addressing such a fundamental challenge to the mass adoption of AR, it’s unsurprising that other companies are tackling it in other ways (more on that below). But Shrestha says his startup’s approach is the most efficient in terms of processing power and battery power, and doesn’t affect the user’s field of vision.

Shrestha grew up in rural Nepal (“really rural… I was nearly nine years old before I saw electric lights”). He says his parents’ enthusiasm for his education eventually led him to New Zealand where he obtained a masters degree in Electronics Engineering from the University of Waikato.

Keen to develop technology he could commercialise, he says he developed an interferometer. While that venture didn’t work out, his work led him on to a PhD from the University of Cambridge, where he spotted the commercial potential of a new approach to AR displays.

“It was scientifically challenging, but it was also something that could touch the lives of many, many people,” he says.

Shrestha co-founded Lark Optics (which was previously known as AR-X Photonics) with his friend Xin Chang, and Daping Chu who previously oversaw the PhD work of Shrestha and Chang. The trio have been working together for around a decade but only got started with Lark Optics in earnest last year,

Shrestha says this week they have been joined by a new recruit, Andreas Georgiou, who previously worked at Microsoft as a principal researcher in the field of optical engineering.

The Lark Optics team (L-R): Weijie Wu, Dr Pawan Kumar Shrestha, Professor Daping Chu, Dr Andreas Georgiou, Dr Xin Chang

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Shrestha says being based in Cambridge is a big benefit to them, with a community of experienced advisers around them, and access to relevant investors. He is particularly inspired by the progress made by Micro LED tech startup Porotech, which has raised a total of $26.1 million to date.

And Shrestha has warm words for the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Enterprise Fellowship, of which he is a part. This provides up to £75,000 in equity-free funding to cover salary and business costs, along with mentoring, training and coaching. This was what allowed him to get started on developing Lark Optics as a business.

Lark Optics itself raised a pre-seed round of £210,000 in October last year, Shrestha says, and will be raising a seed round in Q2 this year.

As mentioned above, others are tackling the problem of AR sickness in different ways. LetinAR uses a ‘pin mirror’ method, Kura Technologies has developed a ‘structured geometric waveguide eyepiece’, while VividQ “compute[s] holograms in real-time on low power devices and integrate[s] them with off-the-shelf display hardware.”

Another company, SeeReal develops holography-based solutions to address depth issues in 3D displays.

But Shrestha says these rival technologies either require a very high level of data throughput, with a related computational and battery power overhead, or require very high resolution displays. And while some techniques decouple the AR display from the real world like Lark Optics does, Shrestha says they are “like looking through a chicken fence.

“We solved the problem without getting a significant penalty on processing power or battery power, or artefacts. So that’s why I think our approach is the best.”

Lark Optics’ ambition is to become established as the best optics for AR, VR, and mixed reality glasses.

“We want to realise the full potential of AR and VR. Now we have AR and VR you can wear for 20 minutes or 30 minutes. We want to make it feel as natural to look at real objects, VR ,or AR, and allow people to use it for all-day, everyday use.”

Shrestha sees the biggest challenge to achieving this is being able to recruit the right people in what is quite a specialised field. But he’s optimistic that attracting just one or two high-level people will end up attracting more, and the endorsement of a good seed round raise in the coming months won’t hurt either.

AR, VR, and MR has been massively hyped in recent years but there have been questions over how much of a future it has. Investor disquiet over Meta’s huge spending in the ‘metaverse’ space, and Microsoft’s job cuts in its HoloLens division as it struggles to turn it into a viable business, show that there’s no straight line from here to a future where this tech is widely used.

But that said, the current jitters of the public markets over stock prices and tech company spending isn’t an end for AR, VR, and MR at all. Apple’s first headset is on the horizon, which will no doubt spin up another wave of interest in the space (although the latest report says it’s been delayed two months, until June).

If technology like Lark Optics’ can help prepare AR, VR, and MR for the mainstream, the startup could be well positioned to reap the rewards.

The article you just read is from the premium edition of PreSeed Now. This is a newsletter that digs into the product, market, and story of startups that were founded in the UK. The goal is to help you understand how these businesses fit into what’s happening in the wider world and startup ecosystem.

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The 2023 Polys WebXR Awards Recap

AR/VR events, augmented reality, Events, extended reality, featured, virtual reality, webXR / Rejus Almole / March 8, 2023

The third Annual Polys WebXR Awards took place this weekend. The show was bigger than ever thanks to the first-ever in-person awards and a special event saying farewell to AltspaceVR. However, despite some new categories, the overall category list was shorter this year as a number of previous awards were combined.

A Very Special Polys

The Polys launched during the height of the pandemic. Fortunately, not being in person has a way of not greatly hindering an event that’s already dedicated to WebXR.

The event took place in a bespoke AltspaceVR world, with watch parties on YouTube as well as other remote platforms. However, this time, people were able to get together in person but they did it in a very “metaverse” way.

The Polys 2023 WebXR Awards

In-person hosts, producers, presenters, and an audience gathered at ZeroSpace, an XR stage and motion capture studio in Brooklyn. Their actions on the stage were volumetrically captured and displayed in The Polys’ AltspaceVR environment, similar to the launch of Microsoft Mesh. Polys Director Ginna Lambert said that this was the first award show to use the technology.

Further, while winners and honorees had previously received their Polys Awards as NFTs, the team worked with Looking Glass Factory so that this year’s Polys can be presented in a physical frame. This is as physical as The Polys can get, seeing as Linda Ricci designed the award to defy physics.

A Funeral for AltspaceVR

In lieu of a half-time show, Big Rock Creative CEO, co-founder, and producer Athena Demos held a eulogy for AltspaceVR. Virtual attendees lined the aisle to a pulpit adorned with flowers and candles in a ceremony that was heartfelt and a little macabre. Following mourners down the aisle was a coffin containing one of the iconic robot avatars that AltspaceVR used at launch.

“AltspaceVR will always hold a special place in our hearts,” said Demos. “While we say goodbye to the platform that brought us together, we will always remember the connections that we made here.”

AltspaceVR funeral - The 2023 Polys WebXR Awards

While the WebXR team has used AltspaceVR to host The Polys Awards and numerous other town hall events and summits over the last three years, Demos and her team have been using it to bring Burning Man into virtual spaces. There is also a farewell party scheduled by Big Rock Creative to last until the moment that AltspaceVR servers shut down later this week.

The Polys Awards

Where last year’s Polys saw 15 awards categories (not counting personal honors of Lifetime Achievement, Ombudsperson of the Year, and the Community Award), this year’s show had eight categories. That includes some new categories reflecting the advancement of immersive technology even over the last few months.

“We in this community are ahead of a massive shift that we call the fourth industrial revolution,” said host Julie Smithson. “We’re here to celebrate the progress made in WebXR in the year of 2022.”

Julie Smithson at The Polys WebXR Awards

Entertainment Experience of the Year

When popular culture looks at “the metaverse” they typically equate it with irresponsible escapism – something that people use to avoid the challenges of life. XR producer and director Kiira Benzing pointed out that positive escapism – using XR to take a break from life rather than to neglect it – is one of the medium’s greatest strengths.

“With the immersive medium, you get the opportunity to step into an experience,” Benzing said in presenting the award for Entertainment Experience of the year.

The award went to Project Flowerbed, an immersive gardening experience by the Meta WebXR team. The same project was nominated for Experience of the Year.

Innovator of the Year

Futurewei Technologies Senior Director for VR, Metaverse, Mobile, Apps, and Services Daniel Ljunggren presented the award for Innovator of the Year – previously “Innovation of the Year.” The award went to Sean Mann, CEO and co-founder of RP1, a “persistent, seamless, real-time platform with limitless scalability.”

“To be amongst this many pioneers and innovators in one space is amazing. I think we’re all winners,” said Mann. “I’m super excited to be a part of this.”

Developer of the Year

“Being on the frontier of the immersive web is a pioneering effort,” Yinch Yeap said in presenting this award. “It still feels like the Wild West.”

And, like in the Wild West, many of the biggest names are pseudonyms. This is certainly the case for this year’s winner, known only as “Jin.” Jin appeared as a similarly anonymized avatar to accept the award.

“I am a huge believer in WebXR,” said Jin. “I stand on the shoulders of giants. I am very humbled and I owe this to everyone building the immersive web.”

Game of the Year Award

“Game of the Year” is a broad category as most WebXR experiences are arguably “games” – and that’s what makes the award so important according to presenter Rik Cabanier, a software engineer at Meta. The award went to the mini golf game Above Par-Adowski by Paradowski Creative.

Above Par-Adowski VR game

Accepting the award was Paradowski Creative Director of Emerging Technology James Kane, who called WebXR “the best expression of the metaverse there is.” Kane was also a nominee for Innovator of the Year.

“I want to thank our team,” said Kane. “And thanks to the Meta team for creating an amazing WebXR platform as well as for directly supporting us.”

AR Passthrough Experience of the Year

“Where, for the past years AR experiences were mainly relegated to phones, now passthrough devices are everywhere,” said presenter Lucas Rizzotto. This allows more passthrough experiences on devices available today, but it also allows more impactful development of experiences for future AR devices.

The award went to Spatial Fusion by PHORIA and Meta, an experience which sees players repairing a damaged spaceship. Ben Ferns, a consulting developer, was one of those accepting the award.

“Huge thanks to the entire team – it was a huge team effort,” said Ferns. “It’s just exciting to see the promise of WebXR and passthrough.”

WebXR Platform of the Year

In presenting the award for WebXR Platform of the Year, Prestidge Group founder and CEO Briar Prestidge pointed out that every WebXR platform has strengths and weaknesses – something that she learned a lot about while famously spending “48 hours in the metaverse” for a documentary.

The award went to Croquet, “the operating system of the metaverse,” which also took home the Startup Pitch Competition Auggie Award last year. The award was accepted by The Polys on behalf of the organization.

Education Experience of the Year

The “digital divide” describes accessibility differences exacerbated by the benefit of technology only being available to those who can afford the required hardware or programs. WebXR is vital to the future of education because it lowers the cost of access for immersive experiences, according to Silicon Harlem founder Clayton Banks in presenting this award.

Banks presented the award to Prehistoric Domain, an immersive tour that brings learners up close and personal with virtual representations of dinosaurs and other extinct species. Accepting the award was creator Benjamin Dupuy. Prehistoric Domain was also nominated for Experience of the Year.

“WebXR opens so many possibilities – it’s very exciting,” said Dupuy in accepting the award. “We are all pioneers of the immersive web here and I think we’re at the beginning of an era where the line between illusion and reality is very thin.”

Experience of the Year

Demos returned to the stage – this time in volumetric capture instead of in her AltspaceVR avatar – to present the award for Experience of the Year to Spatial Fusion.

This was the experience’s second win of the night. The experience was also a nominee for Entertainment Experience of the Year. Ferns returned to accept the award and pointed out that the code has been open-sourced.

“I’m really excited to see what other people do with this now that it’s freely accessible,” said Ferns. “It’s an exciting time for trying out all of these new UX opportunities.”

This Year’s Honorees

In addition to the nominated awards categories, there are three honors categories. The honoree in each category is named by the previous year’s recipient rather than by a panel of judges.

Community Honor

Last year’s community honoree Trevor Flowers named Evo Heyning for this year, specifically for her work with the XR Guild, the Open Metaverse Interoperability Group, and [email protected].

“Whether it’s exploring AR, exploring 3D objects and NERFs, exploring interoperability of avatars and [email protected] specifically, being a part of these experiences with [Sophia Moshasha], with Ben [Irwin], with Julie [Smithson], with everyone – it’s meant so much to me,” Heyning said in accepting the honor.

Ombudsperson of the Year

The Ombudsperson of the Year Honor is specifically set up to recognize people working on the social and human aspects of WebXR. Last year’s honoree, Avi Bar-Zeev said that he was “honored to hand off the title” to Brittan Heller, a lawyer who introduced the term “biometric psychography” to describe mental and emotional profiling through an XR user’s personal data.

Brittan Heller at The Polys WebXR Awards

“I’d like to thank Avi, Kent [Bye], and everyone at the XR Guild and the Virtual World Society, and everyone in the XR community,” said Heller. “I appreciate how everyone here is so involved in making the community so welcoming to everyone.”

Bye, referenced by Heller in her acceptance speech, is a leading XR ethicist, a strong speaker in the nascent field of biometric psychography, and the first-ever recipient of this award.

Lifetime Achievement Honor

Last year’s Lifetime Achievement Honoree Brandon Jones selected Patric Cozzi for this year’s honor. Cozzi is the CEO of Cesium, but he was selected for this award because of his work co-creating glTF as a contributor to the Khronos Group.

Patric Cozzi at The Polys WebXR Awards

“I’m really honored for glTF and the community,” said Cozzi. “It was a grassroots effort for years.”

Looking Forward to the Future

This was the last year that The Polys WebXR awards will be hosted in AltspaceVR, but the team is still looking forward to next year’s event. While they haven’t yet said what platform (or platforms) it will take place on, there’s a full year to figure that out. And a year is a long time in this industry. If you missed this year’s ceremony, you can find the recording here.

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Jackson Public Schools Implement Virtual Reality in the Classroom

education, Education & Training, featured, News, virtual reality / Rejus Almole / March 6, 2023

Virtual reality in the classroom is one of the many uses of immersive technologies. And, wherever it is in use, it has proven to be a great success. The latest educational organization to adopt it is Jackson Public Schools in Mississippi.

The second-largest school district in the Magnolia State, comprising seven high schools, 10 middle schools, 31 elementary schools, and four special program schools, has recently announced that its students will now be able to learn using VR.

VR Learning Made Available to a Large Number of Students

Currently, Jackson Public Schools enrolls 80% of the children in the capital city of Mississippi. Thanks to the partnership with a local company specializing in developing VR solutions for the educational field, Lobaki, the school district’s 19,000 students will soon have access to virtual reality in the classroom.

This partnership resulted in the full equipment of the entire school system with the necessary hardware and applications. They will allow the students to enjoy an immersive and hands-on learning experience in every class – from history to biology.

Teachers Are Happy to Use Virtual Reality in the Classroom

Not only students, but teachers are also excited to use the modern tools made available through the multiyear partnership with Lobaki. During the COVID-19 lockdown, they had the opportunity to learn how to use remote learning solutions.

And virtual reality in the classroom is a way of bringing together the best of both worlds; real and virtual.

“We have been interested in using virtual reality in our schools for quite some time now, as we are always looking to improve the educational experience,” said Dr. Rajeeni Scott, the Executive Director of School Support for Jackson Public School District, in a press release shared with ARPost. “With the additional challenge of learning loss created by the COVID-19 pandemic, we knew it was time to implement this solution within our schools.”

The New Project Showcases the Practical Role of VR in Our Lives

Virtual reality is no longer just for fun, entertainment, and hi-tech industries. It is becoming a part of our lives, from the simplest to the most advanced levels. For Lobaki, virtual reality in the classroom is proof of the huge potential of this technology.

“As one of the oldest and largest school systems in the state of Mississippi, Jackson Public School District’s decision to implement virtual reality technology stands out as one of the largest implementations in the United States to date,” said the CEO of Lobaki, Amber Coeur.

Using VR headsets and immersive experiences created by Lobaki, students will be able to interact with for example Civil Rights leaders or explore the structures of the smallest cells in the animal and vegetal world.

As a local company based in Mississippi, Lobaki is the ideal partner for this type of long-term partnership with Jackson Public Schools.

“As Mississippi’s only owned and operated virtual reality content creation company, the level of support from installation to training is unmatched,” explained Scott “We know they aren’t going to drop off hardware and leave …they are our next-door neighbors and fellow Mississippians.”

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Onboarding in the Boardroom: Starting the Conversation on Enterprise VR

Enterprise, Enterprise VR, featured, virtual reality / Rejus Almole / March 4, 2023

Gaming and social experiences are great uses for virtual reality. However, enterprise VR is also making huge strides to solve big problems in the world of work. Companies that do things like manufacturing, retail management, advertising, and just about anything else have a lot to gain from enterprise VR. But, they don’t always know where to start.

Everyone who runs a business making enterprise VR solutions has to have a decent pitch on why companies should sign on, but there are also some organizations that make onboarding their companies part of the experience.

Finding Direction With Endava

Endava is a tech services provider that helps companies use new technologies to solve problems, increase efficiency, and grow their business models. They aren’t exclusively interested in emerging technologies like extended reality and the metaverse, but they’re seeing a lot of client interest in those fields. And that’s a good thing.

“Don’t wait until the need or the use case is defined because by then you’re just chasing everyone else,” said Scott Harkey, the Executive Vice President of Financial Services and Payments at Endava.

Where to Begin

This often means that companies that do actively want to develop an enterprise VR strategy can be stuck in the awkward position of feeling that they should do something without knowing where to begin. That’s the point where working with a consultancy can help.

“Figuring out where to start is often one of the biggest parts of it,” said Harkey. “That, of course, is different for each organization. But, generally, thinking from a consumer experience perspective helps you focus on what is the problem that you’re actually trying to solve.”

Working with the entire company can help to keep the enterprise VR project on track. Uncertain executives might want to put everything in the hands of their builders, but that can lead to an over-developed and underperforming solution. Putting too much on the executives instead of the builders might hobble the project before it’s begun.

“Individual engineers often get really excited about new tech,” said Harkey. “As you get more senior in the organization, I think they tend to have a more pragmatic view of the technology… they tend to be more conservative with new technologies and want something that is more proven.”

Before proving something, it needs to work. From there, the learning can really begin.

“First it needs to work… It needs to solve the problem. If it’s cool, that’s great. But, does it work?” explained Harkey. “There’s definitely a desire to be experimenting with new tech.”

Gauging Success

Determining whether or not an emerging technology project is successful is a challenging task in enterprise VR. Some in the XR space have even suggested new metrics for XR experiences on the grounds that the way that we track engagement with more conventional media doesn’t do XR justice.

“Definitely experiment. Definitely play with things. There’s no better way to understand how this can impact your business than to play with it,” said Harkey. “But, set the expectations upfront if that’s what you’re doing… If you’re misaligned on the objectives, that’s when you can have a failed experience.”

Those expectations might be things like “engagement” – how many people are accessing the experience, and how long are they using it? However, it can be just as important to understand what they’re doing while they’re in the enterprise VR experience. According to Harkey, some companies use “investigation” as their only metric.

“If I’m doing anything in VR right now and I’m anyone other than Meta, and this is probably true for them too, I don’t really know what I’m doing in VR and I want to see what people engage with,” said Harkey. Harkey added that sometimes experimenting leads to an idea for a more practical or goal-driven solution. “A lot of the time, you’ll see those use cases start to emerge.”

Putting on the Headset With Morpheus

Morpheus is an enterprise VR engagement platform. It started off as a VR events coordinator using AltspaceVR, but has developed into a full-service solution provider with its own virtual world platform and headset distribution arm. And headset distribution is still a big deal.

“We looked at the market and were like, ‘no one has headsets’ so that’s one – that’s the first thing we need to tackle,” CEO Jeffrey Chernick told me during an in-world interview. “We actually send teams headsets and teach them how to use VR. We do one-on-one onboarding with everyone on a team.”

Upon entering the world, before the interview started, COO Jennifer Regan led a “grounding exercise,” acclimating to being in VR. “We are really focused on the least common denominator, which is the first-time user but we also want to make sure that we’re creating enriching spaces for advanced users,” said Regan.

Morpheus enterprise VR platform

Chernick believes that in the next couple of years, as headset adoption picks up, things like hardware distribution will shrink as a part of their business model. Morpheus also works on desktop and mobile devices, and they’re planning on expanding the availability of their enterprise VR application, which is currently only in Quest’s App Lab.

“A huge piece for a lot of corporate HR teams is the employee benefit of giving a headset,” commented Regan. “A Quest 2 gives them access to Supernatural, other fitness apps – there’s other programming that they can at least conceive of using.”

Exploring a Morpheus World

Users can bring their own enterprise VR content into Morpheus, or work with the team to create bespoke worlds. However, the available worlds in Morpheus have a lot to offer already. Some of the settings speak to their earlier days as a “one-off experience” platform but different areas can be built onto one another via a portal system to create vast multi-venue virtual worlds.

“Space is the most valuable tool and we try to maximize its power,” explained president Mikhail Krymov. Krymov is the “chief architect” behind the Morpheus worlds which include sunny knolls, rock gardens, firefly caves, lounges, lecture halls, and ethereal forests.

Interactions and assets come alive in the worlds as well. A hands-in interaction triggers fireworks. “Unofficially the best drinks in VR” slosh in the cup and clink during a toast. A minigame initiates between two avatars wearing boxing gloves. Speakers have their choice between holding a microphone or using a floating microphone that follows them as they move.

“Once you’re in the world, what do you do that’s not just a novelty?” asked Chernick. “No one’s coming in here for a four-person board meeting that they could just do on Zoom.”

These interactions aren’t just fun – they’re exercises in embodiment that help users get comfortable with the feeling of being in virtual spaces. As Regan pointed out, there’s still an “intimidation factor for newer users.” It’s easy to imagine familiar objects, whether fun or practical, helping users feel at home.

Enterprise VR Beyond “The Officeverse”

Enterprise VR solutions that do little more than add depth to a video call have been dubbed “the officeverse.” While those kinds of experiences are a natural way for enterprise companies to dip their toes into the immersive waters, they’re by no means the end of what companies are exploring or what builders are creating.

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Frame Releases Second Set of Platform-Defining Updates

collaboration, featured, metaverse, News, virtual reality, VR platform, webXR / Rejus Almole / March 3, 2023

It’s been over a year since ARPost introduced readers to Frame, the hardware-agnostic web-based virtual meeting platform. The team, a part of Virbela (which has its own app-based virtual world platform), just announced a major update. It was time to step back in with Vice President Gabe Baker.

Gabe Baker in Frame 3.0

A Peek at the Update

Frame’s update was all about adding power to the platform while making it easier to use. The result was added or improved tools with a more streamlined user interface so that more advanced users can access the tools without cluttering the view for everyone else.

New tools include advanced analytics and new APIs for adding members and admins and editing assets. There’s also a new question queue system for support centers, classrooms, and other large-scale discussion cases, and a partner program that rewards users for attracting subscribers to the platform.

Analytics - Frame 3.0

“Fundamentally, we believe that the web browser IS the metaverse and that we’re entering a new era of spatial computing that will result in many traditional websites, apps, and services existing on the spatial web alongside the 2D internet that we’re used to today,” Baker wrote in a blog post announcing the update.

Even if you’re not building and hosting your own frames, there are benefits coming for average users as well. These include new environments, graphics updates like real-time light and shadow, and a still experimental option to use full-body avatars.

Frame Releases Second Set of Platform-Defining Updates

Also announced were coming roadmap updates including increased asset storage and support for multiple web browsers. Some of these will be limited to the paid subscriber tiers, but will all be rolled out “while maintaining a robust free plan.”

Seeing Is Believing

Reading about the updates is one thing, but I jumped into the platform, first solo and then in a live session with Baker to check them out for myself. As a connoisseur of VR avatars, I was pleasantly surprised before even entering a Frame.

I Have Legs and a Jacket. Life Is Good.

The avatars weren’t one of my favorite aspects of the platform last time around, but they’ve come a long way. Even if you don’t opt for the full-body avatars, the “classic” avatars are a lot more expressive and have some layered clothing options that were missing before. You can also use your Ready Player Me avatar, but not in full-body mode.

“[Full-body avatars] are hard to achieve on the web just for performance reasons,” said Baker. “We still have a ways to go on the full-body customizations.”

Full-body avatars - Frame 3.0

I was curious about whether Frame had had some conversations with parent company Virbela, who have had full-body avatars since the beginning. However, it’s not that simple, as Virbela is a native app as opposed to a browser-based platform.

“It’s a bit of a different world because they’re a Unity-based application,” said Baker. “In terms of the back-and-forth, there’s not really much because we use Babylon.js.”

All the Pretty Lights

Frame is also a year behind Virbela in announcing graphics performance updates. Graphics and display are big topics at the company because they are key areas where developers can compromise to achieve performance. That’s a big deal for a platform designed to run on everything from headsets to computers to mobile phones.

“It’s always going to be more important to us that people can get into Frame than that they can have an amazing graphical experience,” said Baker. “People do use Frame to explore digital twins and then they do need that level of graphical fidelity.”

And, that level of graphical fidelity is available to those users. The platform has long had a feature that tones down display quality automatically to the highest level that can be achieved by the user’s hardware while maintaining a stable experience. There is also a system in the works for builders to upload separate versions of their worlds for devices with different abilities.

Performance requirements aside, one of the worlds that we visited was at least as visually impressive as the average VR application – and more impressive than a number of them.

“There are still some visual experiences that you really need to be in a native application for, but the gap is narrowing,” said Baker, who was also the guest on our latest episode of XR Talks. (If you missed it live on Twitter Spaces yesterday, you can listen to it on YouTube here or Spotify here.)

Tools for Builders

Another area where the company tries to achieve compromise is with developer tools. The plan has always been to keep the platform agile and approachable, but it’s quickly growing into a fully-featured world-building tool for developers who need it.

“When we first started Frame, our whole thing was like ‘no nonsense, no download, no code,’ and we still very much believe in that vision,” said Baker. “But now we’re kind of branching out because we do see people that want to do those kinds of things… and if you don’t want to, you don’t have to.”

Worldbuilders have more ability than ever to create and bring in their own assets, as well as enable visitors to do the same. They can also see who created or edited which assets and when through new analytics tools.

Welcome to Frame 3.0

There are a growing number of browser-based immersive spaces. And most of them can be accessed from portals placed within a Frame. That is one of the many reasons that this is one of our favorite platforms in the immersive web. And it just keeps getting better.

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Mental Health and VR: The Role of Emerging Technologies in Transforming Mental Health Care

featured, Healthcare/Medicine, Mental Health, virtual reality / Rejus Almole / March 2, 2023

With one out of eight people in the world living with a mental disorder, mental health has become a critical concern of global importance. However, many people are still not receiving the care they need and deserve. Fortunately, emerging technologies are becoming more affordable and accessible, offering new possibilities to transform mental health care. One such solution is mental health services in VR.

To explore the key role emerging technologies play in revolutionizing the field of mental health, we delve into the current challenges the industry faces and how new technologies can potentially address them. Terrance Williams, the founder of Meta Wellness, shares his insights on how digital and immersive technologies can augment the delivery of mental health care services.

Major Gaps in Mental Health Systems

Mental health systems worldwide are marked by significant gaps in information and research, governance, resources, and services. For instance, around half of the world’s population live in countries where the ratio of psychiatrists to people is 1 for every 200,000. In the United States alone, almost one out of four adults with mental illness reported that they were not able to receive the treatment they needed.

Virtual reality offers an accessible and affordable way to provide high-quality and timely mental health care.

The Role of VR in Mental Health Care

VR and similar technologies have the potential to provide more immersive and engaging interventions that can significantly enhance the quality and accessibility of mental health care. Terrance Williams believes that VR is the next stage toward the future of mental health. He explains that instead of telehealth services relying on zoom or a computer to host their sessions, they can now do their sessions in VR in the metaverse.

According to Williams, the effectiveness of VR has been seen in a number of ways including the treatment of acrophobia, panic disorders, schizophrenia, agoraphobia, social phobia, claustrophobia, and eating disorders.

VR simulations have also shown great promise as an effective element in therapy sessions for PTSD as they allow a person to face their trauma in a relaxed and controlled setting. Indeed, the possibilities are endless. Even in the realm of rehabilitation, VR has been seen as useful in cognitive rehabilitation in adults and children with autism spectrum disorder.

Challenges in VR Mental Health

The development and use of VR in mental health care must be carefully monitored and regulated to ensure that it benefits patients and does not create new risks or challenges. Asked about the challenges that mental health professionals face when incorporating VR into their practices, Williams says that one of the biggest things he often gets asked about is HIPAA compliance. Although he explains that this does not pose a threat as long as certain measures are in place and certain steps are taken to maintain compliance.

Another issue often raised when it comes to mental health in VR is the accessibility of equipment. Headset devices are needed to conduct sessions in VR. Since the technology is still fairly new, VR headsets are not as common as phones, tablets, or laptops. While they can now be easily bought at electronic stores, they are not yet standard items in the common household. This limits access to mental health VR services, especially in low-income families.

Incorporating VR Into Mental Health Care

For mental health professionals looking to incorporate VR into their practices, it is important to start with learning the basics of virtual reality technology and how it can be used for mental health purposes. Collaborating with companies that specialize in building VR platforms for mental health professionals, like Meta Wellness, can also help navigate the technology.

Through Meta Wellness, Williams has been helping mental health professionals, therapists, life coaches, nonprofits, and many others in the virtual reality space. The company specializes in building VR platforms for mental health professionals for telehealth purposes. Clients anywhere in the world can buy or rent virtual reality spaces to host telehealth or private group sessions. As one of the pioneers in the space, they are committed to educating, growing, and exploring the possibilities of what virtual reality can bring.

Stronger Mental Health Care With Mental Health VR

Williams believes that in the future, 90% of all mental health telehealth sessions will eventually take place in the metaverse through virtual reality. He believes that mental health VR is the next phase in this sector. As the technology grows, so will the capabilities and accessibility.

Indeed, virtual reality and other immersive technologies can play a key role in addressing the indisputable and urgent need for wide-ranging transformation toward mental health for all. They can bridge the vast gap and reduce inequities in mental health systems.

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AWE 2023 Is Right Around the Corner

AR/VR events, augmented reality, AWE, Events, extended reality, featured, virtual reality / Paul Patrick / February 28, 2023

Augmented World Expo, AWE for short, returns to Santa Clara this year from May 31 to June 2, 2023. The agenda is still coming together but there’s already a lot to be excited about. Let’s take a look.

Morning Keynotes

Many XR companies save some of their biggest announcements for the AWE stage. Even when companies aren’t dropping new products, apps, and services, they use the time to inform and inspire listeners about this rapidly developing space.

Day One

The first day of AWE always starts with an opening keynote from event founder Ori Inbar. Inbar’s addresses are always insightful and digestible with good measures of his palpable enthusiasm and humor. During his opening keynote last year, Inbar spoke about how XR can help make both big dreams and small dreams become reality.

Next up is the Qualcomm keynote from Vice President and General Manager of XR Hugo Swart. At his keynote last year, Swart presented Snapdragon Spaces and introduced the first two recipients of Qualcomm Ventures’ metaverse-funded companies.

Then, Nreal CEO Chi Xu takes the stage. Nreal hasn’t been a keynote presenter in the years that ARPost has covered AWE. But, the company is definitely going places. This year saw the commercial launch of Nreal Air (review) and we know that they have at least one more model waiting in the wings for the next big launch.

Day Two

Day two only has one proper keynote scheduled, this time with Magic Leap. Last year, the company’s Head of Product Management, Jade Meskill, took the stage to talk about the Magic Leap 2 and “augmented enterprise.” We don’t yet know what will come of this year’s keynote but it’s being given by the company’s CEO Peggy Johnson.

Following that is a “Fireside Chat” with Unity CEO John Riccitiello. That it’s a “fireside chat” and not a “keynote” arguably suggests that there won’t be any big product announcements but that doesn’t mean that this session shouldn’t be on your schedule.

Days two and three are lighter on heavy-hitting speakers to encourage attendees to check out the expo floor, which we’ll look at next. Don’t worry though, there are sessions to look forward to beyond just keynotes and we’ll look at some of those later.

The Expo Floor

It’s impossible to know exactly what will be going on on the expo floor, which is part of what makes it so exciting. A list of exhibitors (over 130 of them) and a map of the expo floor are posted on the AWE website, but what companies will be showcasing and how is a mystery until the floor opens on day two.

First off, a number of haptics pioneers will be there including Haptx, bHaptics, and SenseGlove. Any immersive technology is better when you experience it yourself instead of just seeing it on YouTube, but this is doubly true for haptics. But, unfortunately, many of these products are still hard for the average person to get their hands on. That makes the expo floor a great intro.

Mojo Vision will also be on the AWE expo floor. While this company isn’t likely to be putting their AR contact lenses onto the eyeballs of just anybody, they do have rigs that allow you to get a glimpse through what they’re building.

DigiLens, Vuzix, and Lenovo will also be on the AWE Expo floor. These companies make components and enterprise hardware that’s usually a cut above available consumer models. Trying them out can be a glimpse into the future. I got to get my hands on some of their hardware at last year’s expo and left feeling enlightened.

Also, Tilt Five will be returning. Last year, their augmented game board was the life of the expo floor drawing huge crowds – not just to interact with the product but to watch other people interact with the product.

Of course, that’s only a sliver of the total exhibitors. Personally, I’m hoping to reconnect with some of my friends from Avatour, Echo3D, FundamentalVR, Inworld AI, Leia Inc., Mytaverse, OVR Technology, VRdirect, and Zappar.

Expert Talks and Panel Discussions

Day One

On day one, right after the keynotes, many will likely stay in their seats to see Forbes columnist, author, and educator Charlie Fink talk with Magic Leap founder and former CEO Rony Abovitz about “How We Can Invigorate XR.” A few hours later on the same stage, Qualcomm Director of Product Management Steve Lukas will talk about “Building AR for Today.”

A little after that, one might head out of the Mission City Ballroom to Grand Ballroom C’s “Web3” track where EndeavorXR founder and CEO Amy Peck will be debating “Pros &Cons of Web3” with XR Guild President Avi Bar-Zeev. It’s hard to find an XR organization that Peck isn’t or hasn’t been involved with, and Bar-Zeev co-created Google Earth and HoloLens.

From there, one might head back to the Mission City Ballroom for “Intersection of AI and the Metaverse: What’s Next?” a panel discussion with leading XR ethicist Kent Bye, HTC VIVE China President Alvin Graylin, WXR Fund Managing Partner Amy LaMeyer, and Creative Artist Agency’s Chief Metaverse Officer Joanna Popper.

But wait! Happening at the same time is “How XR Technology Is Changing the Fashion Landscape” with Beyond Creative Technologist David Robustelli, Ready Player Me co-founder Kaspar Tiri, and DressX co-founder Daria Shapovalova.

Depending on which of those last two talks you see, you might have time for “What Problem Does the Metaverse Solve?” with Nokia Head of Ecosystem and Trend Scouting Leslie Shannon.

If you miss the first fashion session, you can always catch “Redefining Fashion and Beauty’s Next Decade – From Virtual Beings and Gaming to Generative AI” with LVMH VP of Digital Innovation Nelly Mensah, 5th Column founder and CEO Akbar Hamid, and Journey founder and Chief Metaverse Officer Cathy Hackl.

Day Two

On the same day that the expo opens up, on the main stage, Paramount Pictures Futurist Ted Schilowitz presents “XR Excellence: Demonstration & Discussion” – billed as a collection of “what he thinks are the best experiences in VR and MR today, and what we can learn from those experiences” followed by Q&A.

But oh no! At the same time in Ballroom D, Khronos Group President Neil Treveett, XRSI founder and CEO Kavya Pearlman, and Moor Insights & Strategy Senior Analyst Anshel Sag are talking about building open standards for the metaverse!

Both of those events conflict with a “Meet the Makers” session featuring Julie Smithson and Karen Alexander of MetaVRse, Sophia Moshasha of the VR/AR Association, and Ben Erwin of The Polys Awards.

Later in the afternoon, Inworld AI’s Chief Creative Officer John Gaeta and Chief Product Officer Kylan Gibbs debut a new concept demo called “Origins” – a new kind of caper in which a human detective must navigate a world of generative AI bots.

The evening of AWE Day Two is also The Auggie Awards. We can’t tell you too much about the Auggie Awards because the finalists aren’t out. In fact, you still have until April 7 to submit nominees. Then, there’s a period of public voting until May 4. You can submit nominees and vote for your favorites here.

Day Three

On day three, in the “AI and Virtual Beings” track, producer, director, and strategist Rebecca Evans, Stanford University Graduate Research Fellow Eugy Han, Odeon Theatrical CEO Stephanie Riggs, and Dulce Dotcom advisor Dulce Baerga will discuss “Avatars, Environments & Self Expression – from Social VR to Cross-Reality Experiences.”

From there, you might head back to the Mission City Ballroom for a Fireside Chat with Tom Furness, the founder and chairman of the Virtual World Society – one of the oldest and noblest organizations in immersive tech.

AWE concludes on the afternoon of day three with Inbar’s closing statements and the Best In Show Awards on the main stage.

How to Attend AWE

Once again, all AWE recordings will become available on AWE.live. If you want to experience AWE in person, you still have time to get tickets. If you’re reading this before February 28, you still have time for Super Early Bird Tickets. You can also get 20% off of your ticket price by using discount code 23ARPOSTD at checkout.

And keep an eye on ARPost as AWE draws nearer. As a media partner of the event, we’ll be giving two free tickets to selected readers as part of an upcoming drawing. Watch our social media channels for details.

AWE 2023 Is Right Around the Corner Read More »

Apple AR Glasses Put on Hold to Make Way for MR Glasses – VR and Metaverse Expert Weighs In

Apple Inc., AR glasses, augmented reality, featured, interview, metaverse, virtual reality, women in XR / Mike M. / February 21, 2023

Has Apple bitten more than it could chew? It appears that the long-awaited AR glasses won’t be hitting the shelves any time soon. A Bloomberg article published recently says that the Apple AR glasses are facing technical challenges, so their release has been delayed indefinitely and the project scope pared back. The report also revealed that Apple may instead opt to release a more affordable mixed reality headset.

Emma Ridderstad, CEO and Co-founder of Warpin Reality, shares her insights on the delayed release of the Apple AR glasses and the development of its mixed reality headset, probably to be called Reality Pro. She also shares her thoughts on what these developments mean for the industry, the consumers, and the future of AR/VR.

Apple AR Glasses Shelved to Make Way for an MR Headset

For a couple of years now, Apple has been developing AR glasses that resemble real eyeglasses. The design has already gone through several iterations but still, apparently, fails to meet expectations. While it is unclear where the real problem lies, it is clear that we won’t be seeing through the Apple AR glasses this year.

According to Bloomberg, what we may see soon are MR headsets that combine virtual and augmented reality elements. It was reported that Apple is shifting its focus towards developing a bulkier but less complicated MR headset with a projected price tag of $3,000. The company then plans to follow this with a more affordable version priced at just around $1,500, closer to Meta Quest Pro, though still with a higher price tag.

A Wise Move by Apple

When asked whether the delay of the Apple AR glasses will affect businesses that have already adopted the technology, Ridderstad believes that it would have little impact. Aside from the limited number of businesses currently using Apple’s AR technology, those that have adopted it are not fully reliant on it.

According to Ridderstad, AR/VR technology is still in its infancy. As immersive as these headsets are, they aren’t very convenient. The use cases are still quite limited, and the high cost of both hardware and software can be restrictive. “VR headsets need to become useful to people. Right now, they solve business-to-business problems but they’re still mostly just fun for the end consumer,” Ridderstad explained. So, Apple’s shift from AR glasses to MR headsets makes sense given the broader need to make immersive technology more accessible and affordable.

Ridderstad also believes that Apple will remain a key player in the industry, despite delays on its AR glasses. Consumers continue to trust Apple to produce well-researched and designed products. Considering the price, design, and content of these headsets, the market needs to see more affordable and functional headsets. “Since most people are just starting to see what these new technologies can do, we have to remind ourselves that this evolution is going to take time,” she said. “The real end consumer adoption will probably happen with Apple this time too.”

The True Value of XR Goes Beyond Gaming and Entertainment

XR technology has long been associated with gaming. But Ridderstad argues that the true value of XR lies in its potential in business, training, and education.

Her company, Warpin Reality, has developed a platform called Xelevate, which allows companies to launch customizable VR training courses for their employees. These courses range from safety drills to customer experience simulations and personality development workshops. Platforms like this have allowed construction companies to train their people on safety and equipment use and taught employees what to do during emergencies.

Ridderstad believes that VR/AR can optimize focus, learning, and training. She cites a PwC study that found that VR learners are more focused, learn more quickly, and are more emotionally engaged than e-learners. It could also create opportunities in remote work for those who struggle with in-person demands such as people with disabilities.

Diversity and Accessibility in Tech

For years, the tech industry has been known to be a boys’ club. This still remains true in the metaverse. A McKinsey report found that in organizations shaping metaverse standards, 90% of leadership roles are held by men. Ridderstad warns, “The metaverse is not going to be an environment that people want to be in unless everyone feels welcome and comfortable. I think it is safe to say that unless women play their part in building the metaverse, and take their place among its architects, it won’t be.”

These technologies have the potential to revolutionize the future, so it’s important that they are designed for both men and women to see a higher level of adoption.

Apple AR Glasses Put on Hold to Make Way for MR Glasses – VR and Metaverse Expert Weighs In Read More »

Get Fit While Having Fun With Sports VR Games

featured, sports, Sports & Fitness, virtual reality, VR games / Paul Patrick / February 7, 2023

Sports VR games are changing the fitness game. These highly interactive apps have the potential to transform the way we stay fit by making sports and fitness activities more fun, engaging, and convenient.

They allow players to immerse themselves in a virtual environment and engage in physically demanding activities, such as playing virtual basketball or boxing, within the confines of their own homes. With research indicating increased energy expenditure while playing, VR games offer a fun and convenient alternative to traditional workouts.

If you’d like to get some sports into your fitness routine but do not have time to hit the gym or stay out on the field, here are five of the top sports VR games you can try out at home. These games provide a full-body workout that challenges players to improve their hand-eye coordination, reaction time, and physical endurance. They can help burn anywhere from 4 to 13 calories per minute.

5 Sports VR Games to Up Your Fitness Game This Year

Gym Class VR

Love shooting hoops? Gym Class VR brings the ball game right where you are. Join players from all over the world for an immersive basketball game. Warm up with jumping jacks, wall squats, and other drills. Form a team with your friends and compete with other teams.

Gym Class VR - sports VR game

This game transports you into a virtual court and makes you feel as if you were playing on a real one. Dribble, pass, and shoot the same way you do in real life. For an extra level of motivation to keep playing, track your progress with statistics, shot charts, and streaks.

Racket: Nx

Court meets arcade in this sports VR game that blends elements of racquetball and pinball to create a fast-paced and exciting workout experience. Racket: Nx takes you inside the glass dome of a pinball machine for a one-of-a-kind racquetball experience.

Racket: Nx - sports VR game

Get your ball ready and hit targets as soon as they light up. Score points and dodge obstacles in the giant pinball arena. With its high-paced, psychedelic, and competitive gameplay, you’ll have a blast as you improve your hand-eye coordination, speed, precision, and agility.

The Thrill of the Fight

Feel the thrill of a real fight with the hyper-realistic gameplay of this sports VR game. The Thrill of the Fight lets you face off with your opponent in a virtual ring set at room scale.

The Thrill of the Fight - boxing match

Dodge hits, throw jabs, cross hooks, and land knockout punches as if you were in a real boxing match. Play the game regularly to learn and hone different boxing styles and techniques. Progress faster through the levels as you improve your skill, timing, and strategy.

Eleven Table Tennis

Smash your way to fitness. With the fast-paced gameplay and intense action in Eleven Table Tennis, you’ll be breaking a sweat in no time. Touted as the best simulation for table tennis, this game mimics actual movements and physics.

Eleven Table Tennis - sports VR game

Whether you are competing online against other players or practicing with an advanced AI opponent, you’ll feel as if you are playing the game in real life. The exercise intensity depends on a player’s skill level from a light workout for beginners to a super intense game for dedicated or highly skilled players.

Sports Scramble

Go berserk with all the fun you’ll be having while playing a mix-matched sports VR game. Sports Scramble combines the distinct elements of different sports to create unique and totally fun VR experiences.

Sports Scramble - sports VR game

Play tennis with a badminton birdie, bowl a strike with a basketball, or score a home run with a racket. This game lets you play in a large tennis court, a zany bowling lane, or a baseball field but makes the experience more exciting—and crazily fun—by giving you unusual sports gear for your game.

Start Your Fitness Journey the Fun Way

Indeed, sports VR games are good workout alternatives that offer more enjoyment, convenience, and accessibility than traditional workouts. By providing an enjoyable and interactive way to exercise, they help people start their fitness journey the fun way and make it a sustainable part of their lifestyle.

However, it is important to be conscious of your mobility and fitness levels and consult a doctor if you have any medical concerns before using VR. Also, while sports VR games are a fun workout option, they should not replace actual sports training and one should be careful not to over-exercise.

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