VR platform

inspirit-launches-affordable-xr-stem-education-platform-for-middle-and-high-school-students

Inspirit Launches Affordable XR STEM Education Platform for Middle and High School Students

augmented reality, education, Education & Training, featured, learning, virtual reality, VR platform / /

XR STEM education has taken a leap forward with the official launch of Inspirit’s Innovative Learning Hub. The digital platform provides educators with affordable access to a premium library of virtual reality and augmented reality experiences designed specifically for middle and high school students. Focusing on enhancing learning outcomes and increasing engagement, Inspirit is revolutionizing the way STEM subjects are taught worldwide.

Breaking Down Barriers With Immersive Learning

Inspirit is a research-driven EdTech startup that pioneers immersive XR experiences for STEM education. The company’s Innovative Learning Hub stands as the premier choice for immersive XR STEM education, encompassing diverse subjects such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, and vocational training.

Through XR experiences, Inspirit’s platform provides students with experiential learning opportunities. By engaging in simulations and exploring 3D models, students gain a deeper understanding of complex STEM concepts.

The advantages of VR education have long been embraced by both teachers and students, who have found immense value in its experiential approach. But with Inspirit’s XR expertise and easy-to-use technology, the platform bridges the gap between theoretical concepts and real-world applications, providing students with a deeper understanding and fostering engagement.

Renowned for its commitment to rigorous research, Inspirit collaborates with Stanford University researchers to unlock the full potential of XR learning. The result is a unified platform that seamlessly integrates into schools, improving learning outcomes and providing teachers with an intuitive system to embed into their curriculum.

Experts in the field, like Jeremy Bailenson, founding director of the Stanford Virtual Human Interaction Lab and professor of education, recognize the impact of Inspirit’s approach, emphasizing the importance of teacher professional development and curriculum alignment for successful integration and long-term usage in the classroom.

Inspirit XR STEM Education Platform

“Inspirit is unique in that it is led by a VR pioneer who puts ‘education first’, with a huge amount of experience in the world of STEM,” said Bailenson, in a press release shared with ARPost.

Unparalleled Access to Immersive XR Content

The Innovative Learning Hub boasts a comprehensive library of age-appropriate XR experiences that align with educational standards. From engaging simulations to interactive lessons, students have the opportunity to explore and study complex concepts, making learning tangible and enjoyable. This cutting-edge content ensures that students receive the highest-quality educational experiences.

Cross-Platform Compatibility for Seamless Learning

Flexibility is a key advantage of Inspirit’s Innovative Learning Hub. Students can access the library of XR content from various devices, including laptops, Chromebooks, and most VR headsets designed for educational use.

XR STEM Education Platform by Inspirit

This compatibility maximizes schools’ existing hardware investments while expanding learning capabilities. By eliminating the need for costly subscriptions and one-off purchases, Inspirit promotes inclusivity and accessibility, allowing all students to benefit from a comprehensive STEM curriculum.

XR STEM Education: Inspiring Students and Shaping Futures

As a firm believer in the transformative power of immersive technology, Aditya Vishwanath, co-founder and CEO of Inspirit, actively champions its potential for revolutionizing XR STEM education.

The Innovative Learning Hub serves as a platform that grants middle and high school students the opportunity to engage with exceptional XR content. “Our research-based methodology ensures all middle and high school students have an opportunity to access top-notch XR content that enhances their learning experience, prepares them for the future, and inspires them to pursue their dreams,” said Vishwanath.

Inspirit Launches Affordable XR STEM Education Platform for Middle and High School Students Read More »

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AI to Help Everyone Unleash Their Inner Creator With Masterpiece X

AI, Artificial Intelligence, featured, virtual reality, VR Content Creation, VR platform / /

Empowering independent creators is an often-touted benefit of AI in XR. We’ve seen examples from professional development studios with little to no public offering, but precious few examples of AI-powered authoring tools for individual users. Masterpiece Studio is adding one more, “Masterpiece X”, to help everyone “realize and elevate more of their creative potential.”

“A New Form of Literacy”

Masterpiece Studio doesn’t just want to release an app – they want to start a movement. The team believes that “everyone is a creator” but the modern means of creation are inaccessible to the average person – and that AI is the solution.

Masterpiece X Meta Quest 3D Remix screenshot

“As our world increasingly continues to become more digital, learning how to create becomes a crucial skill: a new form of literacy,” says a release shared with ARPost.

Masterpiece Studio has already been in the business of 3D asset generation for over eight years now. The company took home the 2021 Auggie Award for Best Creator and Authoring Tool, and is a member of the Khronos Group and the Metaverse Standards Forum.

So, what’s the news? A new AI-powered asset generation platform called Masterpiece X, currently available as a beta application through a partnership with Meta.

The Early Days of Masterpiece X

Masterpiece X is already available on the Quest 2, and it’s already useful if you have your own 3D assets to import. There’s a free asset library, but it only contains sample content at the moment. The big feature of the app – creating 3D models from text prompts – is still rolling out and will (hopefully) result in a more highly populated asset library.

Masterpiece X Meta community library

“Please keep in mind that this is an ‘early release’ phase of the Masterpiece X platform. Some features are still in testing with select partners,” reads the release.

That doesn’t mean that it’s too early to bother getting the app. It’s already a powerful tool. Creators that download and master the app now will be better prepared to unlock its full potential when it’s ready.

Creating an account isn’t a lengthy process, but it’s a bit clunky – it can’t be done entirely online or entirely in-app, which means switching between a desktop and the VR headset to enter URLs and passwords. After that, you can take a brief tutorial or experiment on your own.

The app already incorporates a number of powerful tools into the entirely spatial workflow. Getting used to the controls might take some work, though people who already have experience with VR art tools might have a leg up. Users can choose a beginner menu with a cleaner look and fewer tools, or an expert menu with more options.

So far, tools allow users to change the size, shape, color, and texture of assets. Some of these are simple objects, while others come with rigged skeletons that can take on a variety of animations.

I Had a Dream…

For someone like me who isn’t very well-versed in 3D asset editing, now is the moment to spend time in Masterpiece X – honing my skills until the day that asset creation on the platform is streamlined by AI. Maybe then I can finally make a skateboarding Gumby-shaped David Bowie to star in an immersive music video for “Twinkle Song” by Miley Cyrus. Maybe.

AI to Help Everyone Unleash Their Inner Creator With Masterpiece X Read More »

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Strivr Enhances Immersive Learning With Generative AI, Equips VR Training Platform With Mental Health and Well-Being Experiences

AI, Education & Training, Enterprise, Enterprise VR, featured, learning, Software, strivr, training, virtual reality, VR platform / /

Strivr, a virtual reality training solutions startup, was founded as a VR training platform for professional sports leagues such as the NBA, NHL, and NFL. Today, Strivr has made its way to the job training scene with an innovative approach to employee training, leveraging generative AI (GenAI) to transform learning experiences.

More Companies Lean Toward Immersive Learning

Today’s business landscape is rapidly evolving. As such, Fortune 500 companies and other businesses in the corporate sector are starting to turn to more innovative employee training and development solutions. To serve the changing demands of top companies, Strivr has secured $16 million in funding back in 2018 to expand its VR training platform.

Research shows that learning through VR environments can significantly enhance knowledge retention, making it a groundbreaking development in employee training.

Unlike traditional training methods, a VR training platform immerses employees in lifelike scenarios, providing unparalleled engagement and experiential learning. However, this technology isn’t a new concept at all. Companies have been incorporating VR into their training solutions for several years, but we’ve only recently seen more industries adopting this technology rapidly.

The Impact of Generative AI on VR Training Platforms

Walmart, the largest retailer in the world, partnered with Strivr to bring VR to their training facilities. Employees can now practice in virtual sales floors repeatedly until they perfect their skills. In 2019, nearly 1.4 million Walmart associates have undergone VR training to prepare for the holiday rush, placing them in a simulated, chaotic Black Friday scenario.

As a result, associates reported a 30% increase in employee satisfaction, 70% higher test scores, and 10 to 15% higher knowledge retention rates. Because of the VR training’s success, Walmart expanded the VR training program to all their stores nationwide.

Derek Belch, founder and CEO at Strivr, states that the demand for the faster development of high-quality and scalable VR experiences that generate impactful results is “at an all-time high.”

VR training platofrm Strivr

As Strivr’s customers are among the most prominent companies globally, they are directly experiencing the impact of immersive learning on employee engagement, retention, and performance. “They want more, and we’re listening,” said Belch in a press release shared with ARPost.

So, to enhance its VR training platform, Strivr embraces generative AI to develop storylines, boost animation and asset creation, and optimize visual and content-driven features.

GenAI will also aid HR and L&D leaders in critical decision-making by deriving insights from immersive user data.

Strivr’s VR Training Platform Addresses Employee Mental Health

Strivr has partnered with Reulay and Healium in hosting its first in-headset mental health and well-being applications on the VR training platform. This will allow their customers to incorporate mental health “breaks” into their training curricula and address the rising levels of employee burnout, depression, and anxiety.

Belch has announced that Strivr also partnered with one of the world’s leading financial institutions to make meditation activities available in their workplace.

Meditation is indeed helpful for employees; the Journal of the American Medical Association recently published a study that showed that meditation can help reduce anxiety as effectively as drug therapies. Mindfulness practices, on the other hand, have been demonstrated to increase employee productivity, focus, and collaboration.

How VR Transforms Professional Training

With Strivr’s VR Training platform offering enhanced experiential learning and mental well-being, one might wonder how VR technology will influence employee training moving forward.

Belch describes Strivr’s VR training platform as a “beautifully free space” to practice. Employees can develop or improve their skills in a realistic scenario that simulates actual workplace challenges in a way that typical workshops and classrooms cannot. Moreover, training employees through VR platform cuts travel costs associated with conventional training facilities.

VR training platform Strivr

VR training platforms also contribute to a more inclusive and diverse workplace. Employees belonging to minority groups can rehearse and tailor their behaviors in simulated scenarios where a superior or customer is prejudiced toward them, for instance. When these situations are addressed during training, companies can protect their employees from these challenges and prepare them.

What’s Next for VR Training Platforms?

According to Belch, Strivr’s enhanced VR training platform is only the beginning of how VR will continue to impact the employee experience.

So far, VR training platforms have been improving employee onboarding, knowledge retention, and performance. They allow employees to practice and acquire critical skills in a safe, virtual environment, helping them gain more confidence and efficiency while training. Additionally, diversity and inclusion are promoted, thanks to VR’s ability to simulate scenarios where employees can tailor their behaviors during difficult situations.

And, of course, VR training has rightfully gained recognition for helping teach retail workers essential customer service skills. By interacting with virtual customers in a life-like environment, Walmart’s employees have significantly boosted their skills, and the mega-retailer has implemented an immersive training solution to all of its nearly 4,700 stores all over America.

In 2022, Accenture invested in Strivr and Talespin to revolutionize immersive learning and enterprise VR. This is a good sign of confidence in the industry and its massive potential for growth.

As we keep an eye on the latest scoop about VR technology, we can expect more groundbreaking developments in the industry and for VR platforms to increase their presence in the employee training realm.

Strivr Enhances Immersive Learning With Generative AI, Equips VR Training Platform With Mental Health and Well-Being Experiences Read More »

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A Guided Demo of Nanome Came With a Free Chemistry Lesson From Founders

Education & Training, featured, Healthcare/Medicine, Review, Reviews, Science, VR app, VR Apps, VR medicine, VR platform / /

Before my life as a technology journalist, I worked in a university’s biomedical engineering research lab. Every now and then, in my current career, I encounter something that I wish had been around 10 years ago. Nanome, an app for spatially visualizing molecules in MR and VR, is exactly such an experience.

Meet Nanome

Nanome is a visualization and collaboration platform available on all major VR headsets. It’s partially funded by Meta, but founders got in with Oculus co-founder Michael Antonov long before Facebook bought the company (and subsequently changed the name of both companies to “Meta”).

“Because we were part of Oculus for Business as an ISV [Independent Software Vendor], our relationship has deepened and we have co-authored multiple case studies together, including for Nimbus and Novartis,” Nanome co-founder and CEO Steve McCloskey told ARPost.

Nanome VR app Set of plugins

Nanome was a launch title on the Quest Pro, but it is also available on Viveport and Steam. The platform runs in VR on most headsets, but also makes full use of the full-color passthrough on the Quest Pro. The company is looking at the emerging AR glasses hardware market, but still needs controllers for the time being.

“Current hand tracking technology does not meet the needs that 6DoF controllers can provide, which consumer AR glasses don’t,” said McCloskey. “Additionally, the limited FOV makes it challenging to get a closer view of molecules in the context of a protein binding pocket which is essential for many of our users.”

If you don’t know what a “protein binding pocket” is, don’t feel like Nanome is too advanced for you. Just like chemistry in general, you can start wherever you are and go from there. You can also watch educational videos on chemistry’s big ideas directly within Nanome.

“Every user has unique needs and workflows, and we aim to provide a tool that can adapt to those needs, rather than forcing users to adapt their workflows to our tool,” said McCloskey. “This is why we continually work to improve and expand our features, to provide an ever-more intuitive, collaborative, and integrative experience for our users.”

Subscription Options

Nanome comes in a free version for personal use, as well as academic, research, and enterprise subscription tiers. Virtually all of the platform’s major functionalities work in the free version, though the academic subscription allows meeting in private rooms and saving workspaces. The benefits of the remaining tiers come largely from hosting and server options.

Insights From the In-App Demo

I met with McCloskey and fellow co-founder Sam Hessenauer within a free trial of the platform’s academic version. Creating an account is fast and easy, and automatically uses your Meta avatar, though you can join with a number of default avatars if you’re using a borrowed or communal headset.

Start Building Molecules – Even Impossible Ones

The virtual space is initially empty, inviting users to start building their own molecules from scratch, using common building blocks already in the app, or bringing in completed structures. The app supports a number of commonly used visualization tools, so work started on conventional software can be brought directly into VR.

Nanome VR app - periodic table

Molecules have specific shapes – something about the constituent atoms attracting and repelling each other – I’m pretty sure that my university chemistry textbook has a whole section on figuring out bond angles based on valence electrons. The point is, the app does that for you. And, when you create a molecule that couldn’t possibly exist, the app lets you know.

So, if you want to play comic book super genius and create fantastic chemical structures, you can! And the app will let you know which parts of the molecule break the laws of physics, and which laws they break. You can also view the models in several color-coded visualization methods.

“Because we’re on the VR app store and the basic version of the software can replace Intro-to-Chem ball and stick models, we’re very popular among universities and libraries as the go-to chemistry app in XR,” said McCloskey. “You never run out of chemistry kit parts in XR!”

Building new chemical structures in the app is huge. While you certainly can use Nanome to practice and learn chemistry within its established boundaries, there are people using the platform to design new chemicals, like groundbreaking prescription medications. In fact, early feedback from Novartis went into the first widely available iteration of the platform.

“For other major biopharma companies, we meet scientists and IT folks at various industry conferences,” said McCloskey. “We have landed some deals from scientists who bought a Quest for the holidays and wanted to use Nanome at their workplace.”

Everyone Gather Around the Giant Protein

Visualizing chemicals isn’t only important when designing new ones. One giant model that McCloskey, Hessenauer, and I viewed within the space was a large protein. At that massive scale, something that was just an idea before suddenly seemed tangible and understandable –  a solid thing with its own charitable topography waiting to be explored.

Jon Nanome VR app demo

Prion proteins in the brain can fold incorrectly, leading to neurological disorders like dementia. I remember my middle school science teacher trying to communicate that by scribbling on the chalkboard, but how exactly a protein could be foldable never really made sense to me. Seeing that giant protein in VR, that fifteen-year-old lesson came back and clicked instantly.

McCloskey and Hessenauer were able to point out caves in the giant protein where part of another chemical – like a medication designed by one of the companies using the app – could fit into the protein and bind to it. I usually do demos like this to learn about XR, but this time I felt like I got a lesson in chemistry with XR in the margins – which is how it’s supposed to feel.

“As a design tool, we aim for Nanome to be as intuitive as possible. This is where XR and the user interface come into play,” said McCloskey. “We want our users to focus more on their scientific explorations and less on learning how to use the tool.”

Nanome VR app

Suppose I want to go back and watch our demo again. I can. But, not just a flat recording. Nanome allows spatial recordings that viewers can walk through later. If someone pointed at a point on the model and I missed it live, I can go back and watch it in VR standing right in their shoes as I relive the moment from their viewing angle.

At Least Take a Look

If you ever even think about chemistry, there’s literally no reason not to check out the free version of the app. If you’re a student, learning institution, or researcher, the platform can grow with you. The sheer number of things that Nanome can do are honestly overwhelming at first, but helpful explainer videos and easy-to-pick-up controls make it second nature in minutes.

A Guided Demo of Nanome Came With a Free Chemistry Lesson From Founders Read More »

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Dreamwave: Immersive 3D Worlds for Virtual Events

Events, featured, metaverse, VR platform, XR experiences / /

Virtual events are getting more exciting with the latest technological developments in virtual reality. One such product is Dreamwave, a web-based metaverse platform that provides companies, brands, and creators with a unique way to host online events.

Dreamwave boasts ready-made and custom 3D environments called “microverses” to make brand experiences stand out. The platform enables participants to experience virtual and hybrid events in a unique and exciting way. Microverse events are accessible on all types of devices with just a click, ensuring that as many audiences as possible can attend.

Microverses: Dreamwave’s Secret to Enhanced Virtual Events

Dreamwave’s microverses contribute to the growing economy of virtual events. These microverses enhance the user experience of online eventgoers. Participants can immerse themselves in the 3D environments, chat and engage with other people, and check out different forms of content from the organizer. From live video streaming, on-demand videos, photo galleries, and sponsored content, brands can display the types of media that suits their event the best.

Created in 2020 by award-winning creative technology company Active Theory, Dreamwave sets the stage for enhanced custom 3D experiences with its microverses. Currently, Dreamwave offers eight ready-made microverse templates that customers can choose from:

  • Amphitheater – mimics a theater setup where guests gather around a virtual stage;
  • Blossom – a picturesque island ideal for chilling, relaxing, and meeting new people;
  • Cube – a more futuristic interior world that features a big screen reflected on cubes;
  • Cyber – suitable for presenting videos and images in a cyberpunk setting;
  • Fantasy – an out-of-this-world island with fantastical elements;
  • Fun – guests can participate in this obstacle race course for high engagement;
  • Garden – another island setting featuring classic garden ruins;
  • Showroom – for brands who want to exhibit their products.
Dreamwave Fantasy
Dreamwave template environment Fantasy

Custom Microverses for Custom Experiences

Aside from these template microverses, customers can also avail of a custom-built 3D environment that aligns more with their own branding. For instance, Dreamwave has developed custom microverses for brands such as Xbox (The 20 Years of Xbox Museum), ESPN (Fifty/50 World), the Wall Street Journal (Iconic Mints), and the Secret Sky music festival.

Dreamwave - Iconic Mints WSJ
Wall Street Journal’s Iconic Mints

These custom projects can be tailored specifically to the client’s requirements. With Active Theory’s expertise in building immersive 3D environments with virtual reality, brands can stage almost any type of event, from product launches to concerts and conferences. They can also organize entirely virtual events or incorporate their custom microverses to complement real-world functions.

The Future of Live Virtual Events

Since the pandemic, live events have evolved to include hybrid and fully virtual events. What’s great about Dreamwave is that they aim to enhance the online experience for companies and brands that choose to have an online component for their events.

Because of this, event organizers can stop worrying about geographical restrictions. Companies can reach more audiences with online events, building their identity and brand for a global market. In fact, virtual events have been on the rise since 2020, revealing marketers’ increasing acceptance of online events as a good alternative to in-person events.

Dreamwave: Immersive 3D Worlds for Virtual Events Read More »

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Talespin Releases AI-powered, Web-Accessible No-Code Creator Platform

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To prepare professionals for tomorrow’s workplace, you need to be able to leverage tomorrow’s technology. Talespin was already doing this with their immersive AI-powered VR simulation and training modules.

Now, they’re taking it a step further by turning over a web-based no-code creator tool. To learn more, we reconnected with Talespin CEO Kyle Jackson to talk about the future of his company and the future of work.

The Road So Far

Talespin has existed as an idea for about ten years. That includes a few years before they started turning out experiences in 2015. In 2019, the company started leveraging AI technology for more nuanced storytelling and more believable virtual characters.

CoPilot Designer 3.0 Talespin

CoPilot Designer, the company’s content creation platform, released in 2021. Since then, it’s gone through big and small updates.

That brings us to the release of CoPilot Designer 3.0 – probably the biggest single change that’s come to the platform so far. This third major version of the tool is accessible on the web rather than as a downloaded app. We’ve already seen what the designer can do, as Talespin has been using it internally, including in its recent intricate story world in partnership with Pearson.

“Our North Star was how do you get the ability to create content into the hands of people who have the knowledge,” Jackson told ARPost this March. “The no-code platform was built in service of that but we decided we had to eat our own dogfood.”

In addition to being completely no-code, CoPilot Designer 3.0 has more AI tools than ever. It also features direct publishing to Quest 2, PC VR headsets, and Mac devices via streaming with support for Lenovo ThinkReality headsets and the Quest Pro coming soon.

Understanding AI in the Designer

The AI that powers CoPilot Designer 3.0 comes in two flavors – the tools that help the creator build the experience, and the tools that help the learner become immersed in the experience.

More generative 3D tools (tools that help the creator build environments and characters) is coming soon. The tools really developing in this iteration of CoPilot Designer are large language models (LLMs) and neural voices.

Talespin CoPilot Designer 3.0

Jackson described LLMs as the context of the content and neural voices as the expression of the content. After all, the average Talespin module could exist as a text-only interaction. But, an experience meant to teach soft skills is a lot more impactful when the situations and characters feel real. That means that the content can’t just be good, it has to be delivered in a moving way.

The Future of Work – and Talespin

While AI develops, Jackson said that the thing that he’s waiting for the most isn’t a new capability of AI. It’s trust.

“Right now, I would say that there’s not much trust in enterprise for this stuff, so we’re working very diligently,” Jackson told ARPost. “Learning and marketing have been two areas that are more flexible … I think that’s going to be where we really see this stuff break out first.”

Right now, that diligence includes maintaining the human component and limiting AI involvement where necessary. Where AI might help creators apply learning material, that learning material is still originally authored by human experts. One day AI might help to write the content too, but that isn’t happening so far.

“If our goal is achieved where we’re actually developing learning on the fly,” said Jackson, “we need to be sure that what it’s producing is good.”

Much of the inspiration behind Talespin in the first place was that as more manual jobs get automated, necessary workplace skills will pivot to soft skills. In short, humans won’t be replaced by machines, but the work that humans do will change.

As his own company relies more on AI for content generation, Jackson has already seen this prediction coming true for his team. As they’ve exponentially decreased the time that it takes for them to create content, they’re more able to work with customers and partners as opposed to largely serving as a platform to create and host content that companies made themselves.

Talepsin CoPilot Designer 3.0 - XR Content Creation Time Graph

Solving the Content Problem

To some degree, Talespin being a pioneer in the AI space is a necessary evolution of the company’s having been an XR pioneer. Some aspects of XR’s frontier struggles are already a thing of the past, but others have a lot to gain from leaning on other emerging technologies.

“At least on the enterprise side, there’s really no one doubting the validity of this technology anymore … Now it’s just a question of how we get that content more distributed,” said Jackson. “It feels like there’s a confluence of major events that are driving us along.”

Talespin Releases AI-powered, Web-Accessible No-Code Creator Platform Read More »

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Virbela Launches Updated Avatar System

featured, News, remote work, virtual reality, VR platform / /

Virbela has grown a lot over time but they’ve had the same avatar system for nearly a decade. If you open the app today, you’ll see a whole new avatar system. As impressive as it is, it might still have some growing to do.

Long in the Making

Virbela is a platform for remote work, education, and events. The platform consists of an open campus that anyone can download and use for free, and private campuses co-created with clients.

There was nothing wrong with the old campus, but it got a whole lot of new features as well as a beautiful graphics upgrade showcased at the Hands In Enterprise Metaverse Summit last year. An upcoming avatar system was teased at the summit, but no release date was given.

“Avatars are important to the virtual experience because they add fidelity to the world,” Virbela Art Team Manager Nicole Galinato said at the event. “Our users love the playfulness of the current avatars, but they want more features that they can identify with.”

Since the summit, the old avatars roamed the new world. It wasn’t a glaring mismatch, but the avatars were definitely from a different generation. The new avatars certainly fit into the graphically updated virtual world a lot better.

Virbela - old avatar vs new avatar
Old avatar (left) vs new avatar (right)

The New You for the New Virbela

The next time that you boot up Virbela, whether you’re a first-time user or just returning after a while, you will be greeted by the first page of the new avatar generator. Just like with the old system, you can join immediately with a default avatar and personalize it later if you want. If you’re not in that much of a hurry, you have a lot of playing to do.

Virbela new avatar system

You select one of three “body types” rather than gender, so all clothing and cosmetic options are open to all users. There’s also a custom gradient for specific skin tones and a number of features have an “advanced settings” button that opens up menus of highly customizable sliders. The update also brings several more hair and facial hair options.

Virbela new avatar system

“What really pushed us to create this new avatar system was more about this idea of inclusion and equity,” Virbela co-founder and President Alex Howland told me on the XR Talks podcast. “We are working with a very global population of users and we know the importance of the avatar for people to express themselves and explore their identity through their avatar.”

The update also brings new clothing options and customizations. Many outfits consist of a “top” and a “bottom,” with the top consisting of several layers each with their own color combinations, similar to the system that AltspaceVR used (RIP Altspace). I went with the three-piece suite, which means color options for the jacket, vest, and shirt. (Neckties are under “Accessories”.)

Virbela new avatar system

“We also wanted much more variability in terms of the ability to customize the avatar because we sometimes have populations of many thousands in the same space and you’d find too many avatars that looked too similar to one another,” said Howland.

Even after you’ve toured your new avatar through the campus, you can change it at any time by selecting the gear icon in the upper right corner to open the settings dropdown menu and selecting the “change avatar” item at the top. And do keep checking back. According to Howland, more is coming.

“This is what I’ll call the [minimal viable product] of this new system. It’s a system that we can build upon and continue to add assets to, whether that be more hairstyles, more clothing options, more cultural garb, that folks can use over time – eventually leading to things like more facial expressions,” said Howland.

The Complete Package

To return to Galinato’s concept that the avatars contribute to the immersion of the world itself, the more detailed and more personal avatars do seem more at home in the more detailed and responsive Virbela campus. I haven’t yet had the opportunity to attend a large event with the new avatars, but I’m sure that they’ll be a lot more colorful now.

Virbela Launches Updated Avatar System Read More »

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Arthur Releases Productivity and Display Updates

collaboration, Enterprise, featured, remote work, virtual reality, VR platform / /

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.

XR Talks with ARPost

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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Frame Releases Second Set of Platform-Defining Updates

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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.

Frame Releases Second Set of Platform-Defining Updates Read More »

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A Farewell to AltspaceVR

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The social VR community was shocked and devastated to learn that AltspaceVR is shutting its doors. While it’s in the nature of emerging technology applications to come and go, many with few tears shed by fewer remaining users, this platform seems to have been taken from us in the prime of its life leaving many wondering where to go next.

The Sun Goin’ Down on AltspaceVR

On January 20, a blog post titled “AltspaceVR to Sunset the Platform on March 10, 2023” appeared at the top of the company’s homepage. An email was also sent to users.

“When AltspaceVR first launched, our vision was to create a place where people from around the world could connect and socialize in real time,” the team wrote. “It was a bold vision, and with the help of our passionate community, the platform became a place where users made lifelong memories, formed cherished friendships, found love — and even married in IRL (in real life).” 

AltspaceVR

Much of the post waxes nostalgic about the platform, which launched in 2015 and was purchased by Microsoft in 2017. The post also encouraged “the many creators and developers who are part of the AltspaceVR community to host final events and download their content.”

“The decision has not been an easy one as this is a platform many have come to love, providing a place for people to explore their identities, express themselves, and find community,” wrote the team. “It has been a privilege to help unlock passions among users.”

Why, Microsoft? Why?

The team writes that they are closing AltspaceVR to “shift our focus to support immersive experiences powered by Microsoft Mesh.” Microsoft Mesh is the company’s mixed reality platform that was announced from within AltspaceVR during Microsoft Ignite 2021. The event, featuring Alex Kipman and James Cameron, looked at the platform as a tool for humanity.

“A dream you dream alone is just a dream. A dream we dream together is called reality,” Kipman said at the time, quoting John Lennon. “We tend to think of reality and dreams as separate. But, are they?”

Since then, Microsoft has focused on Mesh as more of an enterprise tool than a collaborative dream maker. At Microsoft Ignite 2022, CEO Satya Nadella announced that Mesh would be integrating with Microsoft Teams. Nadella also presented integrations between Microsoft Teams (presumably including Mesh) with Meta’s Horizon Workrooms at Meta Connect 2022.

“We knew early on that we wanted this to be a great place to get work done and with Microsoft, we can make that happen,” Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said at the event.

What About Us?

Shutting down AltspaceVR to focus on an enterprise platform is a strange play seeing as virtually none of the people using it were using it for enterprise. The always-full events schedule included comedy shows, community events, support groups and spiritual meetings, and musical performances. Where will they go?

Some of the events that you may know and love from AltspaceVR are already happening across multiple immersive platforms. For example, the live VR comedy show Failed to Render began in AltspaceVR but also has a home in Horizon Worlds and VRChat. Similarly, the Polys Awards takes place in AltspaceVR but also takes place in Mozilla Hubs, ENGAGE, and others.

But, what about those experiences that are only on AltspaceVR? Like BRCvr’s Burning Man experiences? An email from the organization said that they have plans for future events in another platform, but are respectfully waiting for the book to close forever on this chapter.

“Leaving AltspaceVR is difficult for all of us who have loved building this incredible community,” BRCvr co-founder Athena Demos said in the email. “Before we announce where we plan to continue our virtual Burning Man experiences, we want to honor the incredible friendships and creative partnerships we have forged on AltspaceVR.”

Kavya Pearlman, the CEO of XR Safety Initiative – which has been hosting events, such as Metaverse Safety Week, on the platform for years – said in a tweet that she was in talks with the group’s technical partner about moving to other platforms. Nothing official has been announced.

Yep , that’s quite a sad news .. just spoke to @ChickenWaffleVR about moving @MetaSafetyWeek to alternate platforms.

I wonder why @Microsoft bought @AltspaceVR in the first place , if it was only to sunset it later on.

So sorry for the team & everyone impacted.

— Kavya Pearlman (@KavyaPearlman) January 20, 2023

The King Is Dead. Long Live the King.

AltspaceVR had no enemies but it had many competitors. When the eulogy of a blog post went live on Twitter, representatives from a number of immersive platforms spoke at the wake.

We have some sad news, Altspacers. #AltspaceVR is shutting down on March 10th.

Though we hate saying goodbye, we also feel such pride and gratitude for all the magic that happened here. ✨

Thanks for joining us on this epic adventure. #socialvr https://t.co/peCwpaaBl3

— AltspaceVR (@AltspaceVR) January 20, 2023

There was no gloating at the grave, but tweets from Somnium Space, Spatial, and Mona invited displaced worldbuilders to take their events and spaces along. While this may be an option for events and assets, it’s not a meaningful option for users.

As mentioned in the blog post, users can download their data from the platform. However, there isn’t much that can be done with it. Photographs taken within the platform can be cherished but avatars can’t be transferred. It’s possible to download profile data from users that you met on the platform, but that’s not likely to help you connect with them on other platforms.

And, what are those platforms likely to be? Where will we meet next? A couple of solutions have already been named.

Where Will We Go?

VRChat is a proven and robust platform, but isn’t necessarily friendly towards new users, particularly when it comes to avatar creation. It has more tools and options than AltspaceVR but that can make it feel unwieldy. Somnium Space is in a similar category.

Spatial is a strong contender. The lightweight and easy-to-use platform runs in-browser, which is another strong bonus. Integration with Ready Player Me also means that creating an avatar is easy and bringing one with you if you already have one is even easier. Mona is in a similar category.

Mozilla Hubs has been putting in a lot of work, but they charge for that. With the new $20/month subscription price, many casual users won’t be signing on anymore.

ENGAGE is a solid free option, though it does require an app download. The same goes for Horizon – particularly if Meta makes good on its promise to make the platform available on hardware other than Meta headsets.

VIVE has also been building out its immersive offerings, but these also tend to be clunkier than many users will want. Virbela has also shown itself a capable, robust, and user-friendly platform, though a free app download is required.

The End of an Era

This was the first immersive world I ever entered. The fact that you don’t need a headset to enter the free and easy-to-use platform made it an unparalleled introduction to VR.

From before and after I got my first headsets, I have many memories from this platform, including the first time that I really felt like I had made eye contact with someone across the country. After years in the industry, there were still times when I would put on a headset just to shoot hoops outside of my VR house. AltspaceVR will be missed.

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