(c)Intel

Intel has announced its plans to acquire IoT visual sensing company Movidius to bolster its augmented, virtual and mixed reality offerings.

The company’s senior VP and general manager of Intel’s New Technology group wrote in a blog that the acquisition was part of a series it was undertaking to build a suite of capabilities around its RealSense depth sensing technology, which allows cameras to ‘see’ the world in 3D.

Last month,...

(c)iStock.com/RamilF

This week, we've been watching a mixture of the educational and the bizarre. Below, we've embedded five of our favourites from YouTube, including a pretty awesome offering from Google.

1. Night Fall: The first 360 ballet 

If this is your thing - and even if it isn't - it's worth a watch. It's also got spatial audio and is filmed by the Dutch Royal Ballet. 

* * * 

2. New York Times: The fight for Fallujah 

An interesting news piece from the...

(c)Oculus 

Anyone with a Gear VR - and soon, Rift - can now experience President Obama in his first ever virtual reality debut. 

Oculus blogged about the experience this week, which is based around Obama's visit to Yosemite Park with his family during Father's Day weekend. 

It was created between National Geographic, Oculus and Felix & Paul Studios to mark the...

(c)Syfy

A new series which sits across virtual reality, mainstream TV channels and online is launching in late September. 

Futuristic series Halycon will be available on Syfy's television and online channels as of 26 September. Its 15 episodes will alternate between 10 on Syfy channels and websites, as well as five virtual reality episodes on VR platforms. 

Those who wish to view the extra episodes in virtual reality can do so via Oculus Rift and Samsung Gear VR. 

For viewers who are only...

(c)iStock.com/SjoerdvenderWal

It seems cars and virtual reality have found a sweet spot for immersive experiences, as Ford joins the slew of auto brands getting on board with VR.

The famous car company has just launched its first virtual reality app for Android and iOS devices, after a content partnership with award-winning Tools of North America.

The VR and 360 content specialist production...

(c)iStock.com/visualspace

The current major players in the VR headset and software space are slowly creeping worldwide. With Oculus Rift’s launch in Europe and Canada this autumn, Intel and Microsoft’s announcements to make VR experiences available on mainstream PCs and more, it’s clear access to the tech will open up for a wider net of the global population.

And where there’s enterprise, there are startups and companies wanting a slice of the action. The major players aren’t the only pieces...

(c)iStock.com/Dougberry

The Swedish Swimming Federation recently revealed a new VR experience with the help of energy provider and main sponsor, E.ON. It’s designed to help the one in five Swedish children that can’t swim, by getting them to face their fears directly without having to even get their feet wet.

The experience features members of the Swedish swimming team; Jennie, Erik and Simon, encouraging the viewer to join them in a pool, constantly reassuring them and asking them to join in. You...

(c)iStock.om/South_agency

Fancy pitching your virtual reality idea or business to the British Ministry of Defence, Dragons’ Den style for a chance to be backed by part of a £800m fund?

From next month, the government is launching an Innovation Initiative, aimed at finding the best disruptive technology talent and ideas to help bolster the British Military.

Smaller companies it is already working with include hyper-reality training tech company Close Air Solutions, which uses specialised headgear...

iStock.com/Marco_Piunti

We’ve been hearing more and more about 360 video from journalists and industry analysts – and there is a good deal of skepticism about it in the market.

Will 360 video be able to succeed where 3D TV could not?

As with the introduction of any disruptive technology, there is always some hesitancy around the mainstream adoption. Whilst the innovators and early adopters play with the v1.0 products (or quite often the V0.5 products), the majority will wait to see how it develops...

(c)iStock.com/tdub303

We've been saying it for months now, but we’ll take any opportunity to say it again: VR is a big deal, and not just in the US. The UK and its unique tax breaks for the creative industries, alongside top tech talent and healthy investor landscape, means VR’s got a good chance to thrive here too.

Emerging technologies in particular are of interest to the UK government, who see them as a boost to the UK economy.

While we won’t mention the ‘Bre...’ word just...