Why VR providers are pinning their hopes on profiting from ‘Zoom fatigue’

What is the latest marketing strategy for virtual reality software providers? If the Covid-19 pandemic will cause the new normal to become the normal full stop, Zoom and their ilk are not going to cut it long-term.

Meet AfterNow. The California-based startup, which describes itself grandly as 'building the future of human computing with augmented reality and artificial intelligence', is looking to help users against 'Zoom fatigue.'

The company has launched its new...

29 July 2020 | Advertising

‘Bright future’ for AR and VR in 2021 and beyond, says Strategy Analytics

The short-term outlook for virtual (VR) and augmented reality (AR) may be a struggle, according to Strategy Analytics, but if organisations can ride out this wave then the future looks bright.

The findings appear in the analyst firm's latest report, 'Short and Long-Term Impacts of Covid-19 on the AR and VR Market.' Among the report's key takeaways are:

XR hardware revenues will overtake $28 billion annually in 2025Total XR shipments - combined VR and dedicated AR headsets -...

14 July 2020 | Applications

Magic Leap appoints former Microsoft exec Johnson as CEO

Magic Leap has appointed Microsoft executive Peggy Johnson as its new chief executive officer, replacing Rony Abovitz.

Johnson was previously executive vice president of business development at Microsoft. In an interview with the New York Times (NYT), she said the time was right amid the Covid-19 pandemic to explore the promise of spatial technology, comparing it with the early bubble of cellular technology and cloud computing.

"It just feels to me that it's at that same...

8 July 2020 | AR

AR visualisations can help in spinal treatments, research suggests

A new study has suggested how augmented reality (AR) can be applicable for spinal treatments.

The study, published in the Global Spine Journal (no opt-in required), explored 42 spinal procedures, with AR implemented using operating microscope head-up displays (HUDs), and concluded all tests were successful.

The tests used AR to provide preoperative image data to automatically segment the vertebra, with each being assigned a unique colour, and aided in various procedures,...

10 June 2020 | AR

Magic Leap announces layoffs as company realigns focus on enterprise and hardware

Virtual and augmented reality (AR) may well signal the future of online collaboration with the 'new normal' promised by the Covid-19 pandemic - but it may have come a little too late for Magic Leap.

The AR hardware firm has announced major layoffs and a move towards the enterprise ahd hardware markets, with some reports suggesting that up to half of the company's workforce is to go.

In a blog post, Magic Leap CEO Rony Abovitz outlined the 'painful process' of...

24 April 2020 | AR

Threekit unveils configurable AR for retail with ‘millions’ of customisations promised

As many consumers cannot get to physical stores right now amid the coronavirus pandemic, the time to explore augmented reality (AR) initiatives for retail may be nigh.

Threekit, a product visualisation software provider based in Chicago, certainly believes so. The company has announced the launch of a configurable AR feature, which allows shoppers to see and customise 'millions' of product variations in augmented reality.

This is by no means the only offering which...

15 April 2020 | AR

AR and VR headsets to see short-term Covid-19 decline – but IDC notes positive long-term outlook

IDC has forecast a decrease in augmented (AR) and virtual reality (VR) device shipments in the first half of 2020 due to supply chain disruptions caused by the recent Covid-19 outbreak – but says the long-term landscape is strong.

According to IDC, a decline of 10.5% is expected on a year-over-year basis in the first quarter, followed by a 24.1% decrease in the second quarter. However, a bounce back is expected in the second half of 2020, considering gradual production increase...

24 March 2020 | AR

NexTech to acquire Jolokia for AR holograms in web conferencing

NexTech AR Solutions announced that it has signed a letter of intent to acquire interactive video solutions provider Jolokia in an all-stock transaction.

According to the deal, on closing, NexTech AR would require an initial payment of 1 million shares in restricted stock priced at $1, with a 12-month earn out if certain revenue milestones are hit of an additional $4 million in restricted stock.

As corporate meetings and events are happening online these days by medium of...

18 March 2020 | Applications

AR market value to exceed $100bn by 2024 – through emerging interaction methods for smart glasses

The value of the augmented reality (AR) market is set to break $100 billion by 2024, according to ABI Research, as emerging interaction methods for AR smart glasses maximise and optimise user experience.

The analyst firm’s latest report, ‘User Interface and User Experience in AR Technology’, states that more intuitive and user-friendly interaction would enhance UX and drive growth of the AR smart glasses market in the coming years.

Eleftheria Kouri,...

2 March 2020 | AR

NexTech AR collaborates with Poplar over new brand advertising initiative

NexTech AR Solutions has joined hands with UK-based AR collaborative platform Poplar wherein the latter will utilise NexTech AR’s advanced WebAR technology, while NexTech AR would leverage Poplar’s brand new AR campaign creation platform.

David Ripert, CEO and co-founder of Poplar and ex-head of YouTube Spaces, EMEA, at Google, said: “We are thrilled to become partners with NexTech AR, whose web-based 3D visualisation tool will empower our global AR creator...

11 February 2020 | Advertising