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

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

VR motion sickness survey reinforces gender gap

In spite of virtual reality's benefits and hype, one of its primary inhibitors remains the threat of motion sickness. A new survey finds it still plays a prominent role - with women more at risk than men.

The survey, put together by VR Heaven and which polled almost 300 respondents, found that more than half (57.8%) said they experienced motion sickness in VR at some time. 13.7% of those polled said they experienced it frequently, compared with 19.1% for sometimes and 24.9% for...

6 July 2020 | Ecosystems

Facebook says farewell to the Oculus Go and goes all-in on 6DOF products

Facebook has announced it is discontinuing the Oculus Go, its least expensive VR headset, to go all-in on Quest as part of the 'next chapter' of virtual reality.

An update on the Oculus blog spoke of a 'fond farewell' to Go, which will end sales this year, though the devices have been out of stock for some time. The primary reason for its demise, according to the blog, is user demand for more sophisticateed 6DOF (six degrees of freedom) products.

"Just past the one-year...

24 June 2020 | Developers

Carnegie Mellon research aims to combine touch with useability in VR: A winning approach?

Virtual reality (VR) is able to create stunning immersive visual experiences - yet they remain an alternative dimension, with the user experience somewhat obtrusive. Research into haptics - the area of interaction between virtual and physical forms - is ongoing. Yet new research from Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) has aimed to unlock the challenge of simulating touch in VR.

The device uses multiple strings attached to the hand and fingers to simulate the feel of obstacles and...

7 May 2020 | Devices

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

Porsche introduces VR experience for customers to explore new Taycan model

Porsche has announced the launch of the Taycan VR Experience, which aims to let customers view the new Porsche Taycan model up close and even under the bodywork by making use of VR goggles.

Customers can trace the contours of the latest model by wearing the goggles, as well as experience the Porsche styling for themselves.

Robert Ader, head of customer relations at Porsche said: “The Taycan is the beginning of a new era at Porsche – and it is only appropriate...

12 March 2020 | Brands

All Nippon Airways to introduce VR safety training to enhance risk prediction and worker safety

Japanese airline All Nippon Airways (ANA) has announced that it will soon be introducing virtual reality (VR) training designed to help its mechanics predict future risks and also improve safety in all aspects of aircraft operation.

According to the company, the latest VR Safety Training System will make use of 3D simulations of work environments in order to build real-world scenarios based on common work-related accidents. Those workers who would be participating in the VR training...

10 March 2020 | Brands

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

HTC reveals three new flavours of VIVE Cosmos VR headset for novice and experienced users

HTC is expanding the range of its VIVE Cosmos series of PC-tethered virtual reality products – aiming to sate the appetites of the most demanding enthusiasts, as well as entry level starters.

The VIVE Cosmos Elite, Cosmos XR and Cosmos Play family of products (above) were unveiled by the Taiwan-based manufacturer, alongside new faceplates that can expand the functionality of Cosmos.

Cosmos Elite is the highest-capability offering and ‘pairs the performance of...

21 February 2020 | Devices