This week, Google Cardboard goes open-source, HoloLens 2 is released, Magic Leap’s patents were found to have been used as collateral for a loan and Niantic announce they’ll soon be releasing their AR Cloud!
Google Cardboard goes open-source, HoloLens 2 is released and Niantic soon to release their AR Cloud!
Virtual Reality
After killing off Daydream, Google is open-sourcing Cardboard VR
They may be occasionally making updates to it but overall, it looks like Cardboard VR will largely be left to the public to use as it sees fit.
Immersion in VR scenes of the Arctic helps to ease pain
Watching 360 videos of icy Arctic scenes appears to help “relieve burning pain and could hold hope for treating chronic pain”.
Lenovo pilots VR as an alternative to general anesthesia for kids
Not only can VR relieve pain, it can distract kids from the panic of a needle.
Thief Simulator VR makes me feel like a bad person, available soon
VR Scout looks at the VR game coming soon which equips you with “a lock-picking kit, headlamp, hacking technology and a good-old-fashioned crowbar”.
Experimental physics VR game Boneworks launches December 10th, new gameplay footage
This physics-based VR shooter has a bunch of interesting interactive elements to it!
Best VR headsets in 2019: standalone and PC-ready picks from Oculus, HTC and more
We help you pick between the best VR headsets available in 2019 – whether you want PC-powered, standalone or console VR.
Synth Riders offers a buttery smooth VR rhythm experience on Oculus Quest
“Thanks to a heavy focus on fluid, smooth movements and a healthy dose of old-school vaporwave aesthetics, Synth Riders has managed to carve out its own little niche within the growing VR rhythm genre”.
Augmented Reality
Microsoft launches HoloLens 2 worldwide, here’s a close-up look at the $3,500 device
It is officially shipping but you’ll need to wait for Microsoft to get in touch with you if you submitted your pre-order request.
Magic Leap patents signed over to JP Morgan Chase as collateral just months after major funding push
Magic Leap has assigned much of its patent portfolio over to JP Morgan Chase as collateral, similar to what Meta 2 did before they fell — but hopefully their funding round is going to be solid.
Apple’s AR headset might not arrive until 2022
Their AR glasses potentially will be released in 2023. This article had a good summary of what is expected as per the recent rumours.
Sturfee rolls out world’s first AR cloud technology for cities that uses satellite imagery to create magical city experiences
Their City AR technology uses satellite imagery and a mobile device to visually recognise the streets around you and “digitally enhance them for applications ranging from navigation, tourism, ride-sharing, gaming, outdoor advertising and marketing”.
This is what you’ll be doing on Snapchat in 5 years
“When you design an AR experience, you’re thinking in a way that removes the concept of the screen altogether” — Bobby Murphy, CTO at Snapchat
Niantic preps multiplayer mode for Pokémon Go, plans limited launch of Real World Platform via creator program in 2020
The Niantic Real World Platform is their way of providing the AR cloud for developers that they use for Pokemon Go and their other apps.
Coca-cola opens a can of augmented reality to get consumers into the holiday spirit
Always cool to see big brands giving AR a go!
10 ways mobile AR filters are making consumer AR of the future a mainstream reality, today
AR filters are helping with AR’s emergence into society.
AR and VR will make spatial journalism the future of reporting
“Spatial journalism will only make news and journalism more impactful as your memory and empathy are better served by spatially-centered experiences”.
Wearables
Apple is dominating wearables – but Google’s struggles are laid bare in new report
Fitbit is now third in the leaderboard with 7% year-on-year growth which Wareable point out is a good sign for Alphabet’s purchase of it.
Xiaomi’s Apple Watch copycat points to a brighter future for Google’s Wear OS
It’s the first custom skin for Wear OS, it won’t likely be the last.
Artificial Intelligence, Autonomous Vehicles and Robotics
Inside Amazon’s plan for Alexa to run your entire life
Amazon want Alexa to be everywhere — anticipating your every need before you even ask.
OpenAI releases GPT2 to the public after banging on for ages that it’s a bad idea
GPT2 is the AI tool that wrote plausible-sounding “fake news” which OpenAI said they wouldn’t ever release. They’ve apparently changed their mind.
This robotic arm slows down to avoid the uncanny valley
It turns out that robotic arms which move fast enough to snatch thrown objects right out of the air unnerves people they’re interacting with.
LG open-sources Auptimizer, a tool for optimizing AI models
“LG’s open source Auptimizer tool aims to expedite AI and machine learning model optimization with an easy-to-use interface”.
AI designed this gin, but would you drink it?
Is there anything AI cannot do?
AI-generated fake content could unleash a virtual arms race
VentureBeat point out “Fractl created a fake marketing blog in less than an hour using publicly available AI tools. The implications for content on the web are frightening”.
As AI grows, users deserve tools to limit its access to personal data
VentureBeat had a whole lot of AI articles this week, another says, “Back in 1984, The Terminator warned viewers that networked AI could threaten human life. Today, we trust AI with personal data — perhaps too much”.
Richard Bartle interview: how game developers should think about sapient AI characters
How much have you thought about sapient AI characters? Here’s another VentureBeat article!
AI ethics is all about power
In the last VentureBeat article for this week, they point out “Power in AI is like gravity, an invisible force that influences every consideration of ethics in artificial intelligence”.
Weather Channel app uses Watson to tell you when flu season is coming
Being able to avoid risky situations that could get you sick sounds like one of the best uses of AI to date.
Microsoft uses AI to diagnose cervical cancer faster in India
More women in India die from cervical cancer than in any other country, so Microsoft investing in an AI solution here could make a huge impact.
AI could help diagnose dogs suffering from chronic pain
Really great to see so much positive uses of AI this week!
Using AI to predict where and when lightning will strike
“Researchers have developed a novel way of predicting lightning strikes to the nearest 10 to 30 minutes and within a radius of 30 kilometers”.
Flexible yet sturdy robot is designed to ‘grow’ like a plant: its extendable appendage can meander through tight spaces and then lift heavy loads
Robots that “grow” like a plant isn’t a headline I thought I’d read anytime soon. Fascinating!
Internet of Things and Makers
New part day: Alexa Connect Kit now available for sale
You can make physical devices that are Alexa-enabled with this very kit!
Amazon Echo Studio review: finally, an Echo that sounds great
I’ve heard a lot of positive things about the sound quality from the new Echo Studio and the Verge seems to agree.
Network booting the Pi 4
A beta version of the Pi 4’s flashable bootloader was released that supports PXE which lets you boot up over the network.
Introducing expanded remote diagnostics with fleet health and enhanced vitals
The Particle Console now has a Fleet Health dashboard and a Device Vitals dashboard to help you keep track of your devices.
Amazon lets you connect Fire tv and Echo devices to create a home theater
“You can now link your Fire TV and Echo devices to create an Alexa-powered home theater”.
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Want more?
A neat way to add I/O with the physical world — the Wio Terminal
The world of micro-controllers and maker creations is a vast and ever-growing one that can be super intimidating to newcomers. Should you start with an Arduino? A Raspberry Pi? What's an ESP something something? How do you add a screen? Sensors? The team at Seeed Studio are trying to make things easier and their Wio Terminal looks like a nice option for those who want to start with a screen and some sensors.
Building a 3D printed AR headset with The Triton Project
It's always exciting to stumble upon another AR headset being developed! Graham Atlee has been putting together The Triton Project, an exciting new headset similar to Project North Star that can be put together with off-the-shelf parts! Here's a Q&A with Graham on how it came about and how you might be able to get your hands on one!