Tag: Virtual Reality

Understanding Different Realities; What is AR, VR And MR

Technology has often changed the way humans have perceived the world and is expected to further challenge it in the future. The introduction of Augmented and Virtual Realities have revolutionalised different business sectors completely and have allowed for a better interaction with technology to create more immersive, engaging content. But, what do AR and VR mean? And what is the new technology that has debuted with the Microsoft Hololens, MR? Here is what these terms mean individually.

Augmented Reality (AR)

Augmented Reality is defined as “an enhanced version of reality created by the use of technology to add digital information on an image of something.” It usually interacts with the help of a camera which is used to capture details from the real world. The device from which the AR functions are used makes it possible to further enhance the experience by adding different layers to reality. Pokemon Go, a game from 2016 is a great example of AR technology being used. Apps like Instagram and Snapchat also use this technology to provide live face stickers.

Google tried pushing Augmented Reality with its Project Tango in 2014, which tried putting a dedicated camera with a spatial sense to capture depth. The Project was later shut down in 2017 because the company launched ARCore in 2018. The system used the already present hardware in a smartphone to use AR, which it debuted with the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2XL’s Playground feature. The AR technology is expected not to only make gaming better, but also have its use in departments like architecture and fashion.

Virtual Reality (VR)

Virtual Reality or VR is almost the opposite of AR. Instead of using any part of the real world or interacting with it, the technology uses a completely virtual world. This is generally achieved by a headset wrapped around the head with tiny displays in front of each eye. An alternate way is to use a smartphone inside the headset to create a virtual world. The famous VR headsets currently in the market are HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Google Daydream View.

The various applications of Virtual Reality are also considered to be groundbreaking. Despite the obvious use in gaming, the technology may be used in the training of various professionals like doctors, pilots and in the hospitality sector. Unfortunately, the native VR functionality is considered expensive and thus may not be suited for everyone.

Mixed Reality (MR)

The Mixed Reality or MR platform was popularised by Microsoft with its Hololens and makes use of the best parts about AR and VR and combines them together. This means that the technology will make use of a camera attached to the headset worn by the user. With the camera used for augmented reality, the Virtual effect rendered will create some form of isolation from the real world. Mixed Reality is expected to take off exponentially in a few years.

Also read: Meizu Note 9 Launched With 48MP Rear Camera

The real world case of Mixed Reality is expected to be more elaborate than both AR and VR. It is expected to be useful for industry workers and medical professionals. But, the technology is also deemed expensive in its current state and not available to everyone.

March 6, 2019
Sachin Saga VR, A Multiplayer Virtual Reality Cricket Game Launched

India’s first multiplayer VR cricket game, Sachin Saga VR was launched at the IGS (India Gaming Show) held in Delhi from February 3-5. A large number of gamers and cricket fans stepped forward to try out the VR game for themselves. Moreover, some lucky gamers won signed VR headsets by Sachin Tendulkar himself, who was present during the game launch.

About The Developer

JetSynthesys is a gaming and digi-entertainment company, which is responsible for creating the game, along with the special edition Sachin Saga VR headset. Furthermore, the Master Blaster himself was there at the launch, accompanied by Rajan Navani, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, JetSynthesys. As mentioned before, the IGS saw a lot of tech and gaming enthusiasts gathered together to experience the best of gaming and technology, all at one place.

Game Information

The game is built directly from reality, and is likewise equipped with on-ground immersion. Insane physics ensure that your reflexes are tested at every moment. You’ll face balls at a speed 150 KPH which are tracked in a real-time environment. Also, The high-end VR ensures that you can enjoy realistic shadows and motion captures by Sachin Tendulkar, with over 28 cricketing shots. Furthermore, You can play multiplayer cricket matches with international opponents across real-world stadium replicas. Love the Wankhade Stadium? No problem! A fan of the Lord’s Cricket Ground? You have it all!

Pricing And Features

Also Read : Samsung Galaxy M10 & M20 Go Live On Sale Today, Pricing And Specs

If you’re thinking that the VR is limited to just the cricket game, you’re probably wrong. The VR also includes access to 3,000 apps, which you can use with Google Cardboard. The VR headset has a 100-degree view area and a coupled Bluetooth Controller for wireless gaming experience. As per sources, Sachin Tendulkar said, “With VR, for the first time, the lines between gaming and real blur to give gamers an accurately simulated experience of the stadium. That too with real time action right on their mobile screens. In fact, I thoroughly enjoyed reliving my matches with Sachin Saga VR. I am sure it will resonate with cricket fans and gamers all over the world.”

The complete bundle containing the Sachin Saga VR gaming headset, a Bluetooth Controller as well as the Sachin Saga VR game is now live for sale on the Sachin Saga official website for Rs. 1,499. You can check it out here

February 5, 2019
VR Motion Simulator Turns Your Living Room Into A Cockpit

The new 3 Degree of Freedom Virtual Reality Motion Simulator seems to be a dream for gaming enthusiasts. The simulator looks like something straight out of a sci-fi movie. The simulator is a hemispherical platform which houses various controls. It has an immersive 3-degree movement which brings the game to life with its movement and real life vibrations.

Virtual Reality Redefined:

The name of the device originates from its ability to move in three directions. Thus giving the user an ability to yaw, pitch and roll. For those not familiar with these terminologies, these are the basic three axis along which an aircraft moves. The cockpit style simulator is set on an array of omni wheels, therefore easing movement.

The simulator is mean to offer the experience of large motion simulator rigs in VR arcades, right in your home. The simulator’s has an ability to change direction quickly and thus offers agility. However, this is done very quietly. The extra verisimilitude, built-in tactile transducers add immersive surround vibration. All this gives you a very realistic experience of racing games or flight simulators.

According to the the creator, Mark Towner, it offers a proper Virtual Reality experience. VR is about the thrill and adventure of exploring another world and usually you only get half the experience, according to him. While other VR simulators offer great visuals and amazing sounds, the lack of proper movement can be a kill joy. Therefore, the extensive movement brought by this device ensures that you actually feel like you’re flying a plane or driving a car.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feKgOiyqvpM

Thrill Of Adventure:

“Most motion simulators are ugly steel frames, noisy as hell, and insanely expensive “,Towner says. Another great feature is the modular design of the simulator which allows a user to switch the seat for special add-ons to fit the particular VR scenario.The Freedom Motion Virtual Reality Simulator targets a large section of gamers who enjoy racing and flying games but do not have the budget to buy a good simulator. You can find the device on the project’s kickstarter page, which is a crowdfunding website.

September 3, 2018
Snapchat To Possibly Make Smart SnapGlasses

Founders of Snapchat are known for taking risks and implementing bold ideas. The company has constantly added new features to Snapchat to reinvent and help it grow from just another photo sharing app to now what it has become a fun supplement to our social media lives. The addition of features such as Discover, Stories, and usage of filters have helped itself set apart in the market. But now, the company is looking at things even more groundbreaking.

Reports suggest that the company is looking at making Google-Glass like smart eyewear which it could use to make a renewed push for the social media industry. Details have emerged of a number of hirings relating to augmented reality. The company has recently hired (formerly Qualcomm’s) Vuforia and eye-tracking tech maker Eyefluence amongst a dozen other high-profile hirings of designers and industry experts that point to Snapchat’s possible development of a pair of smart glasses.

Snapchat had earlier acquired Vergence Labs, which produced a pair of glasses equipped with an embedded camera, was acquired by Snapchat for $15 million in March of 2014. The acquisition accompanied a larger $50 million acquisition of Scan.me, a QR code-scanning/creating technology that would later manifest itself it the company’s Snaptags feature.

Though it’s all speculation for now, another report has also suggests that Snapchat’s hiring of individuals from the Augmented Reality field might just be less exciting as it only plans to develop an app for the upcoming VR and AR hardware that will soon hit the market.

March 12, 2016
Facebook’s Oculus adds Social Games and Video Sharing To Gear VR

VR technology which has gained traction amongst users in the last couple of months looks set to be breaking barriers and becoming a truly social hub for activities in the coming days. Facebook-owned Oculus has decided to shift its focus towards making our VR experience in the coming days more social with the addition of a number of features such as the addition of social games and social elements to viewing videos while using the Gear VR.

The Gear VR, which was launched on 21st January here in India and is available for free with all S7 and S7 edge Pre-Orders, is Samsung’s VR offering that was developed in partnership with Oculus. Owners of the VR headset which is regarded as one of the best available offerings in the market, starting tomorrow, will be able to create accounts on the Oculus servers, and then get in touch with other users of the Gear VR, and also leave reviews for all apps in the Oculus Store.

Oculus wants its users to enjoy the immersive world of Virtual Reality with friends, and to help make this possible it has announced two new social heavy VR games that will allow users to go up against their friends.

First up is Social Trivia, a game that lets you and up to four friends compete in a battle of knowledge in an artificial VR environment. The second game is Herobound: Gladiators which is a multiplayer adventure game. The game lets you take the VR gaming experience to another level and sees the user Band together with up to four people to conquer goblins and demons in arena battlefields. The game also allows for integrated voice chat to talk and strategize in real time for an unmatched co-op experience.

For users who would rather stay away from games, Facebook’s Oculus has announced host of other features that sees it bring to the platform with the help of Oculus Video the functionality to personalize your 360-degree video feed based on the pages and people you follow on Facebook. It has revealed that in the coming weeks, users will be able to connect and react to their favorite Facebook 360 videos directly in virtual reality.

And, if that’s still not good enough to get you excited, Oculus is adding the functionality to create private VR chat rooms with friends which let you watch Vimeo and Twich streams with them in a Virtual Reality environment.

Oculus’ efforts to push for social VR does not end there as it has also communicated to developers that it wants to “drive deeper social connections” and hence later this month “will release new tools for developers that make it even easier to create more incredible social VR games and apps.

March 10, 2016
Samsung Gear VR: Know it Better

Virtual Reality is the next big thing to happen to technology and every big name out there is getting into the game. Samsung, Apple, Google and many more are all working on VR technology as we speak. When it comes to virtual reality, Oculus is the name that first comes to mind. While the Oculus Rift is one of the more premium VR headsets out there, there is also the Oculus-powered Samsung Gear VR for the general masses that stands as a stepping stone into the realm of virtual reality. Here’s everything you need to know about the Samsung Gear VR.

Design, Features, and Compatibility

Samsung launched the Gear VR headset in India last month at a price of Rs 8,200. The headset is currently being offered for free on pre-orders for the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge. The headset features a large touchpad for control. It weighs about 318 grams and measures 201.9×116.4×92.6mm. The Gear VR comes with an impressive field of view of 96 degrees and houses back, volume, and focus adjustment wheel button for controls.

The Gear VR also packs sensors such as gyro, accelerometer, and proximity, and the device will support Micro-USB charging. The Gear VR comes with soft, flexible cushioning material, and also features adjustable straps for ease use of use.The Gear VR Headset will also support 360-degree videos.

The Gear VR Headset features a wide interface, ergonomic design, and a large touchpad. Gear VR promises convenient and accurate control to enjoy games and videos. At the launch, the company stressed that Gear VR Headset works seamlessly with high-end Galaxy smartphones including the Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy S6 Edge+, Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge and the new Galaxy S7 series.

Applications

The Gear VR got a major media boost few months ago with Netflix, Hulu and Twitch among the few new services made available for the headset. The Netflix app, for example, creates a virtual living room for the viewer to watch in. The virtual television in front of you will have the Netflix UI on the screen. You simply look to move the cursor and tap the touchpad on the side of the Gear VR to make your selection. And since Netflix is now in India, streaming movies never sounded this good!

The Netflix Experience

As the Gear VR is still a work in progress, applications and uses are still limited. As of February 2016, here are 185 Apps available for the Gear VR on the Oculus Store. Apart from media entertainment, the Gear VR also offers an entirely new gaming experience. After all, virtual reality is all about immersing the user completely in a virtual world for a 360-degree experience.

Notable games include Herobound: First Steps, Ikarus, Dreadhalls, Esper and Proton Pulse. “The new games include “Social Trivia” and “Herobound: Gladiators,” Oculus says. Social Trivia pits you against friends or strangers in a battle of knowledge while Herobound: Gladiators lets you band together in groups of four to battle goblins and demons.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4vhtpa8JRA

Furthermore, Oculus is ready to get Gear VR owners a lot more social. Starting today, Gear VR owners will get to set up their own social profiles and connect with other Gear VR friends by searching their Oculus username or real name. You will then be able to kick back and watch movies together and engage with each other in social games.

You also may be aware that Facebook started 360-degree videos a while ago that lets users navigate the video for a complete 360-degree view. With the Samsung Gear VR, you’ll now be able to connect your Facebook account to “Like” and share 360-degree videos from inside it. From next week, Oculus will let users sign into Facebook and get a personalised news feed based on people and pages they follow.

With this, Facebook-owned Oculus is taking the first big step in bringing virtual reality and social media together.

Is There a Downside?

Perhaps the few main problems about a VR headset is that it can make you look silly, which is why users usually prefer to wear it in the confines of their homes, away from the eyes of passersby. VR headsets tend to cause headaches or nausea if worn for too long. But the Gear VR, being on the lighter side, hasn’t caused these symptoms as much as the heavier Oculus Rift has.

Nevertheless, the Gear VR is a great new product from Samsung that promises a good virtual reality experience at an affordable cost.

Samsung is looking to expand its consumer base and is looking to make the Gear VR not just a device for niche audience. It may take a while before people take to the virtual reality experience, but the future of media and gaming technology looks pretty clear. So, for those who want to experience the next season of Daredevil (which begins March 18) in virtual reality can get their hands on the Gear VR today.

March 10, 2016
Is HTC Shifting its Focus Towards Virtual Reality?

The future of HTC is currently in a very precarious state. Among all the well established mobile brands currently in existence, none of them have had a dry spell as bad as HTC of late. The company has had a series of disappointing launches ever since the launch of the One M9. Both that and the One A9 failed to please its fans.

Of late, we’ve heard a lot about HTC’s upcoming flagship device, the One M10. We’ve seen a lot of renders and heard a lot about its rumoured specifications that have been quite coldly received. One of the reason could be that the One M10’s design language (from what the leaked images tell us) is going to be a lot like the One A9, which was criticised for its apparent iPhone-like design. Secondly, the specifications aren’t too hot, especially coming off the MWC 2016 where the likes of Samsung, LG and Xiaomi blew the audience away with gorgeous phones, next-gen specs and at least one brand new technology, mostly in the camera department.

Vive VR

HTC was present at the MWC as well, but did not unveil its flagship as many had hoped. Instead, the company unveiled some mid-range Desire phones and presented its Vive virtual reality headset. HTC has lately been promoting the Vive VR a lot and everything seems to be about that. It’s understandable that HTC would look to its VR technology to help save a dying company which is why the company has recently stated that it is deeply involved in mobile VR solutions that might end up in future HTC flagship phone.

HTC demoed its Vive VR ecosystem at the MWC and also revealed the pricing which stands at $800 and will go on sale in April. The Vive VR may be a great new product from HTC that is entering a very nascent virtual reality market with only a handful of competitors (think Samsung Gear VR and Oculus Rift). But is its focus on VR potentially hurting its flagship smartphones?

HTC One M10 Render

Last month, HTC CEO, Chairwoman and co-founder Cher Wang said that VR is now more important to the company than smartphones are. But VR technology alone may not help save the company for long. If it needs to survive, it needs to bring out a flagship device that will once again captivate the audience as it once did with the One M7. HTC has stated recently that the One M10 will have a “very, very compelling camera”.

When HTC announced the UltraPixel technology with the One M8, fans were expecting a camera that would deliver some spectacular photographs. But the One M8 failed to deliver. The company went back to the traditional megapixel with the One M9 which again wasn’t well received, not when the market is incredibly tough with the likes of Samsung, LG and Apple.

It is now rumoured that HTC will once again use the UP technology in the One M10. But if the company has managed to learn from its mistakes, the UP technology could be exactly what HTC had intended. The rear camera is rumoured to sport a 12UP module with OIS and autofocus while the front still is unknown.

But “compelling camera” aside, how about a brand new design that at least brings back the BoomSound speakers? We’ll just have to wait and see what HTC plans on revealing in April. This year will indeed be the deciding factor for the future of the company.

February 27, 2016
MWC 2016 : Five Best Tech Innovations On Display

Phones, and then some more phones expectedly dominated the proceedings at the Mobile World Congress 2016, as big name players such as Samsung, LG along with first timers such as Xiaomi launched new flagship devices, but the MWC wasn’t only about smartphones this year.

This was the year when MWC went beyond just smartphones and explored deeper corners of the consumer tech industry. On show were products and technological innovations ranging from VR headsets, 360-degree cameras, home security robots, convertible tablet/laptop hybrids and much more during. So let’s rewind and take a look at the best technological innovations that MWC brought to us in 2016.

Super VOOC Quick Charging and SmartSensor Image Stabilization

Oppo’s much-hyped, “Wow the World,” event did not bring too much to the tech world in terms of hardware, but in terms of technological breakthroughs, it was second to no event and showcased technology that could seriously change the way phones perform in the future.

Oppo brought to the world the “SmartSensor Image Stabilization,” technology which is the first sensor-based image stabilization tech in the world, along with Super VOOC quick-charging technology which can charge a 2500mAh battery 45 percent in five minutes of charging, and 100 percent in about 15 minutes. Now that is quick.

OPPO’s take on fast charging is brilliant in the sense that it uses low-voltage to charge batteries. Most types of fast charge work by pushing out more amps, but VOOC keeps your standard amperage, reducing the risk of overheating or battery damage.

Xperia Ear

At the MWC 2016 Sony announced three big innovations in the form of peripherals: a projector, a life-blogging camera, and an in-ear personal assistant. The best amongst the three, the Xperia ear. It is a tiny Bluetooth-connected ear piece which acts like a voice-controlled personal assistant which can take calls, send messages, get traffic updates or check the weather and even help you finding your way around the city. Step ahead towards the future we say.

The earpiece is comfortable and discreet and is compatible with Sony’s own software while also being equipped with the power to use Google Now helping users take advantage of Android’s ever-expanding voice control functions.

Nokia OZO camera

The Mobile World Congress, 2016 saw a lot of interesting devices, and one very interesting device that the tech world came across was the Nokia Ozo VR camera which will in all probability be the first cinema grade virtual reality recorder. The device comes with the capability to record and store up to 45 minutes of audio and video

Nokia Ozo, is a camera like none other which combines live streaming, live monitoring, automatic stitching (a process used to blend the separate camera feeds) and 3D audio and video. With the Ozo Nokia could alleviate the headaches and obstacles faced by early VR filmmakers. With the Ozo, Nokia will look to establish itself as the go-to VR production solution and become the market leader in this growing segment.

Sync 3

One of the biggest car manufacturer in the world, Ford, is looking at bringing a revolution as big to the motorists experience as what smart capabilities brought along with them to phones a decade back. Ford unveiled the Sync 3 technology for car dashboards which will bring an infotainment system that will allow users to connect to the Sync 3 with their smartphones and access hundreds of applications and services.

Sync 3 is equally adaptable with android and iOS and allows them to enjoy apps and services through the cars dashboard. It comes with an 8 inches touch screen and voice recognition features with easy to navigate and user-friendly interface. Ford claims that the Sync 3 is not just another technology, butt rather it is a whole new level of life-like experience for the users. Looking at its potential we can’t disagree.

4-Axis Optical Image Stabilization

Xiaomi’s latest flagship, Mi 5 sports, a 16-megapixel rear sensor that uses Sony IMX29, but what truly sets the phone apart is the technological innovation on display with the 4-Axis Optical Image Stabilization system on board.

The rear camera on the Mi 5 promises to capture great images and videos with superior focus thanks to its new OIS technology that uses 4-axis rather than the traditional 2-axis that most other smartphones currently use. Xiaomi demonstrated the stability of its camera by comparing it to the iPhone 6s, which is considered to have the best OIS currently in the market.

The 4-axis OIS basically gives you more stability under shaky conditions. While traditional 2-axis OIS can work around rotational movements, the 4-axis can handle transversal as well, because shakiness comes in all directions.The 4-axis OIS technology corrects shake in close shots and can capture accurate movement in distant shots as well. All of this translates into smoother, sharper and blur-free images.

February 25, 2016
Sony to Host PlayStation VR Event in March

After previous comments from GameStop’s CEO about PlayStation VR launch in Sept-Oct this year, Sony has in new development come out and informed the media that it will hold a press event for the PlayStation VR on 15th March hinting at what could mean that Sony is determined to stick to its orignal promise of a launch in first half of 2016.

Sources reveal that Sony will unveil its PlayStation VR headset during the press event, which will take place in San Francisco.This will be an opportunity for the press to get their hands on Sony’s VR headset just days before the annual Game Developers Conference expo.

The PlayStation VR promises to provide immersive gaming experiences to over 36 million users on the platform through the VR headset, which will stream content from a PlayStation 4 console. Initially, there would be PS VR supported games like Eagle Flight, The Modern Zombie Taxi Co, 100ft Robot Golf, Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin, Rez Infinite, Ace Combat 7, and Golem—a PlayStation VR exclusive for the users to enjoy, but several other games will be added over time.

Upon its launch, the PlayStation VR will enter a crowded market, filled with rivals like the Facebook-owned Oculus Rift, HTC VIve, and Google Cardboard, but all of these require powerful PCs to be paired with the headsets in order to take advantage of VR capabilities of the headset, but PlayStation VR will require only a PlayStation with PS VR headset to run, making it more cost effective than its competition.

February 25, 2016
PlayStation VR Set to Launch Sept-Oct, 2016

In what is the most clear indication of a launch date for the Playstation VR, GameSpot’s CEO has all but spilled the beans on what will be a September-October launch for the eagerly awaited VR headset from PlayStation.

GameStop CEO Paul Raines was talking about the industry early Tuesday morning on Fox Business when he was asked about the coming year for VR technology. In response, Raines revealed that GameStop as a retailer is preparing for the launches of the Oculus Rift, the HTC Vive and PlayStation VR. The first two not being done deals as of now for GameStop, but for Sony revealed that “Gamespot will launch the Sony product this fall.”

This though does not go in line with what Sony had revealed last year when they announced that the PlayStation VR could hit the markets as early as first half of 2016. PlayStation has still to react on Paul Raines gaffe, and as such the confusion is expected to prevail just a bit longer.

This news about the PlayStation VR launch in fall if true would also mean that Sony’s VR offering will crucially give theOculus Rift and HTC Vive a headstart in the market as both these products are set for a public release this spring. But, having said that, this will also give Sony the benefit of fine tune its VR hardware for just a bit longer ensuring increased chances of it being approved by the end consumer.

February 17, 2016
Mattel to Launch Redesigned VR View-Master this Year

Mattel, the developer behind the View-Master VR headset that was released last year with a version based on the Google Cardboard recently unveiled an updated design at the New York Toy Fair. The new version will come wit better optical lenses, focal adjustment and a headphone connector.

In terms of looks, the new View-Master looks similar to last year’s version. The smartphone bracket in the front, however, get a redesign so as to make the headset compatible with more phones in any size and shape.

The new VR will come with a price bump from $30 to $40, but has the needed updates and features to justify the $10 dollar hike. The View-Master VR headset will go on sale later this year.

New York Toy Fair just got the first look! View-Master® Viewer DLX is launching this Fall with ?features! #VR #AR pic.twitter.com/MSoOqScgpr

— View-Master (@ViewMaster) February 14, 2016

February 15, 2016
Syfy’s Tv Series ‘Halycon’ Will Feature First “Made for VR” Episodes

In what will be great news for VR enthusiasts, and users who have brought expensive VR headsets from Oculus, NBCUniveral’s Syfy channel have announced it’s new, futuristic crime drama Halycon. The order details of the show reportedly point out the inclusion of the production of 5 special episodes, designed to be viewed through the Oculus Rift VR headset.

Halycon is a scripted show that users will only be able to view with Oculus Rift, making it the first show meant to be watched in virtual reality in the history of television.

This will be a production of the Emmy award-winning studio Secret Location, and the plot of the show will be set in 2058 where the cops in the series set out to investigate a murder that happens in virtual reality, unravelling a conspiracy in the process.

Talking about the show Steve Patscheck, executive VP, global programming, NBCU International Networks said,“Syfy is the perfect home for launching this innovative, hybrid linear and virtual reality series. We look forward to partnering with Secret Location on Halcyon, as Syfy international channels break new ground with the launch of the brand’s first scripted virtual reality series.”

February 13, 2016
Google’s Virtual Reality Headset to Not Require Tethering With Phones and PCs

It was reported earlier that Google is working on a virtual reality headset quite similar to Samsung’s Gear VR. While speculators busy themselves pitting the two head-sets against each other, another development has occurred on the Google VR-front. If sources are to be believed, Google is expected to come out with a VR headset that would not require tethering to a computer or a smartphone. Being independent of these devices will definitely give the VR-headset an edge over its Samsung, HTC and Oculus counterparts.

The headset would be launched alongside the other Google VR headset expected to be in the same league as Gear VR, and therefore, providing strong competition to the Samsung device. It is also expected to arrive alongside a new version of Android which would make virtual reality the core of the operating system.

Virtual Reality seems to be the next big thing in the tech world, already making a stable base for itself in the mainstream. Needless to say, this update from Google is bound to get users excited all over. However, the arrival date of this Google device is a little unclear at this point. We can hopefully expect to see it sometime later this year.

February 12, 2016
Sony Claims 36 Million PlayStation 4 Owners are Ready for VR

Sony, at its annual Vision Summit 2016, featured conferences targetted at industry professionals from the virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) field. The keynote addresses kicked off the event, with the biggest names of the industry being part of it.

Sony’s very own, Dr. Richard Marks, Director of the PlayStation Magic Lab, Sony Computer Entertainment, held a conference on the importance of Sony’s move into the VR market and outlined why developers around the globe should be excited to be working on VR for the PlayStation platform..

In a bid to position the company as the easiest route forward for reaching a massive audience of end users primed for VR technology, Marks said that the PlayStation 4 ecosystem consisted of over 36 installed PS4 systems, and hence would serve as a better launch pad into the VR world as compared to other companies such as Google, Oculus.

Hinting at what is the biggest hurdle for VR tech on PC, he talked about how VR headsets from companies like Oculus and HTC would need additional expensive hardware in the form of a high-end end system, but for developers ready to take the plunge and develop VR tech for Playstation 4, they would have no such bottlenecks to worry about, as he proclaimed that ” every single one of the Playstation 4 consumers is ready for PlayStation VR”

A recent report by Valve’s Steam Hardware survey site states that there are around 5 million systems with VR-capable graphics cards today. Compare that to the already VR capable army of 36 million PlayStation 4s at hand, and you know that Dr. Richard Marks claims are anything but hollow.

February 11, 2016
Contact Lenses Could Work as Displays and Fitness Trackers in the Future

Forget VR headsets that simulate concussions or augmented reality that alters the world around you. Here’s a concept of lenses from the future that could work as electronic displays, along with tracking the vital stats of the body. A team of researchers at University of South Australia have come up with a concept of a conductive polymer film coating that is capable of achieving this with future contact lenses.

If the concept is realised into reality, it would be an immensely huge leap for virtual reality. As users do away with cumbersome VR headsets, this piece of futuristic technology would change lifestyles in an unprecedented way.

The idea behind the research is to use water-compatible conductors on contact lenses which would render them capable of measuring glucose levels or creating electronic displays.

Is it time for good-bye already?

Professor Drew Evans describes comments on their research and says, “The trick is to provide power to the contact lens display. We are excited by advances from other researchers showing you can use tear drops to power special batteries. There is a possibility to modify this for use with our conductive coatings.” He further added that the inspiration behind the research came from wearables and their increasing presence in the contemporary world.

Many people who require contact lenses for eye-sight correction, shy away from opting for them because the idea of making the eye under-go any kind of external physical contact is not a welcomed one. But if the future truly offers us electronic displays that could be attached to the eye-ball would you say yay or nay? Let us know in the comments below.

Source

February 10, 2016