2021

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Social VR App ‘Rec Room’ Raises $145M Funding, Now Valued at $3.5B

Road to VR

Social VR platform Rec Room has sealed another big funding round to close out the year. The Seattle-based startup today announced it’s secured a new $145 million financing round, bringing the company’s total valuation to $3.5 billion. The funding round was led by Coatue Management, with participation from existing investors Sequoia Capital, Index Ventures, and Madrona Venture Group.

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New York Times Revives Its AR Storytelling on Instagram with Tokyo Olympics Experiences

Next Reality AR

Old school media stalwart The New York Times mobile-ar.reality.news/news/new-york-times-adds-ar-its-coverage-time-for-winter-olympics-0182577/ launched its augmented reality news content in 2018 with a feature on the athletes of the Winter Olympics. However, after a solid year of AR reporting, the Times all but abandoned its AR news coverage via its mobile app, instead opting to publish AR content via the Spark AR platform from Facebook.

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A Big Update to ‘Bigscreen’ Boosts Room Sizes, Video Quality, & Quest Performance

Road to VR

Social VR hangout app Bigscreen just got a bunch of improvements in a new update available now. The update brings a range of enhancements across all supported headsets, including boosting room size to 15 people. Bigscreen is a social VR hangout app that lets users bring their PC into VR to share gaming, streaming, work or, well… anything else you can do on your PC, with friends.

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Unity’s Incredible Mixed Reality Demo is Coming to Quest in 2022

Road to VR

Earlier this year the Unity Labs team shared an incredible proof-of-concept mixed reality demo that shows the power of blending the real and virtual worlds together. Now the developers behind the project say you’ll be able to get your hands on the experiment on Quest sometime next year. At Facebook Connect at the end of October, the Unity Labs team revealed Unity Slices: Table , a proof-of-concept social mixed reality app that seamlessly connects people—both local and remote—into a shared

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The Future of eLearning in 2022: A Sensitive Eye for Authentic Translation and Localization

Speaker: Chris Paxton McMillin, President of D3 Training Solutions

To avoid awkward and sometimes disastrous learning content, instructional designers must use authentic translation in the right context to get optimal results. For example, even a simple phrase like “got milk” translates to “are you lactating” in Mexico. Can you imagine what a straight translation might do to your course? With over 317 million people in the US and over 6.7 billion potential customers in the world, personalizing training seems logical.

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Gabe Newell: Valve is Making “big investments” in New Headsets and Games

Road to VR

In a talk at an Auckland, New Zealand area high school back in May, Valve co-founder Gabe Newell revealed they’re making “big investments in new headsets and games,” something he hopes will prepare the company for a future of brain-computer interfaces (BCI). . Newell has been living in New Zealand for the past few months, which has been comparatively unaffected by COVID-19 due to strict measures in that country.

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Sony Reveals VR Headset Prototype with Display Tech That Could Wind Up in PSVR 2

Road to VR

During an online showcase today, Sony revealed a VR headset prototype with a 4K OLED microdisplay. While it appears to be a wholly different project than the upcoming PSVR 2, the company says it expects the display itself to be “used in the entertainment field,” which could include other VR headsets. Today during the Sony Technology Day showcase the company highlighted new technology from across its various businesses.

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Sony Teases Prototype VR Headset With Stunning 8K Visuals

VRScout

It appears as though Sony is making serious progress with its VR technology. Earlier today the company hosted an online event called Sony Technology Day, revealing new information on eight different technologies revolving around the theme of “Technology that inspires emotion.” This included a prototype VR headset with next-gen visuals and low latency.

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Oculus Quest 2 passthrough now works without boundaries

The Ghost Howls

Today I made two little big discoveries about the Oculus Quest 2 that together mean that you can use this headset as an AR device whenever and wherever you want. Let me explain everything to you! Yes, I’ve also made a video about this article… you choose if reading it or watching it! Guardian disabling is now persistent. The first discovery I made is that the setting about the Guardian disabling is now finally persistent.

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Google Adding Stereo Depth Support for Dual Cameras to ARCore Starting with Pixel 4 & 4XL

Next Reality AR

In response to Apple's implementation of LiDAR sensors in iPad Pro and iPhone 12 Pro models, Google is looking to leverage the dual-camera setups in recent flagship devices as depth-sensing components. In recent updates to Google's ARCore, as well as the app that installs the AR toolkit on compatible Android devices, the company quietly added mentions of support for "dual camera stereo depth.

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How to Train Employees 65% Faster With Virtual Reality

With a rapidly changing economy, Avangrid Renewables looked to virtual reality to develop a standardized form of immersive training in order to onboard and upskill technicians faster than ever before.

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How Will the Metaverse Economy Materialize?

AR Insider

Metanomics: Building The Economy Of The Metaverse. by Theo Priestly. Firstly, the term ‘metanomics,’ in relation to virtual worlds and the economy within, is something Doug Thompson was involved in more than a decade ago and ran a show within Second Life and a series of podcasts with the same name. I’d recommend checking them out because it’s all still relevant to where we’re heading today – I’m using it purely to frame where things are likely to end up in a metaverse context because it’s a cool

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Why Are Hotels Investing in Augmented Reality Technology?

ARPost

Augmented reality technology has made its way into the hospitality industry. From virtual maps to quirky digital experiences, hoteliers are creating fun and memorable guest experiences using AR. By investing in AR solutions, they hope to exceed the expectations of guests and make their stay unforgettable. Best of all, hoteliers don’t have to commit to expensive and permanent changes when they’re experimenting with AR.

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Someone Spent $450K To Be Snoop Dogg’s Neighbor In The Metaverse

VRScout

How much would you pay to live next to your favorite celebrity in the metaverse? In case you’ve been living under a rock, NFTs are taking over the metaverse. At this point, it seems like everyone and their mother is investing in non-fungible tokens and cryptocurrency. This includes famed California rapper Snoop Dogg who—earlier this year—partnered with the blockchain-based 3D open-world game The Sandbox to launch his very own world inside the metaverse. ‘The Snoopverse

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Rats Play ‘DOOM’ Using VR-Like System

VRScout

We’ve seen our fair share of bizarre VR experiments over the years, but this one might just take the cake. Last month, neuroengineer Viktor Tóth published an article entitled Rats in Doom in which he details a “VR” setup that automatically trains rodents to traverse 3D environments without the need for excessive restraints or any surgical procedures. “I built a VR setup for rodents from scratch and trained three rats in an automated fashion, without manual intervention, t

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AR/VR Simulations for Sustainable, Regenerative, Circular Cities

Speaker: Nik Gowing, Brenda Laurel, Sheridan Tatsuno, Archie Kasnet, and Bruce Armstrong Taylor

With 191 country signatories to the Paris Climate Agreement now hard at work in the race to zero carbon by 2050, much of the heavy lifting in ecosystem sustainability falls on the shoulders of the world's densely populated urban centers. This conversation considers how today's AI-enabled simulation media, such as AR/VR, can be effectively applied to accelerate learning, understanding, training, and solutions-modeling to sustainability planning and design.

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‘Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time’ Now Fully Playable In VR

VRScout

A new mod brings the classic Nintendo 64 action-adventure game to PC VR headsets for the first time. One of the most iconic video games of all time is now available in VR thanks to a new mod by BrianMp16. This isn’t some 20-minute tech demo; it’s a fully playable Ocarina of Time VR game. You can play the entirety of the legendary campaign from start to finish, all from an immersive first-person perspective.

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This Japanese VR Headset Is Meant To Be Used In Bed

VRScout

Finally, a headset for us lazy VR users. Japanese company Diver-X recently unveiled the HalfDive, a one-of-a-kind VR headset meant to be used in bed while laying down. The device employs a variety of features completely unique from that of conventional VR headsets, including a 3D audio system, immersive haptic feedback, and a distinctive control system.

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Disney Wants To Create Its Own Metaverse

VRScout

The company’s massive collection of original IPs could make for the ultimate metaverse experience. To the metaverse and beyond! The Walt Disney Company has announced that they will be joining Mark Zuckerberg in creating their own branded metaverse by connecting the physical and digital worlds using Disney’s collection of IPs universe. This includes iconic characters like Buzz Lightyear and Princess Elsa to big franchises like Star Wars, Marvel, The Muppets, Disney Animation Studios,

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ABBA Enters the Digital Realm With 3D ‘ABBAtars’

VRScout

ABBA returns after 40 years with new music and a unique concert experience featuring their de-aged 3D ABBAtars. ABBA, the Swedish pop group behind massive hits such as “Dancing Queen,” “Take a Chance On Me,” and “Mamma Mia” (you know that every part of that song is a hook!) is returning to the stage as digital avatars—or ABBAtars—to promote Voyage , their first new album in 40 years.

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Are You Still Watching? How to Create Engaging Presentations for Virtual Learning

Speaker: Richard Goring, Director at BrightCarbon

Remote meetings are here to stay - and many are BORING. If you are trying to engage your learners (or any audience), compelling content is critical. But trying to create stimulating content with the same tools you’ve always had is hard, right? Thankfully, wrong! Terrific tools in PowerPoint along with visual assets help you create the kind of dynamic content you need to capture your remote audience’s attention, with functions that allow for interactive sequences and navigation.

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Oculus Quest App ‘Magic Keys’ Teaches You Piano Using AR

VRScout

Learn how to tickle the ivories with this educational VR experience powered by the experimental Passthrough API. This past July Facebook released its experimental Passthrough API into the wild, allowing developers to harness the Oculus Quest’s built-in cameras to create engaging mixed reality experiences. Since then we’ve seen a variety of interactive AR games make their way to the standalone headset, from martial arts simulator Crazy Kung Fu to VR puzzler Gravity Labs.

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VR City Builder ‘Spacefolk City’ Heading To Major VR Headsets

VRScout

Step into the role of an intergalactic city planner in this adorable city simulator coming soon to VR headsets. Brought to us by developer Moon Mode, Spacefolk City is an upcoming VR city-building game for Oculus Quest, Oculus Rift, and SteamVR headsets that will have you constructing complex urban environments in order to save the inhabitants of a solar system on the verge of destruction.

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Full Body VR Controller AXIS Launches Kickstarter

VRScout

Backers will receive Refract’s easy-to-use motion-tracking system and first-person fighting game Freestriker. Several months ago we covered Virtual Taekwondo , a captivating mixed reality experience from Singapore-based tech company Refract Technologies that allows competitors to battle each other in hand-to-hand combat using the company’s full-body motion capture system AXIS.

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PrecisionOS Brings VR Medical Training To Struggling Areas

VRScout

VR training lets surgeons in low-resource countries go through the motions before performing on patients. The VR medical company PrecisionOS along with support from Epic Games MegaGrant and Oculus , have launched a VR training module designed specifically for the global nonprofit humanitarian organization SIGN Fracture Care. Doctors in the organization who specialize in orthopedic surgery in low-resource countries will have access to critical training that will vastly improve outcomes for patien

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Who C.A.R.E.S.!? How Learning Got Its Bad Rap & What We Can Do About It

Speaker: Treion Muller, Chief Strategy Officer at ELB Learning

Since when has learning and development (L&D) become such a negative experience with its intended learners? Could it be because learners have been conditioned by very poor learning experiences over the past two decades, combined with the kinks of technological innovation? Or is it because learning has typically been designed as a one-size-fits-all solution, despite the fact that humans are not clones?

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U.S. Air Force Using VR For Sexual Assault Prevention Training

VRScout

Members of the Air Force will train in intervention skills, victim advocacy, and reporting protocols. Award-winning VR company Moth + Flame is partnering with the United States Air Force to deploy a VR training program for members of the Air Force in sexual assault prevention and response training (SAPR). The program, which was introduced to the Airman at Joint Base Charleston , SC, is broken down into three parts and explores multiple angles of a complex issue.

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‘Space Pirate Arena’ Could Be The Most Important VR Game Of The Year

VRScout

Developer I-Illusions’ hall-scale VR game could mark the start of a new era in multiplayer gaming on Quest. Originally announced back in August of 2019, Space Pirate Arena is an upcoming multiplayer spinoff of the classic VR wave shooter Space Pirate Trainer that will have you battling other players locally in “hall-scale” competitive shootouts.

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NVIDIA Tricks Audience With Virtual CEO In Latest Keynote

VRScout

The GTC21 conference keynote featured a digital clone of CEO Jensen Huang brought to life using artificial intelligence. This past April, GPU manufacturer NVIDIA hosted its annual GTC (GPU Technology Conference), during which the company presented its GT21 keynote featuring NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang. During the roughly two-hour-long presentation, Huang—who appeared on-camera multiple times throughout the presentation—detailed a variety of game-changing initiatives currently in developm

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Finally, An App That Lets You Censor Reality

VRScout

Some things are better left unseen. Available now on iOS devices, voxelizeAR is a newly-released app from developer Rare Realities, LLC that allows you to transform portions of the real world into 3D pixels—otherwise known as “voxels.” The result is an effect similar to that of the one used by the media to censor violent and/or sexual content.

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The Key to Getting the Best Out of Video-Based Practice & Coaching

Speaker: Micah Eppler, Account Executive for Rehearsal of eLearning Brothers

Did you know that companies such as Paychex, 3M, and Honeywell are getting better results by incorporating video-based practice and coaching within their L&D strategy? From sales pitches to soft skills, learners are becoming top performers by applying and validating knowledge transfer using the unique benefits of video. Whether used as a stand-alone application or integrated with a learning platform, video-based practice and coaching platforms give learners the ultimate opportunity to repeatedly