Atheer Release Augmentor For Microsoft Hololens, Bringing New Solutions To Industrial Issues

Anyone who’s worked in a busy creative or industrial environment will know that communication with your team is essential. Who’s tackling which tasks, how far each is to completion and so many more smaller aspects of projects that require micromanagement and excellent communication, and it can be difficult when you’re wrapped up in your projects. Of course, that’s exactly where companies such as Atheer get involved, because they can introduce new augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR) technologies in order to streamline and revolutionise our busy work flows.

atheer air augmentor enterprise

Case in point; Atheer have partnered with Design Interactive to release a new program, Augmentor, which should help speed up and modernise work flows for companies around the world, using Microsoft Hololens head-mounted displays (HMDs) and Atheer’s award winning AiR Enterprise technology.

The new Augmentor program will help employees troubleshoot in AR, and use smart glasses to connect your physical and digital workspaces. A web console can be used to update team on tasks and progression, where the cloud based storage will allow other employees to easily access and view the same information.

Users of the technology can even livestream what they see to fellow employees or an expert, so they can be given hands on advice as they go. This speeds up the amount of troubleshooting time any one employee should have to go through to complete their tasks.

The mix of Design Interactive’s software and Atheer’s AiR Enterprise technology allows procedures to be created on the fly while in the field, or at home using Atheer’s web portal.

Soulaiman Itani is the chief executive officer and founder of Atheer, and he says; “Design Interactive is really forward looking. It has been focused on solving problems in some of the most challenging industries – such as heavy trucking and the military. It is Design Interactive’s insight from these applications that makes this relationship so promising.”

Design Interactive’s CEO Kay Stanney also has good things to say, saying; “We are excited about the partnership Atheer affords. What makes Atheer so appealing is not just their software, but their hardware experience. Most competitors make software. But in Atheer, we found a partner that has developed AR hardware and truly understands the entire AR ecosystem that brings value to a client. That is simply unmatched in the marketplace.”

The product will be launched at the Truck Maintenance Council trade show and exhibition in Atlanta, GA, on March 5^th. Let us know what you think of the new technology in the comments below, and stay on VRFocus for all of the latest AR news.

February 4, 2018

Epson Collaborate With ARtGlass, Will Use AR To Bring Us History To Life

We’ve already seen the immersive power of augmented reality (AR) being used to bring traditional experiences to life. Whether it’s print journalism like TIME or the New York Times adapting to the new technology, or NUSHU brining news and history to life for children, AR is changing the way we immerse ourselves in media. To take things one step further, Epson are collaborating with ARtGlass to make historic sites and monuments in the United States more immersive, educational and interesting than ever before.

Epson Moverio BT-2200

Epson’s Moverio line of AR smart glasses will be the ones powering the new AR experiences. They’re the natural choice for ARtGlass, who are the pioneer for AR storytelling and cultural enhancement software. The new partnership will see landmarks such as George Washington’s Mount Vernon and James Monroe’s Highland.

Greg Werkheiser is ARtGlass co-founder and CEO, and he’s excited to enhance education on culture and history with AR; “When we first launched ARtGlass in Italy, we knew that if we could overcome the challenges of bringing wearable AR tours to the Old World, we’d be ready for the New World. We are thrilled now to help revolutionize cultural tours at U.S. sites.”

Werkheiser continued; “U.S. museums and cultural sites attract more visits annually than pro sporting events and theme parks combined. The future of history is bright.”

You can view a sample of the tour of James Monroe’s Highland embedded below, giving viewers an idea of how AR is implemented into the tour experience. Users will be able to better visualise time period accurate furnishings and rituals through the power of AR, making the tour a far deeper and more educational experience.

Anna Jen is the director of augmented reality solutions at Epson, and she said of the partnership; “From the beginning, it was our intention to deliver real-world, near-term benefits to the public through the Moverio AR smart glasses. ARtGlass software and strategies, coupled with our glasses, will enable millions of visitors to U.S. historic sites to enjoy transformative experiences.”

We’ll have all of the latest news on sites where you can experience Epson’s AR technology and where ARtGlass are enhancing experiences as and when they happen, so to be up to date with the future of technology, make sure to keep reading VRFocus.

February 4, 2018

OPTIS And The Virtual Engineering Centre Partner To Bring VR Productivity To UK Industries

Virtual reality (VR), together with augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR) can be used in incredible new ways to modernise and revolutionise the workflow of a great many industries. We’ve seen it be picked up of course by the health and education industries, but also in automative industries where AR and MR visualisation offer a massive advantage in production.

virtual engineering centre

Now, OPTIS are partnering with the Virtual Engineering Centre to bring the capabilities and possibilities to light for a variety of industries in the UK. Business clients can access the facilities at Daresbury, near Warrington and Central London, and use the digital technologies to test their products and processes in a digital environment.

Last year OPTIS introduced new software designed for VR prototyping, using Nvidia Quadro GPUs to power full-scale 3D prototypes with high levels of detail and realism. The VR environment allows team from across the globe to collaborate in a shared space.

Virtual prototypes save money on physical prototypes and allow designers and companies to view their creations in real time and quickly highlight any design issues. The Virtual Engineering Centre hope that this will bring together industry professionals and find new ways to increase productivity and keep the UK competitive in the global market when it comes to new technologies.

Fabrice Mekersi, Vice President EMEA of OPTIS, comments on the partnership, saying; “With OPTIS’ human vision and light simulation expertise coupled to the Centre’s facilities and skills, we can offer real benefits to our industrial partners and win them a competitive advantage in their Markets. As of now, UK businesses can explore how immersive virtual reality can be integrated into products and manufacturing processes, as OPTIS’ VR solutions make it possible to simulate every step of the industrial process from the very first prototype to final validation.”

Dr Charles Patchett, Technology Expert at Virtual Engineering Centre has also said; “Virtual reality is a sheer luck for industries to gain valuable manufacturing time, and to get a head start on future: this is the issue of our agreement.”

We can only hope that the new partnership will enable many businesses to see the benefits and potential gains to productivity that can be achieved by incorporating new technologies into their work flow. As VR is adapted more and more, you’ll read about it on VRFocus.

February 4, 2018

See Everything VRFocus Did At CES 2018 In Our Video Recap

It feels like we only just got home from the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2018 in Las Vegas, or our sleep cycle does, but we saw so many excellent bits of promising technology and new virtual reality (VR) hardware and experiences that we just can’t wait to show you anymore.

We’ve got full recaps of everything we knew before and after CES 2018, Las Vegas, below in video form, where you can see Nina and our other team members hard at work covering everything CES 2018 has to offer for all of you at home. Aren’t we nice?

Nina on the Road: Pre-CES – Vive Pro, Nvidia, Sony and Zeiss in VR

Before CES 2018 even had the chance to begin we were seeing manufacturers and companies reveal loads of new uses for VR technology. Nvidia was using augmented reality (AR) technology in autonomous cars, and built AutoSIM for virtually testing the reactions of autonomous cars. It’s excellent to see the driver-less car future is getting closer every day.

Nina on the Road: CES DAY 1 – Ultrahaptics, vTime and Black Box VR

On day 1 of CES 2018 we see Nina and Peter investigating various booths and stands, including Black Box VR where both Nina and Peter put themselves to the test and sweat a little bit in VR. Also look at Pisoftech’s 8K VR camera, which can create incredibly impressive 360 images with very little effort.

You can also hear the melancholy in Nina’s voice as she discovers her fingernails are a bit too long for one creative VR controller in particular.

Nina on the Road: CES Day 2 – The Power Cut

On day 2 the team once again head out on to the show floor and have loads to see. They were blown away by virtual headphone technology, where you don’t have headphones but it sounds like you do. The looks on their faces say it all. They also look at some fascinating space information with Astroreality, which use AR technology in conjunction with 3D printed models. There was also a chaotic moment with a power cut – in the middle of CES 2018, of all places!

Nina on the Road: CES Day 3 – 8K VR, Augmented Reality in Cars and TPCAST

On day 3 we take a look at Kodak’s brand new cameras and some brand new AR tracking technology for your mobile device. Not just that, we see how AR technology is now being used in cars, and take a look at TPCast foot powered VR controllers.

Nina on the Road: CES Day 4 – VR Gloves, Healthcare, Art, Holograms and Training

On day 4 Nina goes even deeper into VR once again, by looking at Serious VR, Tree Tech, Ikonospace and more. The new glove-like VR controllers are fascinating, and the variety of VR videogames and software and very promising. Timescope is also featured, which claim to be The Ultimate Time Travel Experience. Well, until we can actually travel through time, at least.

VRFocus: Post-CES Highlights

And finally we come to our Post-CES highlights, where we recap a little bit of everything we saw from across the show and put together our favourite moments. We saw so much at CES 2018, but what would you say is the most interesting piece of technology we saw at the show? Let us know in the comments below, and for all of the CES and event coverage you want on VR technology, make sure to keep reading VRFocus.

February 4, 2018

Japanese Trailer For The Inpatient Features Creepy Developer Interviews

We’ve been excited for The Inpatient since its Electronics Entertainment Expo (E3) reveal last year. We’ve followed the videogame every step of the way, from theorising that it was related to Supermassive Games’ other title, Until Dawn, to playing the virtual reality (VR) videogame for ourselves. Now the videogame is finally out for everyone to enjoy, and there’s a brand new trailer on the PlayStation Japan YouTube channel which features some interviews with the developers as they talk about their latest VR videogame. You can watch the trailer embedded below.

We received a new teaser trailer for The Inpatient not too long before launch, showing what the player must undergo during their time at the creepy Blackwood Pines Sanatorium.

While the trailer below is on the PlayStation Japan YouTube channel, all of the original interviews were performed in English and their voices remain, so English speaking viewers can watch without concern. There are, of course, Japanese subtitles overlaid for the viewers it is intended for.

As the developers and team at Supermassive Games talk about the videogame in the interview, the edit of the video makes them appear to move quickly and unnaturally, highlighting the creepy tension one should expect from a VR horror experience. In Japan, the videogame is called The Inpatient: Dark Ward.

When previewing the videogame, we said; “The Inpatient looks set to offer an experience completely different to its predecessor Until Dawn – they’re both set in the same universe – a far more tactile tale, where exploring the story is much more key. It might be because of the hospital theme but playing the demo instantly feels very reminiscent of Wilson’s Heart for Oculus Rift and that’s no bad thing. If Supermassive Games can create an engaging storyline and gameplay to go with the impressive visuals then PlayStation VR might have another hit on its hands.”

You can of course see the full trailer below, offering viewers a look behind the scenes at development and giving those not yet able to play the videogame a chance to understand what they can expect. For more on The Inpatient, make sure to keep reading VRFocus.

February 4, 2018

The VR Job Hub: PlayStation London Studios, Oculus And More Hiring Now

If you get into work on a Monday morning and have a sickly feeling in the pit of your stomach it’s a sure sign that you either need to get a new job or go home because you actually might be ill. For those of you who are not ill (or are faking it because you really couldn’t deal with it) here’s a whole bunch of brand new jobs available for you right now.

There’s great jobs going on in London, but those of you up north near Glasgow will find something near you, too. Take a look below, and check back every week for the latest jobs in virtual reality (VR).

Location	Company	Role	Link
London, UK	PlayStation London Studios	Principal Environment Artist	Click Here to Apply
London, UK	PlayStation London Studios	Senior Tools Programmer	Click Here to Apply
London, UK	PlayStation London Studios	Senior Graphics Programmer	Click Here to Apply
London, UK	PlayStation London Studios	Senior Gameplay Programmer	Click Here to Apply
London, UK	PlayStation London Studios	Principal Graphics Programmer	Click Here to Apply
London, UK	PlayStation London Studios	Senior Level Designer	Click Here to Apply
London, UK	Oculus	Software Engineer, Social VR	Click Here to Apply
Glasgow, Scotland, UK	Tsumanga Studios	Unity Game Developer	Click Here to Apply
London, UK	Breaking Forth	VR/Environmental Artist	Click Here to Apply
London, UK	TechNET Digital	Senior Sound Designer (VR)	Click Here to Apply

You can check out last week’s VR Job Hub for further listings and if you are an employer looking for someone to fill an immersive technology related role – regardless of the industry – don’t forget you can send us the lowdown on the position and we’ll be sure to feature it in that following week’s feature. Details should to be sent to keva@vrfocus.com and also pgraham@vrfocus.com.

The VR Job Hub will be back on VRFocus next week.

February 4, 2018

Something For The Weekend: Great Steam VR Games, Space Exploration, Sci Fi Shooting And More

Ah another week is over and you need to get away into the virtual world for a few hours, right? We completely understand, which is why we’ve got a big list of brand new discounts you can take advantage of to get some new software for you virtual reality (VR) head-mounted display (HMD).

Just take a look below for all of the best offers on Steam VR, and check back on VRFocus every week for more great offers.

FORM

FORM-L-Screenshot-06

In this world, puzzles are built from dreams and memories and you must piece them together to understand the truth. The world morphs around you as you explore existence itself.

FORM is now £6.59.

Vector 36

Race across the surface of Mars in an incredible floating vehicle called a Skimmer. Pilot different vehicles as you race on the surface of the red planet. Don’t crash if you want to survive this extraterrestrial racer.

Vector 36 is now only £12.15.

Unknightly

In a medieval world you’re without fancy gadgets and technology, so your best friend is old fashioned stealth tactics. Hide away on rafters and quietly hunt down those that banished you from the Knight’s Order.

Unknightly is now only £9.29.

The Unwelcomed

the unwelcomed

What’s the best thing to do when you’re somewhere you’re not welcome? That’s right, leave. Except that’s a bit more difficult in an escape room scenario. Your late uncle’s mansion is not as cosy as it first seems…

The Unwelcomed is now £7.69.

Cat Sorter VR

Cat Sorter VR Screen_03

What’s the best pet in the world, certifiably much better than dogs? That’s right, it’s cats. In Cat Sorter VR, you’ll be surrounded by the furry fiends and will have to organise your kitty inventory…

Cat Sorter VR is now £3.99.

Show Must Go On

show must go on

Here you’ll feel like a superstar as you jump onto the stage and hit the beat. As you puncture the bubbles you’ll play with and feel the rhythm, and fill your stage with lights and music.

Show Must Go On is now only £5.49.

Galactic Core: The Lost Fleet

galactic core lost fleet

Guide the lost fleet back home with your shooting skills – after you crash land, protect your team and destroy waves of aliens on a mysterious world. Making it home alive is going to require teamwork.

Galactic Core: The Lost Fleet is now £1.43.

MIMIC

mimic

Memorize the path forward as quickly as possible to reach the finish, otherwise you’re doomed. Take your time and only step on the right blocks otherwise you will fall, and it’s a long way down.

MIMIC is now £7.40.

Reficul

reciful

Ready to get spooked in VR? Well Reciful is here to give you an experience you won’t soon forget. Everywhere has been plunged it darkness, and you must use your simple torch to move through the world, shoot enemies and survive.

Reciful is now £7.49.

VRZ: Torment

VRZ Torment screenshot 2

Zombies suck. But far more concerning is the news that zombies bite. You don’t want to have to deal with that. As such in VRZ: Torment you’ll be fighting off hordes of the undead with a variety of weapons. Oh, there’s ghosts too.

VRZ: Torment is now £4.31.

For all of the latest offers and deals, check back on VRFocus every week.

February 4, 2018

Ride Through Greek Legends In PlayStation VR’s RollerCoaster Legends, Brand New Trailer Here

Many times people have told me to “go to Hell” and yet I’ve never done it. Partially because I don’t have the directions, partially because I heard real life has perma death turned on. But if I ever were to go to Hell, the thing that would make me do it is most definitely a bad ass rollercoaster ride that cruises past everyone suffering through eternal hellfire and all that. But of course there’s a virtual reality (VR) experience for that!

RollerCoaster Legends is rolling onto PlayStation VR soon, and there’s a brand new trailer embedded below which was posted on the PlayStation Japan YouTube account. Despite it being a Japanese trailer you don’t have to worry too much, all of the text in the trailer is in English. Handy for us, but it does make you wonder how the intended audience was supposed to be able to read it.

In the trailer we see a rollercoaster powering through some mineshafts before taking us through the Temple of Poseidon, with Greek ampitheatres placed atop rock formations which have no discernible way of getting there without a rollercoaster. Clearly rollercoasters were an important mode of transportation in these ancient caverns, as evidenced by the ancient rickety tracks, but we are dubious of the structural integrity of the cavern. There are flaming rocks falling from the ceiling, after all.

Next up is The River Styx, the legendary river which the souls of the dead travel down before being trapped eternally in the afterlife. In the trailer we dive directly into the river – shockingly, no signs of dead people nor ghosts. Somewhat underwhelming.

Luckily The Palace of Hades is a bit more interesting, complete with a maze and a minotaur charging about the place – naturally. Our advice? Keep your hand to a wall – you’ll find the exit eventually…

Tartarus is next, and looks a bit more like the Hell we envisioned originally. Molten lava, rock formations bubbling away. Incredible.

You can see the full trailer below. Developer WarDucks has previously worked on Sneaky Bears, the evil teddy bear destruction game. We’ll have all of the latest information on RollerCoaster Legends as it drops, so to take your own rollercoaster ride through the mythical, make sure to keep reading VRFocus.

February 4, 2018

Experience Franz Kafka’s ‘The Metamorphosis’ Like Never Before In VR

We can’t stop adapting media to other forms. Whether it’s turning comic books into movies, movies into novels or completely new versions entirely, there’s a history of adapting our favourite media into as many versions as possible so everyone can enjoy it in their favourite format. But while we’ve seen media slowly move into the world of virtual reality (VR) we haven’t seen many novels being adapted. Well, the Goethe Institute, Prague, has adapted the legendary Franz Kafka’s novella The Metamorphosis is an experience you can have for yourself as you step into the shoes of its protagonist.

franz kafka metamorphosis1

Following Gregor Samsa, you’ll wake up late for work but also, somewhat more concerning, you’ll wake up as a giant insect. In the VR experience you’ll be able to explore his bedroom, his books, belongings, documents and more, all brought to life in VR with HTC Vive head-mounted displays (HMDs).

Czech teams Achtung 4K and 4Each both helped create the project with art and animations and interactive objects, under the direction of Mika Johnson. The experience will be voice acted in German, English and Czech, to immerse speakers of the languages in the world of Kafka’s legendary novella.

Jakob Ráček is Goethe Institute’s Head of Programming, and he said of the experience; “The fantastic three-dimensional installation presents this original work of world literature in virtual reality, in which you – rather than Gregor Samsa – are the protagonist. We have created a miniature version of Gregor’s room from The Metamorphosis and will transport visitors into the room thanks to VR glasses. Visitors can then get a first-hand experience of what it is like to be transformed into an insect.”

You can enjoy the VR experience and more for yourself by visiting the Goethe Institute in Prague for yourself, and you can see a trailer for the experience embedded below. The promise of being able to come closer to our favourite worlds and stories is an incredibly interesting one, and we hope to get more experiences like this in the near future. For all of the latest news on VR adaptations and experiences, stay on VRFocus.

February 4, 2018

BOUNCE Comes To Viveport, Available With Viveport Subscription

Virtual reality (VR) is a natural place for physics based videogames. Being in the virtual space watching as the chain reactions you’ve put in place by hand unfold like a complicated game of Mouse Trap is far more satisfying than watching the action unfold on a 2D screen, and now, BOUNCE, a physics based puzzler, is available on Viveport. Viveport subscribers can download the videogame for free.

In BOUNCE you’ll be placing a complicated series of tubes, platforms and technology together in order to guide simple balls to a goal. Using treadmills and bounce pads, you’ll create elaborate solutions to navigate your ball to the goal.

It won’t be that simple though, as you’ll be having to avoid lasers and other obstacles that can most certainly ruin your trajectory. You’ll have to worry about the physics of course, but also your timing as you embark on a quest to solve all of the puzzles in the game.

VRFocus gave BOUNCE a four star review, praising the game’s 50 levels and addictive nature, saying; “So does BOUNCE have that perfect formula to challenge and keep gamers playing? For the most part yes. This isn’t a title that you’re going to get through in a hour. Many VR experiences are derided for their lack of gameplay time and BOUNCE isn’t one of them. With 50 levels to wade through there’s plenty to keep you busy for hours on end and that’s certainly a big plus mark. Whilst not being highly unique in terms of its core idea it’s the straight forward gameplay that aides BOUNCE’s addictiveness, and it’s certainly a title that those who love puzzlers should checkout if they’re looking for a decent challenge and a change from all the shooters currently available.”

Although the videogame is on Viveport, you can also get BOUNCE on Oculus Rift now, as it was released for the head-mounted display in the Summer of last year.

For more from BOUNCE, take a look at the videogame’s Viveport page where you can purchase the experience or add it to your Viveport subscription. If you want to see the experience in action, make sure to watch the trailer below. For all the latest news on puzzle videogames and experiences, keep reading VRFocus.