Augmented & Virtual Reality Confabulation
What Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality developers are talking about
Experts say pandemic could provide watershed moment for technology, potentially leading to more sustainable tourism
With globe-trotting banned in the pandemic, increasing numbers of people are turning to virtual reality to relieve pent-up demand for travel.
Escapism from the sofa through a growing range of VR travel experiences is whetting appetites for post-pandemic holidays and could be a watershed moment for the technology in tourism, say analysts.
Continue reading...Experts say pandemic could provide watershed moment for technology, potentially leading to more sustainable tourism
With globe-trotting banned in the pandemic, increasing numbers of people are turning to virtual reality to relieve pent-up demand for travel.
Escapism from the sofa through a growing range of VR travel experiences is whetting appetites for post-pandemic holidays and could be a watershed moment for the technology in tourism, say analysts.
Continue reading...
During Oculus Connect 4 (OC4) in 2017, the company announced a new initiative called Oculus for Business, aimed at helping companies deploy virtual reality (VR) headsets at scale. It has been in closed beta since then, assimilating Oculus Go then Quest into the programme. This week the enterprise platform has been made generally available to help more organisations utilise VR.
Oculus for Business is a dual hardware/software solution where companies can buy Oculus Quest’s (128 GB model) for $999 USD with enterprise software, enterprise warranty and enterprise support. After 12 months it’ll cost $180 per headset, per year to maintain access to enterprise-grade software.
One important part to consider with the Oculus for Business solution is that employees will not be able to obtain software via the Oculus Store. They’ll only have access to internally developed VR content or third-party developer VR content tailored to specific use cases.
Built on Facebook’s enterprise collaboration platform, Workplace, which is developing new features catering to VR workflows, employees access content through a user interface providing approved content front-and-center. Plus, a new app launcher sends them directly to apps important to completing an assigned task.
“Since using Oculus Quest, we’ve seen a surge in interest from clients looking to use VR to help connect their teams working remotely,” says Angel Say, CEO & Co-Founder of InsiteVR in a statement. “Quest now accounts for over 50% of our usage and is the only device we consistently see teams using.”
As for Facebook’s other headsets, Oculus Rift S and Oculus Go, these can be purchased for commercial purposes – like a VR arcade – but they aren’t compatible with Oculus for Business. Therefore, they’re subject to normal consumer warranties and support, as well as accessing normal consumer edition software.
Plenty of companies had already begun deploying VR depending on their needs but with current coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown measures in place, interest has increased. This has been driven by the need to remote collaborate, with new software solutions arriving to make the online process feel more natural.
For further information head to the Oculus for Business website. As more VR enterprise announcements are made, VRFocus will keep you updated.
Today Facebook announced that its enterprise-edition Oculus Quest that sells for $1,000 as part of its Oculus for Business platform is now available for all companies to purchase.
Back in January Facebook withdrew its 3DOF headset, the Oculus Go, from the business platform and began offering the Oculus Quest instead as part of a new Oculus for Business initiative. However, that was only in closed beta until now.
When a business purchases a Quest through the Oculus for Business platform for $1,000, they’re not getting a consumer device. Instead, this Quest is specifically designed for their company with enterprise-focused features like a kiosk demo mode and two years of enterprise-quality support via phone, live chat, or email.
Business edition Quests feature a custom operating system that doesn’t access the typical Quest store for downloading games and other consumer-facing content. Instead, businesses get unique features such as multiple device setup, the ability to load the headsets with their own content to launch directly, and even remote access.
The multi-device setup should help speed things up for businesses at events and for internal use. Using a separate version of the Oculus mobile app, businesses can simultaneously setup and update several headsets at once with the app as a central hub.
When using an Oculus for Business Quest the user interface is different as well, placing company-approved content at the front and center rather than needing to sideload things or access a store that wasn’t designed for enterprise use cases.
Facebook has some details on the Oculus for Business platform in a blog post on the Oculus website and a landing page Oculus for Business page right here.
The post Facebook’s $1000 Oculus Quest For Business Platform Is Now Available To All Companies appeared first on UploadVR.
Game will be first in series since Half-Life 2: Episode 2 was released in 2007
Developer Valve Corporation has unveiled the latest game in the long-dormant Half-Life series, a VR-exclusive title named Half-Life: Alyx, set for release in March 2020.
A new game in the critically acclaimed sci-fi shooter series had been heavily rumoured following leaks from this year’s Game Awards and was confirmed by the developer via Twitter. A prequel set between the first and second games, Half-Life: Alyx stars supporting character Alyx Vance following an alien invasion of earth and is expected to act as a flagship VR title, showcasing virtual reality shooter gameplay at a high level of fidelity.
Continue reading...Firm shows commitment to UK with shop, which features a gaming lounge and AR devices
Microsoft is opening its first European store on Oxford Street, in London, featuring a McLaren Senna car customised as an Xbox driving simulator, a gaming lounge and a community education centre where children can learn to code.
The 22,000 sq ft shop is a block away from the Regent Street Apple store, which, when it opened 15 years ago, set the bar for tech retailing.
Continue reading...Consumer virtual reality (VR) may have restarted the industry as a whole but solutions for business have become a key part of many immersive companies strategy. Today, HTC Vive has announced a new business unit which aims to help in that endeavour, Vive Enterprise Solutions.
Having launched the HTC Vive Pro Eye and Vive Focus Plus headsets, both squarely aimed at the enterprise market, the new business unit will help companies integrate XR hardware, software, and services for their professional needs.
Vive Enterprise Solutions will address four key areas where enterprises are investing today, Training and Simulation, Design and Visualization; Virtual Collaboration and Location-Based Entertainment and Attractions.
“With enterprise VR rapidly becoming the ‘killer app’ in the industry, we are providing solutions for small to large commercial creators to be successful and solve business needs,” says Daniel O’Brien, Head of Vive Enterprise Solutions, HTC Vive in a statement. “We’re in a unique position to offer enterprises a comprehensive business solution in part due to our own hardware innovation and collaborative industry relationships. We’re thrilled to continue to work with professional users to provide the best hardware, software, and services to help them succeed.”
While developing integrated software solutions and professional services to provide the service and support corporate clients require, at the core of HTC Vive’s business solutions are of course its headsets. Companies have four devices to choose from depending on requirements. For high-fidelity, PC-based VR there’s the HTC Vive Pro starting from £1,082.50 GBP or the HTC Vive Pro Eye from £1,250 (great for analytics). Or when portability is high on the list then there’s always the HTC Vive Focus starting from £532.50 or the HTC Vive Focus Plus which retails from £639.00 (all prices exclude VAT).
Businesses looking to deploy more VR solutions are being spoilt for choice when it comes to new hardware. Training is a big part of why a lot of companies are investing in XR solutions and with that come hand interaction. Manus VR is one company at the forefront of this development, recently announcing the new Manus Prime Haptic glove. Offering a slightly different take is Dexta Robotics with its Dexmo Enterprise Edition force feedback glove. As more XR business solutions are developed VRFocus will keep you updated.
In a new interview, Republican Senator Josh Hawley speaks on talking with the ESA about the loot crate ban bill, whether or not he believes this will gain traction, and the ideas that pushed him to put this bill into motion.
The post Senator’s loot crate bill has the video game industry nervous appeared first on Digital Trends.
On the latest episode of DT Live, we discuss Amazon’s new packaging machines, Apple’s credit card, Lyft’s plans for long-term car rentals, a new robot that can climb walls, the Tamagotchi's return to America, and more.
The post Digital Trends Live: Amazon’s packaging machines, Tamagotchi returns, and more appeared first on Digital Trends.