‘Extinction is on the table’: Jaron Lanier warns of tech’s existential threat to humanity

The American computer scientist, who coined the term ‘virtual reality,’ cautions against online ‘psychological operatives’

Jaron Lanier, the eminent American computer scientist, composer and artist, is no stranger to skepticism around social media, but his current interpretations of its effects are becoming darker and his warnings more trenchant.

Lanier, a dreadlocked free-thinker credited with coining the term “virtual reality”, has long sounded dire sirens about the dangers of a world over-reliant on the internet and at the increasing mercy of tech lords, their social media platforms and those who work for them.

Continue reading...

Palmer Luckey: Trump-supporting Oculus founder leaves Facebook

‘Palmer will be dearly missed,’ company says in statement announcing departure of controversial VR pioneer

Virtual reality pioneer Palmer Luckey has left Facebook, six months after it was revealed that he had secretly funded a pro-Trump campaign group dedicated to turning the tide of the US election through “meme magic” and “shitposting”.

Luckey, who founded virtual reality company Oculus in 2012 when he was 19, has been a Facebook employee since Mark Zuckerberg’s social network bought his firm in 2014 for $2bn. In a statement, Facebook said “Palmer will be dearly missed. Palmer’s legacy extends far beyond Oculus. His inventive spirit helped kickstart the modern VR revolution and helped build an industry. We’re thankful for everything he did for Oculus and VR, and we wish him all the best.”

Continue reading...

Get Up Close to Donald Trump with Wide Awake on Viveport

Today’s the day when the eyes of the world are on the US as it inaugurates the 45th President, Donald Trump into office. While the actual ceremony takes place at 5pm GMT today, for those wanting to get a closer look at the new president in the Oval Office, Viveport has released Wide Awake for HTC Vive owners.

Created by developers MacInnes Scott, Wide Awake features a photo-realistic recreation of the next POTUS, allowing you to see him in his new surroundings. Not only have MacInnes Scott created a life-like copy using its proprietary digital human ‘maximum resolution’ replication system, the studio also used Epic Games’ Unreal Engine to render the character and recreate the Oval Office down to the very last detail.

Wide Awake Trump in office

Users can explore the space where America’s destiny has been shaped for the past 78 years, and where the new President will be based for the next four. They’ll be able to walk around and with a torch, discover all the President’s hidden secrets by shining a light on them.

“VR is a new medium with the potential of being a movie or video game, a combination of both or something completely new,” says John MacInnes on Viveport. “We see Trump In VR as art – a tableau vivant, in the American tradition of artists like Edward Hooper in painting, Gregory Crewdson and Cindy Sherman in photography. Unlike a painting and photography, you can interact with the art in virtual reality.”

Wide Awake is free to download and for any further Viveport additions, keep reading VRFocus.