Watch Google’s ‘Visual Positioning Service’ AR Tracking in Action

At today’s annual Google I/O developer conference, Clay Bavor, VP of Virtual Reality at Google, announced a new augmented reality service called Visual Positioning Service, the latest development for the Tango platform that promises to not only precisely map the world around you in concert with Google Maps, but also give you a ‘GPS-like’ turn-by-turn navigational experience when you’re indoors. In addition, he announced an AR mode for an upcoming educational tool called Google Expeditions.

Following some major VR announcements including Daydream-compatible standalone VR headsets in the works from HTC and Lenovo, Bavor moved on to Google’s AR operations, confirming that the Asus Zenfone AR, the second Tango-enabled consumer smartphone, is still on track for a summer 2017 launch.

Google Tango is a smartphone-based AR platform that has the ability to map the world around you in real-time using a number of on-board sensors and the phone’s camera.

image courtesy Google

The Visual Positioning Service (VPS) revealed on stage, which combines Tango’s inside-out tracking system with Google Maps, provides “very precise location information indoors,” claims Bavor. As an example, Bavor described looking for a specific screwdriver at a Lowe’s home improvement store. Holding up a VPS-enabled phone inside the store will allow the system to know exactly where you are “within a few centimetres”, and will be able to direct you (based on previous collected data) to the exact tool you were searching for, sort of like an in-door GPS complete with turn-by-turn directions.

Google says VPS works today in partner museums and select Lowe’s stores.

image courtesy Google

In other words, “GPS can get you to the door, VPS can get you the exact item”. In the future, VPS combined with an audio interface could transform the way visually-impaired people move around the world. It will also be “one of the core capabilities of Google Lens”—a new image recognition initiative also announced today.

Finally, Bavor announced AR is being added to Google Expeditions, the popular ‘virtual field trip’ tool for education. Introduced two years ago for the inexpensive Cardboard VR headset, Expeditions has since been used by 2 million students. The new AR mode, demonstrated on video in a classroom with students holding several Zenfone ARs on selfie sticks, was described as “the ultimate show and tell.” The Expeditions AR mode will be added later this year.

The post Watch Google’s ‘Visual Positioning Service’ AR Tracking in Action appeared first on Road to VR.

Report: Google May Introduce a New All-in-one VR Headset at I/O Developer Conference

According to a Variety exclusive, Google may be gearing up to show off a brand new mobile VR headset at Google I/O developer conference this week, one that not only delivers VR in an all-in-one device, but could likely offer inside-out positional tracking as well.

The Variety report maintains information of the alleged all-in-one mobile VR headset—which won’t require a phone or PC to use—was gathered from “multiple sources with knowledge of the project.” Predictably, a Google spokesperson declined to comment.

The report posits that the headset is likely to debut this week in similar fashion to Google Daydream, which was introduced at last year’s Google I/O. Daydream is the company’s high-quality mobile VR platform designed to work with several flagship devices including the company’s own Pixel phone.

image courtesy Google

It’s unsure at this time exactly what a Google-made, all-in-one headset will look like, and whether it will incorporate the company’s augmented reality initiative Tango’s computer vision capabilities or not. Google’s interest in room-scale, interactive experiences is clear however, as evidenced by their early acquisition of VR studio Skillman and Hackett, known for creating Tiltbrush (2016), and more recently their acquisition of VR studio Owlchemy Labs, the minds behind Job Simulator (2016) and Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-ality (2017).

The conference takes place today, May 17th, and goes until the 19th. The opening keynote will be livestreamed on the company’s developer channel on YouTube at 10 am PDT today.

The post Report: Google May Introduce a New All-in-one VR Headset at I/O Developer Conference appeared first on Road to VR.

Google Brings Native ‘Tango’ AR Support to Unity

Google has announced that its augmented reality platform Tango will be getting native integrated support for Unity later this year.

During Unity’s Vision AR/VR Summit opening keynote, Google’s PM for Developer Platforms Nathan Martz took to the stage to announce that, the company’s AR focused platform Tango will join its VR counterpart Daydream in receiving official, native integration in the Unity game engine.

Google’s Nathan Martz, Photo Courtesy Unity

Of the new integration, Martz asserted that “this is going to make Tango AR development for smartphones just as accessible and powerful as Daydream VR is today.” The new native Tango integration is on its way later this year, due to arrive in version 2017.2 of Unity.

SEE ALSO
Asus 'ZenFone AR' Google Tango, Daydream VR Phone Launched, Specs Revealed

A long time in gestation, we’ve recently seen a flurry of hardware support for Tango announced, with the most recent Asus’ ZenFone AR – announced in January this year. With that in mind, it’s good to see the barrier of entry for Tango development lowered still further.

The post Google Brings Native ‘Tango’ AR Support to Unity appeared first on Road to VR.

8i erhält 27 Millionen US-Dollar an Investitionen und zeigt Holo App

Wer sich schon länger mit Virtual Reality beschäftigt, der ist sicherlich bereits über die Anwendung von 8i gestolpert. Die Entwickler haben sich auf volumetrische Videos spezialisiert und bringen in ihren Videos reale Aufzeichnungen von Menschen in eine virtuelle Welt. Der Vorteil dieser Darstellungsform ist, dass mit dieser Technik Virtual Reality Videos mit echten Darstellern erzeugt werden können. Die kostenlose Anwendung auf Steam stößt derzeit zwar auf wenig Gegenliebe der Community, doch das Unternehmen hat bereits weitere Ideen in der Hinterhand.

8i erhält 27 Millionen US-Dollar an Investitionen und zeigt Holo App

8i konnte sich in einer neuen Investitionsrunde 27 Millionen US-Dollar von Unternehmen wie Baidu, Verizon und Time Warner sichern. Vermutlich konnte das Team die Investoren mit einer neuen App überzeugen, welche „Hologramme“ in die echte Welt bringt. 8i verwendet hierzu die Google Tango Technologie und die volumetrischen Videoaufzeichnungen und bringt damit diese Videos in euer Wohnzimmer. Die Hologramme sind bei dieser Technologie aber nur auf dem Display des Smartphones oder Tablets sichtbar und erscheinen nicht wirklich in eurem Raum. Um die Anwendung zu nutzen, benötigt ihr also ein Smartphone mit Project Tango. Aktuell könnt ihr die App also beispielsweise mit dem Phab 2 Pro von Lenovo testen. Den kostenlosen Download findet ihr hier.

Die Idee von 8i ist sicherlich nicht verkehrt, doch die Limitierung auf das Display eines Smartphones oder Tablets wird die Anwendung noch nicht zu einer Killer-App machen. Sollten sich Mixed Reality Brillen aber durchsetzen und 8i stellt regelmäßig neue Aufzeichnungen bereit, dann könnte die Anwendung durchaus eine spannende Zukunft vor sich haben. Gleichzeitig möchte das Unternehmen aber nicht das Virtual Reality Geschäft aus den Augen verlieren. Laut 8i verfolgen beide Anwendungen unterschiedliche Ziele und deshalb möchte man auch beide Bereiche weiter ausbauen.

Phab 2 Pro
Total*: 503,99 EUR Versand*: 4,99 EUR s. Shop Preis kann jetzt höher sein.
Total*: 503,99 EUR Versand*: 4,99 EUR s. Shop Preis kann jetzt höher sein.
Total*: 506,99 EUR Versand*: 7,99 EUR s. Shop Preis kann jetzt höher sein.
Total*: 506,99 EUR Versand*: 7,99 EUR s. Shop Preis kann jetzt höher sein.

(Quelle: Road to VR)

Der Beitrag 8i erhält 27 Millionen US-Dollar an Investitionen und zeigt Holo App zuerst gesehen auf VR∙Nerds. VR·Nerds am Werk!

8i Lands $27M in Series B Funding and Reveals Tango-powered Mixed Reality App ‘Holo’

Volumetric video specialists 8i have announced their latest series B funding round has netted them a further $27 while also unveiling Holo, a mixed reality video app, powered by Google’s Tango technology.

We first reported on 8i back in 2015, when they unveiled their 360 volumetric video capture system, capable of capturing imagery and data from different viewpoints and stitching them back together in realtime, allowing the video to be viewed from different angles.

Now, in addition to the company’s previous 2015 series A funding round, 8i have announced it’s to receive a further $27M in funds from a series of high profile investors including Baidu, Verizon and Time Warner.

Up to now, 8i’s focus has very much been on virtual reality, with an early version of their ‘3D Video’ player launching for the Oculus Rift, even before the consumer version had reached market. However, the company’s latest direction embraces the recent wave of consumer devices to include Google’s ‘Tango’ depth sensing and capture technology. It’s called Holo, and it purports to “bring holograms to consumers” via pre-recorded volumetric video and augmented reality. 8i is making extensive use of the word “hologram” in the colloquial sense, though technically speaking their work does not involve holograms in the optical sense.

The Lenovo Phab Pro 2
The Lenovo Phab Pro 2

“As consumers are augmenting, mixing and creating new content on their smartphones on a massive scale, mobile presents an unparalleled opportunity for distribution of holograms,” said 8i CEO Steve Raymond. “We’re thrilled to have the strategic expertise and backing of leaders in media, technology, and communications as we bring audiences new ways to create and engage with content. With this global round, we look forward to partnering with our investors from the US, China, Europe, and Australia as we bring our technology to consumers worldwide.”

The app, which allows users with Google Tango-enabled phones—such as the recently released Lenovo Phab 2 Pro—is in beta right now with a release set for some time this year. It allows users to capture video of their real world and drop pre-recorded volumetric video ‘avatars’ (captured by 8i) into the scene which then pan and rotate in real time, matching the camera’s movement.

SEE ALSO
Asus 'ZenFone AR' Google Tango, Daydream VR Phone Launched, Specs Revealed
8iStudiosVolCapRig_JonHamm
Actor John Hamm, being captured at 8i’s volumetric video studio

But while Holo looks like enormous fun, what of 8i’s plans for virtual reality? 8i CEO Steve Raymond says, “Our investment into mobile AR in no way diminishes our excitement for the many use cases that are emerging for our holograms in high end VR. What we are seeing are different kind of content creators embracing different forms of content for different consumption platforms.”

Holo is the first, low-cost entry step for content creation using their volumetric assets, but the company has already produced more ambitious projects with higher fidelity visuals, such as Buzz Aldrin’s Cycling Pathways to Mars (below), a “volumetric VR experience powered by 8i holographic technology and designed for HMD’s that enable 6-degrees of freedom,” which is due to premiere at SXSW next month.

8i-buzz-aldrin

“With VR and AR, we’re seeing the very beginning of a new generation of immersive media,” said Scott Levine of Time Warner Investments. “8i makes holographic human content a reality in this new era with its breakthrough volumetric capture technology, while lowering the barrier for creators. We’re excited to back this world-class team as they continue to push the boundaries of data compression and depth acquisition, and bring holograms to the mainstream with Holo on smartphones.”

We’re not sure what to make of Holo itself having not tried it just yet, but with the VR industry still in an embryonic state compared with more established media platforms, 8i’s multi-pronged approach to introducing its immersive technologies to a mass market audience with something fun and accessible is probably a smart move.

The post 8i Lands $27M in Series B Funding and Reveals Tango-powered Mixed Reality App ‘Holo’ appeared first on Road to VR.

Asus ‘ZenFone AR’ Google Tango, Daydream VR Phone Launched, Specs Revealed

Asus have officially unveiled their new Google Tango and Daydream VR certified phone at a press conference at CES 2017 in Las Vegas and the new device packs some impressive hardware inside it’s sleek exterior. Here’s the specs in full.

As per leaked details which made their way on to the web yesterday, Asus has now officially unveiled their Google Tango and Daydream VR certified smartphone to the world, all at a special press conference at CES in Las Vegas and it’s an attractive package. Here are the specs announced thus far.

Asus ZenFone AR Specs:

  • OS: Android 7 (Nougat)
  • RAM: 8GB
  • Screen: 5.7″ 1440 x 2560 AMOLED
  • Cameras: Asus ‘TriCam’ Comprising 3 Rear Sensors.
    • Primary Camera 23mp ‘Sony IMX318’ Image sensor.
  • Processing: Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 SoC with Adreno 530 GPU

Asus claims the ZenFone AR is the first to ship with a hefty 8GB of RAM. Along with that, the company talked up those Google Tango credentials, as the phone ships with 3 onboard image sensors, a primary RGB 23MP affair as well as 2 additional depth sensing devices. This array of course provides the necessary data for Google’s Tango computer vision augmented reality to map real environments with spatial information, captured such that the scanned data can be realised and manipulated instantly inside the phone or pulled out to use in other applications. Augmented reality applications can leverage the TriCam array for SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) inside out tracking which allows the device to gauge its movement through 3D space, allowing augmented imagery to be overlaid convincingly on to a real-world environment. That’s the theory at least.

zenphone-ar-large-front-backFinally, the ZenFone AR joins the exclusive Daydream VR certified club, offering a nice alternative to Google’s Pixel phone series. ZenFone AR’s screen is 5.7 inches, larger than the Pixel XL’s with the same resolution, 1440p. Thanks to that Daydream certification though, it’ll work just fine inside Google’s ‘View’ VR headset, launched alongside the Pixel last year.

Up until now Google’s Tango has been an awkward curio, originally relegated to bulky unattractive phones and tablets. The Asus ZenFone AR, now offers both Tango and Daydream functionality in an attractive, every-day package hopefully giving both initiatives a boost with potential mainstream audiences.

There’s no launch date or price yet set for the Asus ZenFone AR.

The post Asus ‘ZenFone AR’ Google Tango, Daydream VR Phone Launched, Specs Revealed appeared first on Road to VR.

New Asus ‘Zenfone AR’ to be Daydream VR and Tango Ready, Leak Details

Asus’ latest smartphone, the Zenfone AR, has had its details leaked ahead of its CES 2017 unveiling tomorrow and the new device packs hardware certified for use with on both Google’s Android Daydream VR and Tango platforms.

CES isn’t officially underway yet but traditionally the eve of the show (that’s today folks) is a time ripe for leaks, early sneak peeks and all manner of rumours before the shop proper starts. We’ve already heard about the new Qualcomm mobile Snapdragon 835 SoC which seems set to power mobile VR and AR devices for the next generation, but according to a leaked blog post (yes, another one) the latest Asus Zenfone 3 will feature the firm’s older 821 chipset.

According to the now removed blog post and spotted by GSMArena (among others), the latest Google Tango capable phone has been revealed accidentally in a blog post leak which, along with some snippets of information, also give us a sneak peek at the front and rear of the phone. Based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 mobile processor, the Asus Zenfone AR is the first phone to be both Google Tango and Daydream VR certified – sporting the requisite cameras, IMUs and raw grunt to deliver the goods for both platforms.

SEE ALSO
Google Daydream Review: Casual VR Closes the Gap

Google’s Project Tango is an augmented reality focused initiative which uses depth cameras, motion tracking and positional information to create real-time, 3D maps of your environment. Daydream is of course the new virtual reality platform integrated with the latest Android 7.1 OS release. Daydream is Google’s next generation VR platform which it launched in November alongside the first smartphone certified for use with Daydream and the ‘View’ VR headset designed specifically for utilising it.

SEE ALSO
Google's 'Project Tango' Competition Winners Showcase the Tech's Potential

The post New Asus ‘Zenfone AR’ to be Daydream VR and Tango Ready, Leak Details appeared first on Road to VR.

Motorola Moto Z: Erstes Daydream Smartphone mit Google Tango?

Mit dem Moto Z gibt es bereits ein Smartphone von Motorola (Lenovo), welches bereit für das Google Daydream System ist. Auf der anderen Seite gibt es von Lenovo das Phab 2 Pro, welches die Google Tango Technologie integriert hat. Viel besser wäre aber ein Smartphone, welches beide Technologien unterstützt. Könnte eventuell das Moto Z um diese Möglichkeit erweitert werden?

Erstes Daydream Smartphone mit Google Tango?

moto-z-google-tango-insta-share

Projektor-Aufsatz für das Moto Z

Motorola bietet für das Moto Z diverse Modifikationen an, mit denen das Smartphone erweitert werden kann. Wie Engadget berichtet, hat Aymar de Lencquesaing, President von Motorola Mobility, auf einem Event in Chicago gesagt, dass AR eine Technologie für Smartphones sei, die bleiben wird. Außerdem möchte das Unternehmen in diesem Bereich eine führende Rolle einnehmen.

Das Phab 2 Pro wurde nicht für das Daydream System optimiert und kann daher auch keinen Support nachgereicht bekommen. Für das Moto Z könnte Motorola aber ein Modul veröffentlichen, mit dem das Smartphone mit der Google Tango Technologie ausgestattet wird. Theoretisch könnte mit Tango das Smartphone sogar Positional Tracking für Virtual Reality Anwendungen ermöglichen. Doch auch wenn dies nicht mit Google Daydream machbar ist, so würde Motorola mit diesem Produkt trotzdem eine große Zeilgruppe ansprechen, denn VR und AR gehen Hand in Hand.

Die zusätzlichen Module bezeichnet Motorola als „Moto Mods“. Dies sind nicht nur kleine ansteckbare Zubehörteile, sonders eine komplette Rückseite mit neuer Technik. Das Smartphone wird zwar deutlich dicker, doch der Platz sollte dadurch ausreichen, um die Tango Technologie zu verstauen.

Wir sind gespannt ob und wann Motorola diesen Schritt gehen wird.

(Quelle: Upload VR)

 

Der Beitrag Motorola Moto Z: Erstes Daydream Smartphone mit Google Tango? zuerst gesehen auf VR∙Nerds. VR·Nerds am Werk!

Moto Z Might Be The First Phone To Support Both Daydream And Tango

Moto Z Might Be The First Phone To Support Both Daydream And Tango

We often daydream about a tango with a smartphone that supports both great VR and AR, but such a device may soon be a reality.

A few weeks ago, we reported that Motorola’s latest flagship phone, the Moto Z, would be the next handset to support Google’s Daydream mobile VR ecosystem. Integration arrived later in the week via an update to Android 7.0. Late last week, however, it also transpired that Moto Z could support another major Google technology, Project Tango.

Tango’s depth-sensing cameras might be added to the phone via Motorola’s Moto Mods concept, which has owners purchasing new modules for their phone and attaching them for a customized experience. According to Engadget, Motorola Mobility president Aymar de Lencquesaing confirmed as much at an event in Chicago, stating that AR on smartphones is “likely to stick” and that the company would “follow, or lead, the market in this area.”

Currently, the only phone to support Tango is the Lenovo Phab Pro 2, which doesn’t integrate Daydream. If a Tango module does release for Moto Z, it could well be the first phone to support both core Google technologies in one device. That means you could be visiting planets in Star Chart one moment, and then bringing the galaxy into your living room with Solar Simulator the next.

Such a device would have enormous potential, but it isn’t likely the two features would actually mix in any way. Tango could one day provide huge benefit to Daydream, possibly using the depth-sensing features to enable inside-out position tracking within a mobile headset, something that’s currently only seen in upcoming devices like the wired Microsoft PC devices and prototype standalone kits like Oculus’ Santa Cruz.

Last month Google told UploadVR that it had “solved” inside-out tracking on mobile VR using Daydream and Tango, but phones simply couldn’t handle both of them without overheating right now. Given that the teams behind the two are working so closely together, it’s a problem that will hopefully be solved sooner rather than later.

Featured Image: AnandTech

Tagged with: , , , , ,

Google Tango: AR Multiplayer Shooter Phantogeist vorgestellt

Die Entwickler von Trixi Studios haben ein neues Spiel für die Google Tango Technologie veröffentlicht. Dieses Spiel bringt einen Shooter in die echte Welt und ist sogar mit einem Multiplayer-Modus ausgestattet, damit ihr gemeinsam auf die Jagd nach Monstern gehen könnt.

Phantogeist

Zum Spielen wird ein Smartphone oder Tablet benötigt, welches mit der Google Tango Technologie ausgestattet ist. Ihr könnt also beispielsweise das Lenovo Phab 2 Pro zum Spielen verwenden. Im Spiel haltet ihr das Smartphone vor euch und die Monster erscheinen in eurer Umgebung und ihr könnt diese abschießen. Das Besondere ist, dass die Objekte nicht deplatziert erscheinen, sondern durch die Tango Technologie auch von Objekten verdeckt werden können.

Damit das Spiel nicht einsam macht, spendieren die Entwickler dem Spiel auch einen Modus, der euch gemeinsam auf die Jagd gehen lässt. In diesem Modus sehen beide Spieler die gleichen Monster auf dem Display und können anschließend gemeinsam diese Monster angreifen.

Auch wenn die Zielgruppe für das Spiel sehr klein ist, so soll es sich bei Phantogeist nicht um eine kleine Tech-Demo handeln. Phantogeist ist ein komplettes Spiel mit verschieden Modi, einer Story und einer Rangliste. Das Spiel ist somit bereits heute ein kleiner Blick in die Zukunft des Spielens. Wenn wir uns ein solches Spiel für Magic Leap oder die HoloLens vorstellen, dann sehen wir ein gutes Verkaufsargument für Augmented Reality Brillen.

Das Spiel steht im Google Play Store für 4,59 Euro bereit. Leider ist das Lenovo Phab 2 Pro aber in Deutschland noch nicht erhältlich.

Der Beitrag Google Tango: AR Multiplayer Shooter Phantogeist vorgestellt zuerst gesehen auf VR∙Nerds. VR·Nerds am Werk!