Category: Lenovo

Posted on

Lenovo Puts Education Front and Centre With VR Classroom 2

Supporting educational use cases for virtual reality (VR) is becoming an important addition for plenty of companies working in this space, from small developers like Schell Games with HoloLAB Champions or HistoryMaker VR to a 50-foot rocket ship for the SpaceBuzz programme. Continuing its support for VR education is tech giant Lenovo, recently announcing VR Classroom 2.

Lenovo VR Classroom 2

Designed as a complete solution allowing teachers to integrate VR into their lessons, Lenovo VR Classroom 2 is specifically for middle schools and high schools. Provided with Lenovo Mirage VR S3 hardware, content, training, and support, diverse curriculum-mapped experiences have been created for students, covering STEM, virtual tours, and career exploration.

Powered by Lenovo’s ThinkReality platform for easy headset deployment by IT staff and LanSchool so that teachers can smoothly use VR in their classrooms, there’s also optional hardware, accessories, and professional development available. Additionally, online ­and­ onsite training is provided.

“Preparing young people for the careers of tomorrow requires smarter technology and a reliable partner to support deployment. Teachers value the unbounded possibilities VR experiences bring to students when it is to easy-to-use and fully supported,” said Rich Henderson, Director of Global Education Solutions at Lenovo in a statement. “Whether it’s taking a virtual field trip inside DNA strands to teach a unit on genetic engineering, or a guided tour of the Colosseum in Ancient Rome in history class – Lenovo’s VR Classroom 2 offers a seamless journey for educators and students.”

Learning / Education

The Lenovo Mirage VR S3 looks to be a fairly standard 3DoF VR headset and controller, offering 1920×2160 resolution (per eye), a Qualcomm 835 SOC, 64GB of onboard storage (expandable to 256GB with an SD card), 75hz refresh rate, built-in audio, 110° FoV and USB-C charging.

For teachers and other interested educational professionals, details regarding specific courses and costs have yet to be revealed with Lenovo VR Classroom 2 scheduled for availability Spring 2020. As further information regarding VR Classroom 2 is released VRFocus will let you know.

Posted on

Lenovo Partners with Varjo to Validate Enterprise PCs as ‘Certified for Varjo’

Varjo, maker of ‘bionic eye’ headsets, is gaining increasing notoriety as the high-end option in the enterprise VR space. This week Varjo announced a partnership with Lenovo which will see the PC maker specially certifying some of its enterprise workstation computers to designate compatibility with the headset.

Similar to the ‘Oculus Ready’ program in which Oculus tests and badges gaming PCs with an ‘Oculus Ready’ sticker, Lenovo will begin designating some of its enterprise PCs as ‘Certified for Varjo’ to make it easier for businesses to identify and purchase machines that have the necessary power and ports to run Varjo’s headsets.

While HTC has a strong presence in the enterprise space, Varjo is targeting the high-end of that sector with its ~$5,000 headsets. The company’s headsets feature a novel lens and display arrangement which provide a small window of retina resolution fidelity in the center of a wider field (and lower resolution) of view. This makes the headsets uniquely useful for some enterprise use-cases, especially those which value being able to easily read realistically sized text or see textures and other details with high precision. As such, Varjo has positioned its headsets as being ideal for design, architecture, high-end training, and more.

SEE ALSO
Varjo Launches VR-2 Headset with SteamVR Support, Improved 'Bionic Display', and Hand-tracking Option

And that’s where the Lenovo partnership (described as a “technical and business collaboration” between the companies) comes into play. Next to its consumer PC line, Lenovo also sells high-end enterprise workstations under its ThinkStation and ThinkPad product lines. These machines are often built specifically for performance, security, and reliability. However, workstations aren’t always equipped with the kind of high-end graphics power required for VR, let alone headsets like Varjo’s which need to run two displays per eye.

To make it easy for enterprise customers to identify and buy Varjo-capable machines without needing to get into the technicals weeds, Lenovo will designate some of its enterprise PCs as ‘Certified for Varjo’, though it’s unclear if this will be represented with a physical badge on the machines, as we’ve seen with similar certification and badging programs.

Image courtesy Varjo

This is a boon for Varjo; not only is Lenovo one of the worlds largest PC manufacturers, they also have a strong reputation in the enterprise space specifically; their sales channels could bring additional business to Varjo thanks to the big business proximity.

Lenovo itself also has a growing reputation in the VR space. The company manufacturers the Oculus Rift S headset, as well as the Mirage Solo standalone headset; the Varjo partnership adds to the company’s clout as a recognized player in the VR space while also working to boost the profile of Varjo. The inroads made through this “technical and business collaboration” may ultimately go deeper than mere product certification in the future.

The post Lenovo Partners with Varjo to Validate Enterprise PCs as ‘Certified for Varjo’ appeared first on Road to VR.

Posted on

Lenovo Plans Sleek AR Glasses That Let PC Users See Multiple Workspaces

Nreal captured plenty of attention with the January reveal of its smartphone-tethered Light AR glasses for consumers, and now Lenovo has revealed a similarly small alternative targeted at PC business users. While these glasses won’t be confused with sunglasses, the Lenovo AR Concept Glasses are small enough to carry anywhere and wear — a bit awkwardly — in public, where the company expects they’ll help workers access virtual workspaces from the road.

The goal, Lenovo explains, is to use AR to give a user visual privacy while working in a public space, as well as the option to view multiple screens at once. Rather than trying to create an entirely new platform or set of apps, the company wants PC users to be able to access the work, social media, and game software they already own, but within the glasses as needed.

Lenovo hasn’t disclosed the full specs for the glasses yet, but they appear to include three front-facing cameras, support for prescription lenses, and a wire to connect to a laptop. In a video, Lenovo shows them working with a ninth-generation Intel Core i7- and GeForce GTX-powered PC; the minimum specs are not yet clear.

The company’s approach may well be prescient. Rivals such as Magic Leap and Microsoft have attempted to develop entirely new platforms around their AR headsets, requiring the purchase and actual wearing of new computing hardware to experience the benefits of augmented reality. While companies such as Nreal, Qualcomm, and Apple have seemingly focused on smartphone-tethered solutions that might be used everywhere — and require full-room mapping to prevent accidents — Lenovo’s approach would narrow the scope of user movement to a chair, and focus largely on simpler use cases.

So far, there’s no pricing or release date for the headset, which is being shown this week at Lenovo’s Beijing edition of Tech World. The company has previously marketed Star Wars-themed AR solutions for kids and Mirage Solo VR headsets that have recently been used for pediatric medical applications.

This post by Jeremy Horwitz originally appeared on VentureBeat. 

The post Lenovo Plans Sleek AR Glasses That Let PC Users See Multiple Workspaces appeared first on UploadVR.

Posted on

Lenovo Unveils New AR Headset Prototype Aimed at Business Travelers

At Lenovo’s Tech World conference in Beijing, the Chinese tech giant unveiled a new AR headset prototype that aims to appeal to business travelers on-the-go.

Officially called the Lenovo AR Concept Glasses, the headset features a relatively small and sleek profile, no doubt in part because the headset connects to a PC via cable, meaning it likely doesn’t hold an on-board SoC or built-in battery like Microsoft’s standalone AR headset HoloLens. The news was first reported by German publication MIXED.

The concept AR glasses are said to let users simulate multiple monitors, with the added benefit of user privacy so that you can work in a public space, like on a train, without having to worry about someone looking over your shoulder.

Although it’s uncertain if Lenovo intend to actually produce the AR glasses, the company did say the virtual monitor use case is “just one of the many features coming soon on the new Lenovo AR glasses,” which could imply the company is looking to flesh out its capabilities in effort to launch the device to business-savvy travelers.

As it is now, the glasses appear to feature three sensors and what could be ‘bird bath’ style optics, much like the Nreal headset shown off at CES 2019 in January. This is however conjecture at this point, as the company hasn’t publicly specified any of the headset’s specs.

Image courtesy Lenovo

Most recently, Lenovo launched its ThinkReality A6 HMD back in May, an AR headset, that like HoloLens, is targeting business applications.

A few months later, the company announced a refresh of Lenovo Mirage AR, its consumer-focused AR headset. Originally launched in 2018 alongside its sole title, Star Wars: Jedi Challenges (2018), the headset is now said to arrive with 6DOF controllers and a new AR game, MARVEL Dimension of Heroes.

The post Lenovo Unveils New AR Headset Prototype Aimed at Business Travelers appeared first on Road to VR.

Posted on

Lenovo Mirage AR Relaunched With MARVEL Dimension of Heroes

Remember the Lenovo Mirage AR headset from 2017 and the only videogame available for it, Star Wars: Jedi Challenges? If you didn’t drop £250 GBP on the device then possibly not, as it was a bit of a one-trick pony. However, Lenovo isn’t giving up on augmented reality (AR) launching a new Mirage AR device alongside a new smartphone experience MARVEL Dimension of Heroes.

Lenovo Mirage AR

To be clear the headset isn’t new just the AR videogame and the two 6 degrees-of-freedom (6DoF) Universal Controllers that comes in the kit. Going on sale in the US today for $249.99 USD via Amazon.com and Lenovo.com, the new bundle allows you to step into the shoes of six Marvel superheroes – Doctor Strange, Captain America, Thor, Black Panther, Captain Marvel and Star-Lord.

Using those new controllers you’ll be able to punch, slice and blast your way through an original Marvel story in Story Mode, in which the Dread Dormammu, Lord of the Dark Dimension, launches a surprise attack on Earth with his alliance of Super-Villains, including Loki, Ronan the Accuser, Ultron Prime and the Winter Soldier.

As well as Story Mode, MARVEL Dimension of Heroes also features a Survival Mode to fend off waves of enemies and Co-Op Mode, battling evil forces side-by-side with a friend in the same room, competing against each other for high scores.

Lenovo Mirage AR with MDOH_Gameplay Still_1

“Lenovo Mirage AR with MARVEL Dimension of Heroes is another milestone demonstrating Lenovo and Marvel’s shared passion for bringing rich, immersive consumer experiences to life through smarter technology. After years of close collaboration with Disney starting from Star Wars: Jedi Challenges, we’re excited to expand this incredibly fun and interactive experience for more gamers and especially Marvel fans to enjoy,” said Johnson Jia, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Consumer Business of Intelligent Devices Group, Lenovo in a statement.

The new Lenovo Mirage AR headset bundle is compatible with Star Wars: Jedi Challenges, with both titles freely available to download on iOS and Android devices.

And what if you own the previous Lenovo Mirage AR version with the lightsaber? Well, you might have guessed that due to that controller you won’t be able to play MARVEL Dimension of Heroes. Lenovo has said the Universal Controllers will be sold separately but as yet no pricing or availability has been mentioned.

As further details are released regarding the Lenovo Mirage AR headset, VRFocus will let you know.

Posted on

Lenovo Mirage AR Headset Returns with New Marvel Game & 6DOF Controllers

Lenovo first released its smartphone-powered Mirage AR headset last year alongside its sole title, Star Wars: Jedi Challenges (2018), a collection of short AR games that let you do things like fight Darth Vader & Co. with a lightsaber-shaped controller, play HoloChess, and challenge the Empire in a tabletop RTS. Now, Lenovo is returning with a new AR game, MARVEL Dimension of Heroes, and a pair of 6DOF controllers too.

Mirage AR’s new Marvel title is said to let you jump into the boots of six super heroes—Doctor Strange, Captain America, Thor, Black Panther, Captain Marvel, and Star-Lord—and battle against super villains in an original story.

Besides saving the world in story mode, the game also boasts a wave-based survival mode (online leaderboards included), and an admittedly pretty intriguing local co-op mode, which lets two Mirage AR users connect to the same Wi-Fi network and duke it out side-by-side against the game’s super villains, Loki, Ronan the Accuser, Ultron Prime, and the Winter Soldier.

In addition, the new bundle will also include a pair of what Lenovo is calling its ‘Universal Controllers’, two wireless 6DOF controllers that will let you use both hands to punch, slice and blast away.

1 of 3
Image courtesy Lenovo
Image courtesy Lenovo
Image courtesy Lenovo

Like last year’s bundle, the system also comes with an external tracking beacon, which helps provide stable 6DOF tracking for the headset, and both its Universal Controllers and previously bundled lightsaber controller.

Lenovo is selling its MARVEL Dimension of Heroes AR headset bundle for $250 in the US starting today on Amazon.com and Lenovo.com.

SEE ALSO
Oculus Explains Rift S Design & Manufacturing Partnership with Lenovo

Users who own the new bundle will also be able to play Star Wars: Jedi Challenges, ostensibly using one of the tracked Universal Controllers as a substitute lightsaber.

Marvel Dimension of Heroes is a free download for iOS and Android. The headset itself supports a wide array of flagship phones including: iPhone X series, iPhone 8/Plus, iPhone 7/Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 6 series, Samsung Galaxy S9, S8, S7 series, Google Pixel XL, Google Pixel, Moto Z2 Force, Moto Z, LG G6. Mate 10, Mate 10 Pro, Nova 2S, Xiaomi MIX2, Sony Xperia XZ1.

Although we haven’t seen a separate store listing for Universal Controllers yet, Lenovo maintains that they will be purchasable through its website at some point. Considering however that the original Star Wars bundle now costs $50 on Amazon (originally priced at $200), we’ll be interested to see how the company intends on pricing its controllers, which despite the name, are entirely locked into the Mirage AR platform.

While it’s clear Lenovo Mirage AR isn’t a traditional hardware platform as such—it only has two games for now—it’s good to see that the company hasn’t abandoned it entirely, which would have placed it more abruptly in the ‘expensive gimmick’ territory I mentioned last year.

Now that it has two 6DOF controllers, it would be interesting to see whether Lenovo decides to open Mirage AR up to more developers looking to create for what could be an augmented reality Cardboard platform in the making, or whether it continues on as a two-trick pony.

The post Lenovo Mirage AR Headset Returns with New Marvel Game & 6DOF Controllers appeared first on Road to VR.

Posted on

Hands-On With Marvel Dimension Of Heroes, Lenovo’s New AR Game

Marvel Dimension of Heroes is a brand-new AR experience from Lenovo that puts you in the shoes of six of the most iconic Marvel heroes as the AR follow up to Star Wars: Jedi Challenges.

A few weeks ago Lenovo invited me to an office space in San Francisco, CA to get a look at their latest AR product, which combines the headset they shipped with Star Wars: Jedi Challenges with two brand new Valve Index knuckles-like controllers alongside the Marvel IP. The end result is Marvel Dimension of Heroes, a brand-new AR experience that lets you play as six of the most iconic heroes from the Marvel universe (Captain Marvel, Dr. Strange, Black Panther, Star Lord, Thor, and Captain America) across three game modes.

Marvel Dimension of Heroes AR Trailer:

The three game modes included are Story Mode, Survival Mode, and Co-Op Mode. Predictably, the Story Mode is split into six parts, one for each of the heroes, that has you take control of them and their popular powers to fight off enemies. The plot revolves around the Dread Dormammu, Lord of the Dark Dimension, attacking earth. At the end of each hero’s collection of battles you’ll fight one of their most iconic villains such as Ronan the Accuser for Star Lord, Loki for Thor, and so on.

According to the developers the Story Mode is mostly a series of training scenarios for the Survival Mode which is where they expect most people to spend their time thanks to the leaderboards and replayable format. It’s basically a bunch of wave shooter levels. Finally there’s Co-Op, but it seems to be restricted to dedicated team-up pairs and you can’t just pick any two heroes that you want. It’s also local co-op only, but you both need the full Lenovo AR kit. They recommend standing side-by-side.

lenovo dimension of heroes star wars jedi challenges mirage ar headset and tracking beacon lenovo mirage ar universal controllers marketing photo marevel dimension of heroes lenovo pack shot image lenovo mirage ar universal controllers

To be clear: it certainly sounds a lot more ambitious than it really is in practice, from what I’ve seen. My demo was only a small slice of Star Lord’s campaign, which is promising from a breadth of content perspective, but it certainly feels like it’ll be a pretty shallow affair. I could shoot my guns, move around to dodge incoming attacks, punch enemies, and charge up my blasters for super attacks. As far as I could tell there weren’t any progression mechanics or ability to do anything during levels other than fight.

At the end of the day you’re still basically playing a wave shooter against translucent holograms via a smartphone-powered AR headset using mirrors to reflect the display in front of your eyes. There is a ceiling for quality with this sort of technology and I’m fairly certain we’ve just about reached it here.

In the case of Star Wars: Jedi Challenges, the fantasy of lightsaber combat married with the surprisingly hefty and high-quality lightsaber controller was a great combination of novelty meets functionality. Over time they rolled out new movie tie-in content as well to keep people engaged. In a post-Endgame era and with a lack of actual MCU-relation, Marvel Dimension of Heroes could be too little too late. That being said, I am basing a lot of this off of a brief demo and short 10-minute presentation from the development team.

david jagneaux lenovo mirage ar marvel dimension of heroes action shot
Look at that intensity.

The ‘Lenovo Mirage AR Device’ package will be available in the US starting tomorrow, September 6, 2019, for $249.99. That price includes the headset, tracking beacon you place on the floor, and two ‘Lenovo Mirage AR Universal Controllers.’ If this is your first foray into Lenovo Mirage AR, this new kit will play both Marvel Dimension of Heroes and the previously released Star Wars: Jedi Challenges experience, both of which are free apps available to download on Google Play and the iOS App Store. You can see a list of compatible smartphones here.

If you already own the original kit, which included the headset, tracking beacon, and a unique lightsaber-shaped controller, then you’ll be able to buy the two new controllers separately to upgrade since they’re required for the Marvel Dimension of Heroes experience.

For more details make sure and keep an eye on the official website!

The post Hands-On With Marvel Dimension Of Heroes, Lenovo’s New AR Game appeared first on UploadVR.

Posted on

ThinkReality A6 Is Lenovo’s New HoloLens And Magic Leap Competitor

Lenovo ThinkReality A6

One has to admire Lenovo’s determination in both the AR and VR markets. Since late 2017 the company has launched a Windows VR headset, standalone Google Daydream device, its own phone-powered AR gaming platform and, in a few weeks, will help Oculus bring the Rift S to market. That’s a lot of headsets in the space of 18 months, but it’s not done.

Yesterday the tech giant announced the ThinkReality A6, a new enterprise-focused AR headset. From the looks of it, it’s the company’s answer to both HoloLens and Magic Leap. Like those headsets, ThinkReality A6 consists of a pair of see-through lenses that can project virtual images into the real world. You interact with this content using a three degrees of freedom (3DOF) motion controller similar to Magic Leap One. HoloLens 2, meanwhile, uses hand-tracking.

Sticking with the Magic Leap comparisons, the device is also powered by a compute box it’s tethered to. It features Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845 Mobile XR platform and an Intel Movidius Vision Processing Unit. This helps keep the headset light, weighing in at 380g. It also has a 40-degree diagonal field of view. That’s about 10 degrees smaller than those offered by Magic Leap One and HoloLens 2. Display resolution is 1080p per-eye and there’s also integrated eye-tracking.

As we said, this is an enterprise-focused device, so don’t expect to see games like on Lenovo’s Star Wars AR headset. In fact, Lenovo is also launching a wider ThinkReality platform designed to make both AR and VR applications compatible across different operating systems, cloud services and devices. There isn’t much other info out there right now.

As for pricing and release date, no updates yet. Given that this is a business-first device, though, we wouldn’t expect to be able to simply order it online.

Tagged with: , , ,

The post ThinkReality A6 Is Lenovo’s New HoloLens And Magic Leap Competitor appeared first on UploadVR.