world economic forum – Augmented & Virtual Reality Confabulation

July 3, 2018

Report Shows How Digital Technology is Transforming Construction

A report from the world Economic Forum has shown that digital technology including 3D printing, augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) could save the construction industry up to $1.7 trillion (USD) globally within 10 years.

The report was compiled y a close collaboration between the Consolidated Contractors Company, Boston Consulting Group and the World Economic Forum. The report highlights new digital technologies that are disrupting a range of industries, and posits that stakeholders can no longer afford to ignore the changes brought about by these new technologies.

Areas that were pinpointed by the report include business information modelling, 3D printing wireless sensors, digital range-finding and autonomous equipment. There is also note made of the impact of robotics, artificial intelligence and cloud technology.

The Member of the Steering Committee for the Future of Construction Initiative, Consolidated Contractors Company Manager M.I.S. & Business Processes Re-engineering, Aref Boualwan, said: “The three futuristic scenarios we identified in the report are extreme, but conceivable – they analyze how multiple current megatrends could establish different versions of a future world. The scenarios – ‘Building in a virtual world’, ‘Factories run the world’ and ‘A green reboot’ are not designed to predict the future – but to help us prepare for emerging trends.”

Boualwan further commented that the pace of change in this area has been very rapid in recent years: “Initiatives like wireless equipment, cloud & real-time collaboration, 3D scanning/printing and augmented reality and visualization. We have seen digital technologies completely transform global industries in recent years – from social media to e-commerce and digital based mobility companies. But only very recently have digital technologies begun to emerge in the engineering and construction industry. This is the way of the future – and this report will help companies across the industry adequately prepare for it.”

Further information on the report can be found on the World Economic Forum website. For future coverage of news and developments from the VR and AR industry, keep checking back with VRFocus.

January 22, 2018

HTC Vive Collaborates With World Economic Forum as Part of VR/AR for Impact Initiative

A year ago, as part of HTC Vive’s on going drive to see virtual reality (VR) reach the farthest corners of the globe, the company launched VR for Impact, a $10 million USD initiative created to support positive impact and change in collaboration with the United Nations (UN). Today, HTC Vive has announced a partnership with the World Economic Forum (WEF) to drive the VR/AR for Impact initiative forward.

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The announcement has come while VR/AR for Impact is showcasing its latest content at the United Nation’s Sustainable Impact Hub at the WEF 2018 in Davos. WEF will be a core member of the group,with HTC Vive continuing to design and create experiences as part of their collaborative, ongoing commitment to foster and champion the use of VR and augmented reality (AR) to educate and empower humanity.

“The challenges our world faces today have never been greater, and humanity needs a clearer understanding and guidance to help solve global issues,” said Cher Wang, Chairwoman and CEO, HTC in a statement. “Unlike any other medium, Virtual Reality is able to immerse the global audience in literally any experience, and can help us learn, empathize and transform the world. VR/AR for Impact is a unique way of driving critical awareness toward problems and solutions facing mankind.”

“We see so much untapped potential with VR/AR to drive positive outcomes for society in areas such as health and education, and we are looking forward to working with leaders in this space to build up this initiative in the coming years,” says Lauren Joseph, leader of the Electronics Industry Program at World Economic Forum.

Last April, VR/AR for Impact chose several experiences which were among the lineup shown this week at WEF 2018. These included: Tree, Life, The Extraordinary Honey Bee, The Blank Canvas: Hacking Nature, Orthovr and Awavena.

Awavena is a collaboration between the Amazonian Yawanawa and an artist, melding technology and transcendent experiences. The Yawanawa ‘medicine’ has the power to take you on a journey, and Hushuhu, the first woman shaman of the Yawanawa, uses VR like medicine to open a portal to another way of knowing.

All these experiences will be made available to attendees at the World Economic Forum at the UN’s Sustainable Impact Hub this week. For any further updates on VR/AR for Impact, keep reading VRFocus.

January 19, 2017

Vive To Spend $10 Million on VR Projects That ‘Create Positive Impact’

Tonight at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland HTC Vive announced that it will devote $10 million “to drive VR content and technologies that will create positive impact and change,” according to a company spokesperson.

Vive is pledging these funds through a new program called VR for Impact. The money will also be used in conjunction with the United Nations’ “Sustainable Development Goals by 2030” platform. According to an official Vive statement:

“Virtual Reality provides a tremendous opportunity to develop and share ideas in impactful ways that lead to change, and through VR for Impact, HTC Vive will fund and support content and technologies that create the most powerful experiences to transform our world.

….Virtual Reality’s ability to immerse people into an experience is unmatched, and VR can drive the world to act on global issues the human race is facing. Through VR for Impact, HTC Vive is committing $10 million dollars to industry partners and content developers to create experiences that improve awareness, education, and lead to action.”

The HTC Vive VR headset

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals is a coalition effort that aims to call corporations, nonprofits and other organizations to action in support of the world’s most impoverished and marginalized peoples. The platform includes 17 stated goals that include “No Poverty, Zero Hunger, Quality Education and Gender Equality” among others.

“HTC Vive will fund the best ideas using Virtual Reality that truly drive awareness and positive change in our world,” said Chairwoman and CEO of HTC, Cher Wang, in a prepared statement. “We encourage all players in the VR eco-system to join as only together can we drive real impact.”

One of Vive’s potential partners in the VR for Impact campaign, the World Food Program, believes that the company’s immersive prospects could significantly drive forward charitable causes by engaging society through empathy.

“There are millions of untold stories in every crisis, especially on the front lines where much of our work takes place,”said Corinne Woods, Director of Communications for the World Food Program. “HTC’s support of new ways to tell important stories, and help in shaping innovation for the UN’s sustainable development agenda, will build on the impact of our work and take it in new and exciting directions.”

As of today, Vive is calling for ideas that could become a part of its VR for Impact initiative and will announce the first winners on “Earth Day” April 22, 2017.

Vive’s chief competitor, Oculus, also has a similar program called VR for Good.

Tagged with: 10 million, money, positive impact, united nations, Vive, VR for Impact, world economic forum