These people got financing for, among other reasons, they aren\’t inventing any technology, rather are closer to a traditional studio creating Virtual Reality content for clients. That\’s a lot of capital for a seed round!
![\"\"](\"http://uploadvr.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/allumette.jpg\")
This virtual reality \”experience\” (it\’s not really a game) does sound like serious fun…instead of the traditional combat-themed shoot \’em up aggression-based environment, this strives to create an out 0f body experience.
![\"Lucid](\"http://lindaricci775674310.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/lucid-dreams.png\")
The article\’s author says it feels a lot like being Ironman! You\’re floating and sinking and through using your virtual arm and hand positions, interact with different worlds. There is apparently a game component as well….
Virtual and other alternative reality experiencing is going to take off this year. And just like video killed the radio star, it will kill the flat screen video (we are after hyper visual creatures who like escapism). Articles screaming about VR addiction, and treatments, starting in 3…2…1..
Two interesting thought bites today around mind controlled virtual reality (!) + the trials and tribulations of contactless pay.
![\"\"](\"http://uploadvr.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/mindmaze-billion-valuation.jpg\")
First, mind controlled virtual reality. What fascinating technology it is! – they are creating a mind operated virtual reality interface. By combining virtual reality and motion capture with brain machine interfacing, they hope to help patients recover from traumatic events.
It uses electrodes to sense your brainwaves and muscle activity and a proprietary motion capture camera system to “predict” your movement before you make them – and combine this with VR immersion. The company\’s gotten a $100 million cash infusion from the Hinduja Group, for a $1 billion valuation. Not bad for technology that doesn\’t really exist yet.
Curious how it will solve for the disorientation that happens when your eyes/brain think you\’re moving, but your body senses that it really isn\’t.
And the second interesting find today: How unscrupulous people are taking advantage of contactless pay (much more prevalent in the UK than in the US) to randomly steal in crowded situations. If you\’re not familiar, it\’s when all you have to do to pay it tap your card: no verification needed.
![\"tube1\"](\"http://lindaricci.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/tube1-746x1024.jpg\")
I am curious how this scam works though: someone bumps into you / your card with a point of sale device, which instantly transfers (swipes) some money. Into what account (where he can receive it and not be caught)? – there has to be a recipient account??
I understand there are safe guards in place to deal with this, namely transactions are held in limbo for a freeze period, and you can of course contest it if you see it in your account.
And I\’m curious if there\’s a way to \”swipe\” from one currency to another – i.e. take dollars/pounds and instantly (after the freeze period by your card\’s bank) deposit it into a Bitcoin (untraceable) account.
Personally I think Apple pay\’s biometric confirmation (finger swipe to approve transaction) a safe deal….I mean really, how many seconds do you really need to save for convenience? WHAT DO PEOPLE DO WITH ALL THESE EXTRA SECONDS??!
Enquiring minds want to know.
A fascinating look at the history of virtual reality
![\"\"](\"https://lindaricci775674310.files.wordpress.com/2016/01/e6715-1452199664117.jpg\")
All three areas that were \”hot\” this year at CES this year: robots, drones, and virtual reality – are a subset of the larger trend of artificial intelligence.
![\"\"](\"http://www.iamdigitalnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/ces-2.jpg\")
www.indestry.com/blog/2016/1/7/the-forgotten-ancestors-of-virtual-reality
…and the problem is that sub standard graphics display in a VR headset (the kind you might get with a computer that can\’t handle the graphics) can easily make you queasy, dizzy, or sick.
![\"\"](\"http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/568a45b9dd0895e6298b45a1-480/samsung-gear-vr.jpg\")
Read more at Business Insider.
Every flight attendant\’s dream! Rows of people completely immersed in being somewhere else 🙂
Read more at Tech Crunch
![\"\"](\"https://tctechcrunch2011.files.wordpress.com/2015/12/img_18971.jpg?w=1020&h=765\")
![\"\"](\"http://uploadvr.com/wp-content/uploads/bfi_thumb/Oculus-Rift-Room-Scale-mldj5ch07linukgm9sdla2e1xf7quw963yg94szb1m.jpg\")
Reminds me of the short science fiction story where the children let the virtual reality room lion eat their parents when they try to take them out of the VR room (The Veldt by Ray Bradbury) …. from Upload VR: \”This could be an interesting twist in the upcoming VR wars but Palmer thinks room scale is \”fantasy that few games will utilize.”
More info @ Upload VR
Reminds me of the short science fiction story where the children let the virtual reality room lion eat their parents when they try to take them out of the VR room (The Veldt by Ray Bradbury) …. from Upload VR: \”This could be an interesting twist in the upcoming VR wars but Palmer thinks room scale is \”fantasy that few games will utilize.”
More info @ Upload VR
As an old ex-Second Lifer, and a huge fan of the commercial applications for both Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality; would love it if Second Life had, well, a second life.
For those who aren\’t familiar with it, Second Life was (is, still) a 3D virtual world launched in 2003, where you could buy an \”island\” and create/interact with your own virtual world (or other people\’s). It got a lot of flack for being uber-geek at the time (although a lot of real money was made there by buying and selling both virtual real estate and goods).
It did always feel somehow wrong, though, that you interacted with a virtual 3d world through a flat screen – and clunky keyboard commands.
So the recent announcement that it is planning on becoming fully immersive with virtual reality goggles (with the Oculus Rift. although there are others), to have a working version available by the early next year and a commercial release before the end of 2016 was exciting news.
I always thought the concept of losing yourself in a virtual world of your own creation a very powerful idea. Different than a game because there isn\’t a goal, different than an immersive movie because you drive the story. Truly, a Second Life. The appeal is of course enormous. People will get lost in it as the \”real\” world seems gray and boring in comparison.
![\"Second](\"http://lindaricci.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Second-Life-living-room.jpg\")
{I also always thought it interesting that instead of creating wildly different \”realities\” though, people often created houses with fireplaces, sofas, and oil paintings on the wall. Given that the normal constraints of physics don\’t apply, why didn\’t the majority of people create wildly fantastical alternative realities?}.
Time will tell if Second Life has another chance. There are a lot more competitors out there now, and the incredibly high quality of the game graphics – with VR headsets – is going to give it a run for its money. But I think there will be a niche for people who don\’t want to engage in a pre-scripted manner, to create the reality *they* want. Even it it\’s as mundane as a living room, couch, and fireplace.