More of these apps really need to be put out there but would it kill car showrooms?? Probably not because we do like to sit in and go for that test drive but VR is another approach to take into account which many companies are doing now and there is no harm in it at all. If you cant afford a supercar though VR will be the alternative route to take until you win the lotto.
However whilst this is not by any means a functional experience or one you can fully interact with there is room for improvement here and an idea as to what we can see later on and would certainly be welcome by users too. I was a little underwhelmed with this app and expected more but its nice nonetheless and gives us an idea of what can be done going forward.
RelayCars™ is your VR Portal to an immersive, non-gaming automotive experience. Explore cars inside and out in the RelayCars™ Virtual Showrooms, take a Virtual Walk-around cars on the beach or in a warehouse, hear engines roar, take a Virtual Test Drive, watch car videos in the RelayCars™ Virtual Cinema and share the experience with your social network.
The RCSI – Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland have created the worlds first medical training simulator which is now available to download free to the general public and features an interactive alternative mode for the non-medical user, including guides and explanations for each step.This though is just available on the Oculus store for the Samsung Gear VR as pictured below. There however is quite a few good medical apps out there today which can be found on iTunes and the Play Store but none at are in this league…
The RCSI VR Medical Training Sim app puts medical professionals and trainees in the shoes of the Emergency Department trauma team leader where they must assess the patient, make life or death decisions in real time and perform life-saving operative procedures as a surgeon would in a real emergency room.
Commenting on the launch of the RCSI VR Medical Training Sim app, Donncha Ryan, Learning Technology Manager, RCSI said; “Virtual reality is the most radical technological change we’ve seen since the mobile phone and the opportunities it poses for education are vast. This app gives surgical trainees a lasting memory of a real immersive trauma room experience, which is much more valuable than just learning about it in a classroom.”
Developed in conjunction with Immersive Education VR, the app has been released to the public on the Oculus Virtual Reality platform (Samsung Gear VR). The virtual reality (VR) app is focussed on providing both undergraduate medical students and post-graduate medical and surgical trainees with new learning opportunities.
RCSI has become the first higher education institution in the world to release a VR surgical training application on the publicly available platform, furthering its commitment to exploring new technologies to enhance education. This new technology makes simulated training available in a mobile form, making it more accessible and affordable for trainees when access to high-end surgical simulators is not possible. The app has had over 65,000 downloads since it previewed on the Samsung Gear VR app store in May 2016.
OK so we now have a look at food via VR was only a matter of time but perhaps this is a little different and a insight on what goes on behind the scenes before we pick up our menu in the local restaurant or fast food chain. Recently enough it also has been a topic of discussion not only here in Ireland but in many countries around the world and the topic is focusing on how to produce more WITH LESS. Yes the less meat we eat the better for the environment and our carbon footprint….and our health apparently but I am no food expert so that can be argued amongst them..
About At The Fork VR..
Filmmaker and omnivore John Papola, together with his vegetarian wife Lisa, offer up a timely and refreshingly unbiased look at how farm animals are raised for our consumption. With unprecedented access to large-scale conventional farms, Papola asks the tough questions behind every hamburger, glass of milk and baby-back rib. What he discovers are not heartless industrialists, but America’s farmers — real people who, along with him, are grappling with the moral dimensions of farming animals for food.
Download At the Fork VR and experience a unique 360-degree tour of the farms and enclosures featured in the critically-acclaimed documentary film AT THE FORK.
Choose to tour the world of animal farming with filmmaker Lisa Versaci, or explore on your own and visit the farms and enclosures that chickens, pigs, and cows call home.
I am a VR head its safe to say,Since the launch of Gear VR I have taken quite an interest in the platform and its something thats interesting and with the ability to see things in a different perspective sure why is it not interesting.. To get that real immersive feeling you need the right tools, At a consumer level Merge VR have pulled it off in every way not only with looks but in all departments.
The consumer wins here you may ask why… Well lets look at Oculus,HTC and the likes you pay big money for the base product and that does not end there you need the hard-wear to back it up,we will need to purchase a laptop or PC that could fly a rocket into space to get the full functional experience of these headsets which again are cumbersome and heavy and over a long period of time your head will hurt. However there are new OEMs to the market with their own headset such as LG but Samsung still win the more favourable and immersive race at a consumer level price which can reach the masses,but the content lacks,to be fair it does all round in the VR race…Yes I have tried HTC Vive and Oculus here at some events they are indeed great but they will not have mass market appeal and the cost is for now too much…
Google-cardboard is one example of how they have mass market appeal,its cheap and cheerful but the overall experience is not overwhelming but it does give you an insight as to where we are going in the future,there is a multitude of offerings out there with many variations of cardboard viewers and now its a thing for companies to make their own and pass on to the consumer.. Not a bad thing especially for marketing as we now see many companies using VR as a tool to sell their product..
This MERGE VR headset though is unique in every aspect,from the design the thought put into it its looks and its feel,All of the headsets and viewers we see are solid be it either laminated cardboard or a universal type headset which are flooding the market now that is made of solid plastic and whats become the norm just black or white or both,This headset is which is uni bodied is made of foam,its soft to the touch with some components in the mix but when it comes to comfort you are in for a treat.
The packaging
1 / 8
We also have access to BOTH sides of the device be it for your USB cables,power cables and headphones,Yes you can argue we can use bluetooth headphones but hey not everyone has them and again for charging you can get caught out,i have several times and this issue is eradicated with the ability to charge while playing..
Also we have a removable piece on the front which allows the user to maintain camera functionality should you need it this is a clever idea and of course you do not have to use this but its there nonetheless I like the idea alot. We have tried several devices in the headset and they all fit comfortably and feel very secure which is important and with the protection here on this headset it is safe to say should you drop it your device will be fine whereas with other headsets I dont think the result will be the same,see the clip below.. ENOUGH SAID…
Using the headset is also a great experience,the level of comfort is great compared to what I have tried and some I own but remember we are progressing here in the industry so things will change I still like the other headsets I have they are early products and Merge VR have caught onto something before anyone else with their product and you cant blame them for that.. When it comes to long periods of use it remained comfortable since I test many apps and have featured them all here I spend a bit of time trying them out and my experience here was one of comfort and not one of constantly wiping the lens to see what I am doing which is annoying..Its soft on the face and the headbands are also comfortable too..
Like with many headsets we dont need a separate power source your mobile phone is you power so before use you would want to charge it but like the smartphone we now have quick-charging with this headset should you run low on juice you have access to charge it up and keep a power supply which is great,nothing worse than being in the middle of a good video or coaster ride and your battery dies….
The product
Top view
Front view
Air vent
Right side
Left side
Lens
Inside strap
Headband
Removable window
Top front phone slot
Device ports access
Device ports
Headset and Web
2 / 13
To get set up on this is quite simple with a webpage to type into your browser on your device,you do not need to use this particular page and surf for material yourself but this page has some amount of content to check out,Pin the page to your homescreen or place in a folder on your device,If you are interested in VR you should already have a folder called VR or similar. The page you need to check out is https://www.vrstart.com/ or just copy from here and away you go its that simple,the page is nicely presented matching the headset colour, Within the page you can pick from featured content,categories,A-Z,Popular or Paid content..
Overall this headset is fantastic all round for any age group due to its comfort level,functionality and safety it has it all and we would like to thank the guys at Merge VR for sending us this over again..
Some of you will already know that I am a fan of all things Aviation and with Virtual Reality being the latest trend this along with rollercoaster apps are popular with the masses,Aviation though is a completely different kettle of fish as access to the pilots cockpit is very restricted and there might be some that do have access but for the majority we just get a little peak when walking by the door when we board and exit our flight,This app however changes that and puts you in the seat,We often wonder what goes on in there,how things work and what the pilots role is,this is where MENTOUR 360 fixes those very things we wonder about and puts us right in there with the pilots,How cool is that?
About MENTOUR 360
MENTOUR 360 is the result of a cooperation between AVR COMMUNICATION, one of the pioneering companies in the Virtual Reality sector, and MENTOUR PILOT, a training captain, examiner and owner of the MenTour Pilot YouTube channel. Our mission, is to give the possibility to experience the inside of a real cockpit and watch how a professional flight crew works. We want you to feel like a part of the crew in a truly immersive way!We also provide SERVICES such as 360° videos and mobile applications for B2B purposes.
App features
Step into the cockpit of a Boeing 737-800 and experience how a real flight crew handles some challenging situations in a fully immersive 360 degree experience. Put your Virtual Reality headset on and become part of the flight-crew. This is as close as you can get without physically being present in the cockpit. Captain Petter, also known as Mentour Pilot, will engage both his co-pilot Holly and YOU as part of the experience so pay close attention.
Take full advantage of the 360 experience by looking around, follow how the crew-members interact with each other and with the aircraft. To get the most out of the experience, click on the link below to access briefing videos for the individual exercises:
You can use your smartphone to look around but for the most immersive experience we suggest you to use Google Cardboard or any other Virtual Reality headset and headphones.
The exercises are flown without reference to any specific airline Standard Operating Procedures. It is intended as entertainment only and is not to be used for aircraft training of any sort.
The experience includes close to 30 minutes of 360 video so we recommend that you download the app using a Vlan network.
Not only does MENTOR give you the apps they also have some headsets to enjoy the experience too which is an additional welcome for its userbase. You can pick from their shop right HERE
You can check out the Briefing Videosor download the apps below from the respective stores..
Everyone is jumping on the VR bandwagon make no mistake about it and now the Carphone warehouse have too,Considered they do sell plenty of headsets themselves it was only a matter of time before we seen this happen and probably up next will be the networks…
Called the Goji Universal VR Headset its compatible with a range of handsets, for just £39.99 and will go on sale this weekend instore and online in the UK.. There is no word yet about these hitting Irish stores but one could presume it again will be just a matter of time before we see them here.
Dean Kramer, Accessories Director at Carphone Warehouse said: “Everyone should have the opportunity to try the latest VR technology, so we’re bringing a universal headset to our stores for our customers to experience. At just half the price of some other headsets currently available and compatible with a range of handsets, we’d encourage everyone to pop into their local store where our staff will be on hand to assist those looking to test out this latest mobile accessory.”
The Universal VR Headset from Goji takes customers into the cinematic world of virtual reality, where imagination becomes reality, for just £39.99. Users will be able to fully immerse themselves in a virtual reality environment, enjoying new content in the most engaging way possible with 360-degree videos and 3D games.
Built with soft, cushioning and lightweight materials, the Goji Universal VR Headset is comfortable to wear. It connects easily to earphones whilst the charging cable securely holds the phone in place whilst in use.
The VR headset is compatible with most handsets including iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. There’s already a robust catalogue of 3D apps customers can enjoy for Android and iOS including games, films, 360-degree video and experiential content. The headset is also equipped with magnetic controls to pause and resume playback so you never miss a moment.
Join Quark Expeditions, the world leader in polar adventure travel, on an immersive 360° Virtual Reality Antarctic Experience.
A polar expedition travel first, the Quark 360° VR Antarctic Experience transports you to the 7th continent, guided by Quark’s expert expedition team, to encounter amazing wildlife and explore the breath taking natural beauty of this remote part of the world few have set foot upon.
Told through four visually stunning narratives, you will explore the Antarctic Peninsula region expedition-style. Take a Zodiac cruise amongst giant icebergs, stand amidst a penguin colony, and kayak in one of the most pristine, unspoiled environments on the planet.
The Content
Filmed using GoPro cameras on board a voyage in February 2016, the Antarctic 360° VR Experience video series showcases different ways to explore the 7th continent and offers viewers the unique opportunity to participate in key aspects of a journey: Life onboard the ship, cruising on Zodiac landing craft, exploring on the Antarctic continent, kayaking, and learning about history and wildlife from Quark’s Expedition staff.
A two-man film crew captured the spectacular 360° footage, a process that presented a few challenges. The difficult task of positioning cameras on a moving Zodiac and finding ways to stretch battery life of the GoPro cameras were a few things the duo had to overcome; but the finished product was worth the challenges in the process, film crew member Hugo King-Fretts recalls: “It was almost as if you were in a cathedral. These huge, huge walls were coming up and you’re in these small corridors where you would get surges of waves coming through. The geology, the scale of it, was just phenomenal. The awe-inspiring footage we were able to capture reflects a truly amazing experience that’s beyond description with words.”
VR App Development “The real development challenge was to create a VR app that not only showcased this amazing content but that was also accessible to an audience of young and old, both seasoned and newcomers to the VR worlds,” commented Peter Maddalena from VRCraftworks. “The drawback is that it is a big download, but this was necessary to maintain quality and to allow people with less than high end devices to get a decent taste of the experience,” he concluded.
About Quark Expeditions®:
Specializing in expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic, Quark Expeditions® has been the leading provider of polar adventure travel for 25 years. With a diverse fleet of specially-equipped small expedition vessels, icebreakers, and unique land-based adventures, it offers travelers unparalleled access to the most remote places on earth. Led by passionate and seasoned expedition teams, including scientists, naturalists and researchers, the on-board program focuses on guest interaction to educate and enrich the passenger experience. The company is known for its unwavering commitment to safety and sustainability, including its partnership with The Nature Conservancy (USA). It also offers passengers — free of charge — carbon offsetting aboard Ocean Diamond and Ocean Nova voyages.
About the TUI Adventure Division:
The TUI Adventure Division offers premium, experience-based adventure holidays and expeditions worldwide for active travelers. In addition to QuarkExpeditions.com, the division includes expedition specialists IEtravel.com and Zegrahm.com; leading European adventure and activity specialists ExodusTravels.com, Headwater.com, World-Challenge.co.uk, Sawadeee.nl, TrekAmerica.co.uk and GrandAmericanAdventures.com; as well as US-based destination management company AmericanAdventures.com. From reaching the top of Kilimanjaro and canoeing on the Zambezi, to catching tiger cub sightings and breaking ice en route to the North Pole, the TUI Adventure Division offers inspirational experiences that create lifelong memories. About VRCraftworks:
Vrcraftworks was established 3 years ago to create business focused VR apps for the mobile platform. We have developed over 20 VR apps for business as diverse as animation studios, investment companies and yacht sales. Often these apps are for internal use only. Our free apps however, are available across both Goggle Play and the Apple App Store. Our original free app Orbulus has had 500,000 downloads worldwide is constantly cited as one of the top 10 applications for mobile VR on both Android and Apple devices.
A new VR app has launched called Coastiality by Europa Park and it has quite a bit to offer to the fore and for rollercoaster fans you are in for a treat,There is a lack of good rollercoaster apps that give a real immersive feeling but not here with several on board the app,the intro on the app is also excellent with great music to boot.
The app is also well presented with apps on display right from the start,Also you can pick to either download or stream the experience and then you can pick between 2K and 4K resolution.. I have tried out the apps and they are quite good..
App description
Fancy enjoying a real rollercoaster ride in 360° or VR from the comfort of your home?
Do you want to experience how virtual worlds come to life on board Coastiality rides throughout theme parks around the world?
Welcome to Coastiality, your home for unique, high quality virtual reality experiences!
Viewable with and without VR glasses (e.g. Google Cardboard).
We all know someone with Dementia and someday we might have it ourselves but what do we actually know about it? For the majority probably not much but for those who case for people with dementia they would be pretty clued in. Virtual Reality AKA VR is now helping people in all kinds of avenues and this time round its here to provide an immersive insight on dementia via an app which is optimised for cardboard headsets,but works on any similar offerings out there today which there is plenty of..This can be also watched on your smartphone,so download today and get some insight and learn something new. This app is a big app to download (627MB) so ensure you use Wi-Fi and also your device will need a gyroscope,you can however watch on You Tube 360.
Developed with the help of people living with dementia, and with support from UCL’s Dementia Research Centre, A Walk Through Dementia from Alzheimer’s Research UK is an innovative, free and unique perspective on a condition that affects 850,000 people in the UK.
Voiced by Dame Harriet Walter, and with an introduction from Jon Snow, A Walk Through Dementia is designed to help users think beyond memory loss to gain a fuller understanding of the practical and emotional impact of the condition. The app uses a combination of computer generated environments and 360 degree video sequences to illustrate in powerful detail how even the most everyday task of making a cup of tea can become a challenge for someone with dementia.
![WP_20160725_19_22_16_Pro[1]](https://i0.wp.com/techbuzzireland.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/wp_20160725_19_22_16_pro1.jpg?resize=660%2C371&ssl=1)
![WP_20160705_20_16_25_Pro[1]](https://i0.wp.com/techbuzzireland.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/wp_20160705_20_16_25_pro1.jpg?resize=660%2C371&ssl=1)
