One to look for given the quiet time with VR of late,this is quite good and for those who are into all things space and with the talk of travelling to Mars sometime in the future it will give you an insight. The app is quite large so ensure you use your Wi-Fi to download. Lockheed also have an app they launched in April 2016 called Explore Mars and just like that app this one is well presented and looks great to and again a really nice app to have stored on your device. I have tried the app out and it really is nice and if you are into something like this its a must have and its free to download on both Android and iOS right now. You can use any compatible Head Mounted or Google Cardboard headset then hop out of the capsule and go on a journey and collect items that have to be returned
FEATURES:
– Walk the surface of Mars and explore the landing sites for InSight, Viking and Curiosity
– Experience dust storms at the Northern Crater
– Observe InSight and Viking as they gather information about Mars
– Visit one of the famous Viking landers that landed more than 40 years ago
– Follow Curiosity as it navigates the red surface collecting samples
Produced by Annie Lukowski & BJ Schwartz of VanishingPoint Media, TheHiddenis a VR thriller that allows you to step into the shoes of an undocumented immigrant as you watch your daughter being grilled by two ICE officers while you hold your breath hiding.
The story follows Sophia, a young Mexican-American woman living in rural America, as she is harangued, first verbally and then physically, by suspicious ICE officers. The piece, which stars Cassie Hernandez (NCIS: New Orleans), proves virtual reality’s unparalleled ability to align audiences with a character’s subjectivity, and provides an effective vehicle for commentary on sensitive, real life events like immigration raids.
Currently in post-production, the project evokes tension by using VR to place the viewer in different roles throughout thestory, including letting them see events through the perspective of a family member hiding within the home. The goal of theexperience is two-fold: revealing both the tactics used by ICE, and enabling viewers to step into the perilous shoes of undocumented immigrants. Ultimately, the film serves as a testament to the utility of VR as a medium to amplify tension, drama and empathy, while also showcasing its ability to add depth and emotion to the physical set and surrounding.
“We were made really aware that the power of virtual reality is to put the viewer in the shoes of another soul, and in a place and under a threat that you never would be yourself,” explained BJ Schwartz, who co-directed the film alongside fellow filmmaker Annie Lukowski.
“As important as the social issues are to us, VR really needs to be a compelling entertainment medium,” Lukowski added. “To get the message across, you really need to entertain audiences. So we landed on the thriller genre.”
Lukowski and Schwartz are the co-founders of the VR production company VanishingPoint Media. Previously, the company has produced digital content and 360 videos for brands such as Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Banana Republic, and Stan Lee’s L.A. Comic-Con. TheHidden will stand as both the company’s longest project to date, as well as its first original narrative piece.
“TheHidden really reaffirmed for me that VR is truly the director’s medium,” Lukowski surmised, remarking on the production process. “By shooting long master takes, you really have to guide the actor through an entire performance. You can’t craft a performance in editorial…you don’t have that safety net that comes with traditional films. For this, you have to get theperformance on set, which is a challenge and so much fun for both the director and actors. I just loved working with theactors on this project.”
TheHidden has recently wrapped up production and will be released in early 2018. It was produced by Charles Uy and stars Cassie Hernandez, Christian James, Gustavo Quiroz, Gonzalo Bouza, Geoffrey Kennedy, Darren Campozzi and Mike Tarnovsky.
Mark Zukerberg has just announced a new VR headset today called the Oculus GO. On stage he said VR headsets are to clunky and this seems to be more streamlined given it looks quite similar to daydream from Google. This is a standalone device all in one headset and is set to ship early next year for $199 Read more from their blog post below, this looks pretty cool indeed and this VR headset will not require a phone or PC like typcial headsets (HMDs – Head mounted displays) we are use to seeing and Gear VR and Oculus Go apps are binary compatible.
The high-resolution fast-switch LCD screen dramatically improves visual clarity and reduces screen door effect. And the next-generation lenses are our best ever—offering a wide field of view with significantly reduced glare.
Oculus Go also ships with integrated spatial audio. The speakers are built right into the headset, transporting you straight into VR and making the headset easy to share with someone else. If you need it, there’s also a 3.5mm headphone jack for private listening.
I am a big fan of VR and also AR but over the last few months the VR industry has seemed to take a bit of a nosedive when it comes to VR content which is sad to see as it was gaining traction but hopefully that will change in the coming months.
Over the last year or so there has been several MEDICAL VR apps to hit the stores which are an excellent idea and ideal for those whom are in the industry we have special access to some apps and are looking at some as we speak and this idea from Veative Labs is one such great idea when it comes to education and hopefully we will see more like it in the coming months.
Check out what the headset looks like in our unboxing
This may look like your typical headset but its far from it,the personal model will be available in September this year and you will be in for a treat.. The headset has all the features you would expect to find on the more advanced ones such as gear VR but there is much more going on inside and more features on the outside plus you get a remote to navigate and participate in programmes in the apps provided.
Another difference here NO DEVICE is required which is good in one respect but you do need to charge the headset itself, after a few minutes setting this up via the instructions it will look like your standard layout but here is where the magic begins going beyond, You can ad your own apps from the playstore for instance and the experience here does not drop compared to other VR head offerings,in fact it might be even a bit better, There is a lot of technology going on under the hood and if remove the plate on front like you would on headsets you would understand a bit more.
So whay exactly is this then..
Veative – is an educational VR company and they launched their all-in-one VR solution at the show. It comes complete with a wireless controller and a built-in mobile device – eliminating the need for a separate mobile phone or need to purchase a controller.
They’ve adapted VR technology and designed it specifically for use in educational and training environments. Its modules are interactive, easy to use, and enable student-centered learning, that reinforces any science or mathematics curriculum. They launched 300 modules across Biology, Maths and Physics for secondary school.
In the app you have multiple choices on what subject you want to take a task on You will be presented with a Dashboard from here you can then go forward a choose subjects..
You can join the lab, and self-study in here you can then select subjects available see images below for what is optional for the user right now. Below are some examples as this is still not publicly available yet and will be soon..
On these exercises you will be given training prior and objectives and so on then you can begin your task and really its about memory but also the workings of such,especially the heart and then you get to start the heart up, Medical would have been my favourite choices here being honest but its worth a look at all the options at hand, With the skeleton for example you are given a task to find the coffin,find the bones missing and place them in the coffin in their respective places and there is some false bones thrown in for good measure, Also which makes in interesting is that you a timed on all occasions so you can keep at it and repeat tasks should you fail and watch yourself improve over time.
Veative launches pioneering all-in-one virtual reality headset for education
Veative’s innovative VR Learn solution comes pre-loaded with high-quality content that aligns to curriculums and slots neatly into the classroom – supporting teachers in delivering more engaging and effective lessons. With 300 modules launching at Bett today, Veative will develop 1000 by mid-2017 and 1500 by the end of the year. Currently available in biology, chemistry, physics and maths, all modules can be easily adapted for any language and any curriculum. They include 3D models, 360-degree videos, tasks, exercises, simulations and other interactive activities, all complemented by smart analytics and classroom management apps for teachers.
A global expert at fusing technology with education for immersive, interactive learning, Veative has adapted VR technology and designed it for use specifically in educational and training environments. The wireless controller completes the package and enables true interactivity with VR objects and subjects – bringing learning to life for today’s digital-savvy students.
“There’s been an explosion in VR for the events and gaming sectors and we fully expect 2017 to be the year that VR really takes hold in education,” predicts Ankur Aggarwal, CEO of Veative. “But VR in education needs to go beyond the current basic virtual tours. Our Veative Learn VR headset, loaded with our quality content, is interactive, immersive and engaging – making it extremely effective in enhancing the teaching experience and bringing learning to life.”
Having spent some time with this and not as much as I would like to due to workload right now this certainly is one fantastic idea and really gets you stuck in and involved,try teaching this in a classroom and heads would stray but with this headset on ALL STUDENTS would be locked in and no distraction and being physically involved in each subject with interactive scenes you will pick up and learn faster and much more than in an open space its a really great idea and I cant wait to see what has to come in the future and anyone with kids who are tech savy,(they do not have to be either) should look at this and so should all schools because you will soon see results via this form.
About Veative
Veative Labs is a new partnership between Piron Corporation and Almotahida Education Group, both established experts in developing high-quality digital educational tools and content. Veative provides a pioneering mix of 3D, virtual and mixed reality products to enhance and enrich learning for students around the world. With a global team of 200 and growing fast, Veative embraces new-generation VR technology fused with high-quality content to create the finest immersive learning experience. Veative is based in Singapore, with offices in India and the UAE. For more, visit www.veative.com.
The BBC have launced a VR app called Taster VR which is now free to download on both Android and iOS platforms. For now there is not much available but expect that to change pretty quicky over the coming months… Also on the app there is a trailer for upcoming BBC Three feature-length documentary One Deadly Weekend in America. If you are into VR and especially Planet Earth you are in for a treat.. Having tried it out for a little bit it seems pretty good so far and I will look forward to more VR content which will follow in the coming weeks..
Andy Conroy, Controller of BBC Research and Development, says: “BBC Taster VR will be a fantastic showcase for some brilliant new commissions, as well as some new takes on some of the best BBC Taster VR experiences to date. It gives audiences cutting-edge mobile VR experiences from the BBC and, crucially, gives our editorial and technical teams even greater insight.”
Damian Kavanagh, Controller, BBC Three says “Since moving online, BBC Three has already delivered best in class storytelling, great curation, content which reflects the diversity of the UK, and now it’s time for us to innovate even more. My new role as editorial lead for BBC Taster will help use new technologies to explore a new ways to tell stories that will engage our audience.
“This new VR trailer is a fantastic first step. Using virtual reality it literally puts the audience in the shoes of the victims of gun crime featured in our truly brilliant feature-length documentary, One Deadly Weekend in America. It’s the first time the BBC has ever used VR in this way, and offers a whole new way to engage an audience.”
App aims to offer an Immersive way to teach students about planets with virtual tour of outer space. We have tried it out its pretty cool.
One new app which just caught my eye and is now available on Android ,Rift Vive and Gear VR is pretty cool I have tried it on Both Gear VR and Cardboard and it will keep the kid/students entertained and also give them some education on our solar system…
The app is simple to use and work your way around and has nice graphics to boot although the Gear VR version is not up to the standard I expected but enjoyable non the least and that bit more immersive than the cardboard offering…
Space Exploration VR App could be one of the earliest examples of co-evolution in EdTech. Students found learning things in a much easier way then before. It is a sheer saving of time, energy and cost. If a small group of classroom connected with phone using Space Exploration VR App, Students can learn the facts about planets. While students learn the facts about solar system, students get to pilot space shuttle.
For more info on space, including educational resources and insights, you can visit the Space Foundation.
Highlights:
• Small group of classroom connected with phone. Students learn the facts about planets.
• While students learn the facts about solar system, students gets to pilot space shuttle.
• Using virtual reality lenses, app simulates outer space. Student get multiple objects that comes into the way of steering space shuttle.
• Students also get direction indicator and they follow through the path to other planets.
• Students can use this VR app by putting Android phone into a (Google® Cardboard Viewer *) or (Samsung® Oculus Rift *) or (HTC® Vive *) or (Samsung® Gear VR *) on Android phone.
• This app uses pure 3D objects to give best experience. This app does not use traditional 2D enhanced media.
• No internet connectivity required to run the Space Exploration App. Once downloaded app runs without internet.
• This app is in it’s early preview stage (pilot) and developers are working to get you more content and games into it.
Want to give up the smokes and cant well this app might help…. Well there is a number of ways that claim to help and they do help some but not all and willpower is the vital component in wanting to give up the cancer sticks. I myself have tried many of the offerings out there and none have worked and I have not tried my own plan to cut down and its working so far but will it get me off them completely,well that’s a matter of time… However many people try vaporizers.
Virtual Reality has been stagnant of late with not much action going on and hopefully that will change in the coming months but we have also to consider AI too as another tool to get things done, As a VR fan Its been rather quite with new things coming so i am optimistic about what lies ahead but I do think things will improve in the coming months and here is one idea that fits the bill now on kickstarter which hopefully gets backing and releases before next year as slated.
Their ultimate goal is to reach as many smokers as possible around the world, to form a smoke-free community for the future, and want you to be a part of it! And if you quit smoking before our delivery date, or if you’ve never smoked at all, become a mentor or a volunteer, they will have interesting content for everyone, and we want you to be part of our community.
For me I hope this gets the funds it requires as it is another tool to help people quit the dam smokes and be healthy so I will be watching this one closely in the coming weeks…
Augmented, virtual, annotated, mixed… A “$37 Billion reality” by 2027 By Dr Harry Zervos, Principal Analyst, IDTechEx
Augmented and virtual reality headsets are by now a reality (pun intended), and they bring about a paradigm shift in form factor for portable electronics. Despite a level of uncertainty about the terminology used to describe each device, with some developers introducing terms such as Mixed Reality (shown in the picture below), Annotated Reality, Augmented Virtuality and many others, the new report on the topic by IDTechEx Research.
A revealing disagreement in terminology
The disagreement in terminology reveals several interesting points, one of the most important ones being that despite the fact that different companies will take a different approach to categorizing devices, is in essence a difference in how much of the real world is coming through a specific headset. A pure VR headset blocks out reality completely, while an AR one will only superimpose additional information, without obstructing the wearer’s view of the real world at all. What the future is bringing is a spectrum of eye-worn devices with varying amounts of reality and virtuality thrown in; for instance, a VR headset with a front facing camera can instantly become an AR headset, as it allows the wearer a full view of the real world, albeit through a display.
Virtual, augmented and all other types of headsets are in essence categorized based on how much of the real world is allowed through any specific headset; the amount of reality and virtuality will define where a device sits in the spectrum of virtual (VR), mixed (MR), augmented (AR) and any other sort of reality. Image source: IDTechEx
PC VR to propel market forward in the short term
In its newly launched report on the topic, IDTechEx categorizes headsets according to whether devices are tethered to an external computer or not (PC or standalone AR &VR) or whether they make use of the display and/or electronics of a mobile device such as a smartphone (e.g. mobile VR).
IDTechEx forecasts the value of the market for AR & VR headsets to 2027 is expected to grow to almost $37 Billion by 2027. The sustained growth of the market will be propelled forward in the short term by the growth of PC VR, as depicted in the forecasts below. As expected, the high volume of mobile VR will not contribute significantly to total revenues due to the low unit value. From 2021 onwards, growth will be transferred to stand alone AR, propelled forward by the launch of high performing headsets and reduced power consumption that will lead to longer battery life and independence from the grid. Standalone VR will also make its mark, although its exact value proposition is not fully clear or even distinctly separate from standalone AR; in standalone VR, the challenge of adequate energy storage that will allow longer times between charging is magnified due to the requirements for running a high endGPU computer along with a high resolution display. In fact, both energy storage and displays for AR & VR applications are both extensively discussed in the report, given how critical these components are for future generations of headsets.
In addition to batteries and displays, the report additionally includes insight on the research and development efforts on othercomponents that will become part of the next wave of devices and the improvements and benefits that they will bring. They include haptics, optical engines, but also the development of focus tunable displays, foveated rendering and other concepts that aim to improve the user experience in augmented and virtual reality systems.
You dont have to be trained to use but you can see what its like and its cool.
We have featured several medical apps,including VR here on medicine which is something I like to read up on but not only that we have featured VR apps too and there will be plenty more to come in the coming months they are edcuational for those whom are not in the profession but a new tool for those who are and we can expect to see a flurry of such apps on the way..
It’s the worlds first VR interactive surgical training module It’s available on android for cardboard. It will be released on Gear VR , Daydream and IOS soon.
Who is behind the idea..
Medical Realities is an innovative group offering medical training products, specializing in virtual reality, augmented reality and serious games. By using consumer-level virtual reality devices such as the Oculus Rift, Medical Realities can reduce the cost of training, reach a wider audience & provide a completely safe learning environment for medical students.
About the app..
What is Medical Realities?
Medical Realities is an award-winning Virtual Reality education platform for medical students, surgical trainees, surgeons, and health care professionals. Our mission is to to revolutionise surgical training across the globe.
Modules
The platform offers a comprehensive collection of surgical operations covering key syllabus material and includes assessment. Each module allows immersive learning with full interactive features including anatomy and pathophysiology.
360° Video
We have captured high-quality 360° video of real operations. Immerse yourself as you learn.
Interactive
Our content is richly interactive allowing you to test yourself and chart your progress.
