Tech can be used in many ways today and it can be fun for the most part but now with AR it just enhances life and with mobile phones it is already happening.. Recently EZ Living launched their own AR app which you can read about HERE .
EZ Living uses AR technology on their websites to allow customers to see what a piece of furniture will look like in their home and they have received excellent feedback on the issue which is of great benefit to customers and have sent us this infographic on the Role of Tech in Furniture. Fancy some comfortable beds? Check out contemporary beds.
Shopping safely from the comfort of your own home has now become a reality, augmented reality in fact. EZ Living Furniture is proud to announce the launch of its AR app (Augmented Reality), the first of its kind in Ireland. With the magic of technology, you can now bring sofas, bed frames, wardrobes, lighting and so much more directly and virtually into your own home.
“There’s nothing normal about operating a business in a pandemic therefore instead of finding fault, we decided to find a remedy”, informed EZ Living Furniture’s E-commerce Manager Robert Walsh.
Teaming up with AR specialists Intiaro, EZ Living Furniture developed the first real Irish furniture AR app for the retail sector.
What can you do with the app?
Simply pick an item from our collection available in the app. Once you have found your favourite, point your phone or tablet at a flat surface and watch as the item appears before your eyes. Next, place the item in the room and choose from all available colours and materials.
Using your mobile phone or tablet, bring EZ Living Furniture’s catalogue of virtual furniture into your home with their new augmented reality app.
Unleash the virtual interior designer in you and add multiple pieces of furniture to your scene at once. See how your favourite sofa, table and lamp will look in any room setting and zoom in or walk towards it for a more detailed view. Create virtual walls with the press of a button and hang virtual wall art from them (perfect for new builds).
Your personally designed space can be easily saved and returned to later for further changes. Or if you are happy with your creation, take screenshots and share these with your family and friends.
This is the future of retail and EZ Living are delighted to present this exciting app to you. It’s a more immersive and convenient experience than browsing through countless online websites. The AR app allows you to view life-sized pieces of furniture in your room and all products are available to purchase from their online store. Further information can be found by accessing the link below
Walking down the street you notice something has changed. You take out your phone hastily, to check the available properties around you. Yes! There they are! New shares and you’re the first one to get them. You don’t think twice, cause you know you must have them! It’s not the first time when on your way to work you come across such valuable finds. We’re all part of this virtual map. With more than 3 billion mobile devices on the planet today, trillions of data trails are left behind unused. Now you can enjoy this mixture of digital and real world in the Landlord GO game.
Landlord Go is a brand new game by Reality – that leverages these digital “footprints” in a fun and exciting way, allowing players to buy, sell, and collect rent on some of the world’s most famous buildings and landmarks. With over 1 million players worldwide, it’s the first real-world augmented reality game that uses real buildings, real people, and real prices to turn your city into an action-packed strategy game. With more than 14 900 players already making deals for virtual ownership of the more than 61 500 in Dublin already, there’s no shortage of fierce competition ready for action.
You walk your neighborhood every day, seeing familiar landscapes and buildings. Now you can view those daily sights in a whole new way by owning a virtual piece of your community. Whether you’re starting small or have grand visions to own the Custom House in Dublin or the Empire State Building in New York City, they’re yours for the taking with Landlord Go.
Do you have unique knowledge of a part of your city that few others know? That local intel can translate into big profits in Landlord Go. If a new coffee shop is opening in your neighborhood and you think it’s poised to become the next Starbucks, put in a bid for it, and start raking in the rent payments from the crowds lined up outside the door.
Using a massive pool of data, including detailed information about more than half a billion real world properties, Landlord Go connects the user to their city in an exciting and innovative new way that no other game can offer.
Players can start small and quickly create a vast real estate empire through savvy investing. Put properties on the market, or engage in furious bidding wars with other players, recreating the experience of competing in the thrilling real estate market right from their phone.
Landlord Go is incredibly accurate, reflecting real-world values of properties using details like distance from the city center and building amenities. By using our own data set combined with NASA satellite scans showing nighttime light emissions, we’ve created one of the most realistic and data-driven property dealing games ever conceived.
You can really get the feeling that the level of realism is truly what sets Landlord Go apart. Anytime another player visits your property in real life, they pay you rent in the game. The more visitors your property gets, the higher its value. Using a proprietary AI and data platform called Big Dots, we’re able to add real-world data to any desktop and mobile apps.
The game is exciting as players see their fortunes grow and engage in sky-high value transactions, competing with other players for dominance in the real estate market. There’s nothing quite like it available today, and nothing that even comes close to the level of accuracy and detail found in Landlord Go.
Google is launching 23 augmented reality (AR) insects on Google Search. If you remember collecting insects as a child, then you will enjoy playing with these AR insects in your home or on the move. Afraid of bugs? Look away now…
To see one of the AR insects, users can search for the name of the insect, e.g. “Hercules beetle”, on their smartphone and click [View in 3D]. Users can freely zoom in and out on the AR insect to better understand details of the insect’s form, detail and movements. On Android devices, you can also hear insect sounds. Users can use the feature to see the animals in 3D, as well as being able to capture the insects in photos and videos.
This time, the following 23 insects will appear in AR.
Dinosaurs may have ruled the Earth millions of years ago, but with augmented reality (AR), you can turn your home into “Jurassic World.” Google are partnering with Universal Brand Development, Amblin Entertainment and Ludia to bring 10 dinosaurs from the franchise film “Jurassic World” to Google Search. Watch the massive T. Rex stomp in your living room or gaze up at a majestic Brachiosaurus as it towers above a neighborhood tree.
Search for a dinosaur on Google using a mobile device and tap “View in 3D” to rotate or zoom in and see it up close. You can then bring the dinosaur into your space with AR and adjust its size to understand how big it is in relation to the things around you. On Android devices, turn up your volume to hear the thudding footsteps and roars of each dinosaur.
“Jurassic World” dinosaurs that are viewable in AR include: Tyrannosaurus Rex, Velociraptor, Triceratops, Spinosaurus, Stegosaurus, Brachiosaurus, Ankylosaurus, Dilophosaurus, Pteranodon, and Parasaurolophus.
A behind-the-scenes look at how “Jurassic World” AR dinosaurs are made
Using technology from Ludia’s “Jurassic World Alive” game, these AR dinosaurs are some of the most realistic models out there. Check out this video to see how an AR Brachiosaurus is made, including 3D modeling, texturing and animation.
“To create the 3D dinosaurs, our concept artists first did preliminary research to discover information about each creature,” says Camilo Sanin, Ludia’s Lead on Character Creations. “Not only did we draw research from various forms of literature, our artists also worked with paleontologists and the ‘Jurassic World’ team to make the assets as accurate and realistic as possible. Even the smallest of details, such as irregularities of skin color and patterns, are important.”
Unlike some of Google’s AR animals, like a dog or tiger, dinosaurs pose a new technical challenge: their massive size. The new auto-scale feature on Android can now automatically calculate the distance between your phone and a surface in your space and resize the dinosaur so it fits on your phone screen. If you tap “View actual size,” AR tracking technology automatically repositions the dinosaur in your space to make room for it.
How to access and share
On Android, search for “dinosaur” or one of the 10 dinosaurs on the Google app or any Android browser and tap “View in 3D.” You can see 3D content on devices with Android 7 Plus and you can see AR content on ARCore-enabled devices. Easily explore all dinosaurs using the carousel format.
On iOS, search for “dinosaur” or one of the 10 dinosaurs on the Google app or on Google.com with Chrome or Safari. 3D and AR content is available on iOS 11 Plus devices.
You can also create AR videos—or recreate your favorite scenes from the “Jurassic World” movies—with the recording option. Don’t forget to tag your photos and videos on social with #Google3D and #JurassicWorld. Safe traveling (back in time)!
IDTechEx has substantially updated and added to their entire wearable technology market research portfolio. The wearable technology reports are now including a dedicated supporting document discussing the impact of COVID-19 on the industry. The following points illustrate some of the most significant conclusions, figures, and data from the latest IDTechEx research report offerings.
2019 saw the largest single year growth rate for wearable technology product revenue since 2015
The wearables market had a very strong 2020, growing 19% to reach a total of $70bn for the year. The most significant product sector driving an increase in growth over the previous year was the true wireless headphones product sector, as part of hearables, which generated over $4bn of new revenue relative to 2018. The other strongest growth came from device categories such as smartwatches and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices, which grew by just under $4bn and $1.3bn respectively relative to 2018 values. This represents the largest one year growth rate since peak wearables hype in 2015 (a year which saw the commercial launches of leading devices such as the Apple Watch), which emphasises the growing strength in the sector and the continuing opportunity for new development and growth.
COVID-19 has already had a significant impact on 2020 revenues, but many sectors retain long-term optimism
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a profound societal and economic impact, and many wearable products have been part of this. The most critical impact to date has been at the point-of-sale for many products, with lockdowns and social distancing measures meaning that stores are closed, doctors appointments are not taking place in person and sales of many products have been significantly impacted as a result. However, the impact has been very varied; where some products have seen as much as an 80% reduction in sales for Q2 2020 vs Q2 2019, other areas such as remote patient monitoring devices have been accelerated onto the market to assist in pandemic countermeasures.
As such, there is a complex picture, which is covered at length in the IDTechEx report portfolio via a primer document on COVID-19, which is available with all IDTechEx wearable technology reports.
Specific regulatory changes coming in 2020 and 2021 will have a significant impact in skin patches, hearables and beyond
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is profound and as such has by far the largest impact on the short-term outlook for the sector. However, the reports highlight regulatory changes as another factor which will have a significant impact going forward. This has already been seen in relation to COVID-19, where many products involved in pandemic countermeasures have been fast-tracked to FDA approvals. Regulatory barriers are critical challenges for many players, from new start-ups to global leaders, and changes to them can shift the dynamic immediately.
The IDTechEx reports highlight several other specific regulatory changes which have been longer awaited, which will cause disruption in the product areas covered. In hearables, the Over the Counter Hearing Aid act requires guidelines for that product category to be established by August 2020, paving the way for a new generation of hearing assistance products which can be approved and reimbursed as part of the US healthcare system. In electronic skin patches, new regulatory and reimbursement frameworks for wearable cardiovascular monitoring focusing on mobile cardiac telemetry and extended Holter monitoring are expected to be confirmed in 2020 and implemented in early 2021. Both of these steps introduce new product opportunities, and the research details ways in which companies are planning to adapt to these changes as they are implemented. We expect these changes in regulation to have an immediate impact on the industry dynamic in the markets which they affect.
Technology giants target the move from consumer to medical, with wearables as a key ingredient
Technology players, such as Apple, Google, Samsung, Microsoft and many others, have long been investing in product and platform development with relevance to health and wellness. Whilst this in itself is not new information, the report highlights the increasing prevalence of medical sensing metrics being deployed into traditionally consumer wearable products. Smartwatches have been demonstrated with ECG for atrial fibrillation, PPG for oxygen saturation and blood pressure monitoring. In hearables, optical blood pressure is now commonly discussed, joining other more familiar features such as fall detection, core body temperature monitoring and other relevant medical metrics. These and more examples are all included within the IDTechEx reports.
However, the critical point here is that these metrics are not just exclusive to medical devices. In many cases, products are having versions of these features added as part of a standard consumer offerings, complete with appropriate disclaimers that encourage users to consult their doctor if they have challenges. However, when this development is paired with intensive lobbying, as well as significant parallel development of the data infrastructure and supporting systems required for medical devices, it is clear that the longer-term strategy will move in this direction. The wearable devices at the core of this are an essential part of the long-term strategy, and the technology within them is being developed at a remarkable rate.
The chart below illustrates this trend within wearable product data. “Potentially medical” products are product categories where sensing capabilities more traditionally associated with medical devices have been introduced in consumer products, which could potentially see some reclassification within the boundaries of medical products further into the future. This is not likely to happen quickly, but this is a significant trend which should not be ignored, regardless of which side of the debate you fall on.
From single parameter to multi-parameter sensing
The role of a medical device for sensing is typically to represent one physiological parameter as accurately and reliably as possible. A doctor would then use an appropriate combination of medical device readings and other tests to make an assessment and determine the best course of action. However, as digital health and artificial intelligence (see IDTechEx report on this topic here) are increasingly introduced, the capabilities of medical devices are being expanded such that they can diagnose and monitor specific conditions with increasing independence from the doctor.
This trend goes hand in hand with increasing adoption of multi-parametric sensing on medical devices. Whilst these are not necessarily new, it is still the case that the majority of medical device categories (and particularly those studied within wearables) focus on a single parameter, such as blood glucose, cardiac biopotential, skin temperature, blood pressure and so on. Multi-parameter sensing often presents a much more significant challenge, particularly in navigating regulatory barriers, with companies forced to weigh up the advantages of the new capabilities offered with the significant investment to go through de novo regulatory approval processes which take significantly more time and money.
However, as more pioneers begin to introduce advanced features enabled digital health and AI, these multi-parametric systems will increasingly become the norm. This will have a significant impact on the status quo for many of the product sectors as they exist today, but the change is expected to be a gradual evolution over years and decades. This also goes hand in hand with the previous point; many of the fitness and wellness devices are already using combinations of many different biometric readings to build a more complete picture of the wearer’s health. It will just take significantly more time and money for these advances to have their efficacy and safety proven within the context of medical devices too.
To find out more about the wearable technology market research portfolio from IDTechEx, including reports on hearables, electronic skin patches, VR, AR & MR, e-textiles and smart clothing, plus the master report on wearable technology please visit www.IDTechEx.com/research/wt.
The game-changing augmented reality app Fectar has reached a 100,000 user download milestone just 100 days after launching. Available for iOS and Android, the app turns any mobile device into a fully immersive AR experience, with no expensive headset required.
The Fectar app pairs with Fectar Studio, a groundbreaking, cross-platform content management system (CMS) for both augmented and virtual reality. Creators use the CMS to design and create interactive AR and VR experiences, which can then be published to the free app.
Eugène Kuipers, CEO and Founder of Fectar says, “Despite the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Fectar has grown substantially since our January launch. We are very proud to reach a landmark 100, 000 app installations in just 100 days. During what are challenging times for all business globally, we are very fortunate that users love our app and our content.
“Our unique benefit is that Fectar includes all kinds of AR experiences, such as life size cars, games, escape rooms, science projects and much more. Since this is user generated content, published by more than 100 unique content creators worldwide, we have new content added daily so there is always something to discover.”
The successful start-up’s app serves a multitude of applications, from offering enriched learning to students and enhanced training for business users to entertaining and informing those on the hunt for something fun. The abundance of user-created experiences on offer is diverse; app users could opt to explore an offshore windmill for example or discover the fossils of a Tyrannosaurus Rex before settling in to a hands-on lesson in the life-cycle of frogs and stopping by a chef’s kitchen to see what’s cooking.
Navigating the expansive library of AR content is also seamless for app users, with a holographic presenter on hand to showcase features. With a 360 Degree Bubble to discover new places on earth, 3D objects to explore and interact with and images and videos viewable from different perspectives and angles, there is always more to discover.
The latest app update has seen several new features added, including multi-language support (English, Spanish, Portuguese, French and Dutch) and a download functionality for access to content offline. There is also a Spatial Editing option, which empowers users to intuitively edit their own interactive 3D presentation in Augmented Reality using a smartphone by simply tagging and dragging content to the right place with no coding required.
To find out more about Fectar and Fectar Studio, visit www.Fectar.com
Curiscope has announced the launch of their next product, Curiscope Multiverse, in partnership with Future Tech Labs and San Shepherd, one of the creators of Star Chart, the astronomy app downloaded by over 40 million people worldwide.
Curiscope Multiverse will retail as packs for £39.99 / $49.95 and as individual posters for £24.99 / $34.95. Each poster covers a different Space topic, touching on the individual planets, the Solar System and the Earth. At launch there are 4 different designs with more to follow in the next couple of months. The posters pair with a free accompanying app that works on recent IOS & Android phones.
When viewed through the app, the wonders of the Solar System come into your classrooms and homes through augmented reality and are brought to life with animations, facts and cross-sections that let you explore them in detail.
With the product, Curiscope are also announcing their initiative to become a net positive company. For every poster sold, they’ll be planting a tree. They have announced this initiative in partnership with Bristol based company, Offset Earth.
Curiscope are well known as one of the leaders in Augmented Reality, creating the award-winning Virtuali-Tee that has now been sold in over 100 countries. This series of posters represents their next major product launch and their continued vision to bring learning to life through their AR apps and products.
Future Tech Labs has worked across AR and VR, recently partnering with Oculus and National Geographic on new releases. Future Tech Labs was founded by San Shepherd who, as part of Escapist Games, created one of the top immersive apps of all time with over 40m downloads for Star Chart and over 500k installs for their AR/VR specific apps.
Ed Barton, Co-Founder and CEO of Curiscope said “we’ve known San for about 4 years now and have followed his success with Star Chart. We’ve been really keen to create a new product around a new topic and to bring that to life. When we started thinking about Space, San was the natural partner.”
Ed Barton
Sam Shepherd
San Shepherd, Co-Founder and CEO of Future Tech Labs said “The quote, ‘Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I may remember. Involve me and I learn.’ has never been more true than today. Technology can now be used to make education immersive, fun, and social. Putting people at the heart, involving them, and letting them learn through playful osmosis.
As a result, Curiscope is the perfect long-term partner for us. With the success of the brilliant Virtuali-Tee, Ed has cemented Curiscope as a leader in providing innovative solutions for digital learning. We are pleased to have a partner of this calibre bring our vision of immersive education to a global audience and we’ll be working with one another on future posters, products and app updates.”
Virtual Reality & Augmented Reality are two of the most wanted features, but so far with products like Oculus and the HTC Vive that asked for a NASA computer to have at home, it’s time to go on a different path and there’s where the Sulon Q enter
The first all-in-one, tether-free, “wear and play” VR and AR device
If you don’t want to pay a fortune your better options are Google and Samsung devices, which comes with a far better price but are useless without a phone.
Oculus, Sony and HTC offers are more attractive but demand a way bigger budget, besides been tied to an external devices al well.
The Sulon Q on the other hand, is totally independent, giving the user freedom of movement and enjoyment anywhere.
Using the latest technology to transform any room into an immersive experience backed by AMD the headset is quite different from what we’ve seen lately.
Some of the internals we have:
AMD FX-8800P processor at up to 35W with Radeon™ R7 Graphics Core Next architecture.
4 compute cores and 8 GPU cores through a revolutionary Heterogeneous System Architecture (HSA)
A 2,560 x 1,440 OLED Screen resolution
110-degree field of view
DirectX® 12 and Vulkan
A custom spatially optimized Sulon Q™ earbuds
Dual noise-cancelling embedded microphones.
An FX-8800P “Carrizo” APU
A 3.5mm audio jack
It uses spatial mapping in real-time to bring the entire space you are occupying into your experience allowing you to seamlessly transition from the real world to virtual worlds.
1 / 7
With full compatibility with Windows 10 the devices seems to be a truly unique experience.
There’s no word about price or availability beyond the launch date during Spring 2016.
Bu what do you think about this? Been able to play VR or AR games even in the forest with some friends sounds good to you? Let us know in the comment section below.
