startups Archives - VR World

Business, News, startups, VR World

Stories You Might’ve Missed: VR childbirth and Healthful Mind

This week, a lot of health-centric stories broke in the world of VR, including a story concerning VR childbirth. This is Stories You Might’ve Missed, and we’ll quickly summarize the two most strange, interesting VR stories that broke this week. Birthual Reality brings VR childbirth to the masses The aptly-named Birthual Reality is an application from Nordic insurance company Gjensidige Insurance. This VR experience is a 10-minute, 360-degree video showing off the events surrounding childbirth, including the actual childbirth. The purpose of this VR childbirth simulator is to help prepare parents for arguably the most important day of their lives, and if you’re interested in

aerospace, Business, News, startups, Virtual Reality (VR)

SpaceVR wants to take you to outer space

As its name implies, SpaceVR wants to take you into space. By itself, this isn’t that interesting: there’s already plentiful VR games and simulators taking place in space, for instance. What makes this one interesting isn’t the concept, it’s the execution. How does SpaceVR take you into space? By launching a satellite, called the Overview 1. Overview 1 utilizes multiple 4K cameras to capture 360 degree video from space, and this was made possible through multiple crowdfunding campaigns and a whopping $1.25 million investment from Shanda Group. A render of this satellite can be seen in our banner above. Using this satellite, users will be

Business, Gaming, HTC, Intel, Mobile, News, startups, Virtual Reality (VR), VR World

Stories You Might’ve Missed: HTC 5G VR, CLOVR and more

Today in stories you might’ve missed, we’ll be covering stories that broke from March 1st to March 8th that we didn’t cover in their own articles. Big names like HTC and Intel made headlines this week, and even a Kickstarter project called CLOVR got a day in the limelight as well. To find out why, keep reading! HTC CEO believes that 5G can turn any compatible smartphone into a VR powerhouse Cher Wang, founder and CEO of HTC, believes that 5G networks can turn any entry-level VR device into something comparable to an HTC Vive. Considering HTC’s authority in VR- especially with their aforementioned Vive

Business, Companies, Gaming, News, startups, VR World

Stories you might’ve missed: $150 HTC Vive alternative, VR Twitch and Hero Vision

There are fast news days, and sometimes there are fast news weeks. Earlier this month, VR stories were coming out so quickly that we couldn’t keep track of all them! Now that we’ve caught up, we’re going to catch you up, too: here are three big VR stories you might’ve missed from earlier this month. Zeiss provides a $150 HTC Vive alternative While VR headsets have a lot to offer, the price barrier to most good VR experiences is undeniable. For PC VR, you pretty much need to shell out for a Vive or Rift…and even at their best, those headsets cost $300+. Zeiss’s entry-level VR

Artificial Intelligence, startups, Virtual Reality (VR), VR World

Sensory reality pods let workers de-stress in VR

Dutch startup Sensiks claims it has the answer to job stress and fatigue in the workplace, in the form of a sensory reality pod (SRP) that stimulates multiple senses to immerse its users in relaxing virtual environments. The company also mentions the ability to “recall memories from the past” using its multisensory simulations. Each pod is 240 cm tall and 140 cm wide. Workers sit inside, donning a VR headset that presents them with 360-degree video while corresponding scent cartridges release smells like burning wood and freshly-cut lawn. Other sensory manipulations involve changes in temperature, air flow, and light frequencies. Visuals may take a person to

Biotech, Entertainment, Space and Science, startups, Virtual Reality (VR), VR World

Dreamscape Immersive launches multisensory VR “Alien Zoo”

Location-based startup Dreamscape Immersive debuted its multisensory VR experience “Alien Zoo” on Feb. 7. The experience is open to the public at Westfield Century City in Los Angeles through March 2. Up to six people can visit Dreamscape Immersive’s intergalactic exhibit during one 40 minute time slot. The experience itself takes just 12 minutes, but participants need time to gear up with a VR headset, a backpack, shoe coverings, and sensor-equipped gloves. Each person has a full-body avatar in the “Alien Zoo” environment. To make this possible, Dreamscape Immersive partnered with Artanim, a Swiss research institute developing motion capture technology, which created a body-mapping software that

Artificial Intelligence, Auto, Companies, News, startups

Riders in Alphabet’s Waymo Cars Will Now Be Insured

Alphabet Inc.’s Waymo self-driving car group announced a deal with Trov Inc., a venture-backed insurance startup, to provide some reassurance against unexpected events for riders who will be testing its upcoming autonomous shuttle service. The insurance coverage will include several protections for passengers for the duration of each trip including lost property, trip interruption benefits, and medical expense reimbursement. Waymo’s Director of Operations Shaun Stewart said that one of the reasons they chose Trov is that innovative technology needs innovative partners. “Trov is pioneering a cutting-edge approach to insurance that’s ideal for ride-sharing because it’s customized for every trip. As we prepare to launch a commercial

Augmented Reality (AR), Companies, Entertainment, News, startups, Wearables

Magic Leap Finally reveals their AR Goggles

After a really long time of waiting, Magic Leap surprised their fans for christmas by unveiling its augmented reality goggles – Magic Leap One. Dubbed Lightwear, the goggle-style headset promises “amazing experiences that feel natural,” all powered by a hip-mounted, puck-shaped computer called a Lightpack. “Engineered to be lightweight and comfortable for hours of exploration. We’ve combined our Digital Lightfield technology with environment mapping, precision tracking and soundfield audio to produce amazing experiences that feel natural,” it says on their website. In terms of the possibilities of the Magic Leap One, it looks like it has somewhat similar AR features as Microsoft HoloLens and ARKit: digital graphics seamlessly merged

Augmented Reality (AR), Companies, Entertainment, News, startups, Virtual Reality (VR)

Google-backed Magic Leap Reveals Mixed Reality Music App

Way in October, Magic Leap, the still-in-stealth-mode company developing an augmented-reality headset, announced that it has raised $502 million in Series D equity funding, led by Singapore investment firm Temasek Holdings. The problem was, that at that time, they just promised to create a headset using a type of light-field technology that would result in superior augmented reality experiences, an area most major consumer technology companies are chasing. But it has never given a launch date for its device, nor offered much detail on how it would work. But it seems, something is actually happening. They invited a reporter from Pitchfork, an online music magazine, to

Artificial Intelligence, Business, Companies, Education, News, startups

AI Startup Fano Labs Is Getting Funds From Horizons Ventures

Horizons Ventures, the private Hong Kong based investment arm of Li Ka-shing, the wealthiest man in Hong Kong, has made an “early-stage investment after it backed AI startup” Fano Labs. Horizons is a leading investor in some of the world’s most innovative companies and disruptive technologies, including Facebook, Spotify, Impossible Foods, Improbable, Zoom, Blockstream, Soul Machines and ChromaDex. Now, they decided to put undisclosed money into Fano Labs, which recently graduated AI accelerator program Zeroth. This deal also marks the firm’s first investment in a Hong Kong-based company. “We are a team of scientists and engineers. Our world-class technical expertise in speech and NLP technologies would empower

Hardware, Opinion, startups, VR World

VR pen project’s developer and development status short on details

A seemingly impressive VR development that came out of “stealth mode” this week remains short on details. Drawboard, which according to its Twitter account is based in San Francisco, appeared rather suddenly on the web last week. Its website is seeking pre-orders for a pen to be used in VR, offering features such as six degree-of-freedom, sub-millimeter tracking; 512 levels of pressure sensitivity; USB charging; and tactile feedback. The pen apparently “works with Windows Mixed Reality headsets or Rift/Vive via Leap Motion,” and will be available in a “limited production run” in early 2018. However, the current state of the product’s development is unclear, as

Enterprise, News, startups, Virtual Reality (VR), VR World, Wearables

Varjo Alpha Prototype VR Headset: What You Need To Know

If you haven’t heard of Varjo Technologies yet, there’s a good chance that’ll soon change. The Finnish startup is working on an advanced VR headset, built from modified Oculus Rift’s and other components, and is aimed at professional users. The Varjo Alpha Prototype (a work-in-progress name) offers a 1080p display for each eye, with a 35-degree horizontal FOV for each. There is also a “context display”, which offers a 100 FOV view and runs at 1080 x 1200 at 90hz refresh rate. According to Varjo, the refresh rate on these headsets may eventually go as high as 120hz, for true-to-life motion. While the headset may

Augmented Reality (AR), Auto, Business, Companies, News, Nvidia, startups

Alibaba Backed WayRay won Grand Prize on AutoMobility LA’s Top Ten

The Swiss-based company WayRay that makes augmented reality for cars, won the grand prize in a start-up competition at the Los Angeles Auto Show on Tuesday. It’s augmented reality driving system makes a car’s windshield looking like an actual video game. WayRay made its way into this year’s Top Ten after being selected out of over 300 applicants thanks to its innovative approach to user experience design. After making it to the Top Three alongside an impressive group of innovative startups from around the world, including Ohio-based GhostWave and Israel’s Innoviz Technologies, they were named this year’s winner of the 2017 Top Ten Automotive Startups Competition. They developed holographic augmented-reality technologies for advanced

Entertainment, Event, Exclusive, Interviews, Montreal Virtual Reality Market (MVRM), News, startups, Videos, Virtual Reality (VR), VR World

Montreal Virtual Reality Market shines light to city’s movement in AR/VR

November saw the third instalment of the Montreal Virtual Reality Market – an industry gathering held in Montreal. With over 50 virtual- and augmented reality companies located in the city, Montreal is well positioned to burst in the VR industry: four engineering schools, massive video gaming industry (Ubisoft, EA, A2M, Gameloft to name a few), world-renowned filmmaking and developed IT market surely makes for a lot of qualified skills floating around here. We visited the event nestled at Societe Des Arts Technologique (Technological Arts Society) to check up with the AR/VR startups coming out of this French-speaking city and converse with some of them. Drone

Blockchain, Business, Cryptocurrency, Education, Entertainment, News, startups, Virtual Reality (VR)

Learn about the Bitcoin Blockchain in 3D VR

In the world of virtual reality, everything (well, almost everything) can be perceived and understood better. Same goes with cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin can definitely be hard to imagine, as it’s not physical asset. Even if you are familiar with the way blockchain works, it is still hard to put it in the real picture. Usual graphs and charts make the life even more miserable, so somebody actually discovered more evocative way of depicting bitcoin. We are presenting you – Blockchain 3D Explorer. Kevin Small has created a blockchain explorer that enables anyone to view the bitcoin blockchain in 3D or VR. The British developer is planning

Apple, Breaking, Business, Companies, News, startups, Virtual Reality (VR), Wearables

Apple Acquires VR Headset Company Vrvana

Apple recently purchased Vrvana, a startup company that developed an augmented reality headset called Totem, reports TechCrunch. Two sources with knowledge of the deal confirmed the acquisition, but Apple declined to comment and did not provide its usual acquisition statement. Apple did not deny the story, though, and several employees who were previously with Vrvana are now with Apple. The price of aquisition is supposed to be around $30 million. It sure is no secret that Apple was interested in creating an augmented reality headset, and has been looking to create one for release sometime in 2020. Now the company may have gotten a bit of a jump

Augmented Reality (AR), startups, Virtual Reality (VR)

First VR Cemetery as a solution for overcrowded Hong Kong

A lack of space for cemeteries in crowded Hong Kong clashes with the age-old Chinese tradition of reverence for one’s ancestors, according to Reuters. Enterpreneur Anthony Yau’s firm, iVeneration.com, offers users the ability to create virtual headstones anywhere in an augmented reality landscape of Hong Kong, including such unlikely places as a downtown park. In that way, it’s possible to save up to $130,000 in burial services. The idea is that residents get the ability to pay their respects digitally using VR & AR technology. Users will be able to create virtual headstones of their departed loved ones and place them anywhere within augmented environments

Business, Entertainment, News, startups, Virtual Reality (VR)

Mythbuster Making Moonwalker Shoes for VR Experience

Former Mythbuster Jamie Hyneman is seeking US$50,000 to build a prototype pair of roller skates to wear in virtual reality. Hyneman’s pitch video points out that when one straps on goggles and gloves to enter virtual reality, your eyes are occupied and you therefore run the risk of bumping into stuff if you try to walk in meatspace while simulating walking in a virtual world. And bumping into stuff is dangerous. Previous attempts to sort this out have involved harnesses or slippery surfaces, but Hyneman and his collaborators now think “Vortrex Shoes” are a better answer. The campaign aims to offer a VR walking experience that crucially reduces

Artificial Intelligence, Business, Companies, News, startups

Emma, the Robot is Giving Professional Massages to Singaporeans

Singapore is developing a robotics ecosystem with Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam in a bid to take the regional lead as businesses worldwide increasingly use such technology to transform their operations. We are already aware that AI does great benefits in schools and hospitals, but did you know that you can actually get a massage from the robot? A robot masseuse named Emma is now offering Singaporeans high-tech back rubs with a gigantic metal arm and warm silicone tips which its creators say perfectly mimic the human touch. The product of Singaporean startup AiTreat, and developed by Nanyang Technological University graduate Albert Zhang, Emma isn’t necessarily

Business, Companies, Entertainment, News, Smart Home, Sport, startups, Virtual Reality (VR), VR World, Wearables

VR Bicycle Ride – No Matter the Weather

Imagine working out on a stationary bike, winding your way through courses based on real roads while your bike adjusts to your speed, gear, and resistance. Then imagine racing against fellow riders in virtual reality. VirchyBike LITE, available on Kickstarter, promises to deliver those experiences and more. “Indoor cycling is one of the most popular cardio exercises, so there are many indoor bikes in the market. However, many are expensive and ineffective at motivating users to work out consistently. We believe that indoor bikes should promote fun and dynamic exercise,” VirchyBike LITE founder and CEO Jaehyun Shin said in a statement. “With VirchyBike, we strive to maximize the indoor