Smartglasses mirror content from smartphones, desktops, and consoles to virtual screens. By Neal Leavitt It's been nearly a decade since Google Glass landed on the scene. Still, many new smartglasses entrants remain plagued by essentially an underwhelming experience. Yes, there are already AR apps for art, directions, learning, trying on clothes, choosing new … [Read more...] about Smartglasses: Truly interactive or passive viewing goggles?
mixed reality
Varjo’s XR-1 mixed reality headset
Varjo is the first one to get MR right. I have never been a fan of the term mixed reality, and think it is misleading, confusing, and annoying. Microsoft started it by calling their Hololens AR HMD an MR HMD because they were trying to get some product differentiation and distance from AR and the damage Google had done to the term. Qualcomm tried to sidestep the politics and … [Read more...] about Varjo’s XR-1 mixed reality headset
Microsoft is acquiring social network AltspaceVR
After being on the verge of shutdown, AltspaceVR is gearing up to foster its community again. The social platform, AltSpaceVR, which helps meet people from around the world in VR in avatar form, has been on a rollercoaster ride lately. Founded in 2013, AltspaceVR was built using the Unity Engine and A-Frame, an HTML-derived VR authoring technology for creating WebVR … [Read more...] about Microsoft is acquiring social network AltspaceVR
Pixvana releases mixed reality publishing platform
Spin LaunchKit for Windows Mixed Reality provides an environment for developers to create custom 360-degree video and applications. Seattle-based Pixvana has released the first media content publishing platform designed to work with Microsoft Windows 10 Mixed Reality devices. Pixvana’s Spin LaunchKit is a development platform designed for media companies, enterprises, and … [Read more...] about Pixvana releases mixed reality publishing platform
New development kit puts hands inside virtual reality
ManoMotion offers a way to add gesture recognition to products and apps. A new software development kit (SDK) makes it possible to add gesture recognition into products and applications for virtual reality, augmented reality, and other new immersive visual technologies. ManoMotion says its new SDK allows people to see their actual hands in VR/AR/MR. Using a standard … [Read more...] about New development kit puts hands inside virtual reality
Trimble debuts SketchUp Viewer for Microsoft HoloLens
Microsoft bills HoloLens as a “mixed reality” portal suitable for a new approach to design review. Trimble has announced a new SketchUp viewer for Microsoft HoloLens. Trimble describes it as a “mixed-reality solution” for design and construction review. The new viewer is the first extensible commercial HoloLens application to be listed in the Windows Store. Noted … [Read more...] about Trimble debuts SketchUp Viewer for Microsoft HoloLens
Hololens for design and designers
Microsoft is working with Autodesk and Trimble to develop applications for mixed reality. By Jon Peddie and Kathleen Maher When Microsoft introduced Hololens at the beginning of 2015, it was generally agreed that the blue giant had a good idea, and like many of Microsoft’s big ideas, it might well be many years before the company nurtured its idea along to the point … [Read more...] about Hololens for design and designers