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Microsoft Could Bring You Back From The Dead… As A Chat Bot
by Barry Collins Microsoft has filed a patent which raises the intriguing possibility of digitally reincarnating people as a chat bot. Instead of using the conventional method of training chat bots using conversations and material from a wide sample of users, Microsoft’s patent – as spotted by Ubergizmo – raises the possibility of creating a chat bot from the output of a specific person. The system would use “social data” such as “images, voice data, social media posts, electronic messages [and] written letters” to build a profile of a person. MORE
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The wild world of VRChat is a joyful antidote to these dark times
by Joseph Volpe Want to soar around a floating iridescent tree in a neon-lit, Tron-inspired atrium with one arm outstretched like some virtual Superman? Or perhaps you’re the type who’d prefer to hang around an “Ancient Art Museum” offering dating advice to strangers engaged in strained virtual romances? Maybe you just want to park your avatar in front of a mirror at “The Void” club and chat up cute femboys and girls on the off chance you’ll get a lap dance and experience the phenomenon known as phantom touch. Or you could explore The Great Plateau from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and quite literally become Link. …
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Panasonic Reveals Improved Specs for Its Impressively Compact VR Glasses
by Scott Hayden At last year’s CES, Panasonic unveiled a prototype of a pretty sleek pair of VR glasses. Only a few journalists got a chance to try the prototype then, noting that they were more akin to a ‘VR viewer’ since they lacked room-scale tracking and was primarily used for watching immersive video whilst tethered to a PC. At this year’s all-digital CES 2021, Panasonic showed off a new and improved version of the device, which packs in some pretty intriguing specs alongside the new addition of optical 6DOF tracking. Japanese publication AVWatch got a chance to go hands-on with the new headset at an invite-only reveal concurrently held in…
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Zuckerberg explains why an Oculus Quest ‘Pro’ is necessary
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How to build a cheap VR-ready PC
By Jayce Wagner It’s been a couple years since the VR renaissance kicked off in earnest, and things are looking up for VR. The HTC Vive and Oculus Rift have now upgraded to the Cosmos and the Rift S, respectively, while Sony’s PlayStation VR offers an excellent entry point for console gamers, and there are hundreds of VR titles on the Steam store alone. VR is growing, but some steep barriers to entry are keeping interested enthusiasts from taking the plunge. The biggest barrier is a simple one: Price. PC gaming is an expensive hobby, and tacking on VR is another $300 to $700, depending on what you buy. But…
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Virtual Desktop Passes 200k Unique Downloads On SideQuest
SideQuest announced on Twitter that Virtual Desktop passed 200,000 unique downloads on the sideloading platform, the first app to do so. John Carmack@ID_AA_Carmack·Oct 2, 2020Replying to @c_pruett @hmltn and 2 othersFor lack of interest in arguing, I kick the stone. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appeal_to_the_stoneSideQuest @SideQuestVRI’m sure it’s frustrating, at OC6 and recently at Facebook Connect it was pretty clear you have an appreciation for what @VRDesktop has done, and rightly so because it’s pretty amazing. VD just passed 200k unique downloads on SQ. First app to do it too. 6:15 AM · Oct 3, 202051See SideQuest More
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New 5-Part David Attenborough Series Coming To Oculus Quest
A new 5-part nature series starring David Attenborough is coming to Oculus Quest from October 6, co-produced by Oculus and Alchemy Immersive. The series, split across five episodes, is called Micro Monsters with David Attenborough and will be available through Oculus TV starting tomorrow. On Quest 2, the series will stream in 8K 3D in 60fps, whereas on the original Quest it will come down to 5K. As the title suggests, the series will focus on some of nature’s smaller creatures, specifically arthropods such as butterflies, scorpions and the like. While filming, the series used a combination of custom-developed 3D stereoscopic camera rigs, 180 degree footage and VFX compositing to…
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Five Companies Using Virtual Reality To Improve The Lives Of Senior Citizens
Sol Rogers Contributor To mark National Senior Citizen’s Day, I’ve taken a look at some of the companies using the immersive power of virtual reality to make a difference. Viarama Viarama is adding joy to the lives of senior citizens who are receiving end-of-life care. Using HTC Vive headsets and Google Earth VR, those in nursing homes or hospices are taken on journeys they never thought possible. The company is enabling the elderly to travel back to where they got married, or where they did their national service. Billy Agnew, chief executive of Viarama said: “I was absolutely staggered by how much they enjoyed the experience… MORE
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VR Travel: Trends And Challenges On The Road To A Live Experience
James Kawas Forbes Councils Member We’ve all got a bucket list of travel destinations we want to experience around the world. Some dream of visiting fairytale cities like Paris and Rome — while others fantasize about immersing themselves in cultures very different from their own. But of course, the realities of day-to-day life often stand in the way of these dreams. Most consumers are unlikely to ever acquire a lifestyle of full-time world travel due to financial and time restrictions. As an entrepreneur working on a VR travel prototype, I don’t believe in the inevitability of these restrictions, and other companies — such as MelodyVR, 360 VUZ and NBA VR — are already…
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Cybershoes®: The Next Leap Into Virtual Reality
COLOGNE, Germany , Aug. 20, 2019 /CNW/ — Cybershoes®, the virtual reality accessory by the Austrian tech start-up of the same name, Cybershoes GmbH, will meet VR enthusiasts at the gaming fair gamescom 2019 with its latest, ready-to-be-shipped design. In addition to walking and running and turning around in 360 degrees, now a new “jumping” feature is supported, so that users can enjoy even more freedom of movement in virtual environments. They can now step into their virtual spaceships, run away from zombies, or jump right into fantasy worlds. More
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Got Pain? A Virtual Swim With Dolphins May Help
Virtual reality is not new. But, as people search for alternative ways to manage pain — and reduce reliance on pills — VR is attracting renewed attention. Imagine, for a moment you’ve been transported to a sunlit lagoon. And, suddenly, it’s as if you’re immersed in the warm water and swimming. That’s what Tom Norris experiences when he straps on his VR headset. “It’s fantastic, I really feel like I’m there,” says Norris, who is 70 years old, retired from the military, and lives in Los Angeles with his wife. As dolphins frolic and swim by in the virtual scene, “I get a strong feeling of pleasure, relaxation and peace,”…
