Road to VR

Researchers Electrically Stimulate Muscles in Haptic Designed for Hands-free AR Input

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Apr 16, 2018

Researchers at The Human Computer Interaction Lab at Hasso-Plattner-Institut in Potsdam, Germany, published a video recently showing a novel solution to the problem of wearable haptics for augmented reality. Using a lightweight, mobile electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) device that provides low-voltage to arm muscles, the idea is to let AR headset-users stay hands-free, but also be able to experience force-feedback when interacting with virtual objects, and feel extra forces when touching physical objects in their environment too.

Exiii Raises $750K for Haptic VR Gloves with Force Feedback

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Apr 16, 2018

exos-glove — Image courtesy Exiii

Japan-based startuped Exiii, which is developing a pair of haptic gloves with force feedback, has raised $750K for continued R&D, expansion of sales channels, and growing the company’s team.

17 Minutes of Sci-fi Adventure ‘Downward Spiral: Horus Station’, Gameplay Video Here

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Apr 14, 2018

Downward Spiral: Horus Station is an upcoming sci-fi adventure set in the lost and forgotten Horus space station. Created by Finland-based 3rd Eye Studios, the minds behind the game recently put out an extended look at some of the its atmospheric exploration and puzzles in a new gameplay video.

Firmware Update Brings Vive Pro Audio Improvements, HTC Looking into Reports of Screen Issues

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Apr 13, 2018

htc vive pro review (11) — Photo by Road to VR

Following a small rash of reports from new Vive and Vive Pro users, HTC says they’re looking into issues regarding mismatched display brightness. Additionally, SteamVR’s beta branch brings a firmware update to the Vive Pro which is said to improve the initially disappointing audio quality.

Oculus Studios’ New Title ‘Defector’ Aims for High-octane Set Piece Action and Branching Narratives

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Apr 13, 2018

Oculus Studios today revealed their latest Rift exclusive, Defector, a high-action first-person adventure from Twisted Pixel, the studio behind Wilson’s Heart (2017). Defector aims to put players in the shoes of a veritable action movie spy, with gadgets and guns aplenty.

‘Drunk or Dead’ Studio Announces Starship Trooper-Style Shooter ‘B3’

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Apr 13, 2018

4 I Lab, the studio behind Drunk or Dead (2017), released a trailer announcing their next game, B3, a co-op VR shooter that’s definitely borrowing some of its vibe from Starship Troopers (1997).

Tim Heidecker’s ‘On Cinema’ Goes 360 in a Hilarious Lambaste of VR Video

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Apr 13, 2018

Tim Heidecker’s Adult Swim parody movie review show On Cinema went full 360 in its latest episode, strapping a number of Ricoh Theta 360 cameras around the set.

Developer Creates Scan of Apartment to Work Inside of VR for 30 Days

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Apr 13, 2018

enea-le-fons-room — image courtesy Enea Le Fons

Turin, Italy-based developer Enea Le Fons is aiming to spend more than 30 days of extended stints in VR, and although he won’t be able to qualify for any records—he’s still eating, sleeping, and using the bathroom sans headset—Le Fons is hoping to use his time in VR to explore its long-term effects while developing applications he says will help make “VR an essential part of our daily life.”

Sony Experimenting with Advanced Livestreaming Features for PSVR, Mixed Reality Views

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Apr 13, 2018

psvr-gdc-2018-livestreaming-2 — Image courtesy Sony

Speaking during a session at GDC 2018 last month, Richard Forster, Senior Team Lead at Sony’s Research & Development West group, chronicled a range of explorations in advanced livestreaming and sharing features for PSVR.

Update: KatVR Scraps ‘Mini’ VR Treadmill Kickstarter, Sets Price at $3000

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Apr 12, 2018

kat-walk-mini — image courtesy Kat VR

Kat VR, the China-based company behind the 2015 Kickstarter-funded KAT Walk VR treadmill, announced last month that a new mini-version of the low-friction VR treadmill would be hitting Kickstarter soon, and that above all it would be “affordable.” Today the company published pre-order prices on the Kat VR website, and it’s unfortunately a bitter pill to swallow: with the lowest early bird discount of 50%, the minimum price is $1500.

Play Zero-G Sport ‘Echo Arena’ This Weekend on Rift For a Chance to Win Prizes

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Apr 12, 2018

echoarena-vr — Image courtesy Ready At Dawn

Oculus is heading into its third week of ‘Rift Gold Rush’, a prize-winning extravaganza marking the two-year anniversary of Rift’s launch. To get a chance to win this weekend, just pop into a public match in Echo Arena (2017) during the specific entrance window.

Updates on the Decentralized Metaverse: WebXR, A-Frame, & ‘Supermedium’

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Apr 12, 2018

webvr — Image courtesy Supermedium

I visited Mozilla’s offices last October to chat with A-Frame co-creator & co-maintainer Diego Marcos about the current state of WebVR. Marcos has since left Mozilla in order to work on the Supermedium WebVR browser, which creates a desktop VR browser designed for the Vive or Oculus to easily go in and out of viewing WebVR content as a seamless VR experience. Supermedium is a breath of fresh air to be able to seamlessly traverse amongst a curated set of WebVR proof of concepts, and the link traversal and security paradigms of WebXR are still open questions.

Vive Pro Gets Detailed Teardown Confirming Samsung-made Displays

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Apr 11, 2018

Teardown experts iFixit have disassembled the new Vive Pro to see what they could find. In addition to confirming that the headset’s new displays are made by Samsung, the organization also gave the headset a favorable repairability score.

Social VR App ‘vTime’ Closes $7.6M Series A Investment, AR Experience to Come in 2018

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Apr 11, 2018

v-time-vr — Image courtesy vTime

vTime, the social VR platform, today announced the closure of a $7.6 million (£5.4 million) Series A funding round led by Deepbridge Capital with included investment from Liverpool, UK-based institutional loan and equity provider MSIF.

Inside VR Park, Dubai Mall’s Massive New VR Theme Park

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Dominic Brennan

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Apr 11, 2018

vr-park-entrance — Photo by Road to VR

The Dubai Mall, one of the world’s largest shopping complexes, is now home to VR Park, an indoor theme park spanning two floors and over 75,000 square feet of space, offering a wide variety of VR experiences, including several physical rides. At the opening of the park we went hands-on with the main attractions, many of which utilise the high-resolution, high-FOV StarVR headset.

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