You might know Disney as the place where dreams come true, but there’s an industry-leading team of techies behind the scenes who are also turning tech ideas into reality.
The company’s research and innovation centre has released the findings from its latest project, the ‘AR Poser’.
In the 28-page publication, the company details how its new AR app augments a 3D character, in this case a spaceman, into the real world to match the pose of the human standing next to it.
Whilst the research doesn’t specify a practical application, it alludes to the idea of ‘augmenting clothes’ with the tech.
So, be prepared for a future in which you can dress up as Aladdin, Cinderella or Moana without even getting changed.
‘You wouldn’t steal a car’ warns the famous ad at the beginning of your favourite old DVDs.
‘You wouldn’t steal a handbag’, it adds in grungy white lettering.
This nostalgic warning aimed to equate downloading a film with stealing from an old lady, but it missed a key point.
When you digitise a product it can be duplicated and shared indefinitely without damaging the orginal.
I know that movie piracy is wrong (don’t do it, kids) but there are times when digitisation can be great for humanity.
A new collab between Google Arts and Culture and California-based non-profit CyArk is digitising and sharing the world’s most precious landmarks before they are lost to time.
CyArk, which uses drones and cameras capable of laser scanning and ‘photogrammertry’, has already digitised palaces in Syria, ruins in Greece and a temple in Bagan which might topple during the next earthquake.
If you have a VR headset at the ready, you can jump in right now and explore the world’s most precious landmarks in 3D.
You can also explore without a headset, but that’s not as much fun…
VR therapy set for UK
The Sue Ryder charity has shared some promising results whilst using immersive tech to reduce blood pressure and decrease pain levels.
The charity’s Aberdeen centre, which supports people with cerebral palsy, MS, motor neuron disease and brain injuries, gave the headset to residents and found that the calming effects of a VR experience had a significant effect.
The BBC reports that the charity saw lowered blood pressure with 75 per cent of its residents after a virtual visit to the beach, a quick scuba dive or a ‘relaxing’ sky dive.
The VR therapy is set to be rolled out across the UK and Scotland.
Vive continue to thrive
Leading VR headset company Vive has hit back at analysts reports that ‘VR is dying’ in a heated blog post.
“Pardon us if we’re not heeding the alarms,” wrote the Vive team on its blog.
“News of the so-called death of VR comes once a year and is greatly exaggerated.”
The comments follow a Digital Trends report which seemed to show a steep drop in VIVE sales.
The company says that the decline is due to the headset having sold out, but wants its customers to know that it is ramping up production.
“In the VR industry, it’s important to not only move units, but to ensure that we have a growth path for customers and our business over time,” it stated.
Bricking it
Immersive tech company Immotion Group has partnered with LEGOLAND Discovery Centre on a multi-sensory VR experience called ‘The Great Lego Race’.
The new attraction, a 360-degree combination of sound, motion and VR, looks like an immersive Mario Kart experience built entirely out of LEGO bricks.
Sound fun? You can get a taste for it in the video below:
Katherine Lofthouse is away but will be back next week