Virtual & Augmented Reality - Global Issue #55

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Virtual & Augmented Reality

We provide you with a list of handpicked stories, best practices, startup showcases and fresh tools to build the metaverse and the next version of the web using XR!

Hey, all!🖐🏼
Another amazing week with fresh news.
Last week we had news of Meta’s first physical store and this week Meta should announce news about the Cambria project, let’s wait. Surprises on the part of Google that, in addition to investing in the purchase of a startup to improve Augmented Reality glasses, announced new features for Maps and a new content translation function.
Startups are advancing in the design of full body avatars and not just partial ones and soon we should see all companies on the same path.
Also, you can’t miss a lot of news about startups and their launches, funding for immersive companies, news about hardware (headset and controllers), an open-source initiative called Wolvic, XR for good news, looking for health support, articles about data security, immersive events and a podcast suggestion for you.
Stay tuned for more news! 😉

XR HEADLINES
Google Maps’ new ‘Immersive View’ combines Street View with satellites
Google Maps’ new ‘Immersive View’ combines Street View with satellites
A new feature in Google Maps makes it easier to see what a neighbourhood looks like before zooming in to find a restaurant to go to.
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Spatial's VR App Gains Full-Body Avatars
Spatial's VR App Gains Full-Body Avatars
Spatial is adding support for virtual avatars with legs and feet, a development which significantly steps up VR’s realism.
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5 VR Films we think you should see
5 VR Films we think you should see
The following are a handful of incredible VR films that are leading the way for the future of immersive storytelling that you should know.
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XR STARTUPS
Sensorium opens VR Gallery To 'Democratize Art' from the Vatican
Sensorium opens VR Gallery To 'Democratize Art' from the Vatican
A new partnership will bring The Vatican’s art, content, and academic initiatives to VR for the first time.
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Enterprise VR training company Strivr raises $35M to help reskill the workforce
Enterprise VR training company Strivr raises $35M to help reskill the workforce
Strivr, the enterprise-focused virtual reality (VR) training platform used by Walmart and Bank of America, has raised $35 million.
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Newfoundland Augmented Reality Company Wins $1.2-Million Defence Contract
Newfoundland Augmented Reality Company Wins $1.2-Million Defence Contract
St. John’s-based Engage Creative Technologies has landed a major AR contract with the Canada’s Department of National Defence (DND).
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XR GLASSES
Google reveals AR glasses that can translate speech in real time
Google reveals AR glasses that can translate speech in real time
Google unveiled a pair of prototype augmented reality glasses that can translate speech in different languages in real time.
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Meta To Reveal Project Cambria Mixed Reality Details
Meta To Reveal Project Cambria Mixed Reality Details
Meta will reveal new details about its Project Cambria standalone headset this week.
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Meta Shows Off Wrist-worn XR Controller Prototype to Ray-Ban Parent EssilorLuxottica
Meta Shows Off Wrist-worn XR Controller Prototype to Ray-Ban Parent EssilorLuxottica
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg showed off a prototype of the company’s wrist-worn XR controller this week to EssilorLuxottica, the Italian parent company behind the Ray-Ban Stories camera glasses and a host of other conventional luxury eyewear brands.
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Nvidia Uses Holograms To Shrink The Size Of VR Headsets
Nvidia Uses Holograms To Shrink The Size Of VR Headsets
Holographic Glasses designed for VR can deliver digital content in 2D or 3D VR while reducing the overall size.
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Google bought a MicroLED display company that could help make AR headsets better and cheaper
Google bought a MicroLED display company that could help make AR headsets better and cheaper
Google’s hardware boss confirmed its acquisition of Raxium, a display startup focused on making cheaper MicroLED displays for augmented reality screens.
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Microsoft teams up with VW to make HoloLens work in cars
Microsoft teams up with VW to make HoloLens work in cars
Microsoft has announced a new “moving platform” feature for the HoloLens 2. It’s designed to let the augmented reality headset work when moving. It already works on large ships, but support for trains and cars is planned.
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XR FUNDING
Tower 26 Venture Fund Raises $50M for VR Games, Metaverse: Report
Tower 26 Venture Fund Raises $50M for VR Games, Metaverse: Report
The fund is led by a veteran game investor and former studio executive Jon Goldman.
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XR FOR GOOD
Inside the Effort to Expand Virtual Reality Treatments for Mental Health | Science
Inside the Effort to Expand Virtual Reality Treatments for Mental Health | Science
Medical professionals are embracing the technology to help patients deal with PTSD, anxiety disorders - see how!
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XR SAFETY & PRIVACY
Cybersecurity experts warn about potential security risks, scams in the metaverse: "You can't protect against everything"
Cybersecurity experts warn about potential security risks, scams in the metaverse: "You can't protect against everything"
Experts believe where there’s money to be made, the criminals won’t be far behind and money and personal info are at risk.
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XR OPEN SOURCE
Welcome to Wolvic
Welcome to Wolvic
Wolvic is an open source browser that opens a portal to the Web and all it has to offer, including immersive games, videos, and environments built for XR.
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HERO OF THE WEEK
Dr. Helen Papagiannis
Dr. Helen Papagiannis
Dr. Helen Papagiannis is a leading subject matter expert and keynote speaker on Augmented Reality (AR), the metaverse, and emerging technologies. She is the author of the best selling book “Augmented Human and yo should know her.
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WORD OF THE WEEK
What is hand tracking in VR?
What is hand tracking in VR?
Hand tracking in VR creates a virtual embodiment of your hands. Your virtual hands are then integrated into VR applications, allowing you to interact naturally.
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NEXT EVENTS
MKAI Inclusive AI Forum: How to protect human rights in the Metaverse
MKAI Inclusive AI Forum: How to protect human rights in the Metaverse
Objective is to discover how the Metaverse can become a safe place for everyone to participate, learn, socialise and trade.
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Apple Park Special Event - WWDC22 - Apple Developer
Apple Park Special Event - WWDC22 - Apple Developer
Let’s see what June 6 has in place for us.
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GatherVerse - EU edition!
GatherVerse - EU edition!
7
Focuses
50+
Sessions
60+
Speakers
2,500+
Attendees Seven Standards of the Metaverse
Humanity First Seven Standards
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PODCAST OF THE WEEK
A podcast, live events, and insights about haptics
A podcast, live events, and insights about haptics
Haptics Club was founded by geeks. We love to talk about Haptics and spread knowledge. We invite experts from Academia, Technology and Industry on stage to talk about their expertise and predictions for the future.
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Closing notes
That´s all for this week, folks!
Once again, if you have any comments, questions, articles or topics to share with us, or if you want to just talk about XR, you can reach Luis Bravo Martins and Anesio Neto quick and easy.
Thank you!
Techstars Startup Digest Virtual & Augmented Reality is curated by:
Luís Bravo Martins Luís Bravo Martins - CMO, VR/AR Author & Speaker
luis.martins@startupdigestmail.com
Anesio Neto Anesio Neto - Matchmaker, Creative Strategist & Content Manager
anesio.neto@startupdigestmail.com
Valentino Megale Valentino Megale - Techpreneur & advisor in XR and digital health, author & speaker
valentinomegale@hotmail.it
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