Building Virtual Reality Cities

An interesting example that reminds me of Second Life.   But of course now using headgear rather than on screen.  Is the difference in 3D quality important for this kind of experience?   " .... Imageen has launched a new virtual reality (VR) experience from Estudiofuture, Tarraco VR, now available for download on Gear VR for free. Tarraco VR allows users to travel to the 2nd Century, the ancient city of Tarraco, and view the many entertainment wonders the era offers. ... " 

Virtual Reality Visualizing Big Data

Beyond eye candy, and permitting in space interaction.  This has been done before, but not very usefully.   See some of our minor investigations.  Now another approach:

In Silicon Angle: " ... the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) have the answer. We recently reported on its experiments with Oculus Rift, the virtual reality headgear recently acquired by Facebook, which are a fine example of the way VR can help us to better understand data. DARPA has modified Oculus Rift in such a way that futuristic cyberwarriors can visualize three-dimensional network simulations – in some cases with the goal of better targeting them for attack..... " 

Good background piece.  Now does this really add significantly to the modes of interaction and pattern discovery?

Practical Virtual Reality for Work

We explored many opportunities in this space.  But not with success.  See the tag link on Virtual Reality at the bottom of this post for some examples about that extended experience.  Here in Fast Codesign.  Suggestion that VR in the typical workplace is getting practical:

" ... Little is said about using VR in the workspace. Letting VR replace the desktop monitor would bring physical benefits, such as freeing up desk space and giving you a wider spatial and more customizable area in which to arrange your applications--and you wouldn't need several monitors to do it. An unintended consequence is that it would let you work distraction free. Cubicle walls would no longer be necessary because you'd be "walled-in" by a VR headset.

A handful of companies have tried to revolutionize our work spaces in ways that are eye-catching but not geared to everyday office work. There's Fujitsu Laboratories' projection and gesture-based system, though this would be difficult to set up for various users. .. " 

Drones are Joining the Robots in 3D

In IEEE Spectrum:  The drone empire of the future?  Robotics will, more commonly, be operating in 3D.   " ... Small unmanned aerial vehicles are changing from toys into tools, as businesses worldwide awaken to their importance. "At first, investors thought drones were not a market," says Chris Anderson, the former Wired editor and CEO of 3D Robotics, a maker of robotic aircraft. "Then, around nine months ago, they realized they were one." Last year, Anderson’s company got $30 million from venture capitalists. That second round of funding came on top of $6 million raised a year earlier and will help 3D Robotics gear up for the commercial market that the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration is preparing to allow. And while his company bulks up, Anderson hopes that its roots in the amateur, DIY community will keep it close enough to the market to let it fend off the competition. "Now the question is, will we be the leader?" .. ."