augmented reality

You Can Now Donate Blood While Immersed In Mixed Reality

August 7, 2023 From vrscout

Nervous around needles? Mixed reality is here to help.

According to America’s Blood Centers, the United States has been suffering from a noticeable lack of blood donors below the age of 30 over the past 10 years; roughly 30% to be more exact.

To help quell this growing shortage, Abbot Laboratories, a medical device and healthcare company based out of Illinois, United States, has teamed up with Blood Centers of America to release a new mixed reality experience designed to attract younger donors while providing a fun and relaxing experience while in the chair.

Credit: Abbott Laboratories

Using Microsoft’s HoloLens 2 mixed reality headset, donors are immersed in a magical garden where they can plant seeds around their real-world environment while enjoying a comforting soundtrack. Donors remain aware of their surroundings at all times for safety purposes. Medical professionals can also see the donors’ eyes as they draw blood, allowing them to better evaluate their condition in real-time.

“This is an exciting new way to get people interested in donating blood,” said Alex Carterson, divisional vice president of medical, scientific, and clinical affairs at Abbott, in an official release. “Mixed reality introduces a safe, fun dimension to the act of giving blood. We think this will resonate with people who have been hesitant to donate, those who have never donated, and a younger generation who can become the foundation of the nation’s blood donation efforts for years to come.”

“Mixed reality is a fantastic way to attract the next generation of blood donors and find younger people interested in giving,” added Harpreet K. Sandhu, CEO of Stanford Blood Center and chairperson of Blood Centers of America. “The need for blood is constant and we’re continually looking for smart new ways that will appeal to people who have never donated before or may be apprehensive. The mixed reality experience is a terrific way to get those people interested in participating.”

Abbott and Blood Centers of America’s mixed reality donating experience is available at select locations across Illinois, New York, Ohio, and Texas. You can schedule your appointment now over at bethe1donor.com/mixedreality. In order to qualify you will need to meet all the requirements for blood, platelet, or plasma donation.

Feature Image Credit: Abbott Laboratories

This Snapchat AR Lens Turns You Into A Ninja Turtle

August 7, 2023 From vrscout

“Turtle Power” meets AR power.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is officially in theaters and so far fans and critics alike can’t get enough of Seth Rogan’s take on the pizza-loving crime-fighting team. The animated motion picture currently has a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and performing well at the box office.

To help keep that momentum going, Paramount Pictures has partnered with the popular social media app, Snapchat, on a new augmented reality (AR) Lens that lets you step into the shoes (shells?) of each of the four Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Donatello, Leonardo, Raphael, and Michelangelo.

Available now on iOS and Android devices, the ‘TMNT Mutant Mayhem Lens’ features full face and body-tracking technology, allowing you to control each of the four turtles like a puppet using your own body. As you move your arms, legs, and head, your virtual counterpart mirrors your actions in real-time.

“This Lens demonstrates both the immersive qualities of our AR technology and boundless creativity of our Snapchat Lens creators,” said Laurel Duquette, Snap’s senior manager of advertiser solutions, in an official release.

Those interested can try the TMNT Mutant Mayhem Lens now via the Snapchat app, available for free on iOS and Android devices. Simply scan the QR code provided above using the app. You can also visit this link here.

Feature Image Credit: Paramount Pictures

Snapchat Is Offering A New Way For AR Creators To Earn Money

August 1, 2023 From vrscout

The popular social media app doubles down on augmented reality.

Snap Inc. today announced the launch of Lens Creator Rewards, a new program that will reward the creators of top-performing Snapchat Lenses. Every month, Snap will be giving up to $7,200 to the creator of the most popular Lens in the United States, India, and Mexico.

The program is open to both new and existing Lens Studio members across roughly 40 countries. According to Snap, eligible Lenses include everything from virtual try-on experiences to full-blown augmented reality (AR) scenes.

Credit: Snap Inc.

“Snapchatters love Lenses built by our global AR community of more than 300,000 AR creators, developers, and teams around the world,” said Joseph Darko, global head of AR Developer Relations at Snap Inc, in an official release. “At Snap, we’re committed to rewarding the value that AR creators bring to the platform as they advance their skills and grow their businesses through the new Lens Creator Rewards Program.”

Snap states that its community of over 300,000 AR creators has developed more than 3 million Lenses with views numbering in the trillions. No doubt this new program will only further encourage the development of AR Lenses for the popular social media app.

For more information on the Lens Creator Rewards program visit here.

Feature Image Credit: Snap Inc.

AR Murals Bring Bruce Lee To Life In NY & LA

July 7, 2023 From vrscout

After long last, season three of the popular martial arts crime drama Warrior has finally begun airing on Max (formerly HBO Max).

To help promote the new episodes, Max teamed up with a handful of multicultural artists to create a series of interactive murals powered by augmented reality (AR) technology. Each mural features a QR code that, when scanned, brings the 2D images to life in the real world.

Credit: Max

Fans of the show can interact with three murals scattered across the United States. One mural is located in Los Angeles and was created by Swank One. A second mural, created by Vincent Ballantine, can be found in New York, and a third by Vogue + Agana in San Francisco. Here are the specific addresses of each mural for those interested:

New York – 149 Hester Street, New York, NY
Los Angeles – 1200 S Hope Street, Los Angeles, CA
San Francisco – 965 Clay Street, San Francisco, CA

“Seeing Warrior return for our 3rd season during this 50th anniversary year for my father is just the ultimate celebration of his legacy,” said Shannon Lee, executive producer on Warrior, president of the Bruce Lee Foundation, and Bruce Lee’s daughter, in an official release.

“I couldn’t be more proud of our show, our cast, our crew, and the impact our show continues to have and the entertainment it continues to serve up and celebrating through art and interactivity in 3 cities across the country all at once is just an amazing way for a lot of people to get in on the fun!”

For more information check out the official release here.

Feature Image Credit: Max

Apple Launches Environmental AR Experience For iPad

July 6, 2023 From vrscout

Create your own unique plants and share them with artists across the world.

Yesterday, Apple revealed Deep Field, an immersive augmented reality (AR) art app powered by iPad and Apple Pencil. Developed by Australian artists and creative technologists Tin Nguyen and Edward Cutting of Tin&Ed, the interactive experience tasks you with creating your own unique flora and fauna using a variety of colors, shapes, and textures.

Credit: Apple

Upon completion, your virtual plants are uploaded to a global database alongside various others created by artists from across the globe. You can then use the LiDAR scanner featured on the iPad Pro to view these creations in your real-world space. Watch as plant life blossoms on the walls, floors, and ceilings of your environment.

According to Apple, the goal of Deep Field is to encourage creativity while, simultaneously, highlighting the importance of environmental conservation. In order to accomplish their goals, the team utilized Apple’s ARKit framework to create 3D plant structures in AR.

“For us, AR is a powerful artistic medium for storytelling because it is immersive and multisensory,” said Tin Nguyen, an artist at Tin&Ed. “The power of the M2 chip on iPad Pro has made it possible to create a work that enables children from across the globe to imagine new worlds together in real-time.”

“Deep Field encourages children to look, listen, and think more deeply about the natural world and their place within it,” added Edward Cutting, another artist at Tin&Ed. “We hope they come away from the experience feeling a sense of wonder and curiosity and a deeper connection to nature and each other.”

In addition to AR, Deep Field makes use of a multichannel soundscape featuring a variety of natural sounds captured by audio naturalist Martyn Stewart.

“Deep Field is a new opportunity for our youngest visitors to experience the intersection of art and technology,” said Dr. Michael Brand, the Art Gallery of New South Wales’s director. “Thanks to the vision of Tin&Ed, with the experience starting in our Yiribana Gallery, each participant will be invited to look closely at nature through the lens of the world’s oldest continuous cultures, as depicted in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artworks.”

“Children will also be encouraged to connect with their surroundings by observing and responding to the magnificent natural landscape, which is seamlessly integrated into our new art museum campus in Sydney on Gadigal Country.”

Deep Field recently premiered at the Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney and the Getty Center in Los Angeles. The experience is available now to students and families at the Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. Deep Field will then be available at the Getty Center in Los Angeles from Saturday, July 8th to Sunday, July 16th.

For more information check out the official announcement here.

Feature Image Credit: Apple

This 18K Gold Apple Vision Pro Costs Almost $40K

July 3, 2023 From vrscout

According to the manufacturer, only 24 of these extravagant headsets will be made available.

During Apple’s 2023 WWDC, the company finally unveiled Vision Pro, a high-end mixed reality headset that could provide a big consumerism boost for augmented reality (AR) and VR technology.

That said, the device comes with an expensive price tag of $3,500. But why stop at $3,500 when you can get a modified version of Apple Vision Pro covered in 18K gold for $39,900?

The over-the-top headset is made by Caviar, a company known for its extravagant products, such as its expensive diamond-encrusted iPhones. Caviar’s “CVS Edition” Vision Pro features a thousand grams of 18k gold and the same black leather used by Rolls-Royce and the British Royal Court.

The device also features a flip-up shield made out of gold ($36,400 worth of gold to be exact), so you’re able to enjoy all the features Apple Vision Pro has to offer while maintaining some privacy at the same time. Plus, it’s a serious flex to use your finger to quickly flip up a gold shield off of your face.

Don’t expect to simply visit Apple or Caviar’s websites and add one to your shopping cart. The company is only producing 24 CVS Edition Vision Pro headsets, which means after MrBeast and one of the Kardashians each buy one, only 22 gold-plated headsets will be up for grabs.

Like Apple Vision Pro, Caviar’s CVS Edition won’t be available for purchase until 2024, so you have some time to sell off your rare Pokémon cards or find a few extra jobs to help you finance your purchase.

For more information check out Caviar’s official website.

Feature Image Credit: Caviar

Could AR Mirrors Replace Brick-And-Mortar Stores?

June 22, 2023 From vrscout

The virtual fitting room market has the potential to explode over the next few years.

According to a recent report by SourceJournal, Zero10, an augmented reality (AR) fashion platform and the official AR partner of Coach, is developing technology that could revolutionize the in-person shopping experience.

Last week at Viva Technology Paris, Zero10, an augmented reality (AR) fashion platform and the official AR partner of Coach, revealed its AR Store prototype. Composed of a Zero10 AR Mirror, iPad stand, and statistics screen, this standalone experience allows customers to try on and purchase virtual garments without the hassle of having to physically remove their existing clothes.

Zero10’s AR Mirror / Credit: Zero10

According to Zero10, AR Store takes up roughly 3 square meters and features the same functionality as a traditional 100-square-meter brick-and-mortar store. Whereas the company’s previous AR Mirrors were designed to work with existing locations, AR Store is designed to operate independently as an “autonomous retail agent.”

“By embracing this innovative technology, brands can transcend the constraints of traditional brick-and-mortar stores, reducing rental and storage expenses while combating overproduction,” said Zero10 founder George Yashin during an interview with SourcingJournal. “Moreover, the AR Store empowers brands to expand their reach offline, enabling online-only businesses to embrace the physical realm at a fraction of the cost.”

**Snap Inc.’s AR Mirror / Credit: Snap, Inc.**

“The AR Store offers a cutting-edge and convenient solution for customers to virtually try on garments, eliminating the need for changing rooms or purchasing previously worn or returned items,” added Yashin. “The era of immersive and sustainable fashion is upon us.”

According to a study by Grand View Research, Inc, the virtual fitting room market could potentially grow to $20.63 billion by the year 2030. We’ve already seen a number of other companies begin to experiment with virtual try-on technology, such as Snap Inc.’s AR Mirrors, which will be available to try at popular music festivals later this summer.

For more information on Zero10’s new AR Store, check out SourceJournal’s full report here.

Feature Image Credit: Zero10

AR Lets You Fly The Rainbow Flag In Banned Cities

June 16, 2023 From vrscout

#SavetheRainbowFlag

In honor of Pride Month, the Gilbert Baker Foundation—an organization dedicated to the original creator of the LGBTQ Rainbow Flag—has partnered with full-service ad agency INNOCEAN and creative production partner Tool to launch an augmented reality (AR) filter that allows you to proudly fly the Rainbow Flag anywhere in the real world.

This includes any of the 40-something cities that have passed laws banning the Pride Flag at official government buildings, such as public schools, city hall, and police stations just to name a few.

The AR filter is just the latest phase in the ongoing #SavetheRainbowFlag campaign led by the Gilbert Baker Foundation which aims to reverse the increasing number of bans on the LGBTQ Rainbow Flag. The organization has also made a toolkit available to those interested in taking action.

“The Gilbert Baker Foundation launched the Save the Rainbow Flag initiative in response to a wave of pride flag bans occurring happening across our country,” said Charles Beal, president of the Gilbert Baker Foundation, in an official release.

“Partnering with the ACLU we created a Toolkit that local activists can use to fight back against this wave of hate and win! Using these tools, we’ve already seen victories in California, New Jersey, and Florida. If this is happening in your community speak out! Reach out to us and fight back!”

***Credit: The Gilbert Baker Foundation***

“We are proud of the diversity we have in our employees at INNOCEAN and when one of our team members proposed we do something bold to support the LGBTQ+ community, I was very happy to see our team jump into action,” added Steve Jun, CEO of INNOCEAN USA.

“This is about more than a flag. It’s about people coming together, using new technologies for good, and standing up for each other. I look forward to seeing virtual rainbow pride flags across the country – if not the world!”

***Credit: Free public domain CC0 photo***

The #SavetheRainbowFlag AR filter is available now on Instagram @Gilbert_Baker_Foundation. Simply click the link here on your mobile device to get started.

For more information on the #SavetheRainbowFlag initiative visit gilbertbaker.com/save-the-rainbow.

Feature Image Credit: INNOCEAN USA

Snap’s AR Mirror Could Be At Your Next Music Festival

June 14, 2023 From vrscout

AR-powered fashion invades the live music scene.

Snap, Inc., the company behind the uber-popular social media app Snapchat, is partnering with Verizon to bring its immersive augmented reality (AR) mirrors to music festivals later this summer.

According to the advertising trade publication Adweek, these AR mirrors will allow festivalgoers to access popular Snapchat Lenses powered by machine learning technology. This includes the infamous Shook Lens, which transforms the user into what I can only describe as a sadistic serial killer. Based on the images provided by Snap Inc., the popular Cartoon 3D Style Lens may also be available.

Credit: Snap, Inc.

Those who attend these select events in person can scan a QR code to unlock 3-months of Snapchat+, a premium subscription service that offers experimental and pre-release features.

“It’s no secret Snapchatters absolutely thrive in the live music scene and are looking forward to the summer music festival season,” said Jill Popelka, head of AR Enterprise Services at Snap. “We’re so excited to collaborate with Verizon … and also showcase the versatility of our AR Mirrors in providing on-the-ground, immersive experiences for brands.”

The installation premiered earlier this month at Governors Ball in New York and will make an appearance at the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival from June 15th to the 18th. We’re not sure at this time which other music festivals will feature Snap’s AR mirrors, so keep a look out the next time you find yourself at a rave!

I had the chance to try a version of Snap’s AR mirror technology at the Snap Partner Summit earlier this year. Upon walking in front of the “mirror,” I was instantly adorned with virtual apparel that conformed with my body and moved with me in real time. No doubt these types of virtual try-on experiences will become more prevalent over the coming years.

Feature Image Credit: Snap, Inc.

Holograms Are Coming To California State Parks

June 8, 2023 From vrscout

Download the Virtual Adventurer app now to explore 9 California State Parks in immersive AR.

The California Department of Parks and Recreation is using augmented reality (AR) technology to enhance your in-park experience at 9 participating state parks. This includes futuristic holograms, digital reconstructions, and 3D imagery highlighting California’s various cultural, historic, and natural resources.

The experience is accessible via the new Virtual Adventurer app, available now on iOS & Android devices. Developed by digital experience and exhibition firm TimeLooper Inc., the AR-powered app features a number of experiences, from tours of Coyote Canyon in what is now the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park to Chinatown at Bodie State Historic Park.

Credit: California State Parks

“We’re excited to launch the Virtual Adventurer app that further provides opportunities for Californians to access the cultural, historic, and natural resources found across our beautiful state,” said California State Parks director Armando Quintero in an official release.

“The app also supports and enhances the department’s Reexamining Our Past Initiative by developing content for parks that tells a more complete, accurate, and inclusive history of people and places.”

The following California State Parks currently feature support for the Virtual Adventurer app (as provided by the California Department of Parks and Recreation):

“Helping park visitors to create deeper and more meaningful experiences in state parks is vitally important to connecting us all to the rich history of these places,” added Parks California Community Engagement director Myrian Solis Coronel.

“Through this app and emerging digital technology, we hope these tools will help all visitors see themselves as part of these special places and feel a sense of belonging. Parks California, along with other park partners like Jack London Park Partners, Point Lobos Foundation, Tribal Nations, and university partners are also supporting content development.”

The Virtual Adventurer app is available now on iOS & Android devices. Simply download the app from the App Store or Google Play or scan the QR code provided above. The app features a number of accessibility features, including audio descriptions, dyslexic font, and more.

For more information visit here.

Feature Image Credit: Travel In USA