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NuEyes & Samsung Creating An AR Solution For Healthcare

From vrscout

NuEyes’s lightweight AR glasses, when combined with a compatible Samsung device, can be used in a variety of medical situations.

NuEyes Technologies and Samsung have announced a partnership that could change patient healthcare forever. The two companies are using augmented reality (AR) technology to give medical professionals access to live videos and remote specialists as well as the ability to pull up images and documents in real-time.

The NuEyes PRO series AR smart glasses, when tethered to a Samsung 5G Galaxy S Series mobile phone or tablet, allows professional in the medical industry to access life-saving information via an OLED display with a generous 52-degree field-of-view. The companies state that the glasses are comfortable enough to be used for common healthcare functions such as ultrasound imaging, remote medicine, and on-the-job support training in any hospital, university, or out in the field. 

Thanks to its hands-free approach, the combination of the two devices will keep doctors and physicians connected as they perform day-to-day medical tasks. The technology could also play a huge role in how paramedics respond to an emergency situation, allowing them to communicate with hospitals and ER doctors through AR. The glasses already feature customizable hand gestures through Manomotion.

In an official press release, Mark Greget, founder and CEO of NuEyes Technologies, Inc, said, “At NuEyes we are focused on delivering solutions that enhance patient care, whether that is through our low vision solutions or with a medical practitioner delivering care.” Greget continues, “Partnering with Samsung Healthcare allows us to expand our reach and deliver solutions that will help advance the medical industry and patient care.”

This alliance between Samsung and NuEyes Technologies marks a crucial step forward for the medical industry by laying the groundwork necessary to develop a seamless ecosystem of medical care throughout the metaverse.

You could imagine how other industries could use this partnership as a solution for other types of emergencies. Accidents can happen in any environment, such as a school, warehouse, manufacturing plant, or music festival.

This isn’t the first collaboration between the two companies in terms of medical solutions. Samsung teamed up with NuEyes to help veterans navigate vision loss earlier in 2022.

“Samsung Healthcare, is thrilled to be in alliance with NuEyes, in offering such bold innovation to serve those in need with Samsung Mobility solutions that complement the NuEyes technology in delivering a best-in-class patient experience,” said Trevor Smith, Head of Business Development for Samsung Healthcare, Mobile B2B. 

Samsung already operates one of the most advanced medical centers in the world, located in Suwon, Korea, and applies that expertise and cutting-edge technologies in developing digital healthcare solutions that drive staff productivity and improve patient experience in hospitals as well as homes.



Through Samsung and NuEye’s AR-powered approach, medical professionals are connected to an ecosystem of secure mobile devices and information that are easy to manage and transition seamlessly across clinical workflows. In the end, the two companies have created enhanced patient care, streamlined critical communications, and raised the visibility of digital solutions for healthcare through innovative smart technologies.

To learn more about the NuEyes and Samsung partnership, check out the NuEyes website by clicking here. 

Image Credit: NuEyes, Samsung

VR Technology Used To Help Separate Conjoined Twins

From vrscout

Surgeons call it ‘Man-on-Mars stuff.’

In one of the most complex separation procedures ever conducted, three-year-old conjoined twins Bernardo and Arthur Lima were successfully separated by medical professionals with the help of VR technology. According to the BBC, the revolutionary procedure lasted a total of 27 hours and included seven individual surgeries involving over 100 medical staff.

In order to prepare for the complex procedure, surgeons partnered with VR engineers to develop an accurate 3D model of the twins’ anatomy using CT and MRI scans, allowing for a better perspective of their “fused brain.” Medical professionals were then able to safely experiment with different surgical techniques to identify the most effective route.

The procedure itself was conducted by surgeons in Rio de Janeiro with the assistance of professionals from Great Ormond Street Hospital in London. According to Noor ul Owase Jeelani, founder of Gemini Untwined, the charity which funded the surgery, multiple surgeons from different countries were able to work side-by-side in the same room using VR headsets.

“In some ways these operations are considered the hardest of our time, and to do it in virtual reality was just really man-on-Mars stuff,” said while speaking to British agency PA Media. “It’s just wonderful. It’s really great to see the anatomy and do the surgery before you actually put the children at any risk.”

Following the operation, the twins showed a dramatic increase in blood pressure, but relaxed after reuniting with one another four days later. The twins are currently in good condition and receiving continued support as part of their six-month probation.

Image Credit: BBC via PA Media

Interview: Director Of HBO Doc We Met In Virtual Reality

From vrscout

Learn how the most interesting documentary of 2022 came to be.

We Met In Virtual Reality is a new feature-length documentary film that follows the stories of five individuals using VR technology to connect with each other and the world in a variety of a unique and throught-provoking ways. The entirety of the film was shot in VRChat, a social VR platform where users can create and explore their own virtual worlds using custom avatars.

The film was directed by Joe Hunting, an experienced filmmaker and documentary photorapher, who spent hours inside VR chatting with the community. Along the way, he gained a better understanding of the tremendous role immersive technology plays in some peoples lives, from a dance instructor using VR and body trackers to conduct online body dancing classes or a sign language teacher leading a community of deaf users.



We recently had the chance to sit down with Hunting to learn more about the inspiration behind the film and what the future of communication and storytelling looks like using the power of immersive technology looks like in his eyes:

How exactly did this project come to be? Did you happen to be recording in VR when you came across these incredible stories or did you begin with the express purpose of putting this film together?

“The inspiration came from a lot of different things, really. I came into VR specifically VRChat, the platform the documentary’s filmedm in 2018 , and was making other films. I made two short films in a series and very quickly I was interested in a documentary and capturing stories about socialization and the culture of VRChat and how this platform was helping people and pushing for good motivations with the technology.”

Left: Director Joe Hunting / Right: Director Joe Hunting

“It’s really the pandemic that made me start filming and capturing my lived experience, and through immersing myself in different communities and meeting different people and finding stories that spoke truth to me, the film started to find itself and it was born. It was a year of filming in total.”

The film covers a myriad of relationships and connections made in the metaverse. Was there any moment in particular that resonated with you?

“Oh gosh, I think that’s such a great question. In the trailer, we see someone in a wedding dress. So it’s not a spoiler to say that there is a wedding in the film. And that wedding, to me, spoke so much truth in how relationships can be celebrated online and in VR.”

“And that whole wedding, capturing that and working with [users] DragonHeart and IsYourBoi on celebrating their day and wedding their avatars in this virtual utopian event, that was so incredible and such a euphoric moment that I will never forget, and never could have planned as well. So the virtual wedding certainly was a highlight of the whole production and the film as well. And I really hope people enjoy that scene.”

That was such a special moment in a film littered with incredible interactions. I also noticed that many of the films’ subjects were outwardly passionate about VRChat. What do you think separates the platform from other metaverse’s?

“That’s a great question. I think every social VR platform has its own committed and amazing community and VRChat is no more or less than any other platform. But I can definitely say that the VRChat community, to me, I’ve felt so much more immersed in the space. And I think the biggest reason for that is embodiment in your avatar and also the freedom of creativity and expression as well.”

“VRChat is a platform where you can create your avatar from scratch in Blender and Unity and also create world from scratch and that’s given people the ability to express themselves in a way of complete freedom. And I think the ability to do that has brought communities together in a much more rich sense in the way that we accept each other for who we express ourselves.”

That’s a fantastic summarization. I love the idea of VRChat evolving into the “Wild West” of VR. It’s as terrifying as it is exciting.

“That’s a great way to put it. It certainly feels like the Wild West of VR and that’s a really wonderful term. It’s a place of freedom with its own issues, but also it’s deeply emotional at points and has reached so many people in such a great way, which. I hope the film recognizes.”

I was pleasently surprised by how cinematic the film was. It really got me thinking about the potential of VRChat as a storytelling device. Have you thought at all about directing a fictional film and/or series?

“I love that question. I think it’s so exciting to be apart of the forefront of this new cinematic language. I think VR is very similar to animation but also very similar to live action. It almost feels like it’s own genre in terms of technical production. My intention is certainly to help it grow and keep pushing the virtual production tools that we have in the VR tech community, but also in the greater scope of VR as well.”

“In terms of my own personal interest, I can say documentary is such a fascinating world to explore through VR. To me, filming in VR has always been a vessel to tell human stories about people and culture. Fiction is certainly a whole new world and one that I am certainly interested to explore. To answer your question, I’m not sure if I’m going to go straight into that, but it’s definitely something I’m considering after working in documentary for a long time.”

We Met In Virtual Reality is available now to stream via HBO Max. For more information on the film visit here.

Image Credit: Joe Hunting

Xiaomi Unveils Consumer Smart Glasses with 50 MP Camera & Micro OLED Display

From roadtovr

Chinese tech giant Xiaomi today unveiled a pair of smart glasses that the company is positioning as an addition to an active lifestyle, targeting consumers at 2,499 yuan (~$370).

Called Mijia Glasses Camera, the Google Glass-style device features a single display and two cameras: a 50 MP primary and 8 MP periscope camera, something the company says is capable of up to 15× zoom and 100 minutes of continuous recording.

According to Sparrow News, the smart glasses house a single Micro OLED from Sony which boasts up to 3,000 nit peak brightness and 3,281 ppi. The camera/display upper can also be clipped to a pair of glasses frames or worn by itself.

Image courtesy Sparrow News, Xiaomi

The glasses are driven by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8-core chipset, and includes 3GB RAM, 32GB storage, dual Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 5.0. An internal 1,020mAh battery is paired with magnetic 10W charging, which the company says can go from 0-80% charge in 30 minutes.

The company is positioning the device mostly as a pair of camera glasses for capturing daily activities, although it’s hard to deny that the awkward and large form factor will make it difficult for all-day wear.

The spot doesn’t really seem to focus on what the heads-up display (HUD) brings to the table, although the company says in marketing info that the device is capable of real-time translation, displaying “AR effects”, screencasting, and “other features will also be online in the subsequent OTA update,” Sparrow News reports.

Xiaomi is first targeting consumers in China with discounted pre-orders, priced 2,499 yuan (~$370). After the pre-order period, which is slated to begin on August 3rd, the device will sell for 2,699 yuan (~$400).

It’s uncertain whether the Xiaomi is going to market Mijia Glasses Camera outside of China, although the Chinese tech powerhouse is certainly ambitious enough to do so eventually. While not a household brand in North America, Xiaomi is a top 5 global smartphone manufacturer, offering its competitively spec’d array of handsets in Europe and most of Asia.

Still, there’s no denying the glasses are significantly more chunky in comparison to the future smart glasses concept the company teased earlier this year (see below), which was closer to the size of actual glasses. It’s certainly less discrete than Meta’s Ray-Ban Stories, which admittedly don’t include a display of any sort and only allow for 30-second recording sessions with a comparatively paltry 5 MP sensor.

Update (August 2nd, 2022): We’ve added in the exact model name, translated from Chinese to give more accuracy to the article, whereas before only the sub-brand ‘Mijia’ was mentioned.

Daft Punk 360 VR Tribute Show Coming To Los Angeles

From vrscout

Electronic dance music fans in Los Angeles are in for a treat.

Starting next month, Wisdome LA, a 12,000-square-foot VR venue located in Los Angeles, CA, will be hosting a series of live EDM shows inspired by the iconic robot duo Daft Punk. 

CONTACT: A Multi-Sensory Journey Celebrating Daft Punk features a rotating cast of DJs performing tracks from the GRAMMY award-winning album Random Access Memories accompanied by stunning 360-degree visuals powered by a VR dome and live circus performers. Similar to the group’s famous Alive 2007 performance, these DJs will perform on a 3D LED stage. 

“CONTACT is a multisensory dance party meets immersive space opera inspired by the legendary duo: Daft Punk,” says the official description. “This cutting-edge original narrative production works with an evolving roster of best-in-class DJs and multidisciplinary performers for the ultimate tribute to Daft Punk’s legacy. Join two DJ robots from the future on a journey through the cosmos!” 

The multi-sensory show lasts roughly two-and-a-half hours. Tickets are on sale now with shows taking place every day from August 4th to the 6th. 

Formed in 1993, Daft Punk is widely considered one of if not the most influential figures in electronic dance music. The French duo has produced a number of award-winning albums, including an official musical score for the 2010 film Tron: Legacy. In 2021 the group announced its official retirement, much to the dismay of EDM fans around the globe. 

For those who’ve always wanted to see the duo live, CONTACT promises the next best thing. As previously mentioned, the show will be available from August 4th – August 6th at Wisdome LA in Los Angeles, California. For more information on tickets and pricing visit here. 

Image Credit: Immerse Yourself Entertainment

Microsoft’s Battlefield AR Headset in Jeopardy After Deep Budget Cuts

From roadtovr

Microsoft’s big defense contract that looks to supply the US Army with modified HoloLens AR headsets isn’t going so well. As first reported by Bloomberg, the Senate panel that oversees defense spending announced significant cuts to the Army’s fiscal 2023 procurement request for the device.

Microsoft announced last year it had won a US Army defense contact worth up to $22 billion to develop an Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS), a tactical AR headset for soldiers based on HoloLens 2 technology.

Now the Appropriations Defense Subcommittee announced it’s cut $350 million from the Army’s procurement plans for IVAS, leaving around $50 million for the device. The subcommittee cites concerns based around the program’s overall effectiveness.

Concept testing in 2019, Image courtesy CNBC

“The Committee remains concerned that IVAS continues to face software, hardware, and user-acceptance challenges that the Army has not sufficiently addressed,” an official statement reads, which was obtained by Breaking Defense. “While the Committee was encouraged by the Department of the Army’s 2021 decision to extend testing and evaluation for an additional 10 months, it notes that significant development challenges with IVAS 1.1 remain.”

Earlier this year the US Congress froze $394 million from the Army’s IVAS budget, which Business Insider noted at the time would only leave around $400 million. Even then, that was allegedly $200 million short of what Microsoft needed to recuperate development costs.

Instead the US government appears to be reallocating the 2023 funds to support procurement of the Army’s Enhanced Night Vision Goggle-Binocular, increasing that program’s budget by $300 million.

The subcommittee also increased spending on a number of other Army programs, including ground vehicle procurement, Abrams tank upgrades, Stryker upgrades, new Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicles, and approved budgets for both AH-64 Apache and UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters.

Business Insider reported earlier this year that Microsoft had internally expressed low expectations for its latest version of IVAS, which was set to begin real-world operational tests in May.

This follows reports that cast doubt on a prospective HoloLens 3 amid an internal division that may have hobbled the company’s efforts to release its next AR headset as planned.

VR Sim Teaches You The Art Of Baggage Handling 

From vrscout

Immerse yourself in five challenging airport scenarios.

Airport Ground Handling Simulator VR is an upcoming VR simulator for PC VR headsets that puts you in the shoes of a ground handler and tasks you with completing a variety of activities as part of the turnaround process at a busy airport. 



The app was developed by AVIAR and is actually based on training software used by real airports around the world. The publicly available version comes with five scenarios in total: 

  • Pre-Arrival Ramp Checks
  • Aircraft Marshalling
  • Ground Support Equipment Connections
  • Aircraft Cargo Doors Operations
  • Pre-Departure Checks


There are even different weather and lighting conditions as well as random events and hazards designed to trip you up as you work. 

Airport Ground Handling Simulator VR will be available next month on PC VR headsets via Steam. Moving forward, the company plans on launching additional paid DLC with new scenarios. 

Image Credit: AVIAR

AR-Powered Hard Hats Could Improve Workers’ Health

From vrscout

The device can be attached to different types of headgear and used for a variety of occupations.

RUMEN is an augmented reality (AR) heads-up display that allows its wearer to adjust the lighting of their real-world environment in real-time. According to designers Hoyeon Shin, Siwook Lee, Seunghyun Hwang, and Jihyun Hong, the device can reduce the eye strain of workers while improving their efficiency in the workplace using a combination of helpful features.

In addition to LED lights surrounding the headset, there’s also a front-facing display screen and controls located on either side of the device. A simple user interface allows the wearer to navigate through a small selection of options.

“From tasks that require high concentration to simple tasks, RUMEN can be used in a variety of ways,” said the design team. “By providing appropriate illumination for the work, eye strain can be reduced and work can be performed more safely.”

Users can zoom in to their environment and snap photos using the onboard camera and chat remotely with team members via the built-in microphones and speakers. Located on the back of the device are the charging port and battery.

In terms of ergonomics, RUMEN is made from a thermoplastic polymer and features a polyurethane cushion for a comfortable in-headset experience. On the back is a dial which can be used to tighten or loosen the device.

RUMEN itself can be attached to a variety of headgear and used for a number of different occupations.

“It doesn’t only apply to helmets, it can also be worn on hats and heads in general. The presentation of various wearing methods can target a wider range of occupations” added the team. “And as it directly touches the body, the material selection and design were carried out to reduce the burden on the body when worn for a long time.”

For more information you can check out a detailed breakdown of the device here.

Image Credit: Hoyeon Shin, Siwook Lee, Seunghyun Hwang, Jihyun Hong

Pico 4 & Pico 4 Pro Standalone VR Headsets Spotted in FCC Filing

From roadtovr

Pico Interactive, the VR hardware subsidiary to Chinese tech giant ByteDance, is apparently getting ready to release a new series of standalone VR headsets.

As first reported by Protocol, Pico filed the devices with the FCC late last week, saying in the filing that it intends to launch both a Pico 4 Pro and Pico 4 standalone headsets.

Both headsets are identical in specs “except additional eye tracking & face tracking function for Pico 4 Pro,” the company says in the filing.

Image courtesy FCC, Pico Interactive

As noted by Protocol, Pico appears to have called the new hardware ‘Phoenix’ in the FCC filing, and it’s reported to run on Android Q via a Qualcomm processor. FCC filings are typically vague as to not give away too much information pre-launch, so we’ll just have to wait to see how much of an upgrade it is over its latest.

It’s uncertain whether ‘Pico 4’ is the final naming scheme, or whether it’s a shorthand for Pico Neo 4, although it’s clear the company is looking to bring competition to basically the only real name in consumer VR standalones: Meta. Since its founding in 2015, Pico pretty much only targeted consumers in China and enterprise users in the West. That was before it released it Neo 3 Link in Europe back in May, a device that features near spec parity with Quest 2.

At the time, we surmised Pico was quickly eyeballing North America with its Neo 3 Link in an attempt to earnestly compete with Meta there, although now it’s possible the company is looking to one-up the competition with the new hardware before it makes landfall on Meta’s home turf.

The filing doesn’t reveal to what extent Pico 4 will be able to match Meta’s upcoming Project Cambria, which is a VR headset capable of doing augmented reality tasks thanks to its mixed reality passthrough camera sensors. The price of Cambria is set to be “significantly higher than $800” though, so there may be some wiggle room from a name that’s so far unknown to consumers in the US.

Cambria is said to include both eye and face-tracking, so it will be interesting to see how Pico intends on competing (likely with Pico 4 Pro), whether it be by pushing specs slightly beyond Quest 2 or going for full spec parity with Cambria.

‘Space Explorers’ Celebrates the Moon Landing with First Spacewalk Captured in Cinematic VR

From roadtovr

In celebration of the historic Moon landing, which took place on July 20th, 1969, Felix & Paul Studios and TIME released the latest installment of Space Explorers, a VR docuseries that lets you experience the final frontier from both inside and outside the International Space Station (ISS).

Called Expand, the new episode in the series lets you join along with the ISS crew as they prepare to close the hatch behind them for the last time as a year-long mission comes to an end.

Much like back on Earth, the COVID-19 pandemic has thrown a monkey wrench into the works though, and in their case it’s the return that’s seen complications. But that’s not all. Here’s how Felix & Paul describe it in a Meta blog post:

“They leave knowing the work they accomplished on the ISS will help all those who will come after them to expand the horizon of deep space exploration. Sights are set to getting back to the moon with the ultimate goal of Mars. With the realization of commercial space flight, expansion is now closer than ever. The episode – and series – culminate with the first-ever spacewalk filmed in ultra high-resolution cinematic virtual reality.”

And that space walk isn’t filmed with just any 360 camera; Felix & Paul capture the action with a custom-fitted ‘Outer Space Camera’ built on a Z-Cam V1 Pro camera consisting of nine 4K sensors allowing for a 3D, a 360-degree image at 8K resolution.

The Outer Space Camera is attached to the Canadarm2 robotic arm, which lets you see space like few ever had—and without the danger of braving the extreme external temperatures which can range from -250° F to +250° F (-155° C to +121° C).

The multipart series is available to watch for free on Oculus TV for the Meta Quest platform as well as via the Space Explorers app available for download on the Quest Store.