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This Mixed Reality Meal Combines Food And VR

December 5, 2022 From vrscout

A delicious meal that pairs beautifully with immersive technology.

This past week, Italian artist Mattia Casalegno debuted his latest thought-provoking installation, Aerobanquets RMX, at Miami Art Week in Miami, Florida. The multisensory experience combined VR technology with delicious food to deliver a mixed reality meal quite unlike anything we’ve seen before.

Inspired by F. T. Marinetti’s The Futurist Cookbook, a collection of fictional recipes from the future, the installation supported up to 16 guests at a time, each of whom donned a Meta Quest 2 VR headset equipped with an external hand-tracker. Throughout the unique gastronomy experience, guests dined on five to seven dishes prepared by Michelin-starred, James Beard Award-winning chef Chintan Pandya.

Guests could choose from two menus: regular and vegan. As they ate, the textures and flavors of each dish were rendered in VR. The experience also featured text brought to life by narration from Top Chef judge Gail Simmons.

“We currently live in a world where industrial farming, overfishing, chemical pollution, and soil degradation are jeopardizing the livelihoods of millions by depleting the environment,” said Casalegno on his website. “We live in a culture where speed and economics come before health and quality. With this work I want to put a spotlight on our endangering practices and at the same time relish the joy of eating.”

As you can see in the video provided, Casalegno developed a custom accessory that turns Meta’s Touch controllers into futuristic dishware. This was most likely done to provide a simple and convenient way for guests to track the location of their meals in VR. That said, the final product looks incredibly cool.

For more information about Aerobanquets RMX visit here.

Image Credit: Flavor Five Studio

Filed Under: Food, meta quest 2, Mixed Reality, News, VR Art

Light Delights Is An Extra Trippy Mixed Reality App

November 30, 2022 From vrscout

Interact with a variety of eye-catching virtual objects with your own two hands.

Light Delights is a simple, yet surprisingly captivating mixed reality experience that turns your real-world space into a vaporwave art gallery. Available now on Quest 2 and Quest Pro VR headsets, the free app features a variety of unique multicolored pieces.

There are five virtual objects in which to inspect, each of which features its own unique interactions. This includes everything from physics-driven gyroscopic rings to a never-ending avalanche of virtual cubes and orbs. The app also features support for hand-tracking, allowing you to interact with virtual objects using your own two hands.

“The standalone color passthrough is IMO the most promising direction for MR,” said Greg Madison, the award-winning XR interaction designer behind the project. “I tested for fun some ideas over the weekend, the magic is there and it’s mesmerizing to play with.”

Light Delights is available for free on Meta Quest 2 and Meta Quest Pro. Simply download the APK via GitHub and install the file on your headset using a program such as SideQuest.

While the Quest 2 version is cool, we highly recommend trying the app out on a Quest Pro for the best experience possible.

Image Credit: Greg Madison

Filed Under: meta quest 2, meta quest pro, Mixed Reality, News, VR Art, VR Games

Multiplayer VR Drawing App ‘Gesture VR’ Aims to Make You a Better Artist in Real Life

November 9, 2022 From roadtovr

Gesture VR is an upcoming VR drawing program that aims to give you the same experience as taking a Life Drawing course, which its creators say will help artists sharpen their skill and translate what they’ve learned back into physical work.

Nick Ladd is an artist with a background in illustration and 3D animation, however recently Ladd has flexed his creative muscles in VR with the help of creation tool Quill, having used it to create art for VR experiences such as Namoo and Tales from Soda Island.

Now, along with two artist colleagues, the Canada-based indie is set to release Gesture VR, an app that focuses on intuitive drawing tools and photogrammetry scans of actual models.

Image courtesy Nick Ladd Art & Animation

Ladd says Gesture VR aims to simulate the experience of being in a Life Drawing studio, giving artists 120 unique photogrammetry scans of nude models, which they can rotate and light. Yes, a censor option is available too if you’re a bit bashful.

Gesture VR, primarily a drawing-focused program, includes a versatile pen tool that lets you draw in both 2D on paper or in 3D. Once you’re done with your drawing session, users can export and share sketches—although if you’re looking for a more social drawing experience, up to four players can connect and sketch together in the same space.

Ladd hopes Gesture VR can bridge the gap for art students looking to get life drawing practice in:

“As a former art student, I know how important life drawing classes can be to improving your drawing skills, but many places don’t have access to good resources, and the price can get expensive for students,” said Ladd. “I made Gesture VR to level that playing field and help sharpen skills that will translate back into physical work.”

Gesture VR is slated to launch on SteamVR headsets and Meta Quest via App Lab for $14, releasing on December 6th, 2022. Check out the trailer below:

Filed Under: News, nick ladd, VR Art, vr art app, vr art program, vr drawing, vr drawing app

This VR Gallery Is Comprised Entirely Of Stolen Art

July 6, 2022 From vrscout

Get up-close and personal with missing works of art from Rembrandt & Van Gogh.

In October 1969, an altarpiece by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio mysteriously vanished from the Oratory of San Lorenzoin Palermo, Sicily. In 1990, two men posing as police officers stole 13 works of art were stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, including several paintings and sketches by Rembrandt. 10 years later, the Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, England was infiltrated by a lone thief who made off with Cezanne’s View of Auvers-sur-Oise.

These types of high-profile art heists have become commonplace within the art world. So much so that one company has decided to fight back against thieves using the power of modern VR technology.



First reported by FastCompany, The Stolen Art Gallery is a one-of-a-kind VR app from Brazilian tech firm Compass UOL that immersed you in a virtual art gallery comprised entirely of stolen art from world-renown artists such as Caravaggio, Cezanne, Manet, Rembrandt, and Van Gogh. The educational VR experience allows you to get closer than ever before to 5 stolen paintings from the aforementioned Masters.

Using a custom avatar, you can interact with each piece using a variety of useful tools. There’s a magnifying glass you can use to more closely inspect the art as well as a virtual tour guide there to provide additional details about each painting. Those in VR also appear to have access to several additional options, such as markers; presumably to add your own additions to each piece.

“Initially when we thought about the environment of the museum, we thought about building something similar to a typical museum: fancy building with a lot of content around the art pieces,” said Compass CEO and cofounder Alexis Rockenbach. “We ended up choosing a completely different approach, a minimalist approach, where you in this dark space where the only thing you really are paying attention to is the art piece.”

“Exploring things that help you to interact with other people on that specific element that are not able to be done in the physical world are perhaps the most interesting thing that we will see coming,” he added.

The Stolen Art Museum is available now in VR on the Meta Quest though you will need to signup for access. Don’t worry, it’s 100% free. The experience is also available in standard 2D via compatible iOS and Android devices. The app currently supports two languages: English and Português.

Fore more information visit compass.uol.

Image Credit: Compass UOL

Filed Under: Android, iOS, meta quest, meta quest 2, News, VR Art, VR Education

The Vatican Is Opening Its Own VR Gallery To ‘Democratize Art’

May 4, 2022 From vrscout

The digital venue will feature NFT artwork based on famous works from The Vatican’s collection.

One of the most popular art museums in the world is teaming up with metaverse developer Sensorium Corporation to launch an official NFT gallery available in VR and on desktops. Here, visitors will be able to peruse a collection of renowned works of art brought to life in the metaverse.

Leading the initiative is Humanity 2.0, a non-profit organization funded by the Vatican dedicated to solving socio-economic and cultural issues through a combination of media and technology. This partnership will bring The Vatican’s art, content, and academic initiatives to VR for the first time, allowing anyone access regardless of their physical location.

Created in the 16th century, The Vatican is home to art from a wide range of legendary artists, including Michelangelo, Salvador Dalí, Vincent van Gogh, and Pablo Picasso just to name a few. As for which pieces will make their way to Humanity 2.0’s NFT gallery, we’ll just have to wait and see.

“We look forward to working with Sensorium to explore ways to democratize art, making it more widely available to people around the world regardless of their socio-economic and geographical limitations,” said Father Philip Larrey, Chairman of Humanity 2.0.” The partnership with Sensorium brings this goal a step further and equips us with the latest tech solutions.”

The gallery will be open to the public in Sensorium Galaxy, a virtual metaverse accessible via desktop and in VR using major PC VR headsets. In addition to this holy NFT gallery, Sensorium Galaxy also serves as a live music platform, allowing users from around the world to join live shows featuring popular artists like Armin van Buuren, Carl Cox, David Guetta, and Eric Prydz. This segue into the art world could help expand the company’s user base by targeting a whole new demographic of attendees.

For more information on the gallrey visit here. You can learn more about Sensorium and its growing metaverse here.

Image Credit: Sensorium Corporation x The Vatican

Filed Under: News, NFT, pc vr, VR Art

The 10 Coolest VR/AR Experiences From SXSW 2022

March 26, 2022 From vrscout

A SXSW to remember with who’s-who in XR creative technology showing face at the fest for the first time in two years.

SXSW was back in full force last week. Masked or otherwise (Texas is pretty lax), a frenzy of wild-eyed art, music, film, and XR-hungry visitors flooded into Austin for a week of back-to-back programming. From discussions around virtual land ownership to cloth made from washable circuit boards to NFT galleries and off-site multi-player audio adventures, SXSW delighted and demanded full attention this year.

In this best-of-round-up, we’ll try to capture the essence of the festival by highlighting groundbreaking XR experiences that were too novel, important, or strange to miss.

RADIO GHOST (INTERACTIVE – AUDIO)

Darragh: I was not sure what to expect from this experience. Mystified, I signed up for what turned out to be a whirlwind of being whisked off the premises of SXSW’s main block downtown to a mall several miles away. Me and five other participants were dropped off at the location (in broad daylight) and told to saddle up with headsets and smartphones for this interactive audio adventure. What followed was a tantalizing trip through a warped and distorted broadcast of 1980s music during which a melodic voice had me questioning my existence. I won’t give away the end, but the “ghost hunting” I was tasked with from the start, assigned by the smooth-talking British woman crooning through the static airwaves, taught me a few lessons in capitalism, to say the least.



EINRIDE (XR – TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY)

Bobby: The Swedish-based transportation company Eidride brought their XR, AI, LIDAR powered autonomous pods to give SXSW attendees a preview of how the transportation industry plans on being more sustainable with their battery-powered vehicles. The company also showcased new technology that will help guide these next-gen vehicles help drive them through our streets and highways. Controlled by a CDL certified operator, each Einride Pod features a cockpit-style workstation complete with three screens and a dashboard of controls to monitor the vehicle’s movements. XR technology plays a big role in providing the operator with information and data, while LIDAR and AI keep the vehicle on the road. The operator can also switch over to driver mode if the vehicle needs assistance. During a demo, I was able to drive an Einride Pod vehicle that was located in Sweden while I was in Austin, TX by moving a small lever to make the pod move forward or stop. I could also honk the horn and even turn on windshield wipers if I wanted too. All in real time with zero latency. 

COMPOSITION (INTERACTIVE – AUDIO & PROJECTION)

Darragh: This minimalistic interactive sculpture was presented alongside several VR works. A complicated joy of spontaneous collaboration between two participants and the technology itself, I was excited to find myself playing and questioning like a child. In moving small, etched wood blocks, one is transported into a sense of wonder and awe as the magic of Vincent Morisset’s musical instrument comes alive, as if from the ether. I saw a different future for live performance for the six minutes I had with this creation.



GOLIATH (VR)

Bobby: This 25-minute VR documentary directed by Barry Gene Murphy and May Abdalla features the voice of Tilda Swindon as she walks you through a story about a young orphaned child diagnosed with schizophrenia. You experience the story from the mind of the child, as you watch everything unfold, unable to interfere. Throughout the experience you use your own voice to help bring thoughts to life. Goliath is incredibly colorful with images that immerse you deep in the struggles of mental illness. Goliath is a powerful example of how VR can be used for good.

MINIMUM MASS (VR)

Darragh: Directors Raqi Syed and Areito Echevarria balance mystery and humanity in this beautifully-crafted VR film. To watch this work is to witness a beautiful burden. I viewed the story of two lovers as if I were a small god capable of spying in every room, effortlessly twisting the world in front of me around on an X-axis, but with no power to aid or disrupt. I saw their experiences unfold and gradually realized that I played an integral part in their plot. Eventually, I was witnessed back by the characters and was left with a pang of connection. 

WEIRD TIMES (VR)

Bobby: Weird Times is a VR series that takes a look at the life of a teenager and all of the unique challenges they face in today’s technology and social media-heavy world. Unlike a one-off VR experience, Weird Times approaches storytelling through multiple episodes with each episode digging deeper into each character. Directed by Ryan Hartsell and Ruby Wang, the series doesn’t hold back on tackling difficult but relevant subject matters. Things such as depression, body shaming, and identity are explored through animation and art. A solid cast of talented actors brings the characters to life with episodes running about 10 minutes. Watching an episode in VR was eye-opening and powerful. I would recommend this experience to anyone who has a teenager in their life.



BREONNA’S GARDEN (VR)

Darragh: I experienced the original iteration of this project by Lady Phoenix in 2021 at the Tribeca Film Festival as a humbling AR (augmented reality) experience. Since that premiere, it has been transformed into a virtual world featuring tributes from Breonna Taylor’s mother, fiancé, and sister, all volumetrically captured and life-size, speaking to the viewer from a place of pain and remembrance. I floated through a garden of flowers, pausing to hear the voices of Breonna’s loved ones as they reflected on her life and their loss. Breonna’s Garden is a touching tribute and ever-appropriate as a reminder that grief, when treated with care, can blossom creation.



GUMBALL DREAMS (LIVE VR THEATER)

Bobby: The Ferryman Collective brought its latest live VR theater show Gumball Dreams to SXSW and much like their other productions, it was a hit. In Gumball Dreams, you are tasked with traveling to a faraway planet by an alien creator named Onyx where you must help Onyx and others transition from one reality to another. Before you can, however, the weight of your own spirit must be assessed before doing so. Are you worthy? If so, are you prepared for the journey ahead? Written and Directed by Deirdre Lyons and Christopher Lane Davis, Gumball Dreams is a great example of how VR should be used with live storytelling.



ON THE MORNING YOU WAKE (TO THE END OF THE WORLD) (VR)

Darragh: This three-part VR work, a stylized documentary about the 38 minutes of desperation Hawai’i experienced before a nuclear attack that never happened, effortlessly connected the stories of strung-out lives preparing to meet their end. Brought to the virtual screen by Atlas V and Archer’s Mark, this foreboding story of a false announcement for the very real threat of nuclear war made its point through interviews with those who were there and took me, as the viewer, into the chaos of lives that almost perished.



FUTURE RITES (VR)

Bobby: Future Rites is a collaborative VR experience from choreographer Alexander Whitley and director Sandra Rodriguez that immersed you in a world filled with animation, AI, and dance. Based on the ballet ‘The Rite of Spring’, you find yourself at the intersection of art and technology as your surroundings come to life. You can join in on the performance if you’d like, or sit back and watch. The more you move and participate, however, the more your environment will come to life. Your curiosity and movement can be an incredibly powerful part of this experience. 

*Editor’s Note — Darragh was a speaker at SXSW this year, and both she and Bobby were judges for SXSW Pitch.*

Image Credit: SXSW 2022

Filed Under: News, SXSW 2022, VR Art, VR Games

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