Björk Digital Teams Up With River Studios For "Vulnicura" Virtual Reality Album

As part of the Björk Digital Tour, world-renowned artist Björk, and San Francisco virtual reality studio, River Studios has teamed up to create an immersive musical experience: Vulnicura VR, the first virtual reality music album. The combination of Björk's creativity and River Studios' VR technology allows fans to explore the album in a completely new fashion.

Vulnicura VR immerses the viewer in the Icelandic landscapes that inspire many of Björk's songs and imagery. As the viewer glides across the landscape a single thread follows their gaze, embroidering itself into the ground as they look down or darting into the sky as they look up to find totems floating in the air. Each totem represents a unique virtual reality experience and by focusing their gaze onto a totem the viewer is transported to an immersive Björk experience.

"In creating the experience we wanted to seamlessly blend browsing the album with Björk's creative vision for her music. This allows the fans to interact with the songs in a way that they've haven't done before," Creative Director of River Studios, Ewan Johnson explained.

Sivan Iram, GM of River Studios said, "This project brings a new dimension to how we experience music. We're truly excited to demonstrate to both artists and their fans how VR can be used as a malleable creative tool that broadens the connection between them."

Björk, herself, considers virtual reality to be a personal and sensory stimulating medium which directly transfers her music, feelings, and experiences.

"The older I get the more I understand what is special about how we experience music. It's either one-on-one, or thousands of people at a festival where you lose yourself. It's not intellectual, it's impulsive. Virtual reality is a natural continuity of that. It has a lot of intimacy," said the musician in an interview with The Guardian.

"Björk shares our vision that virtual reality now plays a major role in artful expression and we are delighted to pioneer this new art medium with her inspiring and fabulous team," Mike Rothenberg, CEO/Founder of Rothenberg Ventures and River Studios shared.

Vulnicura VR currently has three music videos, with five more to be included as they are produced to complete.

The virtual reality album will be released later this year in conjunction with the Björk Digital World Tour. Björk Digital began in Sydney and with the first three music videos from Vulnicura VR and will continue in Tokyo, London, Montreal, Paris, Reykjavik, and Houston. River Studios is also responsible for providing virtual reality playback for the Sydney Event.

http://www.catsandvr.com/bjork

Introducing 360 Photos on Facebook

For the first time, you can now easily share 360 photos on Facebook. Simply take a panorama with your phone or capture a 360-degree photo using a 360 photo app or 360 camera, and then post it on Facebook as you would a normal photo. From there, we’ll convert it to an immersive 360 photo that people can explore, similar to how people experience 360 videos on Facebook.

360 photos are available to view today on Facebook via the web and the latest version of the Facebook app on iOS and Android. Over the next few days they will be rolling out the ability to share your own 360 photos on Facebook.

Beyond News Feed, you’ll also be able to explore Facebook 360 photos in virtual reality with the Samsung Gear VR, powered by Oculus. While using a supported Samsung device, simply click View in VR in the top left corner of the video, place the phone in the Gear VR, and experience the photo in an immersive VR environment.

How Do I Take 360 Photos?

Take a panorama on your iOS device or Samsung Galaxy phone or capture a 360-degree photo using a 360 photo app or 360 camera.
Open the Facebook app and share the photo as you would any other photo: tap the status tool from the top of your Timeline or News Feed, select Photo/Video, choose the photo you want to share, and tap Post.

Once your photo is posted, look around in your photo — or any other 360 photo in News Feed that’s marked with the compass icon — by moving your phone or dragging with your finger. Tap on the photo to view it in full screen.

On Samsung Gear VR-compatible phones, you’ll see a button in the top left corner of your photo that says “View in VR.” If you tap on that button and insert your phone into your Gear VR headset, you can see your 360 photo in virtual reality.

Cats And VR

Getty Images has launched the Getty Images Virtual Reality Group

Getty Images, has launched the Getty Images Virtual Reality Group, a new business dedicated to the creation and global distribution of virtual reality content.

The Getty Images Virtual Reality Group brings the very latest in photographic and video technology together with Getty Images’ 21 years of experience in visual storytelling, to offer exceptional content for existing and future VR platforms. The Group provides a comprehensive offering of over 12,000 premium 360 images with new content added daily, as well as high res gigapixel content from key events and venues.  High quality VR production is also being offered through Getty Images Assignments.

Quick to adapt to new image technologies, Getty images began building its collection of 360 and gigapixel imagery four years ago, pioneering the use of these techniques in its role as the Official Photographic Agency for the International Olympic Committee at the 2012 London Olympics. Fast track to today, and every Getty Images photographer at the upcoming Rio Olympic Games, will be equipped with a 360 camera. This is just one example of how Getty Images is utilizing its expertise, its access to over 130,000 annual news, sport and entertainment events and its unique relationships to generate high-end VR content, and feed the growing demand for a more immersive visual experience.

Click to see some of the Getty 360° Video content.

“The technology is still in its infancy – as are the business models addressing how to use it – but we can expect to see VR become a leading tool for visual storytelling. It is anticipated that over 14 million consoles will sell this year alone (TrendForce), and we are only on the cusp of what will be a tectonic plate shift in VR” said Dawn Airey, Chief Executive Officer of Getty Images.

Airey continues: “With the launch of the Getty Images Virtual Reality Group, we are embedding VR content technologies into the core of our business and ensuring that, as use of VR continues to grow, its users are further enhancing their experience with access to the world’s best imagery.”

“The diverse range of 360 degree content that we produce – from the red carpet to the stadiums of the world’s biggest sporting events and the frontline of conflict – allows people to access information and experiences that were previously off limits,” said Hugh Pinney, Vice President of Editorial Content at Getty Images. “Virtual Reality is completely transforming the way we view and experience world events.”

The Group will continue to build on Getty Images existing VR content offering, which includes 360 content captured by its award-winning news, sport and entertainment photographers as well as geo-located, interactive panoramic images from its content partner 360cities.net.

Last month, Getty Images and Google announced their latest partnership, which sees Getty Images supplying hi-res VR content from current events around the world for Google Expeditions. Getty Images partnered with Oculus Rift in June 2015 to make its 360 imagery available for users of the Oculus platform via its 360° View by Getty Images collection.

For more information, visit http://wherewestand.gettyimages.com/virtualrealitygroup.

Cats And VR

Check out the current experiments of Google Daydream Labs.

Check out some of the app experiments the Google Daydream lab is working on. Looks like they are using Vive controllers to develop with, it will be interesting how this translates to a final mobile VR product.  

An app experiment from Daydream Labs. Copresence is a multiplier that can amplify the immersion in just about any VR experience.

An app experiment from Daydream Labs. Shared objectives help people break the ice in VR.

An app experiment from Daydream Labs. Text input with drumsticks can be faster than with a laser pointer (and is more fun).

Cats And VR

In\Formation: An immersive documentary about the emerging power of Virtual Reality to inspire empathy in its audience.

In\Formation is a two part (25 min) immersive documentary investigating the medium of Virtual Reality and creative use of the technology to build empathy and new forms of storytelling.

Explored through 3D 360-degree video, the live-action virtual reality experience documents VR pioneers during the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival through a deep dive into their projects, motivations and speculations.

Part One features interviews with VR pioneers Nonny De La Peña, James George, Jacquelyn Ford Morie, Brian Chirls and Vincent Morisset along with Ingrid Kopp, Clint Beharry and Nick Fortugno. Part Two focuses on VR projects selected for Tribeca Storyscapes - The Enemy by Karim Ben Khelifa and The Machine To Be Another by BeAnotherLab.

Directed by Debra Anderson and produced by Hugh McGrory, In\Formation is a Datavized production.  The experience is available for Cardboard as well as available for download and streaming via the In\Formation App on Google Play for Android, distributed by EEVO, and Datavized's YouTube360 Channel. A future release is being planned for Facebook 360 and Gear VR.

Directors Statement:

Pioneering storytellers are creating new forms of documentary to pull at our heartstrings, change our minds and visualize our actions, in real time. Experimental non-linear forms of immersive storytelling point to a future where qualitative data and quantitative data intertwine. Storytellers, driven by humanist motivations, aim to build and measure empathy through virtual worlds and create plausible social impact, their ambitions are aspirational, the projects are complex and research-driven, designed to frame a myriad of questions exploring the human condition: What are the implications of working in this new medium and to what capacity are these technologies truly transformative? How are emotions measured in such environments, can bias be removed, how are these investigations planning to address social issues in a broad sense, from conflict resolution, identity and mutual respect? How is empathy stimulated and exploited, in the most positive sense? How are storytellers crafting experiences, new realities for the viewer, to contextualize social issues, to better understand the human experience?

Through a focus on The Enemy and Machine to Be Another, two pioneering virtual reality prototype projects debuting immersive, interactive installations at the Tribeca Storyscapes exhibition at the crossroads of experimental research, journalism, neuroscience, and interactive performance installation, In\Formation captures these projects, the methodology and motives of the artists and makers, and explores insights about building empathy among individuals through social, cultural and ideological ways to audiences around the world. As an experiment and prototype of its own, it aims to connect as many people as possible to the most important art being made, art that reveals our individual connection to a most complex system, humanity.   

Cats And VR

Gold Winner of the Oculus Moblie Jam bringing VR camping game to Google Daydream.

RalphVR  announced that their award winning multiplayer VR game Daydream Blue is coming to Google Daydream.

“Our mission is to connect people together and help foster smiles in virtual reality. We are thrilled to be achieving a major milestone on our journey by bringing Daydream Blue to Google’s Daydream.” - Richie Hoagland, CEO and Game Designer

Daydream Blue is like a camping simulator for VR…if the simulation was run by an eight year old. Enter the simulation to find a magical valley full of mystery, surprise, and an AWESOME ROBOT buddy. But you don’t have to do it alone! Connect with your friends from around the world online in Daydream Blue multiplay. Daydream Blue is a virtual world, a place where you can customize yourself and your place in it. It’s a space to be explored and discovered either alone or with friends. A place to build a fire and catch some fish. Or play some golf. Play fetch with your robot. Or just wish the clouds out of the sky. 

http://daydreamblue.com/

Daydream Blue is available on GearVR but will be coming to Google Daydream,

CatsAndVR will also be going camping in the woods...see ya...off the grid.

Cats And VR

ABE VR, a horror experience of robotic love.

Hammerhead presents ABE VR, a cinematic VR experience based on the multi-award winning short film, and Hollywood planned feature film, written and directed by Rob McLellan. Created in Unreal Engine, ABE is a virtual recreation of the original story about a misguided robot seeking the unconditional love of humans… at whatever cost.

With remarkably intense results, the film explores the emotional connection and heightened sense of empathy that VR delivers as a storytelling medium – introducing new techniques to enhance the feeling of presence, such as the eye tracking between ABE and us as a character, and the sense of physical restriction the user experiences.

The original ABE horror short.

http://www.hammerheadvr.com/abe/

Cats And VR

Oculus Rift getting hotly anticipated Superhot VR as an exclusive?

Looks like Oculus Rift is getting a hotly anticipated VR exclusive. The Superhot team announced via a blog post that they will be coming to Rift later this year.

"We're now working super close with the guys at Oculus to release Superhot VR later this year," the team said in its first developer's log. "We're really trying to capitalize on all of the new design possibilities that Virtual Reality is giving us."

The team went to Reddit to confirm that Superhot VR will be an Oculus exclusive for now..

"For now, we concentrate on Oculus," PR officer Szymon Krukowski said in a post. The team had announced in a Kickstarted post this past February but details were scant 

Some people in the PC community took to Reddit as well to say a few opinionated words about the Oculus exclusivity.

https://www.reddit.com/r/pcmasterrace/comments/4lw2xa/superhot_has_accepted_oculuss_bribe_it_is/

Console exclusives and PC exclusives have long been a part of the industry. I for one think that however an independent developer can get their product to market it is still better for the industry as a whole, exclusivity or not. 

Cats And VR

Honor Everywhere-a 360° Memorial Day video from Jaunt

Cinematic virtual reality represents a totally new medium that instantly gives the viewer a sense of being transported to an entirely different location, as if they were actually there.  Many ailing and disabled Veterans are physically unable to visit memorials made in their honor.  Through the new medium of cinematic virtual reality these Veterans were given the experience of being present, alongside their comrades who actually visited the Memorials in Washington DC earlier in the year. Through the use of a Google Cardboard headset, even veterans that are unfamiliar with VR technology are able to easily access this unique experience from wherever they are in the world.

Captured with proprietary Jaunt cameras and advanced 3D sound-field microphones , the VR experience places viewers right alongside their fellow Veterans as they visit US War Memorials in Washington DC. This virtual “Honor Flight” was made possible through  donations by Veterans United Foundation, Jaunt, Google, Central Missouri Honor Flight, Ghost Machine and Story Up Studios. 

“Watching a Veteran experience an Honor Flight is something everyone should witness,” said Greg Steinhoff, director of Veterans United Foundation. “The memories in their eyes, the flood of emotions, it’s a special time to get to share. And, we knew not every Veteran was getting their chance to travel to their memorial. That’s why we teamed up with the pioneers in VR so we could get every Veteran their earned right to be a part of their memorial. Honor Everywhere 360 is the future, each Veteran will turn his or her head left or right, up or down and really be at his or her memorial.”

“I felt like I was there,” said Dale Garrett, WWII Veteran. “It’s personal and close up and you feel like you could be walking with those people...it’s moving.”

Honor Everywhere 360 VR experience is available free to anyone with a smartphone and a Google Cardboard viewing device. To view the experience , download the JauntVR app on iTunes or Google Play. 

Cats And VR

Released games for Oculus Rift and GearVR for the week of May25th-28th.

Here are the recently released games for Oculus Rift and GearVR for the week of May 25th-28th. Not sure how I feel about Kittypocalypse since it is basically a kitten kill simulator but since the site is CatsAndVR.com and it is Caturday I figured I had to post it. 

Kittypocalypse is an in-depth, strategic tower defense game built exclusively for VR. Across a diverse range of environments, defeat the hordes of evil alien kitties and salvage what's left of your home planet. Purchase your copy on the Oculus store today! Release Date: 05/25/16 Price $29.99 (Oculus Rift)

Official Selection - IndieCade Showcase @ E3 2016 Floor Plan is a puzzle adventure game that takes place entirely inside an elevator. Go floor to floor, find items, and meet a bizarre cast of characters. Discover relationships between different things in the building and unlock its secrets...all from the comfort of your elevator. Release Date: 05/25/16 Price: $6.99 (Oculus Rift, Gear VR)

vrAMP is the definitive music visualizer and player for the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift. Motes of dust and light surround you while they dance to the included catalog or using any program or web browser to play your music.Release Date: 05/27/16 Price: $12.99 (Oculus Rift)

http://www.catsandvr.com/blog/vramp

Take the role as master and commander of a planet in a universe that wraps around you in full 360 degrees. Send your fleet out to explore uncharted planets or turn their power against your enemies - it is all up to you! Release Date: 05/25/16 Price: $1.99 (Gear VR)

Samsung announces limited edition Batman themed Galaxy S7 and GearVR.

Samsung Electronics announced the Galaxy S7 edge Injustice Edition in collaboration with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment. To commemorate the third anniversary of the popular mobile game, Injustice: Gods Among Us, the companies came together to bring Samsung’s technology and one of the game’s central characters, Batman, in a sleek, high-performance smartphone. The limited edition Galaxy S7 edge Injustice Edition will be available in early June exclusively in select territories, including China, Singapore, Korea, Latin America, Russia and others to be announced soon. 
 
The Galaxy S7 edge Injustice Edition package is equipped with a sleek deep black Galaxy S7 edge, accentuated by gold detailing and an iconic seal on the back, inspired by Batman. The package additionally offers a Gear VR (in select territories), along with Injustice game credit and Oculus VR content vouchers.

Developed from the ground up by award-winning NetherRealm Studios, the Injustice: Gods Among Us mobile game delivers stunning graphics and a completely unique fighting gameplay experience. The game features a collectible card mechanic and engages players in 3-on-3 tag team combat that features many of DC’s most iconic characters.

“We are excited to partner with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and offer a special edition of Galaxy S7 edge for fans of Injustice: Gods Among Us,” said Younghee Lee, Executive Vice President of Global Marketing, IT & Mobile Division at Samsung Electronics. “Samsung always seeks to provide the best mobile gaming experience for its users, and this partnership reinforces our commitment to the game’s fans.”
 
 The Injustice: Gods Among Us game is available as a free download on Google Play.

Cats And VR

 

Review: Reggie Watts-Live In Virtual Reality

Last night over 1200 people came to watch musician, singer, beatboxer, actor, and comedian Reggie Watts give an incredible show in virtual reality. This is the first time that many people got together in VR for a live event. 

I actually went to a pop up event put on by WeLens and Upload VR to experience this. First of all there were some technical difficulties that caused the show to start a bit later than scheduled. Some even had trouble getting in or actually getting a chance to see the show. I do have do give lots of credit for the AltspaceVR team for keeping people in the loop as well as sending an email this morning addressing the difficulties. While waiting to jump in the event , WeLens showed people at the Upload VR space some great VR experiences on GearVR in order to keep people excited. 

Personally I understood that AltspaceVR was trying to push the limit of their tech and once I got in it was a very enjoyable experience. The technical difficulties actually reminded me of when I was a Twitch streamer. When you are on the bleeding edge technology unfortunately challenges happen.

Rather than a felling of seeing Reggie in a huge setting, the show gave off more of an intimate feel of seeing Reggie Watts as a performer just starting out. The difficulties actually made me feel like it was an independent show at a small hole in the wall stand up joint. For me this made it an enjoyable experience. 

Though the AltspaceVR Frontrow tech is supposed to give any one the chance to see a show front and center I would have liked if there was perhaps some sort of virtual crowd in the back to give off that intended feeling a little better.

Technical difficulties aside I had a really good time and I felt like I was at one of Reggie's first ever shows and experience something that is about to blow. If you were there last night you can look back in a few years once VR is out of it's current palm pilot era and say remember when shows like this were underground. 

Cats And VR

Virtual Reality music visualization experience vrAMP available on Steam Early Access.

Oriku, Inc. has announced its inaugural virtual reality music visualization experience, for the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift. ­­ vrAMP, available on Steam Early Access and coming to the Oculus Store. Motes of light and dust particles surround and move through you as they float, swirl, and react to the music. vrAMP listens to any program or web browser and can be used with the Steam in ­game overlay web browser. Listen to local files, YouTube, or any streaming service to see the visualizations react.

The beat algorithm works to create stunning and immersive experiences alongside music without being overwhelming to your senses. vrAMP transitions the visualizations automatically as the music shifts and changes. Toggles are available to pause transitions so that you can stay with one you particularly like.

Oriku looks to the build a strong community for vrAMP. Feature requests, suggestions, and bug reports will be a large part of vrAMP which is why they have chosen to release it now with its core functionality via Steam Early Access and soon on the Oculus Store.

Information provided by Oriku, Inc

Cats And VR

The Conjuring 2 360° Trailer is quite spooky.

James Wan's The Conjuring 2 be back in theaters on June 10. Should you want to take on the challenge of exploring the haunted house at Enfield famous for being plagued by demons, now you can. Enter the Hodgson’s house from the upcoming film and experience 360° horror.

While this VR trailer can be viewed without a headset and will still deliver watching it with a headset will create the most chills. 

Cats and VR

REVEALiO looks to bring augmented reality emotional experiences to greeting cards.

At XTech 2016 Ori Inbar co founder of AugmentedReality.org made a statement on stage that AR is alive and well today in our pockets and in our hands. Ori said this in relation to the adoption of VR and AR, he also was letting us know that we already have AR available to us via our smart devices. 

Everyone from graffiti artists to Nintendo have been trying to figure out how we can incorporate Augmented Reality into our mobile device lifestyle. One company has caught my eye as well as my heart with their mix of familiarity and family as a use case. Enter REVEALiO

Tradition meets technology with these new hybrid greeting cards, announcements, and invitations. REVEALiO cards utilize mobile augmented reality technology. After creating a personalized card within the app, users are able to  “attach” a personal video message and virtual call-to-action buttons to the printed card. The cards are then printed and delivered as part of the REVEALiO service. 

Wife and Husband Dynamic Duo Michelle Calloway and Jerry Bowden are looking to disrupt the greeting card industry and offer an emotional experience rather than just a decorated piece of paper. "People are craving connection, and a personalized, physical card that plays video could shorten the emotional distance between a soldier overseas and his sweetheart, for example, or a grandmother and grandchild" said Michelle during a recent session at The Batchery, a bay area tech space and incubator. 

I have been able to use several VR HMD's and have tried some amazing Augment Reality but I look at REVEALiO as an experience that may be just as emotionally compelling for some. Recently Mothers Day came and went and I would have used REVEALiO if I had known about it before, I know my Moms eyes would have lit up not only at the novelty but also at the connection and care. We live in a web of digital information bombardment but people still enjoy physical items. REVEALiO could be a way of bringing real emotional gifting to a cyber world. There are quite a few applications I see for REVEALiO and wish the team the best. Check out more on REVEALiO: http://revealio.com/

CATS AND VR

AltspaceVR and Comedian Reggie Watts to debut new FrontRow VR event technology.

One of the things I really enjoy about AltspaceVR is the fact that it turns VR into a community focused non isolation filled experience. Today AltspaceVR continued to push social VR as well as the boundaries of their product with the announcement of FrontRow, new technology that gives everyone a front row seat to events in VR and gives hosts limitless capacity at their events. With FrontRow, thousands of people can attend an event together despite their geographic location and feel like they are there in person

The technology will debut on May 26th at 8:00 PM PT when musician, singer, beatboxer, actor, and comedian Reggie Watts will perform live to what AltspaceVR is saying may be one of the largest events ever attended inside VR. Register at altvr.com/reggie to attend.

"Working with AltspaceVR has allowed us to create a digital stage, bringing our favorite comedians to an audience that was unimaginable even a few months ago,” said Brett Kushner, Director of JASH VR Studio. “Taking shows that might normally play in a 100-seat theater in Los Angeles and bringing them to an infinite-seat theater with a worldwide audience is proof that there's a global appetite for quality comedic experiences."

JASH has brought comics including Reggie Watts, Baron Vaughn, Brandon Wardell, Heather Campbell and Miles Stroth to perform in VR. JASH, among the pioneers in bringing comedy to VR, is now the first entertainment company to open a VR comedy stage, and is featuring Reggie Watts as it kicks off a new series of VR comedy programs.

“FrontRow allows everyone who attends to have a front row seat. Do you want to have a private party and attend the show with just your friends? You can do that,” said Eric Romo, CEO of AltspaceVR. “Do you want to enjoy the show just by yourself? You can do that. Do you want to have the traditional public event experience with 50 new friends? You can do that, too.“

With the VR Call feature, included when AltspaceVR is downloaded from Google Play, users can invite just their friends to enjoy an event in a private space. Users can join FrontRow experiences from a variety of VR platforms including Facebook’s Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, and on mobile with Samsung Gear VR. AltspaceVR delivers a front row experience regardless if 40 or 40,000 people attend. 

For more information please visit altvr.com/frontrow.

Cats And VR

Netflix Hack Day takes us back to the bygone era of video rental stores.

You are now entering a dimension, a dimension of nostalgia and tomfoolery, you are now entering THE NETFLIX ZONE. As part of Bi-annual Netflix Hack Day, this ode to the bygone era of video rental stores was created for HTC VIVE. You can grab VHS tape version of Netflix shows watch them on screens on the walls and ceiling of the video store homage. 

Though it is unlikely this will be available to the public I do think this is a great idea and I can see someone developing this in some form. Imagine having our pirate video collection in a personally curated store with Quentin Tarantino as the store clerk telling you that you know nothing about movies. Oh and by Pirate Video, I do mean legally purchased versions of Pirates Of the Caribbean. I do miss the charm and randomness of video stores and this really put a smile on my face. 

Now all I can think of is that my life is not going to be complete until I rent a virtual copy of Johnny Mnemonic from a virtual 90's underground video store and then watch it in VR.

Cats And VR

XTECH 2016 showed me that with VR and AR here, BRain is still the most innovative.

Virtual Reality is in the here and now(even if we are in the palm pilot era) and AR is right around the corner. It seems like there seems to be a conference or meetup every week that is VR related. Well Xtech 2016 had VR but it was not a conference showcasing the cool experience of the now but rather how VR as well as other technologies will redefine how we learn, grow, challenge, and understand the workings our brain on a conscious and unconscious level. 

Tim Ferriss, author of the 4 hour Work Week was the Day 1 Keynote speaker and really helped to highlight why this such a important time in technological development in relation to human development. His story from being born premature to now pushing his mind and body to become the  Batman (peak human state) is an inspiration. Check out the video below.

My back ground as a former video game journalist makes me lean towards that type of content and I found a rather interesting VR brain training simulator on the XTech expo floor.

Read About Cerevum VR brain training: http://www.catsandvr.com/blog/cerevrum

Though the event was not geared towards gaming, VR has created such an exciting spark for technology that Playstation had a presence there and showcased Playstation VR. In fact I was in awe by who sat in front of me during the conference.

XTech 2016 surprised me as it had a Ted Talk vibe that spoke to many people from various worlds not just the people in attendance. 

NY Jets Player and mental health advocate Brandon Marshall spoke about how technology can not only create a better athlete but also help those who suffer from depression and other mental illnesses. http://project375.org/

From to raising money to raising awareness XTECH 2016 did not focus on what technology is now but what it could be and possibly will be in relation to who we are. The important thing about the conference was that it focused on the fact that as much as we go forward in technology the human brain is still the most powerful computer.

Cats And VR

Cerevrum brings Neurogaming to GearVR & XTECH 2016. They also brought really cute stickers!

Cerevrum Inc. is a software development group with a focus on progressive social and educational VR projects. CEO Natasha Floksy would say that means to make people happy as well as smarter. CatsAndVR had the chance to learn more about Cerevrum the company as well as Cerevrum the game during XTECH 2016. 

Cerevrum the game left an interesting impression on me. The first thing I noticed was the calming voice that prepared me for my Cerevrum experience. From the voice tutorial I got an understanding of the simple memory training and matching that make up the game mechanics. One thing to understand is simple does not equate to easy or ineffective in this case. The simple concepts get rather complex in application as the game progresses and as I learned from CAO Olga Peshé is that Cerevrum has been tested on college level students to gauge the effectiveness as a brain training tool. 

The second thing that really took me back with Cerevrum the game is the beautiful fluid art style. The use of colors as well as scene transitions make for a very flowing and non aggressive style of gaming. That style created a place where I was comfortable learning and wanted to continue the process of brain training. The themes of alien worlds and space exploration almost bring to mind a child like view of space travel and in turn bring that wide eyed amazement to a VR educational experience.  CEO Natasha Floksy views herself as an artist first then a CEO and this shows in the game. Check out not only the screenshots but also the super cute stickers that they gave out during XTech 2016, I grabbed a few so I can give away to readers. 

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

The advances in VR has made the possibility of using the technology in unique ways. Virtual reality is a game-changer for brain training. That feeling of presence you can achieve in VR allows you to challenge cognitive abilities in a way that more closely matches the real world. Pressing buttons on a smartphone screen only goes so far, but natural inputs like head rotation and hand tracking allow players to interact intuitively with VR environments.

I do think Cerevrum the game is fascinating and I am interested in what the company can create in VR for people who suffer from learning disabilities. Cerevrum INC already has an innovative VR tool to help with public speaking available for GearVR.   http://speechcentervr.com/

Cerevrum Inc is not only trying to innovate brain training and learning in the VR space but are looking to innovate for Augmented Reality as well. I would be very excited to see what they bring to Meta. 

Check out Cerevrum and check out a 360° video I shot at their XTech 2016 booth. 

The Cerevrum Inc team.

Cats and VR

Unreal announces Google Daydream support!

Epic Games CTO Kim Libreri announced on the Google I/O stage  support for Daydream to Unreal Engine 4. Daydream integration is available now on GitHub (login required), and it's coming to the binary tools in the full Unreal Engine 4.12 launch, which is on track for release on June 1, 2016.

Here's what Kim had to say: "At Epic our mission is to give developers the very best tools for building immersive and visually impressive experiences with great performance on every platform we support. We have been creating VR experiences for many years now that not only push visual fidelity but what’s possible in terms of input, interaction, characters and gameplay mechanics

"Every project we work on extends the capabilities of Unreal Engine, and we pass these improvements to developers on a daily basis. Today we’re proud to be part of this new chapter in VR history."

Technical Director Nick Whiting discusses several details on the Daydream VR plugin for Unreal Engine 4. They are highlighting the support of the plugin, along with information on what developers can expect when creating for Daydream.

Cats And VR