A selection of previous articles written for the Immersive Wire. Enjoy!
How the Ukraine crisis is impacting the local VR/AR community
Tom Ffiske investigates how VR and AR developers reacted to the crisis in Ukraine, and the steps they took to ensure their safety.
The metaverse: Everything you need to know (2022)
Discussions on the metaverse are comparable to trudging through a swamp covered in a dense fog. Conversations are marred with a range of different definitions and suppositions,…
Top metaverse newsletters that I trust for analysis
The metaverse has evolved dramatically for some time, and a lot of noise has evolved alongside it as well. With the sheer volume of opinions and insights…
The Metaverse: A Professional Guide – Available on Amazon
The Metaverse: A Professional Guide gives experts insights and guidance on how to navigate the burgeoning world of immersive technologies. By the end, you will have a…
XRHealth and HTC to offer virtual treatment rooms on the VIVE Focus 3 and VIVE Flow
XRHealth and HTC VIVE announced that they will offer virtual treatment rooms on the VIVE Focus 3 and VIVE Flow. Basically, clinicians will be able to use VIVE Focus 3,…
Review of 2021: Steady progression, and a metaversal pivot
2020 is similar to 2021, only with different labels slapped onto the year. Yes, immersive technologies such as VR and AR continued their steady progression. Companies sought…
Do metaverse coins have any value?
My cynicism with cryptocurrencies and NFTs stem from one core point: they do not have value in the real world. Altcoins live then perish as often as…
NFTs and the metaverse: Some promise, but a long way to go
If you scan the media, you would think that thousands of companies are building their own products and services for the metaverse, from large-scale development like Meta…
The difficulties of defining the metaverse
The most unique element of the metaverse is that it has more definitions than anything else, yet it is still incredibly vague and opaque. The more multiple…
Exclusive: Cybershoes are now available in Europe and the US
Get your spinny chairs ready; Cybershoes, the world’s first shoes for walking and running in VR, are now available via Amazon for VR users in Europe and…
VIVE Flow impressions: A lifestyle device, not a gaming VR headset
Disclaimer: HTC invited me to a preview event to try the device, a week before its launch. Written alongside Rosie Collins. The VIVE Flow cannot be compared…
The current state of NFTs is incompatible with a potential metaverse
In the early 1600s, the Dutch were obsessed with tulips. The bulbs circulated at higher and higher prices, the first speculative bubble of its kind as people…
Carole Baskin on protecting wild cats with VR and AR
At times, I have to remind myself that technology needs to serve a purpose. After wandering through the weeds of VR/AR innovation for several years, diving into…
Why headset manufacturers should reconsider referral systems
Let’s talk about hardware referrals. I’ve been thinking about how VR can spread a little further, and other marketing initiatives that can be used to penetrate new…
Why VR/AR companies have seen a surge in investment
Let’s talk about the flow of VC money and acquisitions. Many immersive companies are suddenly getting a lot of money to finance their growth, with a renewed interest…
Alice in Wonderland (and VR)
I visited London’s Victoria and Albert (V&A) museum to see Alice: Curiouser and Curiouser, an exhibition on the works and impact of the titular book. Visitors tumble…
Exploring the components behind flagship AR glasses
Let’s talk about Snap’s Spectacles (but more on the component side). By the time you read this, I don’t need to tell you that Snap unveiled their new…
Exploring London’s classic art pieces in AR
The Augmented Gallery, a new interactive art trail in London’s West End, was unveiled last week. This project uses the power of augmented reality (AR) to bring…
The dangers of clickbait articles that explore VR
Let’s talk about the misleading PC Gamer article. Recently the publication released a piece titled ‘Oculus will sell you a Quest 2 headset that doesn’t need Facebook for…
What gives prestige to VR/AR awards?
Let’s talk about the nature of VR/AR awards. The industry is still (relatively) young, and it doesn’t have the broad swathe of titles that usually go with…
Analysing the HoloLens deal with the U.S. Army
Let’s talk about Microsoft’s $22bn U.S. Army deal with HoloLens. Having worked together several years ago with a smaller contract, the U.S. Army announced that their entire Close…
Analysis: How can the VR/AR community bring in new people?
Let’s talk about where people in VR/AR hang out, with their pros and cons. I’ve been thinking about the topic because the community is passionate to bring…
Analysing the ramifications of Facebook’s wrist devices
Let’s talk about the ramifications of Facebook’s research on wrist-based hand tracking. In case you missed it, Facebook unveiled some of its work on new hand gestures…
Distinguishing between one macro-metaverse and several micro-metaverses (2021)
In 1900, a German chocolate factory named Theodor Hildebrand & Son released a series of postcards outlining their vision of the 21st century. Titled ‘Germany in the…
VR/AR is not progressing quickly because we are focusing on the wrong design principles (Analysis)
Let us face it: we’ve all seen plenty of AR/VR experience that made us think, ‘Why does this exist?’ The short and gimmicky AR apps that children…
VR in 2021: What is the future?
2020 is best summarised as a continuation of the trends from 2019 – mostly. Cheaper and high-quality virtual reality (VR) headsets rolled out in 2020, advertising specifications…
Analysis: Immersive tech in film festivals (2020)
It is not lost on anyone that the best year for immersive film festivals came at the same time as the global pandemic. Locked inside and bubbling…
Will the Oculus Quest 2 sell well this Christmas? – Analysis
Before we hit the madness of Christmas, Facebook unveiled the Oculus Quest 2 (after a series of leaks). The battleground is set, and the arena of festive…
Venice VR Expanded: Visiting a virtual film festival
My immersive colleagues always rated Venice Film Festival as a lot of fun. The glitz and glamour of intermingling stars and flashing shoots sparked a fun sense…
Theatres and music festivals: Where VR works, and where it fails
Glastonbury Festival is a staple of the UK’s music culture. What was a massive festival where people partied and shared drugs, evolved into a massive festival where…
Spatial audio and VR/AR: What’s the significance?
Strip away graphics and gestures, and audio is one of the most important parts of any experience. Good graphics go far, and mechanics make a world feel…
Educational VR: The best learning apps to try out (2020)
Ever since the release of virtual reality (VR) headsets, educators explored how to use the immersive technology for teaching others, whether in a classroom or in the…
What is the future of augmented reality? (2020)
It is safe to say that the future of augmented reality (AR) looks bright. In late 2019, PwC predicted that VR and AR could add as much…
Best VR fitness games of 2020
Want to exercise, but stuck at home? Virtual reality (VR) offers numerous ways to exercise and get fit, for anyone who cannot make the journey to the…
Vive Sync Impressions: A useful collaboration tool
HTC invited Virtual Perceptions to try out the VIVE Sync, a collaboration platform entering free Beta. It’s not every day that I interview someone in virtual reality.…
With or without COVID-19, Magic Leap was changing course (Analysis)
On 22 April, Magic Leap announced that they were laying off employees to cope with the COVID-19 crisis. The official blog did not give any specific numbers,…
Has COVID-19 boosted interest in VR? (Analysis)
‘May you live in interesting times’ is an old English expression traditionally sourced from a Chinese curse. While the phrase may convey positivity, the sentence contains two…
Immersive marketing as the world self-isolates
I write this during a global pandemic. Countries close their borders, marching their army onto the streets to regulate people leaving their homes. The consequences are more…
Magic Leap is not worth $10bn
Recently, Bloomberg reported that Magic Leap is exploring ‘strategic’ options, such as selling itself. The anonymous sources said its value could be $10bn, gauging interest from Facebook…
The Immersive Reality Revolution is published
I’ll be brief: The Immersive Revolution is a book for people who believe, or are curious about, how VR, AR, and MR will change the world. From…
Production insights: How Peter Collis managed the first live broadcast of its kind
Working in production is a daunting task, and more so when it is live. Every part of the filming must be absolutely perfect, from the stream to…
AR creators: A new channel for marketing
When any new industry flourishes, job roles pop into existence as well. Careers which did not exist several years ago – developers, immersive producers – are created…
SideQuest vs Oculus: A Positive Relationship
The Oculus Quest store is a walled garden. Inside, great titles thrive under perfect conditions, with consistent promotions and the support of Facebook-owned Oculus. But their entry…
Insights from the Augmentor investor & executive showcase
Digital Catapult invited Virtual Perceptions to their Augmentor investor & executive showcase, with ten start-ups meeting a room full of investors looking for the next big company.…
Analysis: How the design of VR headsets causes motion sickness
“Are you okay?” Emily blinked a few times as she took off the VR headset. She rubbed her eyes, stared blankly, and slowly stood up. “Yeah,” she…
Panasonic’s (VR) glasses targets virtual travel and sports, not consumers
Recently, Panasonic unveiled their new “VR” glasses at CES 2020, which made a ruckus on social media. With their steampunk vibe and their cleaner form factor, they are certainly…
Happy Holidays to all readers of Virtual Perceptions
Happy holidays! 2019 has been a period of explosive growth for the website, and I cannot have done it without your support. Thank you so much for…
Oculus Go vs. Oculus Quest: Which is better?
A lot of people would have bought the Oculus Go first, perhaps for a birthday or during Christmas. As a budget-friendly option, the Oculus Go seems like…
Beat Saber wins Game of the Year 2019 awards, despite releasing in 2018
Now hold your horses. I am not saying that Beat Saber is a bad game; in fact, I cannot overstate how critical the success of the game…
Ethics in virtual and augmented reality in the 2020s
Like veins in rocks, ethics runs through everything we do in technology. It depends on how we use it, but it can still be used for evil…
VR and AR could boost UK GDP 2.4% by 2030, according to PwC
According to PwC, VR and AR are projected to add £62.5 billion to the UK economy, and a 2.4% boost to GDP, by 2030. Globally, the figure…
VR doesn’t need an ‘iPhone moment’; it needs a new language for progress
While VR has progressed, though at a slower pace than many expected. Recently, Mark Zuckerberg notes that it is taking longer than expected. And yes, the Oculus…
Zero Latency in London is a zombie-shooting blast
Zero Latency invited Virtual Perceptions to try out their warehouse-scale VR experience in Boxpark Wembley, London. We tried co-op zombie shooting, co-op sci-fi adventuring, and competitive PVP…
Immerse hosts event to show use-cases of enterprise VR
Virtual Perceptions attended a breakfast briefing with Immerse, a UK-based company that has developed a VR enterprise platform. The team brought up several speakers who explored the…
Virtually History: The Berlin Wall
Virtual Perceptions was invited to see Virtually History: The Berlin Wall, a 360 experience that tells the story of the Iron Curtain. Created in collaboration with Remarkable…
VR in 2020 – What is the future?
Virtual reality will grow steadily in 2020. In 2019, standalone headsets like the Oculus Quest took the spotlight, selling units as fast as Facebook can make them.…
How surround sound can amplify VR experiences
Sometimes it’s easy to miss the little things. There are moments in our favourite media which we could go our whole lives without ever appreciating despite returning…
Raindance Immersive 2019 – Thoughts and Impressions
This weekend we attended Raindance Immersive, as part of the Raindance Film Festival. The third curated by Mária Rakušanová, the festival showed a variety of experiences across…
How Oliver Kadel runs the Immersive Audio Podcast
“Would you like some cashew milk with your tea?” Oliver asked, as I stepped into the studio behind the Immersive Audio Podcast. Oliver Kadel invited me to…
How wearables are setting the trend for enterprise efficiency
The integration of wearables into the logistics and maintenance industries has yet to be met with widespread adoption despite being mooted for its potentially game-changing impact for…
Is Facebook focusing on the Oculus Quest, not the Rift S?
At Oculus Connect 6 during the keynote presentation, hosts mentioned the Oculus Quest less than the Oculus Rift S. Mark Zuckerburg’s main announcements revolved around improving the…
Better user-experience for glasses wearers is key to VR mass-market adoption
Having a true “one product fits all” solution is vital to opening up a mass market for the VR industry. Right now, VR manufacturers are designing headsets…
Virtual reality drones: Everything you need to know
Virtual reality cameras are a great way to bring a person into an immersive experience. From something as small as a livestream of kittens, to investigative reports…
How using VR helps to retain employees
According to this year’s Labour Market Outlook from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), one-third of employers have found it more difficult to retain staff…
Virtual reality in education: What is the future?
Imagine cresting mountains and exploring new ranges in the warmth of a blanket. Or learning maths in a virtual classroom, without travelling to a campus. In recent…
VR table football is quirky value for money
Virtual Perceptions went to Social Fun and Games Club in London to see the House of Foos, a hut with several table football sets. All were standard…
Facebook’s brain-reading interface must be regulated as soon as possible
Facebook’s experiment with a brain-reading interface was inevitable. As the company continues to develop their AR glasses, the input method is one of the most important qualities…
VRgineers: An in-depth look at their XTAL headset
VRgineers invited Virtual Perceptions to their office in Prague, to try out some VR experiences that they provide the tech for, as well as their top of…
How VR and AR helps manufacturing: An overview
Ray Kurzweil, the renowned inventor, and futurist, introduced a theory he calls “The Law of Accelerating Returns.” The theory states, in the simplest terms possible, that the…
Huawei demonstrates 5G and Cloud VR, with some caveats
Huawei is making strides demonstrating their 5G capabilities around the UK. From launching trucks to pushing social media, the Chinese corporation wants to position itself as the…
Corporate training in VR – Does it have a future?
It is common knowledge that virtual reality (VR) has been used in a variety of other well-known sectors and fields, such as the military, healthcare and education,…
AR games market: Will it go mainstream? (Analysis)
In 2016, Niantic launched Pokemon Go, one of the most successful mobile games of all time. The AR game spurred hundreds of thousands of people to wander…
How AR drones save lives and help communities
Throughout the globe, innovative technology as delivered an abundance of benefits, from on-demand deliveries to the tailored online shopping experience, to at-home medical care. These breakthroughs have enabled unparalleled convenience…
Microsoft has shown no plans for VR – For now (Speculation)
E3 has come and gone, with (most of) the significant publishers putting their hat into the ring. While Sony was absent from the show floor, UploadVR gave…
How would Nintendo design future VR games? An analysis
Recently Nintendo launched the Nintendo Labo VR Kit, a collection of cardboard accessories bundled with a few mini-games. The cardboard toys ranged from an elephant to looking…
Enterprise uses of VR and AR – Mid-2019 update
With more and more accessible VR (virtual reality) hardware coming to market, and more relevant implementations of AR (augmented reality) appearing daily, it’s clear to see in…
VR horror games: The best ones for your headset
Few experiences send shivers more than VR horror games. A movie can curl toes and have scary scenes, but VR is much more immersive, trapping people in…
Why Super Smash Bros. Ultimate in VR is pointless
Recently, Nintendo unveiled that owners of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate can play their games in VR. Coming with the Ver. 3.1.0 software update, players can dance up…
War of The Worlds: The Immersive Experience incorporates VR nicely
Disclosure: The organisers kindly gave us two press tickets to try out the experience. In May 2019, two of us went to an immersive experience in London,…
Oculus Quest meets the hype, but will the momentum continue?
Back in September at Oculus Connect 5, Facebook unveiled the Oculus Quest, a standalone VR headset with a lot going for it. Competitively priced, with no PC…