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Panasonic and CES - The Virtual Perceptions Newsletter

January 10, 2020

Virtual Perceptions Newsletter

Hello everyone, Hope everyone had an excellent holiday! Not waiting around, CES started immediately with a few announcements/ But the one I am interested in is Panasonic; what is their goal with their new "VR" glasses? Because their target market is really interesting. I am also starting a jobs board on this newsletter; as this targets a large chunk of VR and AR professionals in the UK, it is a great way to connect to potentially interested employers / employees. If you are interested, please email and we can sort something out. In any case, I am always up for a conversation, so shout if you would like to ask anything! Best,Tom FfiskeEditor, Virtual Perceptions-

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 the most “stylish” glasses around. (Though I use stylish loosely; it will not be for everyone). While they look goofy, Panasonic has a smart business direction which has mass-market potential. The glasses are not for consumers; they are commercial, for significant sports events and virtual travel opportunities. Style sells, and building for sports and travel is a considerable market segment to target. For these reasons; it is challenging to compare Panasonic to the likes of Oculus and HTC; they are playing a different game. Click here to read more. 

 

Yes, smart glasses were featured extensively this year. Bosch showed some smart tech which is incredibly light, while Panasonic revealed some bulky punk shades which would fit in Mad Max.Like with each year, CES shows plenty of proof of concepts, which may all either fold or forgotten. So anything which seems a bit far out, or without hard evidence, may well be cast aside.The Panasonic goggles have so few details that its almost worth mentioning as a footnote for now, not as a full-blown announcement. Meanwhile, VRGineers (who I like a fair bit) is releasing a new headset which builds on their extensive experience. That is one company to follow.Overall, CES is a fun bubble of cool tech; but for AR and VR, it’s more iterative than new.Click here to read more. 

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 a great option for first-time users. But it is also restrictive, where people are unable to play some of the best games available in VR today. That’s restricted to the Oculus Quest, a standalone headset that has better controls and experiences.For many, the Oculus Quest is the superior system. Instead of restrictive controls that work around an axis, the VR headset lets people walk around the room and execute more complex manoeuvres, moving their hands around the room. And great titles are on it too, such as Beat Saber, Pistol Whip, and Synth Riders.But that does not mean the Oculus Go is a poor option. A lot of great games and experiences are available on that headset as well, and a lot of fun can be had with it. Here’s a guide between the two headsets, with some advice on what to get with both.

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Jobs board

Virtual Perceptions will soon launch a jobs board, Employers can put up new openings which will then be seen by VR and AR professionals in the UK. If you would like to submit a job or ask for further information, please contact Virtual Perceptions at [email protected].