Virtual Perceptions

The Immersive Wire

Weekly analysis of the immersive industry

By Tom Ffiske // 19 August 2020Been forwarded the newsletter? Subscribe here.What do you think of this newsletter? Do you like what you see? Or would you like certain additions to help inform you about the industry? Reply to this email and let me know your feedback!

As the training world becomes virtual, we’re your trusted guide through the immersive worlds to reality.

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THE BIG STORY

d rumours about the PSVR 2 for some time. Well... not exactly. Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) isn't looking for people; it is Sony Corporation. The distinction is small, but potentially significant. As Jamie and I suspect there might be an umbrella plan that covers multiple Sony divisions, rather than just gaming. Remember, Sony also handles consumer devices, music, and film studios; a VR device for home use can have multiple uses that touch on every Sony wing. Everybody wins. It is too early to tell what Sony's overall strategy is based on the job postings. Still, I am hoping that Sony learned from the failure of the PS Vita and focuses on content as well as power. Oh, and please don't push awful memory cards.

OTHER STORIES

• Varjo secures $54 million in Series C funding.

  • 💲💲💲💲💲

  • Seriously though, well done to a company doing really well in the enterprise VR space.

• Want to learn more about the London immersive ecosystem and the opportunities available?

  • London & Partners is hosting an event, led by Jeremy Dalton.Check it out.

• Want to see how immersive tech can deliver great reports?

  • The BIMA Immersive Council released their report on the topic, which you can check out here.

  • Disclaimer: I am a member of the Council who helped make the report.

• Mozilla lays off nearly all of the XR team.

  • This is tragic, considering all the great work they have done recently. I wish them all the best.

• Older people are interested in the positive cognitive benefits of VR, provided they are guided through it.

  • That's one of several findings by Virtuleap and the National Innovation Centre for Ageing.

  • My key takweaway from this is that companies must try to get the tech in people's hands where possible.

• Want to see, I don't know, a SPECIAL RELATIVITY VR SIMULATION?

  • Yeah you do!

  • Check out the awesome workhere by Diego Montoya

• New Oculus Venues gives us a glimpse of Facebook Horizon

  • I see it as non-news considering it's not complete, but still, kinda neat.

• Oculus will require a Facebook login in the future.

  • This annoyed privacy-focused users, but the vast majority won't care. In any case,the move was inevitable.

  • Honestly, I am more interested in how Facebook will deploy tailored ads using the data. How would it work? We may see at Oculus Connect.

• Finally, a heart-warming story about a vulture and a VR drone:

  • A 'top-secret Israeli military drone' captured photos of an endangered vulture chick, while out on a training mission. While the drone activity would normally stay top-secret; this mission went rogue to save a chick on the endangered list. Awww.

  • I only mention this because XTEND is the company that provided the VR tech to make it a success. Props to them!

SUMMER READING

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JOB BOARD

THE IMMERSIVE WIRE INTERVIEW

Asha Easton works at Immerse UK. She has run workshops with the VR Diversity Initiative in London to up-skill underrepresented groups in media and technology, and has spoken on panels internationally. Her focus at KTN is to expand the ImmerseUK community and grow the immersive tech ecosystem around the country.