In a Week Where Apple Vision Pro was Supposed to be the Winner…DISNEY CHANGED EVERYTHING!

Buckle up! The ones a doozy!

Imagine walking in any direction on a floor that's as adaptable as a chameleon on rollerblades – that's the HaloTile Floor for you. It's not just a dance floor; it's a stage for virtual reality and theatrical wizardry. And speaking of wizardry, ever thought of creating a digital twin of Las Vegas in just 10 minutes? Louis Rosenberg did it with no-code tools, making "Ready Player One" vibes a reality. But wait, there's more – the Apple Vision Pro is flexing its muscles with a 10-core GPU, 16GB of RAM, and a price tag that'll make your wallet sweat.

Meanwhile, spatial computing is breaking through screens to redefine how we engage with the digital realm. And if that's not enough, Ken Pfeuffer's got the lowdown on Gaze and Pinch interaction principles, making virtual reality more intuitive than ever.

Next, Guy Newsom dives into the Vision Pro construction applications, pitting it against the Atom headset. Lastly, prepare for a sci-fi showdown as Figure.ai's humanoid robots team up with BMW, bringing us closer to a future where robots and humans share the spotlight. It's a rollercoaster of innovation, and you've got a front-row seat! 🚀✨

The Virtual World

Disney Imagineer, and National Inventors Hall of Fame Inductee, Lanny Smoot presents a demonstration of an innovative technology called the "HaloTile Floor." This advanced floor system allows for omnidirectional movement, meaning individuals can walk in any direction on it. A key feature of the HaloTile Floor is its ability to adapt to the movements of multiple people simultaneously, each moving independently. Smoot highlights the potential applications of this technology in various fields, such as virtual reality and theatrical performances.

He envisions dancers using the floor to enhance their performances with extraordinary moves. Although the full range of applications for the HaloTile Floor is still being explored, its versatility and interactive capabilities suggest a wide array of future uses

Key Points:

• The HaloTile Floor is an omnidirectional floor system, allowing movement in any direction.

• Can accommodate multiple users at once, each moving independently.

• Potential applications in virtual reality and theatrical stages.

• Could enable dancers and performers to execute complex and innovative moves.

• The full scope of the HaloTile Floor's applications is still under exploration.

Louis Rosenberg, in a VentureBeat article, discusses the creation of a digital twin - virtual replica - of Las Vegas in Agora World for CES 2024. This project, completed in just 10 minutes using no-code tools, signifies a major step in virtual experience creation. It parallels concepts from "Ready Player One," where virtual worlds are intricately designed and highly immersive. 

This development marks a shift towards more accessible and rapid creation of digital environments, potentially transforming e-commerce and online interaction by making immersive content creation more mainstream.

Apple Vision Pro

The Apple Vision Pro, showcased at CES 2024, reportedly boasts significant hardware capabilities. It's powered by the M2 chipset with a 10-core GPU variant, offering substantial graphics performance. Additionally, it comes with 16GB of RAM, providing robust memory capacity. 

This combination positions the Vision Pro as a powerful standalone headset, potentially delivering higher fidelity experiences in virtual reality compared to competitors like Meta Quest 3. The Vision Pro's tethered external battery pack and a starting price of $3500 for 256GB storage reflect its advanced features and form factor.

Spatial Computing, highlighted at CES 2024, represents an evolving form of 3D-centric computing, integrating AI, Computer Vision, and extended reality to blend virtual experiences with the physical world. It transcends traditional screen limitations, enabling more natural interactions between humans, devices, and environments. 

This technology promises to revolutionize how we engage with machines, enhancing productivity and creativity. Key players like Apple, Meta, and Microsoft are actively contributing to this field, with developments expected to significantly impact various industries and everyday life.

Ken Pfeuffer delves into the design principles and issues of Gaze and Pinch interaction, a method for interacting with virtual environments using eye movements and finger pinching. The article, based on extensive research in human-computer interaction, outlines five key design principles and five issues to consider for effective implementation. 

These principles are informed by the natural roles of eyes and hands and aim to create intuitive and efficient user experiences in virtual reality settings. Pfeuffer's insights are grounded in his expertise as an Assistant Professor specializing in Human-Computer Interaction and Augmented/Virtual Reality.

5 Principles:

1. Division of labor: Eyes select, hands manipulate, emphasizing natural roles and intuitive interaction.

2. Minimalistic multimodal timing: Precise timing for eye and hand coordination to avoid errors and improve efficiency.

3. Flexible gesture support: Adaptable hand gestures controlled by eye movements for a seamless user experience.

4. Infallible eyes: Leveraging the accuracy and speed of eye movements for reliable selection tasks.

5. Compatibility with hand-based interfaces: Integrating gaze and pinch with existing hand gestures for a harmonious user experience.

Guy Newsom, VP of Product & Design at XYZ Reality, discusses Apple's Vision Pro, a mixed reality (MR) device combining virtual and augmented reality. Newsom highlights its advanced features but questions its suitability for construction sites. The article raises concerns about Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) certification, visibility standards, and design issues. The Vision Pro's limitations, such as its tinted screen, incompatibility with hard hats, and lack of glove support, are emphasized.

Newsom contrasts this with the Atom headset, designed specifically for construction environments, addressing issues like dust exposure and glove usage. Finally, he emphasizes the importance of purpose-built solutions, asserting that industry-specific needs should drive AR technology innovation in construction.

Company Follow Up: Figure.ai

In Edition 2 of our newsletter, we spotlighted Figure.ai, a company boldly stepping into the realm of AI humanoid robotics, reminiscent of something straight out of a Terminator movie. 

Well, they're back in the headlines, and it seems like we're inching closer to a world once only imagined in science fiction. Figure.ai's brainchild, the Figure 01 humanoid robot, has now teamed up with automotive giant BMW. This partnership, which will see Figure 01 robots deployed at BMW's Spartanburg plant in South Carolina, is a vivid reminder of how rapidly the lines between sci-fi fantasy and reality are blurring. 

As Figure 01 takes on complex tasks in a human-centric environment, we're witnessing a glimpse of a future where robots and humans coexist and collaborate, much like the futuristic visions portrayed in iconic films. 

This venture is a major stride for Figure.ai, showcasing the growing traction of humanoid robots in mainstream industries.