September is here and we are ready for pumpkin spice lattes, cooler weather the latest and greatest XR news. Team Trivver is very excited about what is left of 2018 as the Los Angeles XR Ecosystem is growing, and we love that! Read on for some of our favorite recent articles that cover volumetric video capturing, new interactive VR experiences, and much more.
Holograms in the News
Metastage Opens Microsoft-Powered Volumetric Capture Studio in Los Angeles
We are so excited for the launch of Metastage, which has brought something totally new to a sound stage in Culver City. Metastage is a new studio built for volumetric video capture for virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and holographic experiences using cutting-edge technology developed by Microsoft. To summarize, they are capturing holograms for immersive, virtual experiences, and it is very cool.
Microsoft took eight years to design the Mixed Reality Capture technology that Metastage uses as the first U.S. partner to license the technology. So how does it work? By using 106 cameras facing inward around a circular stage, they capture the subject from every possible angle to create a high quality, full 3D asset.
The New York Times recently stopped by Metastage, bringing along supermodel Ashley Graham to be captured for the NYT’s AR application. The process of capturing anyone takes a team on how to best walk, pose, and be styled, as any misaligned clothing or out of place hair could disrupt the cameras. Metastage aims to make the entire process of hologram creation as easy and stress-free as possible so that creators can show up, capture and go!
Jaunt Reveals Livestreamed Volumetric Video Solution for AR
The volumetric market is getting some competition from Jaunt who, under new management, has pivoted towards volumetric video capture, ie holograms. Their newly revealed project for its Jaunt XR Platform makes volumetric video capture a relatively cheap and easy process. The project is still in R&D, and it works as a “simple capture stage with a streamlined setup,” which uses the company’s proprietary streaming tech that can send volumetric captures to AR-capable devices.
The coolest aspect to Jaunt is how easy it seems to be work. Unlike Microsoft’s Mixed Reality Studio which requires a green screen stage, Jaunt seems to have the ability to be set up anywhere. Watch the video below to see the technology in action
New VR Experiences IRL
Terminator VR experience debuts in California
SPACES has brought a new immersive virtual reality experience to The Spectrum Center in Orange County. The experience, “Terminator Salvation: Fight for the Future”, is a multi-sensory, free-roaming VR experience that incorporates technology, video games and storytelling for an awesome interactive experience. The experience is only open for the next month, so check it out while you can!
Inside Two Bit Circus’ Los Angeles VR Amusement Park
Two Bit Circus has officially opened in Downtown Los Angeles, and the Trivver team can’t wait to go check it out. The micro amusement park is located in an old warehouse space in the quickly developing DTLA, and the developers used the large space to create many different sections that focus on the unique games and interactive options. Going there you will find a zone for arcade games, a bar, multiple escape rooms, a concession stand, and a 100 person theater. But nothing about this space is like the regular amusement experience — the park uses augmented reality, virtual reality, and immersive experiences to completely update the amusement park experience to a futuristic level.
The park does a great job answering a very important question, how to make VR a social experience, by creating VR cabanas for friends to lounge, watch and socialize with each other while a friend takes part in the VR experience. To make it a night you will never forget, make sure to order your favorite drink from the Robot Bartender. Two Bit Circus is like the modern adults futuristic Chuck E Cheese, but without the creepy animatronic mouse.
Inside Imogen Heap’s Cutting-Edge VR Concert
Imogen Heap and Los Angeles based VR firm TheWaveVR have teamed up to completely reimagine the VR concert experience. TheWaveVr collaborates with artists to create custom, psychedelic VR worlds where users can interact with each other while at the same show. The central mission of TheWaveVR is to create a completely unique experience, totally different than a standard concert, by combining the power of VR to create a visual, social and interactive experience.
ARKit 2: Apple details new immersive AR apps and experiences
Last week, Apple help their yearly developers conference where they talked a lot about health and wellness, Apple Watch Series 4 and some seriously large and fancy new iPhones. Our favorite part by far though was the launch of ARKit 2. The update offers improved face tracking, realistic rendering, support for 3D object detection and a greater focus on gaming with the anticipated multiplayer feature. Apple is making moves to make AR a larger part of our lives, and we are here for it!
On the Radar
This fall is an exciting time for Los Angeles XR events.
Magic Leap has officially been opened to the world with the launch of their AR headset! Now they need more software, so they are holding their first developer conference titled L.E.A.P. in Los Angeles on October 9th and 10th. You can expect to see a live-streamed keynote, more partnership announcements and plenty of demos on stage. The catch? You have to apply to attend. Apply here
Unity is holding their developer's conference also in Los Angeles, and it is happening from October 23 to 25. Unite LA 2018 will consist of advanced hands-on demo workshops, technical sessions, previews of upcoming Unity tech, and of course, lots of networking.
Exciting News!
Trivver has been selected as a finalist in the 2018 Timmy Awards, Orange County’s Best Tech Startup Finalist! The Trivver Team is so excited about this, and we want to win! Winners will be chosen based on a combination of public voting and scores from an expert panel of judges, and we need your votes. You can vote once a day, so get to it and please share with friends!
