Global Impact of AR, VR, and Facial Recognition Technology

Emerging Tech Roundup — September 11

The Quantious team’s top picks for timely trending news in the tech world.

This week in tech: Government officials propose new facial recognition legislations, Facebook launches a product for college students, a naloxone VR training video launches, speculation around Oculus Quest grows, AI helps predict future pregnancy complications, market research is published about global AR and VR contact lenses, and pet shelters utilize facial recognition technology.

Dems Propose 5-Year Wait on Facial Recognition Technology

(The Post-Journal, September 11)

A five-year moratorium was proposed by New York legislators for police body cameras that utilize facial recognition and/or biometric surveillance. Studies show that facial recognition technology is very flawed and many times mistakes people for the wrong identity. Therefore, government officials would like to prohibit federal agencies from using that technology to avoid wrongful arrests and imprisonments.

Facebook Reinvents Facebook With the Launch of Campus for College Students

(The Verge, September 10)

Facebook launched a new product, Campus, which is a section of the main app designed for college students to interact with peers from their school. Students have access to a Campus-only News Feed, and they can join Groups, events, group chat rooms and find out about things pertaining to campus life. There’s even a “Campus directory” where students can find other students to add as friends.

Virtual Reality Video Teaches Bystanders to Administer Naloxone

(EMS1, September 8)

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania created a VR training video demonstrating how to administer naloxone to drug overdose victims. A study portrayed that the VR training video is an effective alternative to an in-person training session. Designed for all ages and backgrounds, the training video is available on YouTube and can also be viewed by using your mobile device and VR Viewer like Google Cardboard.

Oculus Quest Discontinued at Several Stores — is Oculus Quest 2 Around the Corner?

(Android Central, September 8)

Recently, Walmart accidentally leaked some information on the Oculus Quest 2 VR headset. The leak is causing Facebook to consider discontinuing the original Quest headset. Some retailers have already begun listing the Oculus Quest as discontinued or backordered, and some are no longer allowing shipments. On September 16th, Facebook is hosting its Connect conference centered around AR and VR. It is expected that the company will announce a successor to the Quest that day, but some speculate that the company may be releasing the Quest 2.

This AI Analyzes Placentas to Predict Complications in the Next Pregnancy

(TNW, September 7)

Researchers from Carnegie Mellon and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center partnered to develop a machine-learning technique that analyzes placenta slides for future signs of complications during pregnancy. The approach aids the medical specialists and pathologists who observe the slides for health risks. This methodology is useful because during testing, it identifies lesions more accurately than pathologists.

Global AR and VR Contact Lens Market Size Forecast to Reach $1.74 Billion by 2025

(WSC, September 7)

The Wall Street Call conducted research on the AR/VR contact lens market, and they forecast that the market size will hit over 1.7 billion by 2025. Their research dives into how AR/VR contact lenses are used across different industries, including military, entertainment, medical, education, and more. The research provides segment analysis, challenges foreseen in the market, technological advancements, as well as an overview of the market’s landscape.

Facial Recognition Technology for Pets is Launched in Atlanta

(11Alive, September 7)

Finding Rover is a company that uses facial recognition technology on animals to help owners find their lost pets. The company partnered with non-profit animal rescue, Lifeline Animal Project, who created a database of stray dog and cat images in north-central Georgia. Lifeline Animal Project is the first shelter to utilize the technology, matching tracked animals to Rover’s technology of missing pets. Since then, more than 700,000 pets pictures have been uploaded, and more than 700 shelters worldwide utilize the technology.