Sights Set on the Future With AR, VR and AI
Emerging Tech Roundup — May 27
The Quantious team’s top picks for timely trending news in the tech world.
This week in tech: Snap acquires WaveOptics with intent to create next-gen AR Glasses, Heru is developing VR to assist in Optometry, Facebook and CTRL Labs further develop a wristband to improve hand tracking in Oculus Quest, Alter Agents finds that AR influences consumer shopping experiences, Zuckerberg hints at the development of Onward 2, Ada Health plans to expand their AI Doctor app with new investments, and Satalia shares the positive impact of AI on delivery business.
Snap Introduces Next-Gen AR Spectacles
(Hot Hardware, May 21)
Snap, the parent company of Snapchat, announced that they will be acquiring WaveOptics for about $500 million. As a company, WaveOptics specializes in augmented reality (AR), specifically with application to optical design and head-mounted displays. Snap’s next-gen AR Spectacles will be custom-created by WaveOptics, using the company’s existing technology.
Heru Aims to Deliver VR Eye Tests and Therapies
(Fierce Biotech, May 21)
Heru is developing an AI headset to diagnose eye conditions including glaucoma, post-stroke trauma, double vision, and more. Opticians will be able to use the technology to identify such conditions by tracking how patients interact with different stimuli. Heru has an additional goal to develop AR software that will correct eye conditions after diagnosing them, which will also use a headset.
Facebook Reality Lab’s Wristband to Control VR Glasses is Only Years Away
(Upload VR, May 21)
Startup CTRL Labs, acquired by Facebook in 2019, is developing new technology to better the hand tracking capabilities of Oculus Quest VR headsets. The development in the works is said to use the electrical signals inside the wrist, which will be interpreted by a wristband that is worn by users. The advancements will help overcome noticeable delays and shortcomings in the current hand tracking abilities of the Oculus Quest headsets, allowing for enhanced control.
Branded AR Experiences Boost the Chance That Consumers Will Buy A Product/Service
(PR Newswire, May 25)
Market research consultancy Alter Agents conducted a study to see how AR usage in marketing affects the consumer experience. They found that the use of AR often increases the chance of purchase by consumers, especially when shopping for home decor, clothing/accessories, and other departments where a ‘try-before-you-buy’ experience is helpful. Participants were found to believe that based on their own experiences and shopping habits, AR will increasingly influence shopping experiences over the next five years. 54% of the studied consumers actively seek out AR shopping experiences and 61% find additional value in being able to share such experiences.
Mark Zuckerberg Seemingly Confirms Onward 2
(Upload VR, May 25)
Soon after Facebook’s acquisition of Downpour Interactive, developer of Onward VR multiplayer shooter game, Mark Zuckerberg hinted at his excitement for Onward 2 in response to games reporter Gene Park. It is unknown if Zuckerberg’s comment was referring to a hypothetical sequel or if a sequel is already on the radar for play on PC and/or Oculus Quest, the devices on which Onward is currently functioning.
Samsung and Bayer Invest in AI Doctor App Ada Health
(CNBC, May 27)
Samsung and Bayer have both made investments in Ada Health’s doctor-in-your-pocket app, helping the company reach about $150 million in investments. The app currently allows users to chat with an AI bot about the symptoms they’re experiencing, answer follow-up questions, and receive advice on what steps to take next toward a cure. With the recent investment, Ada Health plans to improve the medical knowledge base used within the app via lab and sensor data integration. They also plan to offer more than the current 10 languages so that the app can be used in additional regions of the globe.
The Impact of AI on Delivery Businesses
(Forbes, May 27)
Tesco worked with AI consultancy company Satalia, to optimize their delivery schedules. Integrating dynamic scheduling helped Tesco meet the increased demand of customers and their delivery standards, save over 11 million miles in delivery distance, and improve fuel efficiency by 5%. Also using Satalia’s AI consultancy, Direct Furnishing Supplies (DFS) was able to reduce their delivery fleet by 100 vehicles, while offering more deliveries to customers. With the help of AI technology, businesses are able to optimize their in-store operations, often resulting in increased revenue, efficiency, and staff satisfaction.
