Thanksgiving in the Metaverse, Augmented Reality in the Office, and Much More
Emerging Tech Roundup — November 27
The Quantious team’s top picks for timely trending news in the tech world.
This week in tech: Macy’s hosts Thanksgiving in the Metaverse, Nike launches its .Swoosh Metaverse Platform, Bodyswaps and Meta Immersive Learning launch a grant for VR soft skills training, AR drives better frontline employee onboarding, Twitter Blue delays in relaunch, Google rolls out Nearby Share and a study is shared, showing who uses the metaverse versus who holds the jobs within it.
Macy’s Will Hold a Thanksgiving Day Parade in the Metaverse
(AD Week, November 21)
A virtual version of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will be held this year in addition to the in-person event. The digital activation was created as a way to get younger individuals excited about the event, and features an opportunity for visitors to vote on one design to be turned into a balloon for next year’s real-life parade.
Nike’s .Swoosh Metaverse Platform Is Here
(Complex, November 14)
Nike introduced .Swoosh this week, a new platform featuring the brand’s virtual footwear, apparel and accessories. The sportswear brand hopes to build a web3 community where users will one day be able to gain access to exclusive events, collaborate with designers on virtual products and even earn royalties from the sale of those products. As of now, .Swoosh is still in beta and is an invite-only platform.
Bodyswaps and Meta Immersive Learning Partner to Launch Grant for VR Soft Skills Training
(Auganix, November 10)
Immersive learning software provider Bodyswaps has announced a new partnership with Meta Immersive Learning. The two companies plan to create a grant that will provide 100 education institutions with access to VR hardware and software across the UK, North America, France and Belgium. There will be a variety of courses offered, including modules on public speaking, job interviews and anti-racism training to empower students with soft skill developments.
Augmented Reality Drives Better Frontline Employee Onboarding Amid Tight Labor Market
(Cision PR Newswire, November 9)
86% of companies using AR for onboarding say the tech has improved the quality of training, according to a survey from TeamViewer. The study determined a number of key findings, one of which stated that companies adopting AR are becoming more competitive. The study also found that these AR-adopting companies are more likely to consistently hit their onboarding goals.
Elon Musk Says Twitter Blue Relaunch Delayed, May Use Different Color Checks For Organizations
(CNBC, November 21)
Earlier this week, Twitter owner Elon Musk shared that the company is planning to delay the relaunch of its $8-per-month Blue Verified service. The launch occurred earlier this month but was pulled after users abused the new paid option. The company will likely use a different color check for organizations than it will for individual accounts.
Google Rolls Out Nearby Share to its Android Clipboard Manager
(Android Police, November 21)
Google is making it easier to share clipboard content across devices in its series of latest improvements. The Nearby Share feature is useful for those who routinely switch between phones and computers, or for those who need a fast way to drop links and other messages to nearby devices. The new feature seems to offer benefits similar to Apple’s Airdrop feature, and will add convenience for users.
Women are Key Metaverse Users, But Men Dominate Jobs Shaping It
(Bloomberg, November 21)
McKinsey & Co. released a report on Monday taking a look at demographics in the metaverse. Key findings suggest that women are more likely to spearhead initiatives in the rapidly-developing metaverse, yet men still hold 90% of executive positions at organizations shaping this emerging economy.
