XR Gets Practical with New Applications

New AR Headset From Magic Leap Will Ship in Q4 2021

(VR Final, February 2)

During a presentation by Magic Leap’s CEO, Peggy Johnson, slides revealed the company’s new headset. Though Johnson did not directly discuss the headset, the slides showcased that the device will be available for early access in Q4 of this year. The new headset is predicted to be about 50g lighter with a 100% increase in FOV. Although specifics are not yet available, if the company were to attempt to reduce the price, it could go a long way in spurring consumer adoption.

SuperData XR Q4 2020 Update

(Superdata, February 1)

Superdata, a Nielsen Company, examined the XR industry’s 2020 Q4 results and discovered a few interesting takeaways. While the Samsung Gear VR still holds the record for most units sold in a single quarter (1.4M units back in Q4 2016), the Oculus Quest 2 now has the most units sold in a single quarter for a VR device that isn’t powered by a smartphone. The Quest 2 achieved over 1M units in sales in Q4 of 2020, and experts are pointing to its lower price and holiday release date as reasons why. Based on the numbers, Superdata is predicting that around 87% of new VR headset sales in 2021 will be standalone devices like the Quest 2.

Pick Speed Improves When AR Replaces Paper: Study

(Retail Dive, January 27)

For years, companies have explored the applications of AR in warehouse environments, with the hopes of improving accuracy and efficiency, as well as training new employees more quickly. Now, a recent study has shown just how effective AR can be in these settings. In the experiment, a group of inexperienced warehouse pickers were given an AR tool, while the other group received paper-based lists. The results found that those in the AR group were able to complete orders 37% faster with fewer errors.

Elon Musk Says His Start-Up Neuralink Has Wired up a Monkey to Play Video Games Using Its Mind

(CNBC, February 1)

Neuralink, a startup founded by Elon Musk, has implanted a computer chip wired to a monkey’s brain, enabling the animal to play video games with its mind. This is a first step toward the company’s goal of developing a computer-brain interface for humans, which would enable people to rapidly share information from their brain to a machine. Musk believes that AI will surpass human intelligence, and this technology would help humans to “go along for the ride” with AI. Though his long-term vision is more of a sci-fi dream, the short-term goal of this technology is to help quadriplegics control devices just by thinking.

State to Invest €193m in Research on Cybersecurity, AI and E-health

(Irish Times, February 1)

The Irish government is investing €193 million over six years to further research and initiatives around cybersecurity, AI, smart medical devices, e-health, and more. The announcement came from Minister for Further and Higher Education, Simon Harris, who asserts that this investment into five Science Foundation Ireland research centers reflects the country’s position as a global leader in innovation. The funding will help research for smart cities, energy security, applied geosciences, and more, as well as promote STEM educational programs.

Robust Artificial Intelligence Tools to Predict Future Cancer

(MIT News, January 28)

To help predict who may get breast cancer in the future, and thus enable them to take the proper steps for treatment, a team of scientists at MIT and Jameel Clinic created a deep learning system. The algorithm, called Mirai, uses a patient’s mammogram and risk modeling to produce predictions of future cancer. Mirai has proven to be up to two times more accurate at predicting future risk than existing methods. Additionally, it is accurate across patients of different ages, races, and breast density categories. Looking ahead, the team is partnering with clinicians around the world to further validate the model and determine how best to implement it.

Here’s What Happened When AI and Humans Met in a Strawberry-Growing Contest

(World Economic Forum , January 29)

Farmers and data scientists in China competed in the Smart Agriculture Competition to see who could grow the most strawberries in four months. The data scientists leveraged greenhouse automation, intelligent sensors, AI, and IoT technology to regulate temperature, humidity, water, nutrients, and more. In the end, the scientists won, producing 196% more strawberries by weight and a higher ROI of 75.5%. In a report by Accenture and Frontier Economics, it’s predicted that by 2035, labor productivity could rise by 40% in developed countries due to AI. This contest helped to shed light on this, and it demonstrated how traditional farmers and scientists can collaborate to benefit everyone.