TG0 launches etee: the new effortless way to explore VR

TG0 launches etee: the new effortless way to explore VR

“etee – the first full finger control and proximity, touch, gesture and pressure sensing VR controller – will be on sale from April 2nd”

Tactile control specialist TG0 has unveiled etee, a groundbreaking new VR controller delivering more mesmerising VR experiences through patented finger sensing technology. With etee, VR gamers can immerse themselves in new worlds using all of their fingers simultaneously. Unlike other controllers, etee allows gamers to control their VR experiences via a full spectrum of movements such as proximity, touch, gesture and pressure.

Check out the demo video here

etee controllers are wireless, lightweight, durable and designed to be worn on the hand for long periods. An ergonomic form, patented technology and long lasting battery make it the ideal controller for scenarios including VR and AR and conventional gaming, drone flying, home device activation and multiple Internet of Things (IoT) applications.

TG0 will be selling etee controllers for the first time during a one-month Kickstarter campaign launching on April 2^nd. The page is now live at: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/tg0/etee-complete-control-in-3d

“VR games need a controller that moves beyond the stale, TV remote-like devices that are prevalent today,” said etee designer Mick Lin.

“etee takes us away from binary button commands into a new world of gesture, grip and touch-based controls. It delivers richer, more mesmerising interactions: the experience gamers deserve.”

While VR and AR gaming and training has advanced massively in a short period of time, existing controllers have retained an old-fashioned button-led design that has barely evolved from the games controllers of yesteryear.

Unlike legacy controllers, etee delivers on:

• Full finger sensing and gestural control
• Lightweight – 120g for the SteamVR version makes it the lightest VR controller
• Easy to put on and take off
• Sweat, dust and water-proof for improved hygiene and reliability
• Long battery life (16 hours standby, up to 6h active)
• Thumb trackpad to simulate joystick
• Ergonomic, intuitive design
• Proximity, touch, gesture and pressure sensing
• No buttons for a more natural experience
• Simplified product user interface

Designed to be as cosy and comfortable as a cardigan, etee hugs the hands and allows users to forget they’re even wearing a controller. etee is easy to slip on and off in seconds and a simple cylindrical shape couples freeform design with robust sensing. The end result for users is a controller they can wear rather than hold, and a more engaging, fully-realised experience no matter what the end application.

Jakub Kamecki, etee’s Head of Business Development, said: “I’ve never seen someone pick up an etee controller and fail to be wowed.

“We want to share this technology and to build a community, not only of gamers but of developers, innovators and inventors.”

etee controllers are equipped with:

• Thumb trackpad
• Free hand design
• Open palm gesture sensing for all fingers
• RGB colour LED
• State-of-the-art haptic feedback
• USB Type C ports
• Bluetooth and WiFi communication

Full technical specifications are available on request. Interested parties can stay updated by following the etee Kickstarter campaign at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/tg0/etee-complete-control-in-3d

Jakub said: “We’ve felt for a long time that etee is the future of VR control. Now we’re going to make it so.”

For more information, please contact:

Jakub Kamecki

kuba@tg0.co.uk

About etee

etee controllers simplify and enhance VR and AR experiences by bringing human intuition to the fore. etee’s buttonless, built-in sensor surface captures finger proximity, touch, pressure and combined gestures. This allows users to immerse themselves in the digital world and forget about controllers altogether. With a lightweight and sweat-proof body, etee is durable and comfortable, and can be slipped on and off in seconds. etee is the controller of choice for those seeking mesmerising, seamless, and simple experiences.

About TG0

TG0 is the team behind etee. TG0 is an IP-focused start-up commercialising a platform technology to create novel tactile control products. TG0 works with partners and clients, including leading brands and manufacturers in the consumer and automotive sectors. TG0 is a diverse team passionate about creating products that people have never seen before, with effortless and elegant manufacturing.

To find out more, visit tg0.co.uk.

Message from Ming Kong, CEO and TG0 Co-founder

TG0 was founded based on a shared vision that we will one day create our own branded product powered by the technology we developed throughout the years. For more than 2 years time, our team worked tirelessly on identifying a problem, developing a new solution and designing and communicating a product, which took us where we are at today with etee. Due to COVID-19, we considered delaying or even cancelling the campaign. However, our team have again shown incredible passion and perseverance powering through the difficulties of working in isolation and have delivered a full and appealing campaign. At this time, we believe it is the best that we do our job without concerns and fears, and hopefully bring our customers a sense of normalcy.

The post TG0 launches etee: the new effortless way to explore VR  appeared first on Virtual Reality Reporter by VR Reporter

By: VR Reporter
Title: TG0 launches etee: the new effortless way to explore VR 
Sourced From: virtualrealityreporter.com/tg0-launches-etee-new-effortless-way-explore-vr/
Published Date: Sat, 02 May 2020 08:00:48 +0000

Oculus Picks: Top 3 Arcade Favorites

This week on Oculus Picks, we’re highlighting a trio of favorites that’ll transform your home into an action-packed video arcade. From modern shooters to vintage...

Title: Oculus Picks: Top 3 Arcade Favorites
Sourced From: www.oculus.com/blog/oculus-picks-top-3-arcade-favorites/
Published Date: Fri, 01 May 2020 17:05:00 -0700

Cheating The Physical World: How AR Allows Retail To Become Digital First

How will modern retail adapt to a post-COVID-19 world?

Retail in early 2020 will see a decade of digital transformation compressed into a year due to COVID. But how can digital replace the physical? We are physical beings. We need physical goods to live our daily lives. There’s no replacing this. But we have been forced into a situation where augmented reality is necessary for us to cheat our physicality. 

Today AR is being used from the point of conception all the way to the post-purchase customer experience. It gives us the ability to create and sell physical goods using virtual and digital tools to speed things up.

Driving Online Traffic

To make up for the lack of foot traffic and brick and mortar revenues, retail will have to focus on driving more traffic from digital channels if it wants any chance to stay afloat.

With more people inside, more internet devices, and growing online communities, there are new ways to reach people. 

AR can be placed into Facebook Ads like this glasses campaign from Michael Kors: LINK

Instagram Ads

AR experiences are a new form of marketing that can generate buzz around product launches and interest in purchase. 

OnePlus just released their new device in an AR unboxing on Instagram.

From a OnePlus forum post:

“We’re using simple AR tech to bring a virtual experience of our new products to the community. We’re launching two AR filters on our Instagram channels. One for the OnePlus 8 and the other for the 8 Pro. These filters are a sweet setup to help you virtually unbox the OnePlus 8 Series at any place and at any time.”

These filters allow for a richer connection between the customer and the product, further communicating the brand or product’s value.

Driving Foot Traffic to Brick and Mortar

For retailers to stay alive following COVID, there will be a great need to get people back into their physical stores. Location-based foot traffic, in-store dwell time, and brick and mortar buying habits have all been thoroughly disrupted. So what are retailers to do?

In-store experiences will be vital in adding value and attracting customers. AR can help here by:

• Having affiliated AR games or experiences that place virtual objects or tasks in store. According to YES Marketing study, 57% of consumers said they were using smartphones and mobile devices to enhance their in-store shopping experience.
• Having specialized AR campaigns that are geofenced in the store like Pokemon Go’s characters are hidden in the real world. This can be discounts that are only revealed through your phone while in store and provided to the customer in a way that communicates the brand in a special way.

What happens to a company that has the most interesting, rich, and mature AR environment designed as a virtual layer in its physical stores? Will they increase dwell time? Will brand loyalists be reinvigorated and stay loyal? Will employees enjoy the working environment more? Will conversion rates for in-store purchases rise?

Online Conversion

AR is now essential for the customer buying experience. According to this USA AR survey:

• 72% of customers purchased items they didn’t plan to buy because of AR.
• 71% of customers shopped more when they used AR.
• 61% preferred stores with AR experiences.

The best quality product models in AR are coming from M-XR who have mastered lighting of virtual objects to make them real. For example, the shoe you see below is not really there. Can you tell?

Facebook’s campaign with Michael Kors saw a 14% lift in incremental purchases.

Ikea’s Place AR app is changing how furniture is sold.

Macy’s

Macy’s furniture app increased Average Order Revenue by 60%. And maybe more impressive: shoppers who used VR had less than a 2% return rate on transactions.

AR for Post Purchase

Completing the move to cheat physicality, AR will also transform and become the standard for post purchase product experiences. It can be used for instruction guides, product information, and training. It can also become part of the product experience, further developing a brand’s impact in everyday life. 

Assembling furniture and other complex products has been a problem for consumers and brands alike. Beautiful tables in store or in photos are meaningless if you can’t put it together as advertised. Product assembly like the conceptual mobile app called AssembleAR allows people to see the optimal setup and steps for assembling furniture at home once they take the product out of the box:

Product Training

AR also allows for the spatial layout of information, making it easier for the brain to process individual parts and how they fit together. This can help customer support professionals and technicians better access information they need in the field. 

AR and 3D Asset Management 

It’s clear that AR is becoming prevalent throughout the product design and purchase journeys. So how can your organization best take advantage of this transformation? Find a team like Shape Immersive to lead you through the journey and help you build your assets and experiences. 

Organization Tips:

• All your physical products should be created in multiple 3D formats and made accessible across the organization.
• A common CMS (content management system) should be employed org wide.

3D Asset Creation

You should create a working group that meets periodically to assess and synthesize your 3D asset activities. 3D artists produce most 3D assets for AR manually. While parametric modelling programs like Revit, AutoCAD or Rhino can be used to quickly generate 3D objects from CAD, STEP, or STL files, no matter which technology is used these initial 3D models will require additional tuning to achieve photorealistic results and highly skilled 3D artists in order to produce the best 3D models.

Bringing together engineers, marketers, designers, software developers, and customer experience leaders will allow you to create cross-functional strategies for best managing your virtual assets. 

If you need help selling more with 3D commerce, developing 3D assets for AR and VR, or immersive brand experiences feel free to email me at james@shapeimmersive.com.

Feature Image Credit:

The post Cheating The Physical World: How AR Allows Retail To Become Digital First appeared first on VRScout.

By: James Basnett
Title: Cheating The Physical World: How AR Allows Retail To Become Digital First
Sourced From: vrscout.com/news/cheating-the-physical-world-ar-retail/
Published Date: Fri, 01 May 2020 21:56:37 +0000

Introducing David Hayter as General Zhurov

Today, we’re thrilled to announce that stealth legend, David Hayter, will be joining the cast of Phantom: Covert Ops! Hayter—who you may know as the...

Title: Introducing David Hayter as General Zhurov
Sourced From: www.oculus.com/blog/introducing-david-hayter-as-general-zhurov/
Published Date: Fri, 01 May 2020 12:22:20 -0700

Face Your Fears In NYC Bungee

We all know NYC for the busy and tall city it is but have you ever wondered what it’s like to go bungee jumping there? Well, Blackwall Labs makes that possible in virtual reality with NYC Bungee.

In the game you’ll be leaping sky high from the Statue of Liberty itself and there’s a few ways to get to the top. You can take the elevator or climb the statue yourself.

Those in search of a tranquil session can ride a hot air balloon high above the Hudson river, whilst those seeking a more energetic route can climb to the crown as we get to experience the Big Apple like never before.

There’s also a few other ways you can interact with the statue but you can discover that through playing the game.

On the island you will be able to see the wonderful skyline that surrounds you and get an epic scenery of the environment.

NYC Bungee is currently available on Valve Index, HTC Vive, and Oculus Rift. This is a chance to virtually visit NYC if you haven’t done so already.

The post Face Your Fears In NYC Bungee appeared first on VR News, Games, And Reviews.

By: Griffin Streeter
Title: Face Your Fears In NYC Bungee
Sourced From: www.vrandfun.com/face-your-fears-in-nyc-bungee/
Published Date: Fri, 01 May 2020 16:46:38 +0000

Tattooed Pornstar Penny Archer Needs a Handyman in VR Bangers’ ‘Fixer Upper’ Scene

Penny Archer Needs a Handyman in VR Bangers’ ‘Fixer Upper’

Penny Archer is featured in Virtual Reality Bangers’ newest one-on-one scene, “Fixer Upper.”

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Shot in 6K ultra-high-definition, “Fixer Upper” portrays Archer as the beautifully tattooed and extremely-bored-with-her-wealth inhabitant of a luxurious villa who calls on the viewer, in the role of a handyman, to pay a visit and unclog her pipes.

“I loved the idea of having sex with a spoiled, extremely wealthy and bored girl in her luxurious villa from the beginning,” said VR Bangers’ producer Roman Lit. “I thought that this VR porn experience had a lot of potential, and when we combined the idea with Penny’s beautiful body covered in tattoos, I am more than happy with the outcome of our newest VR porn scene.”

“Fixer Upper” is available here.

Fans can find more of Penny Archer on Twitter.

The post Tattooed Pornstar Penny Archer Needs a Handyman in VR Bangers’ ‘Fixer Upper’ Scene appeared first on Virtual Reality Reporter by VR Reporter

By: VR Reporter
Title: Tattooed Pornstar Penny Archer Needs a Handyman in VR Bangers’ ‘Fixer Upper’ Scene
Sourced From: virtualrealityreporter.com/tattooed-pornstar-penny-archer-needs-handyman-vr-bangers-fixer-upper-scene/
Published Date: Fri, 01 May 2020 08:00:36 +0000

On Sale Details: Cosmos Elite Headset (HMD Only) and External Tracking Faceplate, both with Half-Life: Alyx

We’ve heard your feedback and are now offering an upgrade option for existing Vive owners (or those with base stations and controllers already) including a headset-only version of the Cosmos Elite Headset and the External Tracking Faceplate as a stand-alone accessory. Best of all, both purchases come with a redemption code for Half-Life: Alyx* and six months of Viveport Infinity for free.

The Vive Cosmos Elite pairs the performance of external tracking alongside the flexibility of the Cosmos platform to meet the needs of the most demanding VR entertainment enthusiasts. All Vive Cosmos headsets include the same impressive visuals (2880 x 1700 combined pixel resolution), and comfort features including an innovative flip-up design that can transport users to and from their virtual world with ease.

Retailing for $549, the headset-only option (for existing Vive owners with base stations and controllers) includes a pre-installed External Tracking Faceplate on the Cosmos headset. The External Tracking Faceplate retails for $199 as an upgrade accessory that swaps out the original inside-out tracking faceplate that ships with Vive Cosmos. Vive Cosmos Elite and External Tracking Faceplate are compatible with Steam VR base station versions 1.0 or 2.0, original Vive or Vive Pro controllers, and Valve Knuckles controllers.

The Elite headset will begin shipping starting in April with on-sale date varying by region (see chart below). The External Tracking Faceplate will launch globally later in Q2. Given demand, we are releasing these to markets as quickly as we can given supply chain challenges associated with the ongoing health crisis.

Cosmos Elite Headset
Country	Pre-Order	On Sale
CN	N/A	16-Apr
TW	1-Apr	16-Apr
EU	7-Apr	27-Apr
UK	7-Apr	27-Apr
CA	1-Apr	1-May
US	1-Apr	1-May
AU	N/A	7-May
KR	N/A	May
NZ	N/A	May
JP	To be announced	To be announced
KSA	1-May	18-May
UAE	1 May	18-May

 

Cosmos External Tracking Faceplate
Country	On Sale
CA	May
US	May
EU	15-May
UK	15-May
AU	7-May
ME	10-Jun
TW	Late April
JP	To be announced

 

By using Lighthouse base station technology, Vive Cosmos Elite users will be able to experience the power and precision of SteamVR tracking. Vive Cosmos Elite and the External Tracking Faceplate also support Vive’s ecosystem of peripherals including the Vive Wireless Adapter for an untethered VR experience and the Vive Tracker—delivering unprecedented input freedom for VR controls.

* Redemption code not available in all regions. Digital code included in box. Limited time offer.

The post On Sale Details: Cosmos Elite Headset (HMD Only) and External Tracking Faceplate, both with Half-Life: Alyx appeared first on VIVE Blog.

By: Vive Team
Title: On Sale Details: Cosmos Elite Headset (HMD Only) and External Tracking Faceplate, both with Half-Life: Alyx
Sourced From: blog.vive.com/us/2020/05/01/cosmoselite/
Published Date: Fri, 01 May 2020 07:00:39 +0000