Weekly Mashup 108: Lytro's Virtual Reality Camera

Lytro Dives Into Virtual Reality Filmmaking with Debut of Its Immerge Video Camera
VentureBeat

"Since its debut in 2006, Lytro has produced devices that leverage light-field technology, which captures information about the direction and intensity of light rays. Today, the company is applying this technology to the world of virtual reality with the unveiling of the Lytro Immerge, a cinematic camera for professional videographers.

Available for rent starting in the first quarter of 2016, this 360-degree sphere can be considered the Canon 5D MKIII for virtual reality. The camera has five layers, each containing a densely packed ring of cinematic video cameras that captures a high frame rate and resolution. It’s being called the first of its kind for the way it’s leveraging the light-field mathematical model Lytro is known for within the relatively new realm of virtual reality." Read More

NEC Brings Augmented-Reality Keyboard to User's Forearm
Wall Street Journal

"NEC Corp. said Thursday that it has created a user interface which can display an augmented-reality keyboard on a person’s forearm, using eyeglasses and a smart watch. The ARmKeypad uses glasses to provide a view of the keys and detect the finger movements, while the watch can sense the timing of keystrokes and alter keyboard displays, the company said." Read More

Report: Virtual Reality Rules Now, But Augmented Reality Will Soon Take Over
Network World

"Virtual Reality is already on the way out, according to a digital media expert, and it hasn't even gotten going yet. Immersive tech virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) revenue is expected to reach $150 billion by 2020, according to consulting firm Digi-Capital. But it's AR that's set to grab the biggest share. VR won't be as big." Read More

YouTube To Support Virtual Reality Video On Its App
Daily Mail

"YouTube has added support for virtual reality videos, paving the way for interactive films to use Google's video service. The app now supports VR video - a format that gives viewers what the company says are more realistic 360-degree perspectives of films. To view it, a user would call up a virtual reality video on the YouTube app, click a button on the video for VR mode, and place the phone in Alphabet 'Cardboard' device, a handheld gadget made from the standard box material that creates a VR viewing experience. Read More

Mumbai Airport Leverages Augmented Reality and iBeacons to Deliver Enhanced Smartphone App
Future Travel Experience

"GVK Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA) in Mumbai has launched a new smartphone app that includes a number of advanced features to help simplify the passenger experience. Among the most eye-catching features is the use of augmented reality technology, which provides passengers with information on nearby facilities as they walk through the terminal." Read More