The Oculus Rift: virtual reality is no longer a joke

You can be safe in the wisdom that I bring the very best earphone articles, several of which are my very own a few of them are curated by me, when i choose to use somebody elses writing it�s because it�s appropriate to my readership, so feel confident you are reading the very best from my industry.

The decade�s most exciting development in computer hardware looks a little like a fat black envelope stuck to a pair of ski goggles, and I had one strapped to my face two months ago as I sat at a desk in the Earls Court Exhibition Centre preparing to fly a Spitfire under a bridge.

Headphones over my ears replaced the thumping bass of the surrounding trade show with the spluttery growl of a Merlin engine. Looking down, I saw a pair of khakied knees and a gloved hand gripping a control yoke; above and to either side, the sun glittered through the cockpit canopy. As I flipped the aircraft into a turn and dive, my senses insisted that I was soaring, upside down, under an iron bridge and into a canyon. But my body and brain remained obstinately upright in a chair in west London, at the glorious mercy of a technology that promises to bring back that most laughable of Nineties computing obsessions: virtual reality.

This device is called the Oculus Rift, and it has come a long way since 2011, when Palmer Luckey, a 19-year-old Californian student, built the prototype from scavenged parts in his parents� garage. Luckey was an enthusiastic collector of old VR hardware the clunky headsets that had enjoyed a brief tenure in Nineties amusement arcades and had long dreamt of bringing back the technology in a useful form.

But despite the colourful cyber-predictions of films such as Lawnmower Man, there were good reasons that the virtual reality craze had fizzled out by the millennium. The headsets were too heavy to wear for long, and immersion in the blocky graphics of these early virtual worlds came at a price: a stiff neck, motion sickness and the feeling of wading through treacle.

By 2011, however, the magic combination of accurate motion-sensing with lightweight, high-resolution displays no longer seemed so far off. As Luckey realised, the technology was by then integrated into most decent smartphones. So his prototype Rift used the equivalent of a large smartphone screen to display offset moving images, one for each eye, which the brain combined into an illusion of 3D depth. Head movements were tracked with phone-equivalent gyroscopes and accelerometers, adjusting the view so the user could look freely around a 3D world.

Two years on, Luckey�s company Oculus VR is still piggybacking on vicious competition in the smartphone market, as its product lead Joseph Chen freely acknowledges.

�Those guys are tearing each other apart trying to get the next best thing,� he says. �That has basically driven the costs down to where they�re affordable: displays and sensors that used to be hundreds of dollars now cost pennies.� Oculus charges just $300 (�180) for a low resolution �developer kit� � a kit for companies interested in developing software for the device � and has shipped more than 40,000 worldwide, the biggest deployment of virtual reality headsets in history. It has raised $91million (�55.5 million) in investment funding and done this without actually having a product on the market: you can�t buy it in shops until next year.

The excitement surrounding the Oculus was palpable at the Eurogamer Expo, the games show where I tried out its second-generation prototype. This is understandable: to many enthusiasts, the prospect of stepping wholesale into a virtual fantasy world fulfils one of the oldest promises of the medium.

An example of the view using an Oculus Rift

But there�s more to this technology than gaming. Among the demonstrations Chen showed me was a London tourism experience, built from 360-degree camera views of locations in the capital by the media agency Visualise. The viewer begins perched on top of the London Eye wheel, staring out over the capital, and can beam into various 3D-modelled locations across town � London Zoo, the Gherkin, Piccadilly Circus � by a shift of visual focus.

Another demonstration by Arch Virtual, a business that creates 3D software for a wide range of clients, offered a virtual tour of an architect�s concept house. Using a controller, I was able to �walk� wherever I liked in the building. The sense of inhabiting real space in these demonstrations was astonishing.

Jon Brouchoud, the Wisconsin-based architect who runs Arch Virtual, says that using the Rift developer kit transformed the way he designs. �Any time you�re looking at an architectural illustration projected onto a screen it�s distorted,� he tells me. �There�s a natural distortion based on the way 3D maps onto a 2D surface. Put the same environment in the Oculus Rift and it�s completely different. Being able to stand inside a space, go back to the drawing board and then stand inside it again completely changes the way you design a building. If this isn�t the game-changer for architecture, I don�t know what is.�

Arch Virtual, Brouchoud says, has also taken on several secret projects for medical clients. VR technology has already been used to aid neurological recovery from trauma, as well as to treat conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, post-stroke rehabilitation and phantom limb syndrome.

Andrew Poulter, an expert in computer science and simulation at the MoD�s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, envisages still other applications for the technology hinted at by the Rift. In the past two years the US army has spent $57million (�35million) on an immersive training simulator called the Dismounted Soldier Training System, which tracks not just head movement but limb positioning and weapon movements.

In Britain, Poulter explains, head-mounted VR technology is still �only being used experimentally, within a research context�, although his lab has been looking closely at developer versions of the Rift.

A visitor to a trade show tries out the Oculus Rift

A good deal of British military training, Poulter explains, is still done with on-screen computer programs. But the Oculus Rift, he says, �represents a new class of hardware with real potential. And it is games technology that now sets the trend for the defence industry, not the other way around. The defence budgets of even the largest countries are relatively small compared to the massive budgets that the entertainment industry has.�

It�s easy to forget that none of this technology is really available yet. Oculus is shipping only to developers with the technical know-how to plumb the depths of the software, while many of its prospective rivals remain shrouded in mystery. A few weeks ago, Sony filed a patent related to a head-mounted display, seeming to lend credence to rumours that it plans to launch a VR headset in 2014 for the PlayStation 4.

But the competition is certainly gathering. A device called the CastAR, which overlays 3D images onto a real-world view, recently completed a successful run on the crowdfunding site Kickstarter and has entered production. On the morning that I sat down to write this piece, news broke that another Oculus rival, the gloriously sci-fi sounding Avegant Glyph, will take to Kickstarter in January: it promises to project 3D images onto the human retina and fold up into a pair of headphones when you�re done with it.

The team at Oculus, meanwhile, promises a further revolution in display technology when it exhibits a new prototype at the Consumer Electronics Show in January, and says it will have goggles in the hands of consumers by the end of the year. Looking forward into this immersive future, one is tempted to agree with the 90-year-old lady whose experience with the Oculus Rift has attracted more than two million viewers on YouTube.

�This is something else,� she exclaims raptly, clutching the visor to her face with both hands. �Am I still sitting where I was? Holy mackerel!�

In case you adored this post along with you desire to get details regarding 2 way radio Headset kindly check out the web-site.

ELEVATING GUEST SERVICE AT ORLANDO’S PREMIER MEETING HOTEL

What’s your favourite feature of my radio accessory? Personally, I much like the design job – It is cooler than an Inuit’s underpants!

The hotel of choice for professional meeting planners across the country, The Peabody Orlando is celebrated for its contemporary elegance, luxurious accommodations and award-winning service. With over 300,000 square feet of flexible function space – including the pillar-free 55,000-square-foot Peabody Grand Ballroom and 105 deluxe breakout rooms – this premier property is a dream destination for corporate and convention planners alike.

Whether conventioneer, tourist or business traveler, guests anticipate a high level of responsiveness and the hotel staff work diligently to exceed expectations. From handling international exhibitions to hosting the crowd-pleasing daily “March of the

Peabody Ducks,” The Peabody Orlando stands out from the flock of first-class resorts.

As The Peabody Orlando added a new 32-story tower, revamped pool complex and expansive spa and fitness center, it gained a new communication challenge. How could it equip employees with the tools to provide seamless guest service – with twice the number of rooms and five times the meeting space?

MAJOR EXPANSION CREATES ROOM FOR CHANGE

Energized by an enterprising $450 million dollar investment, The Peabody Orlando spread its wings and soared to towering success. Two years, a new tower and a massive renovation later, it is one of the largest non-gaming hotels in the nation.

Brian Seays, Regional IT Director for The Peabody Group, describes the necessity of mobilizing staff to handle guest requests across the vast 52 acre property. “One of the biggest challenges I had was the expansion of our hotel. We started out with 891 rooms and 60,000 square feet of meeting space. We’ve now grown to 1,641 rooms, over 300,000 square feet of meeting space and 1,700 employees. Most of them are using their radios on a daily basis, from engineers to security to guest services, banquet, beverage, catering, sales and convention services staff.”

“We have a very large footprint now,” adds Margie Sanchez, Assistant Director of Conference Management, “and to get our guests from the main lobby to one of our ballrooms requires a lot of

finesse and being able to give directions very clearly. Our associates are used to walking our guests to certain areas, so the familiarity of that space is very, very important not only to our associates, but to communicate that to our guests.”

The increased footprint presented unique communications challenges. The Peabody Orlando’s existing five channel analog trunked system was now insufficient to provide adequate coverage with the addition of the larger building. One of the alternatives hotel management had explored was cellular because of the small, lightweight devices, but spotty coverage that caused dead spots in the back hallways and in the elevators, the long-term monthly $50 per unit fee, and operating on an unreliable public network ultimately made that technology unattractive.

When management were introduced to MOTOTRBO SL Series digital two-way radio technology, they realized they could still get devices that replicated the slim, discreet form factor of a mobile phone, without having to pay recurring costs or operate on a public

network, which provided more reliability since the hotel sits in a hurricane zone. Even more, they could enjoy the robust benefits of two-way radio communication that would continue to run their HotSOS applications and provide crystal clear voice transmission.

MOTOTRBO SL SERIES: SMARTPHONE SLEEK. TWO-WAY RADIO ROBUST.
Ultra-thin, ultra-light and loaded with hospitality features, the innovative design and features of the MOTOTRBO SL Series enhance the level of

professionalism and discretion so users can provide superior customer service and faster response times. “I think the form factor is key,” said Seays. “As management, you’re going in and out of meetings and your wardrobe really doesn’t lend itself to carry a five-

pound device hanging from your belt loop. The SL Series is no different than carrying my cell phone.”

Over in Conference Management, Margie Sanchez agrees with how slim, lightweight and discreet the SL Series is. “The flexibility that the new radio has, in its size, in the earpiece, makes it almost like it’s not really there. So it is quite convenient in communication to our other associates while we assist our guests.”

INSTANT DATA AND IMPROVED DECISION-MAKING

Whether it’s discreet text messaging or easy-to-read work order tickets, the SL Series improves the way the staff at The Peabody Orlando interacts and reacts. With integrated Bluetooth® in the radio, they can use wireless accessories to move freely without the hassle

of wires, and share real time information and streamline their response. Hotel security, for example, relies on text messaging for rapid, unobtrusive communication that is covert and doesn’t distract employees or guests.

From management to maintenance, employees are also enthusiastic about the 2-inch, full color, five line

screen that reduces HotSOS work order steps, improves readability and increases their efficiency. “We’ve

been very big fans of the HotSOS application,” Seays explains. Rather than scrolling through multiple screens to view a work order, “With the SL Series screen you get a lot of that message on your first glance, which is very good. It allows us to respond to our guests quickly and effectively.”

HEAR CLEARLY OVER CLATTER AND CHATTER

According to Sanchez, the SL Series offers excellent voice clarity, even in the commotion of a crowded event. Its Intelligent Audio automatically adjusts radio volume to compensate for background noise, so she won’t miss a call in a loud ballroom or disturb guests when she steps back into a hushed hallway.

“The Intelligent Audio feature was a great benefit for us,” she says, “especially when you’re dealing with an event that might have 1,200 people. The radio took out all that background noise and what was being communicated amongst our staff was very, very clear. That is key, because when you have a lot of different events and chatter on the radio, you want to be able to pick up exactly what is being said, so you can respond to it as quickly as possible.”

BE DISCREET WITHOUT DISTURBING GUESTS

Covert and comfortable Bluetooth wireless accessories are the perfect fit for discreet communication throughout the hotel. “I’ve been using the Bluetooth and I’m ecstatic about it,” says Jon Vereen in Security Training. “I can still hear the sounds that are around me, and the radio comes in crisp and clear. I don’t have to unplug it to talk to a guest.”

“The headset makes it seamless,” adds Sanchez.

“It makes getting answers so much faster, and it gives a certain confidence to our guests when they ask questions, that we are able to readily give the response they’re looking for. There’s no delay.”

MAKE SEAMLESS SERVICE SEEM EFFORTLESS

With its sleek shape, easy-to-use interface, exceptional audio and integrated data applications, the SL Series digital radios have improved The Peabody Orlando’s ability to respond to its clientele. “Guest experience has been out of this world with the transition,” says Seays.

“When we were using the analog system, it would take several minutes to get a clear radio to speak from. If there was a guest or a group who needed assistance, you could be waiting three minutes. The MOTOTRBO digital system has given us the ability to have thousands of channels to use, and we don’t have those kinds of delays.”

“To maintain a rating as a Forbes Four-Star, AAA Four Diamond hotel, it really requires us to be able to quickly mobilize and act on behalf of our guests,” Seays points out. As The Peabody Orlando showcases its capabilities to the convention industry and beyond, the SL Series is helping them project an image of elegant professionalism and provide a level of impeccable guest service.

If you beloved this post and you would like to get more information regarding Icom Headsets kindly check out our own web-site.

A Good Night’s Sleep: Two-Way Radios in Public Safety & How They Relate to You

So to resume my run of content on this website, I have decided to share one of my favourite articles this week. I used to be tentative to include it to a site as I actually did not wish to offend the original author, but I hope he/she is happy that I enjoyed reading their article and planned to share it with my readers.

There are some moments when the world seems to turn inwards upon itself and nothing makes sense anymore.

In these moments, when man’s inhumanity to his own brothers and sisters would defy belief, were the chilling evidence not plain as day on your television screen, we are afraid. Anybody who says otherwise is either lying or mad.

In truth, these terrible moments seem to be increasing in number, with a multitude of terrorist attacks, a surge in civil unrest (caused, in large part, by the callousness of a government unconcerned with the lives of everyday people) and increased violence/gang activity on our city streets.

Public safety is a hugely important vocation, more so than ever in these uncertain times. Emergency services, such as the Fire Brigade, The Paramedics and The Police Service have to be able to respond to a major crisis within a moment’s notice.

In times of real disaster, such as a violent riot or terrorist attack, these services need to co-ordinate their efforts. Medical teams need to reach the injured, police need to arrest those responsible for starting the violence and the Fire Brigade must be responsible for tending to situations that don’t always involve fire (rescuing trapped civilians etc).

How can the emergency services keep in touch quickly, clearly and efficiently? They use two-way radios, of course.

Two-way radios are a proven technology. They are reliable, easy to use and cost-effective. Plus, they have strong outer bodywork that is well suited to dangerous operating environments.

It’s easy to train staff to use a two-way radio system and the devices rarely suffer from loss of signal like a mobile phone would. By pressing one button, users can easily interface with each other, share vital information over large distances (in real time) and, in the process, save innocent lives.

In a very real sense, two-way radios are a factor in your ability to sleep at night and feel safe and protected. As important as they are in other areas of British industry, they are even more important to public safety.

So, when you go to sleep tonight, spare a thought for the emergency services who bravely keep you safe, from fire, from violence and from serious injury/illness. Public safety is a vital part of our lives and these people are committing their professional lives to it, every single day.