Tag Archives: ces2023

Pyxel makes it easy for anyone to learn how to code @ CES 2023

February 24, 2023CES 2023, Robotics, Toys & Gamingces2023, coding, education, gadgets, robot, steamPLUGHITZ Live

Pyxel coding robot dog It seems like every time we turn around, someone is talking about education in STEAM – meaning science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (or manufacturing). And, while it is not the right direction for all people, for those who are interested, it can be difficult to find a great way to begin. Much like Goldilocks, some kits are too complicated, and some kits are too simple, but Pyxel from Educational Insights seems to be just right.

What is Pyxel?

Pyxel is a robotic dog that is designed to be a coder’s best friend. It is designed to be able to be programmed for various tasks and activities without having to have any experience in hardware. This is a nice change from most other platforms, as they traditionally require you to build something before you can control it. For people who are uninterested in hardware but still want to have the benefit of seeing something in the real world respond to code you’ve created, this is a truly ideal situation.

There is something special when learning to code when you can write code and see something in the real world change. It doesn’t matter if the thing moves, talks, makes noise, or even just blinks – having an effect on the real world creates a level of excitement that pure software just can’t create. In fact, for many seasoned software engineers, having an effect on reality can still be really exciting.

How does Pyxel work?

Pyxel is entirely programmed through a web-based portal. All you have to do is connect to your device using a direct Wi-Fi connection and open your browser to the development portal address. This means that you don’t have to have a special app installed, a development environment, or anything you don’t already have. This is a benefit for teachers in schools who are using computers that are locked down by school IT, as you won’t need any special abilities to install anything that doesn’t already exist.

Once you’re connected, you can use the portal to create code to control your Pyxel. There are two ways to do this – using a block programming environment or through Python, a growing industry standard. If you are familiar with either of these programming environments, then you’re able to jump in and get started. If you’re new to everything, then you’ll want to jump into the tutorials that will help guide you through the process.

The best part is, if you get started using the block environment and want to progress into Python, there’s an easy way to do this. Within the system, there is a conversion chart that shows the block name on the left, its result to the bot in the middle, and the equivalent Python code on the right. So, to learn how to make Pyxel do as you wish, this system does have everything you’ll need.

Summary

The Pyxel coding dog is available for pre-order now for $125 with a release date of April 24, 2023. To learn more about Pyxel or the company, check out their website.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology.

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YubiKey keeps your online data safe in an easy way @ CES 2023

February 24, 2023CES 2023, Computers, Mobile, Security2fa, ces2023, gadgets, mfa, multi-factor authentication, securityPLUGHITZ Live

YubiKey multi0factor authentication As time goes on, the internet gets to be a more dangerous place. It seems like every day we read another story about another data breach or ransomware attack because simple safety precautions were not taken by users or network administrators. And while you may never be able to change someone else’s behaviors to make yourself safer, you can make changes to your own security to help prevent others from putting you in harm’s way. Our favorite tactic to protect ourselves is by using a YubiKey by Yubico.

What is multi-factor authentication?

Before we can discuss the YubiKey itself, we need to discuss what multi-factor authentication is. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is a method of confirming someone’s identity by using two or more independent pieces of evidence. The most common type of MFA is something you know and something you have. Something you know would be a password or PIN number, while something you have can be your phone, biometric identifiers like fingerprints, or the YubiKey itself.

The benefit of MFA is that it makes it much harder for someone to gain access to your accounts and information, as they now need two pieces of evidence, rather than just one. This significantly reduces the chance of someone being able to access your accounts and data without your consent.

What is a YubiKey?

A YubiKey is a physical key fob or USB device that serves as a second factor of authentication. It contains an embedded secure element that generates and stores cryptographic secrets used to generate one-time passwords (OTPs). When inserted into the computer or scanned using near-field communication (NFC), it sends the OTPs to the authentication backend. It is designed to be a very quick, easy, and secure way of authenticating yourself on your accounts or accessing data.

When combined with traditional username and password login credentials, a YubiKey provides an additional layer of security that makes it much harder for unauthorized individuals to gain access to your accounts and data. This highly secure form of two-factor authentication is becoming more popular due to its convenience and effectiveness in protecting user accounts. By adding a YubiKey to your security arsenal, you can be sure that the data stored on your online accounts are safe and secure from malicious actors. It’s an easy and effective way to protect yourself and your data.

How YubiKey is protecting the web

In addition to personal uses for a YubiKey, there are a lot of other places where the device can be used. For example, a lot of the corporate hacks we see could have been prevented by a secure MFA system. Even if a company uses text-based MFA, a SIM can be cloned by a determined hacker and access can still be granted. In addition, it prevents the terrible new trend of “zero trust” in corporate IT where they always assume that you’ve died unless you verify otherwise, destroying computers simply because you forgot to log into the VPN or some other process.

The company also puts a focus on global concerns. For example, they have provided devices to the Ukrainian government to help secure their governmental infrastructure. There was no requirement for them to do this, but they felt it was important enough to the country and the world to do what they could to help out.

Summary

YubiKey devices are available now for various uses, including USB-A, USB-C, NFC, and more. To learn more about the product line, check out the company’s website.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology.

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Algal Bio has a natural supplement to help you sleep better @ CES 2023

February 24, 2023CES 2023, Healthces2023, Health, sleep, supplementPLUGHITZ Live

Algal Bio sleep aid Millions of people have issues sleeping at night. Whether there’s too much going on in their head, their diet has caused something in their body to be unbalanced, or any number of other issues, it is not an easy problem to deal with. Some people find comfort in music, some in white noise, and others in repetitive TV or movies. But, for many, the problem is addressed with medications. For those who want to try something a little different, there is Algal Bio.

What is Algal Bio?

Algal Bio is a nutritional supplement company that specializes in the benefits of algae. The company has developed a supplement that can actually help people sleep without any of the negative side effects. With traditional sleeping medications, there are some serious side effects. In fact, there are warnings that say “Don’t operate heavy machinery” on the side. And while most of us think about excavators and tractors when we hear this, they actually mean don’t drive a car. In addition, and likely directly related to the warning, people tend to get tired again in the middle of the next day. This delayed lag can really damage productivity when you just want to take a nap at 2 pm.

The Algal Bio supplement, however, manages to avoid all of this. In fact, it seems to have the opposite effect, as people who have tried it report that they actually get a bit of a boost in the middle of the next day rather than an energy drain. This is likely because people tend to have a better day when they sleep well the night before.

Who is Algal Bio for?

Algal Bio is for anyone who is having trouble sleeping. Whether that’s because of stress, anxiety, or something else entirely, Algal Bio can help you get the quality sleep you need to feel rested and alert the next day. It’s also helpful for people with busy schedules who don’t always have time to relax before bed; just take a dose of Algal Bio and drift off into a peaceful sleep

One of the best examples we could think of during our conversation was the CES event itself. During the week, most of us get little to no actual restful sleep. That is especially true for members of the media, who spend all day on the show floor, in conference rooms, or in a studio, and then spend the evening and night at dinners, meetings, or parties. By the time we get back to our rooms, it’s usually well after midnight, and we need to be back to business by 8 am. Being able to get restful sleep in the middle of the night would improve the CES experience immensely.

Summary

Algal Bio’s supplement is currently available in Japan and has seen significant success. The company is hoping to bring the product to North America in the near future. To learn more about the product or if you are a distributor interested in helping them bring it to the West, head over to their website.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology.

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Conversation Clear Plus aims to improve people’s hearing @ CES 2023

February 24, 2023Audio, CES 2023, Entertainmentaging, bluetooth, ces2023, earbuds, gadgets, hearingPLUGHITZ Live

Sennheiser Conversation Clear Plus Hearing products have come a long way in the past few years. Not too long ago, hearing products were very specific technology (aka hearing aids) with a specific look, feel, and behavior. They were controlled by a small number of companies that required a doctor’s appointment, a fitting, and a lot of money – often thousands of dollars. But, for most people, they were still uncomfortable and signaled that they were “old.” But now, technology companies have entered the fray and created new products that address the hearing problem in exciting ways. The Sennheiser Conversation Clear Plus is a new entry that aims to improve conversations in loud environments.

The problem with hearing

For many people, the problem with hearing isn’t about volume, it’s about context. Being able to hear in a private environment can be easy, but hearing in loud environments, such as CES itself, can be a challenge. The problem with traditional hearing aids, though, is that they generally amplify sound indiscriminately. So, if your issue is that you cannot focus on the voice of someone speaking to you in a loud environment, traditional hearing aids are going to make it worse, not better.

On the other hand, being able to use complicated algorithms to control volume and equalizer settings, you can amplify local sound while filtering out distant sounds. This means that you would be able to hear conversations with people who are close to you, or close to the headphones, without having to try and mentally filter out the rest of the noise in the room.

Sennheiser Conversation Clear Plus

Sennheiser is known for its audio technology. Whether it be the handheld microphone we use for our interviews or the headphones we use to monitor the recording, Sennheiser makes a lot of audio products. In fact, a lot of the audio equipment we use for our events outside of the studio is from Sennheiser. This is because of the reputation they have for quality.

With that, they have taken their knowledge of mics, headphones, and equalizers and put them into the Conversation Clear Plus. This product is a hearing product intended specifically to help those who have trouble differentiating local and distant voices. It is accomplished by using a small microphone array to listen to the environment and make live adjustments dozens of times per second. By sampling and adjusting so frequently, the device is able to make transitions between volumes and settings less obvious and more natural.

The best part is that they do not look like hearing aids. Instead, they look like regular Bluetooth earbuds. This can help people who are worried about hearing aid stigma feel more comfortable wearing them in public. Plus, they actually can be used as Bluetooth earbuds, so it’s not even that far off.

Summary

The Sennheiser Conversation Clear Plus is available now for $850. To learn more about the product or the company’s other audio products, including headphones and earbuds, head over to the brand’s website.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology.

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Roland AeroCaster: The live streamer’s new best friend @ CES 2023

February 24, 2023Cameras, CES 2023, Entertainmentces2023, gadgets, livestream, media, roland, streamingPLUGHITZ Live

Roland AeroCaster Live streaming has become a big business. Between gaming platforms like Twitch and standard platforms like YouTuve and Rumble, it’s never been easier to stream video. Even podcasters have gotten into the video game in larger numbers than those of us who have done it for over a decade. But proper production setups can be incredibly expensive and require a lot of specific hardware. The Roland AeroCaster is the company’s answer to cumbersome production systems.

What is the Roland AeroCaster?

The Roland AeroCaster is a live and recorded video switching system for small and medium sized setups. The system integrates nearly everything that a broadcast might need and does it in an incredibly small format piece of hardware. The core device is a small switching board with a few core inputs. On the back is a pair of combo jacks, so you can plug in XLR microphones, instruments, or even a soundboard. There are also RCA jacks for a line level connection.

On the front are a series of controls. For audio controls, there are sliders for mic 1, mic 2, line-in, and main. This gives you the ability to control the individual volumes for each direct audio input on the back of the board. There are also audio quality controls, such as de-esser and low cut filters. There is also control for an on-board microphone, sync delays, and more.

For video, it is a pretty standard basic video switcher. You’ve got buttons for your four video inputs, as well as the ability to create split-screen variants between any pair of inputs. However, the controls on the board are just the beginning of the story. The real magic comes from the connected software.

Roland AeroCaster LIVE app

The Roland AeroCaster LIVE app is really what separates the system from its competitors, some of which we have tried out. The software is well thought out and gives a lot of capabilities that we have complained about with other devices. First and foremost, the system allows you to import photos, audio, and video from your iPad for broadcast. This means that you have the ability to run bumpers, advertisements, and more. This is a huge benefit and something that makes the system really attractive.

In addition, the software integrates with streaming destinations to create a single point of connection. For those who are looking for a simple setup, you can connect to Twitch, Facebook, YouTube, and more. You can also monitor chats and comments on these platforms all within the software. For those looking to broadcast on a bigger stage, you can use RTMP directly to a service like Restream or Wowza to stream to multiple platforms.

Mobile cameras

One thing that really makes the Roland AeroCaster unique is its use of mobile phones as cameras. Rather than having to purchase special hardware, you can use your existing phone or tablet as a camera. This makes sense, especially for startup broadcasters, as we all have our current phone and many of us also have our last generation phone. This gives older phones a new life while producing a video quality that is equal to most professional streaming webcams.

Summary

The Roland AeroCaster is available now with a retail price of $295. You can get it right now at Amazon, B&H Photo, and more. To learn more about it, check out the product page.

Interview by Allante Sparks of PLuGHiTz Live Special Events.

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Roland BRIDGE CAST makes game streaming a lot easier @ CES 2023

February 24, 2023CES 2023, Entertainmentces2023, gadgets, gaming, livestream, media, roland, streamingPLUGHITZ Live

Roland BRIDGE CAST Videogame streaming has become a major part of the entertainment industry. In our offices, you can almost always find at least one Twitch stream running with one of the popular streamers. As the industry grows, new issues are introduced. For example, the RIAA has recently discovered what’s going on with Twitch and started handing out DMCA strikes for music usage. Gamers have been looking for a middle ground on this issue, and the Roland BRIDGE CAST might just be the solution they’ve been looking for.

What is the Roland BRIDGE CAST?

The Roland BRIDGE CAST is a new audio interface designed specifically for online broadcasters. This can be gamers, podcasters, and more. The device is a broadcaster’s dream with all of the inputs you can need. Across the back, it features an auxiliary input and a line out, both of which are 1/8″ jacks, as well as a 1/8″ headphone jack.

The interface has also got dual USB-C ports. One is a dedicated power port, which is a nice choice for those who aren’t going to have the device in a highly trafficked area. The other is for connecting the mixer to a computer for input and output of sound.

Most importantly, the Roland BRIDGE CAST features an XLR jack for a microphone. This allows you to use any type of professional microphone you might want to use. To make the offering better, the XLR jack has 48 V Phantom power to support the more powerful professional microphones like the ones we use in our studios.

What sets the Roland BRIDGE CAST apart?

One of the features that really sets the Roland BRIDGE CAST apart from the other competing options is its dual mix option. This means that you can have two separate and unique outputs coming from the same set of devices. The most common usage today would be for different music options for the streamer and their audience.

Why might a streamer want to hear something different from their audience? Because of copyright concerns. Many gamers like to listen to certain music to help get them in the zone to play better. But, to include that audio as part of a public broadcast, the streamer can be hit with DMCA strikes for using copyrighted music without permission. By using dual outputs, the gamer can listen to the copyrighted music that they want to listen to while playing something else, such as royalty-free music publicly.

On that topic, the Roland BRIDGE CAST system actually includes a large collection of royalty-free music that can be used safely on streams. So, those who are looking to keep their streams both entertaining and legal can use this collection as part of their public feed.

Summary

If you are a streamer or podcaster and are looking for a serious audio interface, the Roland BRIDGE CAST is a solid choice to consider. It is not yet available but is expected to launch in Quarter 2 of 2023. To learn more about the Roland BRIDGE CAST, head over to the product page.

Interview by Allante Sparks of PLuGHiTz Live Special Events.

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New Razer Blade laptops are for gamers and content creators @ CES 2023

February 24, 2023CES 2023, Computersces2023, gadgets, laptop, razerPLUGHITZ Live

Razer Blade 16 and Razer Blade 18 When it comes to computers, getting the right one for your needs is essential. If you’re a casual user, you don’t want to spend a fortune just to browse the web and check your email. On the other hand, if you’re a gamer or a content creator, you don’t want to get an underpowered system that won’t serve your purposes for even a week. Razer has got new entries in its Razer Blade laptop line that are perfect for those who are in need of a computer for gaming or content creation.

New Razer Blades

The new line of Razer Blades offers some serious power under the hood. These laptops are certainly not for the casual user, as they come with specs that can rival a gaming desktop. First up, all versions of both models come with a 13th Gen Intel Core i9 HX processor. When it comes to laptops, that is the highest processor performance you can ask for.

But, the processor is nothing for gaming, photo editing, or video editing, if the video card isn’t able to keep up with it. That’s why Razer has the newest GeForce RTX cards, with options up to and including the RTX 4090. Again, when it comes to performance in a laptop, you can’t ask for more right now. Because of these card options, the company is able to put some serious screens on these machines.

To complement the video cards, the laptops also include improved audio. Both models offer THX Spatial Audio, giving a more immersive sound experience. With full surround sound produced through the machines, gaming and video editing are better.

Razer Blade 16

The Razer Blade 16 is the first laptop to feature a dual-mode mini-LED display. Because of this technology, the laptop is able to produce a great color range and super fast refresh rates. In UHD+ mode (5K resolution, or a wider version of UHD/4K), the screen has a 120 Hz refresh, which is better than most laptops at HD. In FHD+ mode (which is 2220 x 1080 pixels, or a wider version of HD), the screen is able to perform at 240 Hz.

The Razer Blade 16 models are currently available for pre-order starting at $3,599.99.

Razer Blade 18

The Razer Blade 18 features a QHD+ display (which is 2960 x 1440p, or a wider version of 1440p) with a native refresh rate of 240 Hz. With the higher resolution, wider display, and great refresh rate, gaming is going to be a lot better for both casual and competitive players. This one also has a focus on content creators with its webcam. While it smaller sibling offers an HD camera, the 18-inch models offer a 5 MP webcam.

The Razer Blade 18 models are currently available for pre-order starting at $3,799.

Summary

The new generation of the Razer Blade laptops are available now for pre-order. To learn more about this new and improved version of the product line, you can check out the Razer Blade 16 and Razer Blade 18 product pages.

Interview by Allante Sparks of PLuGHiTz Live Special Events.

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Razer Kiyo Pro Ultra adds high quality video live streams @ CES 2023

February 24, 2023Camera, CES 2023, Computersces2023, gadgets, livestream, razer, streaming, webcamPLUGHITZ Live

Razer Kiyo Pro Ultra The world lives on the internet today, even more so than even just a few years ago. Many types of work have moved from living in an office to working from home or on a hybrid schedule. Gamers spend their time playing games and sharing that gameplay with friends, family, and subscribers on services like Twitch. Even teachers have begun creating content for platforms like YouTube and Rumble showing off their skills. All of this requires a couple of things, but most importantly a solid-quality camera, and the new Razer Kiyo Pro Ultra is designed to improve all of these environments.

What is the Razer Kiyo Pro Ultra?

The Razer Kiyo Pro Ultra is the latest entry in Razer’s line of high-end webcams. Don’t think of these as a standard webcam, however, as they are designed not just for use on Teams and Slack calls (though they certainly can be) but are also high enough quality to be used by content creators. This is because the whole line places a focus on video quality.

The Razer Kiyo Pro Ultra offers an adjustable resolution of up to 4K Ultra HD. While this is not the first 4K webcam, it separates itself from the crowd in several important ways. Most importantly, the camera is capable of producing not just a 4K video resolution, but it’s able to produce full uncompressed 4K video at 24 FPS. The uncompressed video is a benefit because it gives your streaming system the ability to process the video in the way that it needs without having a quality drop ahead of your software.

A virtual director included

If you’re looking for your camera to do a lot of the camera work for you, then the Razer Kiyo Pro Ultra offers a collection of features to make your recording and streaming process easier. You can use the camera as a virtual director, with automated zoom, pan, tilt, shutter speed, ISO settings, and a whole lot more. These settings come to light using the company’s Razer Synapse software, which gives you fine-grained control over your camera or allows you to allow the camera to do the work for you.

Imagine if you will that you’re a solo content producer. You’ve got a big product that you want to stream a live unboxing for, but you’ve only got a single camera. Your choices are either to have a single shot that’s too wide to get good detail of the product during the unboxing, or you can crop yourself out to get detail of the product. With the settings within Synapse, you can have it both ways, and more. You can have the camera’s focus and viewport shift to keep you properly centered in the frame, and the system will recognize when you place the product in the foreground that it should become the focus instead of you. This makes it possible to stream the event live without having a production team to oversee your broadcast.

Summary

The Razer Kiyo Pro Ultra is available for pre-order now for $299. To learn more about the product or to pre-order one for yourself, head over to the company’s website.

Interview by Allante Sparks of PLuGHiTz Live Special Events.

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Canon MREAL makes mixed reality a more natural place @ CES 2023

February 24, 2023CES 2023, Entertainment, Metaverse, Virtual Realityaugmented reality, canon, ces2023, gadgets, mixed reality, virtual realityPLUGHITZ Live

Canon MREAL MR hardware Virtual reality has become a big business. Brands from several companies, including Apple and Facebook, have gotten into the virtual reality space in recent years. However, an up-and-coming aspect of the virtual space is augmented and mixed reality – a slightly different take on the concept. Canon, a company known for its cameras and optics, has entered the space with the Canon MREAL Platform.

What is Mixed Reality and how is it different from Virtual Reality?

Mixed Reality (MR), sometimes referred to as ‘Hybrid Reality’, combines elements of both augmented and virtual reality. While virtual reality immerses you in an entirely digital world, mixed reality adds real-world elements like textures, sounds, and light into the mix. This means that with mixed reality, users can interact with digital objects as if they were real, in a more realistic way. For example, a virtual table could be used to virtually hold a physical object, allowing the user to interact with the digital environment in an intuitive and natural way.

MR also has implications for remote collaboration, allowing multiple users from different locations to connect and interact with each other without being physically present in the same space. This technology has been successfully used in training, education, and entertainment settings, allowing users to explore three-dimensional objects with their hands as if they were actually there. Mixed reality also has advantages when it comes to reducing travel costs, time, and energy associated with collaborating across distances.

Using mixed reality is a powerful way to enhance the user experience in any setting. The technology provides an immersive, tactile approach to interacting with digital content, allowing users to explore objects and environments through a combination of physical movements and computer-generated visuals. It is also a great tool for communicating ideas and collaborating on projects, as its ability to bridge physical and virtual spaces makes it ideal for remote meetings, training, and demonstrations. Mixed reality also allows users to visualize complex 3D models in real-time, providing a more efficient way to evaluate designs or make edits on the fly. Finally, it has the potential to revolutionize how we interact with products, machines, and data in industrial settings by providing an intuitive, hands-on approach to understanding complex systems. Mixed reality offers an exciting and powerful way to explore virtual worlds and bridge the gap between physical and digital realms.

Mixed reality is also finding its way into more everyday applications outside of gaming, including education, healthcare, and retail. For example, teachers can use mixed reality to create immersive learning experiences, allowing students to virtually explore difficult concepts such as anatomy or the solar system. In healthcare, mixed reality can help doctors diagnose and treat patients more effectively by providing 3D visualizations of patient data. Finally, retailers are using this technology to create engaging shopping experiences through virtual try-ons and product demos.

Canon MREAL

Canon has placed a strong emphasis on the interaction between the real and virtual worlds. In particular, the focus of the platform is to make the way the physical world touches the virtual world in a natural way. With other hardware platforms, your real hands tend to mix too much with the virtual objects. In particular, they tend to lose their depth and vanish into virtual items or remain on top of them.

Canon has worked hard to ensure that your hands are tracked accurately and that only the parts that should be behind an object are. For example, if you are grabbing the handle of a microwave, your fingers will go behind the handle while your hand will remain in front. Obviously, this focus helps to make the Canon MREAL experience more natural so that new uses can be found for the technology. It makes it more accessible, so more people can find usefulness in the technology.

The Canon MREAL hardware has been available in Japan and the company is looking to bring it to the United States. To learn more about the technology and follow the product’s release plans, check out the product website.

Interview by Allante Sparks of PLuGHiTz Live Special Events.

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Kokomo is the VR communication tool you’ve been waiting for @ CES 2023

February 24, 2023CES 2023, Gadgets, Metaverse, Virtual Realitycanon, ces2023, communications, gadgets, virtual reality, VRPLUGHITZ Live

Canon Kokomo VP communication Ever since Facebook changed its corporate name to Meta, the word of the industry has been Metaverse. And, while many people don’t know exactly what that means, every company wants to be part of it. There have been a number of half-hearted attempts, including from Meta and Microsoft, but Canon has a different take on the concept that seems to show a lot of promise.

What is the Metaverse?

The metaverse is an ever-evolving digital universe that blends physical and virtual worlds. It is a place where diverse communities of people, companies, and governments interact with each other in a never seen way. In the metaverse, users are able to collaborate, create and explore new possibilities in a virtual world that feels alive. The boundary between the digital world and the real world continues to blur as technology advances, allowing people to engage with content on an unprecedented level.

By connecting people on an emotional level through interactive experiences, the metaverse helps build strong relationships and bonds that can be carried into our everyday lives. From virtual shops to virtual education centers with AI tutors, the opportunities for growth provided by the metaverse are limitless – providing us with infinite possibilities for exploration and creativity.

How is Kokomo different?

Kokomo, which is a project of Canon (yes, the camera company), is intended to be a communication platform first and foremost. The company decided that, rather than trying to be everything to everyone, they would focus on what people need and want the most – a solid way to communicate with their friends, families, and colleagues even when they are not together.

The company decided that Kokomo should be a video calling and conferencing platform that brings people together in an engaging way. The fully immersive environment allows you to see the people you are talking to in a virtual world, but in a way that looks and feels more real than other platforms.

This is accomplished by not just relying on the hardware of the virtual reality system, but by augmenting it using other equipment. This is where Canon’s camera background really comes into play. Using an external camera, the system is able to track full range of motion and replicate it within the environment.

If you’ve guessed that Kokomo uses full body avatars, then you’d be right. unlike so many of the other platforms, Kokomo shows a full person as the avatar, because motion tracking allows for greater control over a full body. You don’t have to worry about thinking about moving your avatar – you can just talk and enjoy your time with your friends while letting Canon makes the experience more real.

Summary

Kokomo is available soon from the Meta Quest App Lab as a free download in early access. The company intends to keep the platform free for users with in-app premium content available for those who want to expand their experience. To learn more about Kokomo and to get an alert when the platform goes live, you can head to the project’s website.

Interview by Daniele Mendez of The New Product Launchpad.

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