News
National Football League game official training in the virtual world: Fantasy or feasible? // Healio
I'm sure I'm not the only person that thought the ref was blind watching a football game. So it's pretty exciting to see that additional training in VR may be possible to help training referees simulate more situations, hopefully leading to better and more consistent rulings when it truly matters.
Virtual reality helping SIU Criminology students // 12 News
In 2021 we shared an article about the NYPD using VR for police training, and recently we came across this news report telling how Criminology students in Southern Illinois University were getting access to similar training. The APEX Officer training simulation (featured back in issue 51) allows a safe environment to practice responses that require both immediate reactions as well as overcoming internal implicit biases to hopefully better protect and serve their community.
Meta's plan to popularize Horizon Worlds is to flood it with teenagers // BGR
Last March we shared Meta's plans for advanced parental controls, and this week we see plans to truly put that to the test with announced plans to allow teens to access Horizon Worlds. Teenagers are a large demographic to include, and we're hoping that it does grow the platform without also making a toxic environment as one other platform did previously.
Experiences
New PETA Virtual Reality Experience Promises Close Encounters at UCLA | PETA
PETA is no stranger to embracing VR to spread their message (see issue 52), To help inspire empathy for laboratory animals in universities, PETA is bringing back an experience they created last spring called Abduction. it's an eerie experience where humans are placed in the position we put animals through in laboratories, watching experiments happen, not knowing if you'll be next.
Reading
AWS’ Role In The Metaverse And Spatial Computing Is Constantly Evolving // Forbes
When thinking about a future connected Metaverse the Internet networks and servers powering it does not always get much attention. This article gives and impressive overview of how Amazon Web Services (AWS) has diligently been building out their services to for spacial computing, digital twins, and other areas that will play a key role beyond the companies that already rely on them.
One More Thing
VR Exercise Ratings // Virtual Reality Institute of Health and Exercise
We've mentioned this organization previously but never highlighted the fantastic work they are doing in helping to evaluate and measure just how much "accidental exercise" we get within the VR experiences we love. If you're a game maker you can also submit your game for rating to show how your experiences could be both fun and good for a person's health. For everyone else, check out the health benefit for your favorite VR experience.
Commentary
And we're back!
Hopefully you missed us as much as we missed you all. We needed a bit of a break to deal with a few life events but we're looking to get back on schedule in the new year. That means weekly updates sharing stories and information that may not get as much attention as the latest news of the Meta Quest Pro or Apple AR headset news that dominates the media and spaces whenever VR is mentioned.
To those that reached out while we were gone, thanks for your concern. We hope everyone enjoys what we have planned for the future.
Cheers!
Other Realities