Category: Virtual Reality

Meta Lowers Minimum Age of Quest Headsets in Bid to Lure Children Into VR

Facebook parent company Meta announced plans to enable children as young as 10 years old to enter virtual reality through its Meta Quest headset later this year, despite a recent advisory warning social media can negatively impact the mental health and well-being of children. “Today we’re announcing changes to give families even more ways to…


Paedophiles in England and Wales Now Using Virtual Reality Technology, Says NSPCC

The use of virtual reality headsets by paedophiles in England and Wales has been documented for the first time, according to police data obtained by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC). The NSPCC obtained data through the Freedom of Information Act from police forces in England and Wales, and said…


Virtual Reality Headsets Igniting Safety Concerns Over Radiation Levels

The debate over potential health consequences from wireless device radiation has officially crossed the virtual threshold. While science remains divided on the health effects of absorbing low-frequency, non-ionizing radiation—like the kind emitted by cell phones and other wireless devices—some virtual reality headsets are well above the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) safety guidelines. The established FCC-safe absorption…


Meta Launches VR Headset That Tracks Facial Expressions and Eye Movements

Meta has introduced a VR headset with multiple cameras to track facial expressions and physical motion, a move that some say is another blow to personal privacy. “When we communicate, all our nonverbal expressions and gestures are often even more important than what we say, and the way we connect virtually needs to reflect that…


University Launches Virtual Reality Headsets to Improve Quality of Life in Aged Care

The Queensland University of Technology (QUT) is launching a virtual reality (VR) toolkit titled Transforming Aged Care with Virtual Reality (TACWVR) on May 25, aimed at aged care seniors to give them a “better quality of life.” “We integrated VR technologies into three Australian aged care facilities to find ways of better socially connecting residents…


Meta’s Facebook Reality Labs Loses Nearly $3 Billion in Q1

Facebook parent company Meta Platforms Inc. posted nearly $3 billion in losses in the first three months of 2022 for its Metaverse-focused Reality Labs division. According to an earnings report (pdf) published on April 27, the company’s Facebook Reality Labs (FRL) division, which houses its augmented and virtual reality operations, had $695 million in revenue in the first quarter, driven by…


Are Wireless Chargers Safe? The Pros & Cons of Wirelessly Charging your Phone

Wireless charging is becoming more prevalent and integrated into daily life, as modern day society morphs into a lifestyle of convenience. The latest example? The split second saved by placing your phone on a wireless charger instead of plugging in a charging cord. As a wireless electronic device, EMF radiation concerns arise. Can these wireless…


Australian Navy to Train in Virtual Reality

The Australian government has awarded $5 million for the development of an advanced cyber training system that will mimic real life naval firefighting scenarios and boost the capability of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). The grant will allow Victoria’s Deakin University to continue the development of its high-tech system, which combines virtual reality, augmented reality,…


China’s Property Giant Said Its Employee of The Year Was Not a Human, But an AI

From news anchors to company employees, AI-powered virtual humans have quickly taken over human posts in China. In December 2021, China’s property giant Vanke said its employee of the year was not a human. According to The Paper, a Chinese state-owned media, the company declared an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered debt collector named “Cui Xiaopan” as…


Chinese Property Giant Said Its Employee of The Year Was Not a Human, But an AI Program

From news anchors to company employees, AI-powered virtual humans have quickly taken over human posts in China. In December 2021, China’s property giant Vanke said its employee of the year was not a human. According to The Paper, a Chinese state-owned media, the company declared an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered debt collector named “Cui Xiaopan” as…