Drinking In VR

Drinking in VR can be a little tricky. In most cases, you’ll need to put down the controllers and then lift your headset off your eyes, or just enough to peek under your headset, to bring the cup to your mouth. Using a straw simplifies the process, though you still need to put down your controllers or reach awkwardly outside your play space to reach your beverage.

According to a recently filed patent, Bogie Inc. proposed a new system that would allow a user to take drink without having to put down both of their controllers. The patent shows a device that looks a lot like a Quest VR controller, but with a built-in holder attached to the inner part of the controller that could support any type of beverage that comes in a bottle or can.

More information:

https://vrscout.com/news/this-bizarre-controller-would-make-drinking-in-vr-easier/

AI Brings Museum Specimens to the Public

A team from Cardiff University is using state-of-the-art techniques to automatically segment and capture information from museum specimens and perform important data quality improvement without the need of human input. They have been working with museums from across Europe, including the Natural History Museum, London, to refine and validate their new methods and contribute to the mammoth task of digitising hundreds of millions of specimens.

With more than 3 billion biological and geological specimens curated in natural history museums around the world, the digitization of museum specimens, in which physical information from a particular specimen is transformed into a digital format, has become an increasingly important task for museums as they adapt to an increasingly digital world. The digitization process also helps to reduce the amount of manual handling of specimens, many of which are very delicate and prone to damage.

More information:

https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/news/view/2613739-artificial-intelligence-to-bring-museum-specimens-to-the-masses

Creative QR Codes

QR codes have been around since the mid nineties, but until recently they’ve struggled to gain any real traction as a widespread design solution. Then, as public health measures prompted restaurants to remove menus and retail shops to increase touch-free checkout options, the functionality of touch-less tech quickly became a part of daily life. Now, designers are using QR codes like never before and the icon is finding its way into nearly every industry from food service to fashion to healthcare to live entertainment. While local restaurants were some of the first businesses to adopt QR codes in response to the pandemic, food and beverage corporations quickly implemented them as well.

The need for quick and reliable access to services or information during the pandemic has extended far beyond just the way we order food. QR technology has also become integral in accessing vaccine records from our phones. But the pandemic isn't the only reason QR codes have become more prevalent. The Internet of Things has contributed to their increased use as well. The fashion industry has already shown it's not averse to pushing the boundaries of tech by integrating the latest in digital design—and now, brands are embracing QR codes, with garment labels that not only provide additional content and storytelling about the item or collection but offer more transparency in their supply chain and commitment to sustainability.

More information:

https://www.editorx.com/shaping-design/article/inside-the-qr-code-creative-boom