Tracking Firm Promises VR Play Without ER Stay

A new virtual reality headset technology might stop you tripping over furniture, without the need for external hardware. Occipital says its approach includes live tracking of the surrounding room to cut down on embarrassing tumbles.

To date virtual reality systems fall into two category. Some, like the Oculus Rift and Vive, use separate devices to track the room and warn the user when they are about to collide with something. Others, like Microsoft’s virtual reality and augmented reality systems, build the room scanning into the headset itself, but have arguably required a compromise in precision to do so.

Occipital is a specialist in 3D scanning and depth sensors and already works in fields as diverse as home architecture and construction and modelling for prosthetics. It’s adapted its software so it can work with any virtual reality headset that includes a motion sensor and stereo cameras (though can be adapted for a single camera), and says its easy to integrate into existing systems.

According to CNET writer Scott Stein who has tested the technology on a modified VIVE headset, the key is that the Occipital software is constantly scanning and remodelling the room, meaning it can cope with rapid movement. It appears it’s able to overlay the mapping of the real world objects onto the virtual reality visuals that is effective without being obtrusive or breaking the illusion.


Huge LEGO Technic Minifig Roller Coaster

Youtuber and Lego enthusiast Shadow Elenter always dreamt of bulding a roller coaster using LEGO bricks, and last year, after winning a large amount of Lego Technic bricks, he finally made his dream come true.

The main challenges of building one was the fact that there’s no tracks made by LEGO to work on this scale. I experimented with making tracks with various parts, but making curves never really worked like I wanted it to, and even a small radius turn took way to many parts. And then it hit me… I don’t NEED curved tracks! all I need is ways to make the cart change direction! After that realization my brain exploded with fun and creative ways to do just that. Not only does it take less parts because you can stay very compact, it’s technically way more complex, interesting(to build), and more fun to watch.

[Shadow Elenter]

Before We Vanish: An Entirely New Kind of Alien Invasion Movie [Trailer]

In his twentieth film, acclaimed horror director Kiyoshi Kurosawa reinvents the alien movie as a unique and profoundly human tale of love and mystery. Three aliens travel to Earth on a reconnaissance mission in preparation for a mass invasion. Having taken possession of human bodies, the visitors rob the hosts of their essence – good, evil, property, family, belonging – leaving only hollow shells, which are all but unrecognizable to their loved ones. Equally hilarious, thrilling, and profound, BEFORE WE VANISH reminds audiences of the continued strength of one of Japanese cinema’s most unique auteurs – and the value of the human spirit.

In theaters beginning February 2, 2018

[Super LTD]

Senate May Demand Net Neutrality Return, But To No Avail

Efforts to restore net neutrality rules in Congress are close to passing the first hurdle, though it seems virtually impossible they’ll have any effect.

The Federal Communications Commission recently decided by a 3-2 vote to drop its previous rules upholding the principles of net neutrality. A resolution against that decision now has the backing of 50 Senators, meaning one more would be enough to ensure a pass. (A tie would mean a casting vote by Vice-President Mike Pence, almost certainly against the resolution.)

However, reports that this means just one more Senator could overturn the FCC decision are a major exaggeration. This specific attempt to restore net neutrality is being done through the Congressional Review Act. That’s a system that gives Congress 60 legislative days (those on which it actually sits) to block a federal agency regulation before it takes effect.

Under this process, the block has to be confirmed by both houses. As with legislation, the President can then veto the measure (meaning the regulations would be able to take effect) unless there’s a 2/3 majority vote in both houses against him doing so.

In other words, even if the resolution passes the Senate, the political divide means it’s unlikely to pass the House of Representatives. If it did so, previous comments suggest President Donald Trump would veto it.

While this tactic is likely doomed, it’s a fight that will likely continue in both Congress and the courts. Even after the regulations take effect, they could be overridden by a specific net neutrality law passed by Congress. That’s unlikely to happen unless and until both the make-up of Congress and the Presidency changes.

Meanwhile several groups have vowed court action to overturn the FCC decision because of alleged failings in the decision-making process. One arguments cites a convention that agencies cannot completely overturn a policy they’ve already made simply because of a change in political leadership. Another says the consultation process before the decision was flawed because of claims of widespread fake comments supposedly from the public.