Weekly 3D, VR & 3D print news: week of May 26 - June 1

Google’s advice on building VR apps

VR applications are just entering the market and it will definitely take some time for the developers to understand what is working and what is not. However, with the announcement of Daydream, Google is trying to help creatives out by providing some insights from their internally carried panels. So here are their first tips:

1. Allow users to use tools in VR. VR users are not limited to screen and mouse only, and this can be used to the benefit by bringing more variety into a play and making VR experience feel more natural.
2. Do more than replicate reality. Reality is still there - in another room or somewhere on this planet. VR enables to bring “unexpected” to our experiences whether this is cooking in the sky or touring in ancient China. Merge fantasy with reality and you are likely to find your audience.
3. Set some limits. Creating VR app a developer has an idea and clear goal in mind. With too much freedom within the app user might lose his focus from his primary task, so imposing some limitations can actually save user experience.

These are indeed some great insights and we are looking forward to hearing more from Google.

Backpack PC is the next thing on your wishlist

With the industry getting over all the new releases on VR devices, it is time to start thinking of complementary technology that can enable smooth VR experience. One thing you definitely don’t want when immersed in your virtual world is to be brought back to the real world by stumbling over your computer wires, so a lot of discussions were circling around backpack-computers this week. The prototypes to solve the problem were shown by MSI, HP and Zotac, and expected to ship before the end of the year (of course, that sounds like a perfect Christmas present!). They do also solve two other issues: cooling and battery life, which is likely to be a problem with DIY backpack-computers. The prototypes look promising, though solving for 4.5-5kg weight on one’s back should enter development pipelines.

Heading for a theme-park this summer? You should start getting more excited as VR is stepping in

We have heard a lot of how VR is going to change music industry, TV and advertising. However, these seem to still be somewhat distant developments (OK, except maybe new iOS app Rivet Music for watching VR concert from New York’s Blue Note Jazz Club). Several theme parks in the US, on the other hand, will be offering VR enhanced experiences already this summer. According to ABC, several Universal Studios Hollywood, Six Flag parks, Disney in Ohio and a few more will allow riders to see the world from their favorite heroes, or at least their companions, point of view. This looks like a significant step in already a bit frozen theme park entertainment where the biggest innovations have been a bit faster and higher roller-coasters, better produced interiors and sound effects. Maybe in this way Quidditch can indeed become an exciting activity...

3D printing for large volume stem cells

3D bioprinting is definitely one of the key areas of growth for 3D printing industry: printing fully functioning tissues and cells can make the whole drug development and testing cheaper and faster. This week, Israel based 3D printer company Nano Dimension, in co-operation with another Israeli biotech company Accellta Ltd., has lab-tested adapted 3D printer that could quickly print large volumes of high resolution cells What does it mean? Essentially, the company is paving the way to large tissue and organs printing. And this definitely makes all the overdue sci-fi movies look less unbelievable.