The holidays are coming… It’s been a great year for XR. Through the twists and turns, the industry and its major players have battled their way through a disrupted technology market introduced in 2023. In this market, many XR companies and other related digital solution providers have suffered greatly due to lack of capital and investment.
2023 will see the collapse of many XR giants. Companies like AltspaceVR and Pico in particular have struggled this year. But on the other hand, others triumphed and launched the XR back into the stratosphere. 2024 has been described as a pivotal year for the emerging space.
Many companies are enhancing workplace XR in all its forms, including Microsoft, Meta, AWS, NVIDIA, and the list is long. VR headsets, AR smartglasses, digital twins, industrial metaverse, immersive learning, and other related XR technologies are delivering positive outcomes for enterprise customers.
Some enterprise XR use cases are more prevalent than others, but continued innovation, adoption, and optimism in the industry could make 2024 an evolutionary year.
2024 will be a significant landmark for enterprise XR. It will be up to some of the world’s most prominent technology companies to advance XR in 2024.
With innovations in AI, XR carries the weight of many promises and expectations. But will XR prove its worth in 2024? The world is far from omnipresence, but this will take many years. With the advent of new hardware and software, the XR space can truly hit its stride.
Meta Update Quest Amid VRARA Concerns
Meta Quest this month released its V60 update, which includes new features for its Meta Quest 3, Meta Quest Pro, and Meta Quest 2 portfolio of headsets.
This update introduces full-body tracking, which helps reduce motion sickness by replicating the user’s body movements and minimizing disorientation. This feature uses Quest’s external tracking cameras to synchronize the user’s arm, shoulder, and torso movements and replicate them in an immersive application.
In addition to body tracking features, Meta Quest V60 also includes other updates that optimize the headset. This update introduces three new Horizon home environments and a layout utility application that recreates the user’s actual home items, such as furniture, within the home immersive space.
This update also includes improvements to user profiles, Bluetooth settings, Quest 3 public channels, pass-through application loading, Safe Browsing, Guardian perimeter, Quest Pro performance, end-to-end encryption for cloud backups, and discontinuation of phone notifications.
Although Meta is primarily focused on consumer-first XR solutions, the company hopes to remain in the enterprise XR space while developing its consumer portfolio. But some experts point out that Meta may be promising a work environment without a strong product or development roadmap that meets enterprise customers’ standards.
Meta Quest 2, 3, and Pro come with Microsoft 365 Office tools.
The Meta Quest headset lineup of VR and MR devices now features new Microsoft Office 365 applications tailored for spatial computing environments.
The service has been available across Meta’s headset portfolio since its announcement at Connect 2022, and users have been highly excited about the proposed application. Microsoft is now offering Office Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for free on the Quest digital store, available on all models of Quest headsets, including the Quest Pro, designed specifically for enterprise use. Notably, Microsoft did not introduce Teams for Quest as announced at Connect 2022.
Microsoft’s application is designed for VR and MR environments depending on the user’s preferred headset. Additionally, the service is cloud-based, allowing users to save space on their devices. However, this means Quest Office users will need to be connected to WiFi to use the service.
Small file sizes and cloud integration allow all Quest headset owners to use all three Microsoft Office applications simultaneously, enabling multitasking between applications similar to a traditional desktop or PC. Microsoft’s immersive Office applications also support hand tracking and tracked virtual keyboard input. Alternatively, users can connect a Bluetooth keyboard to interact with the immersive Office screens.
NuEyes Receives FDA Clearance
NuEyes, a specialist in AR smart glasses, has achieved a significant milestone in its journey towards broader adoption of smart glasses with FDA approval for its upcoming product, NuLoupes.
Now, FDA approval allows NuEyes to expand its portfolio of products designed to provide innovative smart eyewear technology to healthcare professionals. The company’s patent-pending technology provides dental and medical professionals with unparalleled precision and real-time 3D visualization.
Mark Greget, Founder and CEO of NuEyes, “We are thrilled to announce the FDA approval of NuLoupes, a testament to our commitment to innovation and excellence in medical technology. NuLoupes represents a huge leap forward in visualization technology, and we are confident that it will revolutionize the way healthcare professionals approach their work.”