At the start of 2020 (remember those giddy, carefree times before the pandemic struck?) Unity asked more than a dozen industry experts – including yours truly – to share their thoughts on how immersive technologies would be embraced for a report entitled Top 2020 Trends: Enterprise AR & VR.

All signs were pointing to 2020 being a breakout year for immersive tech, and, as it turned out, this was one of the few things not to have been derailed by COVID-19.

With the widespread need for social distancing and shift towards remote work, companies turned to immersive technology tools such as real-time 3D, AR, and VR to connect employees for remote collaboration, replace events and exhibitions, and allow teams to work in offices, labs, and sites from afar. As the need to support employees remotely grew more urgent, this was reflected in the accelerated adoption of XR across the board.

Microsoft, for example, has seen a 13x increase in remote assistance usage over the past 12 months, and Unity believes that this general trend is likely to continue in 2021.

All signs were pointing to 2020 being a breakout year for immersive tech, and, as it turned out, this was one of the few things not to have been derailed by COVID-19
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Some of the key findings from the report include:

The use of mixed reality will expand to enable more human connections

Mixed reality has traditionally been used to aid in task completion, however, the pandemic has sparked the need for tools that mimic human connection and proximity to create more productive work environments and collaboration.

Cross-functional collaboration across immersive media will grow

2020 has seen more users looking for ways to collaborate remotely from multiple geographic locations, using media that mimic real life. Expect that to continue into 2021.

VR will prove even more useful in the workplace

The disruptions of COVID-19 have led many to look for creative ways to solve new and old problems across the workplace, such as keeping skills fresh, engaging learners without in-person training, improving employee productivity, and fostering collaboration and connection among teams.

Jeremy Dalton, Head of AR/VR PwC believes that in 2021 and beyond we will see a wider range of businesses across numerous industries become more comfortable with emerging technologies that they would otherwise have left on the sideline until pressured to innovate.

While computers will never fully replace the value of in-person connection, Fleckenstein believes there is a tremendous opportunity for more immersive collaboration, and 2021 will see mixed reality evolve beyond task completion and emerge as the ideal medium for human connection.

As the need to support employees remotely grew more urgent, this was reflected in the accelerated adoption of XR across the board
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Futurist and author Cathy Hackl, predicts volumetric video will be a key factor in sustaining this evolution and widespread adoption.

Volumetric video, she explains, can help companies overcome pain points caused by the sudden shift to remote work, since the technology makes it possible to record employees, projects, or scenarios in three dimensions, instead of digitally rebuilding them from scratch for virtual reality simulations.

“The digital video can then be edited and manipulated to be viewed on everything from flat screens to virtual reality simulations,” she explains, adding that experiencing something in 3D with real-life physical movement is shown to increase viewers’ retention of the information being taught.

According to Matt Fleckenstein Senior Director, Mixed Reality at Microsoft, the ROI for firstline workers when adopting mixed reality in enterprise has been significant:

“We’ve seen 90% of touch labor eliminated, errors reduced to zero, and increased employee satisfaction.”

Elizabeth Baron, Enterprise Solutions Executive at Unity Technologies, says “Immersive realities provide probability spaces for enterprises to study any potential reality, or the art of the (im)possible,” with a host of relevant data that is brought to life and experienced rather than merely presented.

“Storytelling with immersive XR can simultaneously bring a spreadsheet to life for an artist and bring a design to life for an engineer,” she explains.

You can access the e-book for free here

For companies looking to get into Immersive technologies our VR Consultancy service offers comprehensive support in strategic deployment of Virtual, Augmented and Mixed Reality

Alice Bonasio is a VR Consultant and Tech Trends’ Editor in Chief. She also regularly writes for Fast Company, Ars Technica, Quartz, Wired and others. Connect with her on LinkedIn and follow @alicebonasio on Twitter.

The post 2021 Immersive Tech Trends appeared first on Tech Trends.

Was there ever a market for just five computers, and is there now?

By Adam Tamburini, International SVP at e-shelter

According to a quote attributed to the then CEO of IBM, Thomas J Watson Jr, in 1943 he believed that ‘…there is a world market for about five computers.’ In fact, Watson may never have said anything of the kind, but that’s a different story. The fact remains, this is often quoted as an early prediction for technology and computing. But has it come true?

A famous quote attributed to the then CEO of IBM, Thomas J Watson Jr, in 1943 reportedly says he believed that there was a world market for about five computers
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Obviously, there are now many more than five computers, and equally obviously, the sheer volume of modern devices is something that nobody foresaw in 1943. Indeed, the belief that personal computers would never catch on in a big way, and that computing would remain primarily a business and political tool, persisted for several decades after that. So, if we are to take Watson’s words literally and assume he was using the term ‘computers’ in the sense that we use it today, then of course he was wrong.

The belief that personal computers would never catch on in a big way, and that computing would remain primarily a business and political tool persisted for several decades
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Or was he?

The early 1940s were crucial to computing, and the decade saw many innovations, frequently driven by the demands of war. The first example of remote access computing occurred in 1940 with a demonstration in New York of the Complex Number Calculator, and this was followed a year later by Germany’s development of the Z3, the world’s first programmable, automatic computing device. Also in 1941, the UK debuted the Bombe, a computer designed by Alan Turing to decrypt Axis communications during World War II.

The world had to wait until the early 1970s for anything that resembled a personal computing device of the type we use today
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A number of further machines, that might loosely be called ‘computers’, followed. But unlike today’s computers, almost all of them were so massive they required a room to themselves, and almost all were designed to oversee and manage large-scale operations of some kind. The world had to wait until the early 1970s for anything that resembled a personal computing device of the type we use today.

So, to put Watson’s ‘quote’ into context, perhaps he foresaw a future where only five large-scale computing applications were required, to handle large-scale data and functionality of national and international importance. And if that is the case, perhaps he was closer to the truth than has been acknowledged.

To put Watson’s ‘quote’ into context, perhaps he foresaw a future where only five large-scale computing applications were required
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Back to the mainframe

For in many ways, even though there are so many applications, devices and uses of what might broadly be termed ‘computers’ now, in broad terms the world is returning to the old habits of having a ‘mainframe’ system, a large-scale, central repository of processing power and data handling capability. Only today, we call them ‘data centres’, ‘large scale IT service providers’ or even ‘the cloud’.

If the period between the 1980s and 2010s saw the explosion of home computing, the Internet and technology in general, it could be argued that the world has grown beyond that, now. The Internet is so vast, so flexible and full of potential, so socially and politically important and omnipresent, it has taken on an identity of its own. The idea that it can be conceived of as merely a series of computers talking to each other, seems faintly ridiculous. The world of technology has become bigger than was ever predicted, the volume of data vaster, and we need bigger concepts to capture these phenomena.

The world of technology has become bigger than was ever predicted, the volume of data vaster, and we need bigger concepts to capture them
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One of the biggest of these big concepts is cloud computing, which has evolved partly in response to the proliferation of technology and associated data. In one sense, the cloud in all its forms is the modern mainframe, albeit a vast, behemoth, super-mainframe. The sheer volume of data held in the cloud is mind-boggling, and more is being added daily as businesses and individuals migrate their data and applications.

We're returning to the old habits of having a mainframe system, a large-scale, central repository of processing power and data handling capability. Only today, we call them data centres or the cloud
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Who, and where, is the cloud?

The cloud, of course, comprises of organised provision, usually in the form of servers, and usually housed in a data centre. Are the data centres, therefore, actually the mainframes of today? Are these the super-computers that Watson foresaw?

Alternatively, perhaps we should look to the biggest of the providers to fill this role. The hyperscale cloud providers have brought cloud computing to the masses (quite literally), through provision of a range of user-friendly, easily accessible services that suit everybody from the teenager with an android phone who likes to edit their selfies, to the largest of businesses requiring dedicated server space, assured regulatory compliance and management. Are the only five ‘computers’ that the world ultimately needs, to be found among these companies?

In one sense, the cloud in all its forms is the modern mainframe, albeit a vast, behemoth, super-mainframe
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Of course, which, if any, of these answers you choose depends largely on semantics and interpretation. The world of technology has changed so vastly since 1943 that it would be astounding if anybody could have predicted the current, cloud-based, world.

But there really is no doubt that the world is moving back towards centrally-managed provision in computing, simply because the volume of data, and potential for its application, is so great. What is more, big data is not the only driving force. Artificial Intelligence, machine learning, all of the great events that lie just over the horizon are just as dependent upon well-organised data provision as the smallest of businesses, and it’s hard to imagine a time when this will not be the case.

Artificial Intelligence, machine learning, all of the great events that lie just over the horizon are just as dependent upon well-organised data provision as the smallest of businesses
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Whether this is anywhere close to what Watson had in mind, of course, is another question entirely…

For companies looking to get into Immersive technologies such as VR/AR/MR/XR our Virtual Reality Consultancy services offer guidance and support on how best to incorporate these into your brand strategy.

Alice Bonasio is a VR and Digital Transformation Consultant and Tech Trends’ Editor in Chief. She also regularly writes for Fast Company, Ars Technica, Quartz, Wired and others. Connect with her on LinkedIn and follow @alicebonasio on Twitter.

The post Expert View: Watson’s Five Computers appeared first on Tech Trends.

Students from secondary schools across the UK are being invited to compete for a £10,000 award for creative tech pioneers.

Inspired by the original 18th century Longitude Prize – which set the task of determining a ship’s exact location at sea – the prize challenges young people to solve healthcare challenges through the Internet of Things (IoT).

Run by innovation foundation Nesta and supported by IBM, the competition will see teams competing to find the most innovative web-enabled technology solution to improve the health and wellbeing of people in the UK.

UK students can compete for a £10k Creative Tech Award sponsored by IBM and Nesta
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In addition to the cash prize of £10,000 and two runner-up £1000 prizes, all finalists will be invited to visit IBM’s London offices, where they will work on their ideas with guidance from the company’s Internet of Things specialists. Teams will also be trained in the use of cutting edge cognitive computing and machine learning tools.

“We believe that understanding, engaging with and applying the latest technologies is essential learning for every young person, and this is exactly what the Longitude Explorer Challenge Prize does. This year’s prize focuses on a rapidly developing area of technology, which IBM is at the forefront of: the Internet of Things, says Mark Wakefield, Corporate Citizenship & Corporate Affairs Manager at IBM UK.

Students must be aged between 11 and 16, and each team must be supported by a teacher or youth leader. Teams will be responsible for building the technology as well as all aspects of design, budgeting and marketing, helping to hone their full entrepreneurial skill-set.

“We’re thrilled to be working with IBM – the pioneers of Watson – on the second Longitude Explorer Prize,” says Tris Dyson, Director of the Challenge Prize Centre at Nesta. “Projects like this are hugely important, not only in creating opportunities to help develop young people’s STEM skills but also their abilities in presentation, teamwork and project planning. Building on last year’s successes, we are calling for even more young people to get involved this time around.”

The first Longitude Explorer Prize, launched in 2014, focused on geolocation and attracted over 60 entries. The competition was won by an all-girl team from Rendcomb College in Gloucestershire who took home the first prize for their app, Displaced, designed to help charities to coordinate the logistics of supporting vulnerable people around the world.

The Longitude Explorer Challenge wants students to use IoT to tackle public health problems
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Speaking about the experience, their Director of Computing Jonathan Torbitt said: “It was a great privilege to mentor our school’s team through the Longitude Explorer Prize 2015, from the initial inception of the pupils’ idea to delivery of a working prototype. The transformation in the girls along the way was fantastic. They went from shy and nervous teenagers to confident young adults, capable of presenting their idea in a professional manner.“

For more information on the judging criteria and to submit an idea, visit the Longitude Explorer Prize website. Entries close on the 3^rd March (3pm GMT) and winners will be announced before the end of school summer term 2017

Alice Bonasio is a VR Consultant and Tech Trends’ Editor in Chief. She also regularly writes for Fast Company, Ars Technica, Quartz, Wired and others. Connect with her on LinkedIn and follow @alicebonasio and @techtrends_tech on Twitter.

The post NESTA and IBM Run £10K Prize for Young Tech Pioneers appeared first on Tech Trends.

A collaboration between IBM and the New York Times T Brand Studio showcased the work of female STEM pioneers through AR.

The Outthink Hidden experience is available through the T Brand Studio AR app which can be download for free on iTunes and Google Play. It works like a virtual museum where people can explore a range of 3D graphics, written stories, and audiovisual narratives to find out the tales behind 10 key innovators in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

The app was inspired by the recently released film Hidden Figures, which tells the true story of how three female African American mathematicians who programmed the first-of-its kind IBM mainframe at NASA in the early 1960s and played a key role in the historic mission that put John Glenn into orbit.

“We were inspired to use this app to share the stories of unsung STEM innovators who have changed the lives of people around the world.” said Ann Rubin, Vice President, Branded Content and Global Creative, IBM.

Perhaps by shining this spotlight on this untold tale of the 1960s Space Race, we can help to inspire greater interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields, specially amongst women. It fits into a broader range of initiatives such as Stemettes, whose co-founder Anne-Marie Imafidon has been recognized with an MBE in the latest New Years Honours list and the important work in education advocacy championed by First Lady Michelle Obama, which was movingly reflected in her final official speech last week.

Perhaps by shining a spotlight on this untold tale of the 1960s Space Race, we can inspire interest in STEM
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The New York Times has been pushing VR content for a while now, but this is their first major AR initiative, and it potentially allows them to reach a wider audience, by enabling people to experience immersive content without need for a separate headset. It instead deploys sensors to activate a digital layer that augments the space using 3D images, audio, video, and descriptive text, displaying these using just the mobile device screen.

Dorothy Vaughan taught herself and others how to program NASA’s IBM mainframe
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The AR content is activated on those mobile devices thorough special print editions of the New York Times and 150 “geofenced” locations across the U.S. in cities such as New York, LA, Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas and San Francisco as well as notable STEM hubs like NASA Langley Research Center, Kennedy Space Center, the Computer History Museum in San Francisco and Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Science, or universities including Duke, Cornell and Princeton.

The app highlights the story and accomplishments of three of the film’s “hidden figures” including Dorothy Vaughan, who taught herself and others how to program NASA’s IBM mainframe, in addition to other STEM pioneers including Bessie Blount Griffin, who invented a feeding device for injured World War II veterans and Sara Josephine Baker, who changed the way the world thought about public health, creating the role of the school nurse.

“When we spoke to IBM about their work with ‘Hidden Figures, we recognized that this was an opportunity to bring users into the experience of the film and the remarkable women it showcases,” Said the New York Times’ Senior VP of Advertising and Innovation Sebastian Tomich.

Getting women involved in STEM remains an enormous challenge even in the 21^st Century. So it remains crucial that we not only support grassroots initiatives like KizCode – which enable girls to learn and contribute through key skills such as coding –  but to provide inspiration and role models that this next promising generation of female scientists and technologists can relate to, and be inspired by.

Getting women involved in STEM fields remains a great challenge
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To find out how to leverage VR/AR/MR in your enterprise, Tech Trends offers bespoke Virtual Reality Consultancy support

Alice Bonasio is a VR Consultant and Tech Trends’ Editor in Chief. She also regularly writes for Fast Company, Ars Technica, Quartz, Wired and others. Connect with her on LinkedIn and follow @alicebonasio and @techtrends_tech on Twitter.

The post Augmented Reality Brings STEM Heroes to Life appeared first on Tech Trends.