Augmented Reality

Firms combine blockchain and AR to develop port maintenance system

The project aims to increase the traceability of port maintenance operations by implementing blockchain certification.

Blockchain solutions provider Jelurida has partnered with augmented reality (AR) firm Aumenta Solutions to develop a maintenance system for port infrastructures. 

According to an announcement sent to Cointelegraph, the project aims to increase efficiency, reduce downtime and enhance the accuracy of maintenance tasks for ports, which are important in servicing ships, cargo and passengers.

Back in 2020, a research group from the University of Girona and Aumenta Solutions collaborated to develop a blockchain-based maintenance system, combining blockchain certification and AR, to increase the traceability of maintenance operations.

At present, Aumenta Solutions and information technology firm MSI are aiming to target the global port infrastructure market with the technology. According to Pere Roset, the managing partner at Aumenta Solutions, their project relies on the blockchain certification program. Roset explained:

“The certification program is an important component of the project, ensuring that maintenance tasks are done properly at the right place and at the right time.”

Francisco Sarrias from Jelurida also commented on the importance of AR for maintenance. Sarrias describes AR as a “game-changer” as it allows workers to access digital information in real time. “We are excited to introduce this new technology to the industry and help drive innovation in maintenance processes,” Sarrias said.

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AR has been consistently seen being used within the Web3 space. At the recent Metaverse Fashion Week, a hybrid AR fashion runway was cast at the Piazza of Duomo di Milano, which is one of the most iconic locations in Milan, Italy.

Meanwhile, whisky producer Jack Daniels has also recently created a Web3 campaign utilizing AR and Polygon-based digital collectibles. The campaign will let participants collect digital crates that contain various rewards like gift vouchers and trips to Jack Daniel’s distillery.

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Augmented reality helps brands tell their story: MVFW 2023

During Metaverse Fashion Week 2023, the augmented reality platform — Over — projected a larger-than-life virtual catwalk over one of Milan’s most prominent locations.

The second annual Metaverse Fashion Week (MVFW) hit the virtual runway this year from March 28–31 via a collaboration between Spatial — a 3D social network platform — and Over, a blockchain-based augmented reality (AR) platform.

This year’s event saw over 60 brands, including legacy names such as Dolce & Gabbana, Tommy Hilfiger, DKNY and Gucci. Like last year, the event combined digital runways, panels with industry thought leaders and designers, and afterparties.

However, one of the main attractions occurred on the event’s last day, March 31, when a hybrid AR runway from Over was cast across the Piazza of Duomo di Milano — one of Milan’s most iconic locations.

Guests watching an AR fashion show on the Piazza of Duomo di Milano. Source: Over

Diego Di Tommaso, the co-founder and chief operating officer of Over, told Cointelegraph that core components of the fashion industry include projecting identities and creating narratives around brands.

“AR, specifically, is regarded as the new and exciting medium that allows brands to tell their stories and showcase their creations more compellingly and intuitively.”

Tommaso said the “impression, understanding and emotion” that consumers get from an item presented in AR vs. 2D is incomparable. According to the co-founder, AR catwalks, augmented shop windows and AR virtual try-on are only scratching the surface of what’s to come for the fashion industry. 

“As soon as consumer-ready smart glasses hit the market, there will be no brand without an AR strategy.”

This AR runway featured large-scale virtual models who paraded across the plaza in cutting-edge digital designs from the participating brands, including Balmain x Space Runners and Pet Liger, part of the Gucci “VAULT” project. Even some notable Bored Ape Yacht Club personalities walked the runway. 

Over shared with Cointelegraph that guests called the event a “new level of experience,” bringing digital fashion to a “whole new stage.”

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Dave Carr, the head of creative strategy and partnership at Over, told Cointelegraph that AR differs from the metaverse because viewers don’t have to sit in front of a computer or strap on an “unwieldy VR headset” to have the experience. 

“With AR, the metaverse comes to you. You can be present among real people while enhancing your surroundings with amazing immersive digital content.”

Carr hinted that future developments from Over would even allow engagement with the AR models through speaking and deciding on outfits, indicating “huge implications for brands and retailers.”

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More than 90% of consumers are curious about the Metaverse: Capgemini

The volatility of the crypto market hasn’t stopped the metaverse from gaining potential as a utility for businesses and consumers alike.

Despite turbulent market conditions over the last year, the metaverse and its potential utility remain steady in the minds of consumers.

According to data from a new survey by Capgemini, a business and technology strategy advisor, over three-quarters of consumers expect their interactions with brands and individuals to be impacted by the metaverse. 

This also goes for organizations, as 7 out of 10 believe that the metaverse and immersive experiences will be a market differentiator in terms of customer experience.

The report surveyed 8,000 consumers, along with 1,000 organizations in 12 countries across different sectors to understand metaverse competency, interest and impact.

Included in the mix was a group of 380 consumers who self-identified as “metaverse-experienced,” of which three-quarters said they actively participate in the metaverse.

Data revealed that 93% of surveyed consumers said they are curious about the metaverse. Of that number, 51% said they would use the metaverse as it becomes more accessible to them.

Charlton Monsanto, the global immersive experiences offer leader at Capgemini, said the “consumer-facing metaverse” needs to address the challenges of accessibility and privacy among other things in order to move forward.

“The potential of the metaverse is transformative and consumer curiosity remains high.”

Education and accessibility go hand in hand for emerging technologies and remain the biggest challenges for tech-savvy brands to communicate with consumers.

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The survey also touched on the type of metaverse interactions consumers look for, to which 43% of respondents said they would like to interact with friends and family. This was followed by interactions with colleagues (39%), gaming-related experiences (33%), and commercial activity (28%).

With such an emphasis on connectivity, development in the metaverse has seen a rise in events which allow people to connect with one another, such as festivals and concerts.

Entire nations have even begun using the metaverse to preserve their heritage for future communities to interact with.

Recently, the metaverse developer Animoca Brands announced they will open up a billion-dollar metaverse development fund for startups in the space.

Apple job listings and patents hint at foray into ‘3D mixed-reality world’

A “mixed-reality world” by Apple could be fast approaching as recent job openings show the tech giant is hiring a number of engineers with AR and VR experience.

Technology giant Apple appears to be working toward the development of a metaverse-sounding “3D mixed-reality world,” according to related patent filings and recent job postings.

Since Nov. 1, over 30 jobs have been listed on Apple’s careers page related to augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) with the Big Tech player seeking a mix of software and hardware engineers to be mostly based in its Technology Development Group (TDG).

TDG is a secretive team within Apple that may reportedly stem as far back as 2017, which is understood to be working on developing AR and VR technology. Apple has never officially confirmed such a device was in the works, though it is widely considered a tech industry “open secret.”

While Apple is currently hiring for over 150 positions, according to its careers page, one particular job opening from August makes particular mention of a type of “3D mixed-reality world.”

The job ad is for an AR/VR network engineer, with part of the description reading:

“In this role you will work closely with other developers and build tools and frameworks to enable connected experiences in a 3D mixed-reality world.”

A Nov. 9 Digitimes report citing unnamed sources said an Apple AR/VR headset will be assembled by Taiwanese electronics firm Pegatron — a company Apple currently uses for its iPhone 14 device — with mass production expected in Q1 2023.

A spokesperson for Pegatron told Cointelegraph it was “not able to comment on information related to a specific customer or product due to confidentiality.”

Cointelegraph contacted Apple for comment but did not receive a response.

Meanwhile, patent filings from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) reveal in August that Apple trademarked Reality One and Reality Pro, both described as “photographic and optical apparatus and instruments” and “virtual and augmented reality headsets, goggles, and glasses.”

The filings were made under a Delaware shell company called Immersive Health Solutions LLC, a tactic often used by large companies such as Apple in an attempt to keep their future product plans private.

A search of Delaware’s business entities shows the company was created on Feb. 11 by The Corporation Trust Company, the world’s largest registered agent service firm used by Apple and other well-known companies such as Google, Walmart and Coca-Cola.

The same firm was used in a trademark application for a RealityOS in Dec. 2021 in what’s believed to be Apple’s operating system used for its reported upcoming headset.

Other trademark filings, such as one made in China under Apple Inc., show a haptic VR glove, tracking the movement of individual fingers, which further points to the company’s play at a possible metaverse space.

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Apple CEO Tim Cook has already stated his thoughts on the metaverse. On a Q1 2022 earnings call in January when asked about the company’s metaverse opportunities, Cook said, “we see a lot of potential in this space and are investing accordingly.”

Multiple reports emerged in Jan. 2022 that Apple was slated to release the headset during its June Worldwide Developer Conference, but it didn’t come to fruition due to a series of development challenges.