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Microsoft’s new Mesh platform turns your remote coworkers into holograms

March 3, 2021 MadMadNews Reposted Filed Under: PopSci, SCITECH

Soon after the COVID-19 pandemic hit, many offices quickly and unexpectedly moved to the cloud. Now, these “offices” only really exist in the abstract, relying on a patchwork of real-time messaging services like Slack, e-mail, and a suddenly endless stream of video conferences. The quick switch didn’t allow time for the idea of a truly digital office to take shape and deliver on the lofty promises of virtual reality spaces in which we could all hang out and handle our daily tasks.

During the keynote at its Ignite conference today, however, Microsoft provided an early look at its vision of its holographic space for human collaboration. The platform, called Mesh, would enable users to wear augmented reality headsets (such as Microsoft’s own HoloLens gear) and offer virtual collaborative opportunities across a variety of apps from games to Office.

The idea goes beyond some of the more straightforward VR office concepts we’ve seen from companies like Facebook. Mesh envisions a true mixed reality application, in which holographic avatars can interact with objects that appear in your physical spaces. Imagine standing in your living room while a large interactive globe spins in front of you and a co-worker or teacher’s holographic avatar interacts with it.

From the video demos, it’s clear that Microsoft doesn’t envision the digital elements to fool participants into thinking they’re physically there. The other people’s avatars have clear indicators of their digital nature, whether it’s a generally cartoony appearance or a vaguely translucent nature consistent with what pop culture often presents as a hologram.

Though the project is in its early stages, Microsoft is offering companies a version of the AltspaceVR app, which is an enterprise-grade meeting solution for companies that want to hold virtual meetings. Eventually, however, the Mesh tech will roll up directly into Microsoft’s own work platform Teams.

The challenge with mixing realities

For a straightforward VR experience, apps can keep the process relatively simple. The program can plunk users in virtual seats around a digital space and use the headgear’s internal motion sensors to track participants’ head movements. Bringing precisely mapped digital objects and team members into a real-world space, however, offers a more in-depth challenge.

For photorealistic “holoportation” as Microsoft calls it, outside sensors need to capture real-time movement information. Creating a truly accurate hologram requires a complex setup like Microsoft’s Mixed Reality Capture Studio, which involves controlled lighting and high-tech sensors. Mesh comes with a scaled-back version of this tech that allows users to create less-detailed, customizable avatars that work right out of the box.

In addition to tracking the people, the system also needs to keep tabs on the location to allow people to interact with objects that may only exist in the cloud. Spatial maps handle this task by providing a detailed, three-dimensional picture of the space you’re in, as well as the other objects around you.

If you’ve ever used a VR headset or even something like the Xbox Kinect, then you’ve already experienced something similar. Mesh just envisions it on a much larger scale.

What can we actually do with this tech?

In many ways, Mesh feels like the natural extension of HoloLens. Microsoft’s head-mounted smart display already overlaid digital directions and objects onto real-world settings. Mesh can bring more people into the mix and allow them to manipulate digital versions of those objects right along with you.

As with HoloLens in general, Microsoft obviously considers industry its main customer base for the moment, but it’s looking beyond the work environment to other settings, including theaters. MIcrosoft is working with the aquatic research organization, OceanX, to add “holographic laboratories” to their ships in order to aid in its scientific pursuits.

The company also suggests a situation in which people from various locations attend one central performance. The company has already begun work with the company behind Cirque Du Soleil to provide access to shows via mixed reality.

Will we all have to wear a Hololens?

For now, Microsoft has stated its commitment to making Mesh available across different devices. If you want to experience the three-dimensional aspects of the technology, you’ll need an AR or VR headset, but the company hopes to make the experiences equally accessible for people using smartphones or tablets.

This device-inclusive attitude has been a part of Microsoft’s Mixed Reality vision for years now and it seems to be sticking with it, even as the concept and implementations evolve.

For now, the Mesh implementations are still only available in specific settings, most of which won’t roll out to the general public for some time. But, if Microsoft remains committed to the project and other developers jump on board to develop for the platform, it could provide an early look at what remote collaboration looks like as physical offices struggle to bounce back in the wake of the pandemic. Before long, you may be able to say “this virtual meeting could have been an email,” directly to the organizer’s holographic face.

Tagged With: after, COVID19, many, offices, pandemic, soon

Why Peter Tamte still wants to make Six Days in Fallujah

March 3, 2021 MadMadNews Reposted Filed Under: BUSINESS, Venture Beat

Kicking down doors and discerning what lies beyond them is a big par t of Six Days in Fallujah.


Peter Tamte’s company went under after Konami canceled Six Days in Fallujah due to backlash. Now he is working on the game again for 2021.Read More

Tagged With: after, company, Peter, Tamte's, Under, went

‘The Masked Singer’ Team Talks Season 5 Wildcard Twist, Niecy Nash as Host

March 2, 2021 MadMadNews Reposted Filed Under: ENTERTAINMENT, Variety

After only premiering two years ago, in 2019, Fox’s “The Masked Singer” is already set to debut its fifth season. In turning out so much content so fast it hasn’t shied away from making updates, such as the addition of the Golden Ear in Season 4, in order to continue to draw large viewing audiences […]

Tagged With: 2019, after, Fox's, only, Premiering, years

Cancel Culture Comes For Dr. Seuss

March 1, 2021 MadMadNews Reposted Filed Under: INVESTIGATIONS, Newsbusters

After a weekend of politicians criticizing cancel culture at CPAC, liberals just had to go out and prove every one of them right. Barely a day after CPAC ended, we’re now forced to discuss whether we should cancel Dr. Seuss books. Imagine someone in the world finding “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish” offensive. 

On February 28, two days before author Theodore Geisel’s birthday (aka “Dr. Seuss”), National Board Certified teacher and Spelman College graduate Charis Granger-Mbugua published “Why schools should rethink Dr. Seuss” in The Atlanta-Journal Constitution. In the piece, she purports to point out “the racist and damaging history of Dr. Seuss and his work.” However, she herself acknowledges that prior to a few weeks ago she saw his books as a “beautiful addition” to her son’s library. Like everything else, leftist propaganda helped ruin something wholesome for this woman.

Over the last few weeks, however, I have found myself learning about just how problematic Dr. Seuss and his books are, especially for children who are Black, Indigenous and people of color. Perhaps, I am more attentive now that my son is in elementary school and I want and expect his exposure to diverse and uplifting authors and stories to continue in the classroom. Perhaps, it is because our country is paying acute attention, in the wake of last summer’s social justice protests, to issues of injustice and systemic racism.

She’s sadly not alone. On the same day, Loudon County, Virginia schools took steps to “cancel” Dr. Seuss in their annual “Read Across America” event on Dr. Seuss’ birthday due to “strong racial undertones.” Although the schools later insisted that his works have not been completely banned, a spokesman admitted that schools will try “to not connect” the day with Dr. Seuss books:

Dr. Seuss books have not been banned in Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS). LCPS believes that rumor started because March 2 is “Read Across America” day. Schools in LCPS, and across the country, have historically connected Read Across America Day with Dr. Seuss’ birthday. Research in recent years has revealed strong racial undertones in many books written/illustrated by Dr. Seuss. Given this research, and LCPS’ focus on equity and culturally responsive instruction, LCPS has provided guidance to schools in the past couple of years to not connect Read Across America Day with Dr. Seuss’ birthday exclusively. We want to encourage our young readers to read all types of books that are inclusive and diverse and reflective of our student community, not simply celebrate Dr. Seuss. Dr. Seuss and his books are no longer the emphasis of Read Across America Day. That being said, Dr. Seuss books have not been banned; they are still available to students in our libraries and classrooms.

This ignores the fact that Theodore Geisel was a liberal Democrat in life and supported many left-leaning policies and causes including in his books (read: The Lorax) which should deem him anything but “racist.” Nevertheless, the children’s book author has faced years of scrutiny and articles claiming that ACTUALLY he’s been racist the entire time.

Granger-Mbugua published several of these claims including that “100% of the characters of color in the 50 Dr. Seuss children’s books studied are portrayed through subservience, dehumanization, exotification, stereotype and/or caricature…98% of the characters are white.” And that the Cat from “The Cat in the Hat” was “based on varying influences, including a black woman who worked as an elevator operator in the building of Seuss’ publisher, as well as stereotypes of black culture, blackface performers, and minstrel shows used as entertainment for white viewers.”

I guarantee that not one person on this planet has ever decided to become racist after just reading “The Cat in the Hat.”

Even the fact that Dr. Seuss was born over one hundred years ago is not a good enough excuse for these people who insist that “racism, bigotry, and hatred should never be celebrated, even in the writing of some of our most celebrated authors.” That’s fine except for the fact that Dr. Seuss books do not celebrate “racism, bigotry, and hatred.” They teach kids to read in a fun way. And the fact that these people are in charge of what many kids read should concern us all.

Tagged With: after, cancel, Criticizing, Culture, politicians, weekend

‘The Bachelor’ Producers Condemn Racist Online Bullying of Rachel Lindsay Following Chris Harrison Interview

March 1, 2021 MadMadNews Reposted Filed Under: ENTERTAINMENT, Variety

Days after former “Bachelorette” Rachel Lindsay deleted her Instagram account due to online bullying, the producers of “The Bachelor” have released a statement in support of the star. The executive producers of the dating franchise are condemning all racist harassment of Lindsay, who they applaud for using her voice to educate the public. “As executive producers […]

Tagged With: after, Bachelorette”, days, former, Lindsay, Rachel

This New Camper Is an Off-Road Beast With an Luxe Interior Like a Scandinavian Hotel

March 1, 2021 MadMadNews Reposted Filed Under: Robb Report, SUCCESS

The Darc Mono has everything you need to relax after a grueling day of off-roading.

Tagged With: after, Darc, everything, Mono, need, relax

Chile Takes Key Titles to Berlin’s European Film Market

March 1, 2021 MadMadNews Reposted Filed Under: ENTERTAINMENT, Variety

A year after featuring as the European Film Market’s focus country, Chile returns with a delegate of more than 20 producers who will participate in a virtual stand, backed by ProChile and the Ministry of Culture. Bastard. The Inheritance of a Genocide (Pepe Rovano) In this Chilean-Italian co-production between Totoral Films and Media Lab, Rovano […]

Tagged With: after, European, featuring, film, markets, year

: AstraZeneca sold its stake in Moderna for more than $1 billion as it looks to develop its own pipeline of drugs.

March 1, 2021 MadMadNews Reposted Filed Under: BUSINESS, MarketWatch

The sale comes after shares in COVID-19 vaccine maker Moderna soared fivefold in 2020.

Tagged With: after, comes, COVID19, sale, shares, Vaccine

Andra Day Praises ‘Billie Holiday’ Director Lee Daniels: ‘The Man Is a Blessing’

March 1, 2021 MadMadNews Reposted Filed Under: ENTERTAINMENT, Variety

Andra Day was effervescent on Sunday evening after winning the Golden Globe Award for lead actress in drama for portraying the legendary jazz musician in “The United States Vs. Billie Holiday.” She gushed about her experience working with director Lee Daniels and all that he did to make her soar in the role of the […]

Tagged With: after, Andra, effervescent, evening, Sunday, Winning

POW! ‘Batwoman’ Lectures About ‘Implicit Bias’ in ‘Medical Community’

February 28, 2021 MadMadNews Reposted Filed Under: INVESTIGATIONS, Newsbusters

After demonizing the police, CW’s racial justice Batwoman has now jumped to demonizing doctors. Somehow, I doubt a world without either would improve the black community.

The February 28 episode “Do Not Resuscitate” starts with Batwoman/Ryan Wilder (Javicia Leslie) suffering from radiation poison from a kryptonite bullet. Her girlfriend Angelique (Bevin Bru) takes her to a hospital where they’re forced to wait for a doctor like everyone else. This doesn’t sit well with Angelique who grabs the first medical attendant she sees and starts literally lecturing him about implicit bias.

 

 

Ryan: Yo. Believe it or not, the pacing, it isn’t healing me.

Angelique: What the hell’s taking them so long? Hey! You! We have been waiting for a doctor for two hours.

Man: Oh. Actually, I’m not her attending.

Angelique: Oh. Actually, have you heard of a little issue in your medical community called implicit bias?

Man: I’m sorry. We’re coding down the hall.

Angelique: Let me educate you on something.

Ryan: Ang, please. He’s busy.

Angelique: It is the reason black women die of neglect at a disproportionately high rate in this country. We’re not having that tonight. You need to get my girl some actual care before you need your own.

Man: I’ll find your attending.

Ryan: Ok. Um… That was extra.

Apparently, racism is now so bad that it overrides the Hippocratic Oath in hospitals. Imagine being so paranoid as to believe doctors watch people die for the crime of being black. Even if there are discrepancies between races, correlation does not equal causation and who does it help to call all hospitals “implicitly” biased? Batwoman has certainly hit leftist lows before, but this may be an all-new standard.

And, of course, Ryan seems all too happy to watch her girlfriend berate a random white male worker for problems in the “medical community.” Newsflash, yelling at a clearly busy medical attendant would change the “implicit bias” of a hospital as much as yelling at a pizza boy would change Domino’s. All it shows is the sick glee you get from torturing people trying to their best to help you. I’ve seen supervillains less sadistic than that.

Considering we’re currently in a country desperate to vaccinate all its citizens with black people among the most hesitant, the last thing TV shows should do is demonize doctors trying to do their jobs. Yet Batwoman can’t help but call hospitals racist for the sake of scoring social justice points. Even people’s lives don’t seem to matter to this superhero series. Thank goodness she’s not our hero.

The show was sponsored by commercials from Dove, DoorDash, and Microsoft.

Tagged With: after, CW's, Demonizing, Justice, police, Racial

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