US tech firm Meta, formerly branded as Facebook, took the largest share of headlines amid a wave of news updates on the Metaverse from across the extended reality (XR) industry.
The news comes as XR Today covered several key global events such as the Industrial XR Global Summit, Facebook Connect, and XR Association’s inaugural Limitless Future Conference, which took place over a week’s time.
In case you missed it, here are the top stories from last week. Be sure to also stay posted with our newsletter by visiting https://www.xrtoday.com/sign-up/ for further updates!
Meta’s Nick Clegg Pledges To Protect Metaverse Users
Nick Clegg, Meta’s Vice President of Global Affairs and Communications, said in an interview with Reuters the Metaverse would not be “built by Facebook alone” and noted the future communications platform would require interoperability with other technologies.
The former British Liberal Democrats party leader and deputy Prime Minister to the David Cameron administration also vowed Meta, rebranded from Facebook in late October, hoped to work with global XR partners such as the Washington, DC-based XR Association to realise the Metaverse.
The news comes amid fierce criticisms from Westminster, who drafted a bill stating lawmakers may prosecute and fine big tech firms for failing to protect online users of social media platforms.
Former Facebook employee Frances Haugen, also leaked a huge number of documents in recent months alleging the social media giant failed to act on the negative effects of social media use on young adults.
Meta Announces Oculus v34 Horizon Update
Meta announced last week its plans to roll out its anticipated version 34 update to boost accessibility on its lineup of Quest headsets.
Changes included voice commands for navigating media channels such as Oculus TV and checking the weather, as well as allowing Android users to receive phone notifications in VR.
The Menlo Park-based Metaverse company also improved its Space Sense feature, which detects virtual boundaries for guardians in a user’s immersive space to increase safety while using headets.
The news comes after the company introduced its Passthrough API Experimental tool for mixed reality experiences and Presence Platform, which provides an ecosystem for MR immersive experiences.
Microsoft Reveals XR-Powered Mesh for Teams
Microsoft has also joined efforts to build the Metaverse after revealing its Mesh for Teams MR solution for remote workers at its Ignite event.
The new immersive spaces tool is set for launch in the first half of 2022 and will allow people to use avatars at video meetings as well as remote collaborations in virtual offices.
Mesh, Microsoft’s holographic virtual experiences platform, will power the new solution for Microsoft’s Office suite of tools across PCs, smartphones, and MR headsets.
ByteDance’s Zhang Yiming Resigns amid Restructure
News from the Asian XR market shocked audiences after Zhang Yiming, ByteDance’s Chairman, announced he would step down from his post following a major restructuring of the video sharing giant.
Company co-founder Liang Rubo took over as chief executive after Zhang resigned from the post as well. ByteDance also confirmed it would relocate its headquarters to Hong Kong in 2022.
The news comes as the Beijing-based firm said it would split into six businesses after several key acquisitions, including XR headset makers Pico Interactive and others.
Twitter Leaks Reveal Meta’s Project Cambria Details
Leaked photos were posted on Twitter revealing upcoming designs for Meta’s Project Cambria MR headset, which included sturdier headstraps and no front-facing tracking rings on controllers.
The lack of tracking rings indicates Cambria may rely on greater tracking capabilities via the device’s front-facing cameras.
The news comes after Oculus reportedly ceased branding headsets with its logo as Meta acquired branding for the top-selling VR devices, and Andrew Bosworth, Head of Meta’s Reality Labs, teased photos of the upcoming headset with Zuckerberg in recent social media posts.
Meta AI’s ReSkin Sensor to Boost Metaverse Plans
Meta has revealed it designed a solution for improving tactile haptic solution aimed at boosting availability to scientific researchers as well as upscaling efforts to building the Metaverse.
According to Mark Zuckerberg, Meta Chief Executive and Founder, researchers at Carnegie Mellon helped develop the new “high-res touch sensor” to bring the firm “one step closer” to physical interactions in the Metaverse.
The news comes after the Melo Park-based company released its DIGIT sensor last year, which provided significantly lower production costs and provided “hundreds of thousands” of additional contact points.
