Canon recently opened early access to its Kokomo ImmersiveCalling platform in Canada and the United States for the Meta Quest 2.
Unveiled in mid-April, Canon’s latest solution follows developments from the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2022 in Las Vegas.
People can use their Quest 2 headsets tethered to a compatible smartphone or tablet, allowing face-to-face communications with other users.
To boost engagement with its user base, Canon plans to launch numerous online events and giveaway offerings with select founders and content creators. Some top names joining the launch include Nathaniël de Jong, Casandra Vuong, and Chary Keijzer.
Canon will also use Discord to open a channel for feedback, updates, and other key information.
Canon’s Kokomo Goes 1:1 on VR Collaboration
The app leverages facial imaging technologies and realistic environments via the headset and companion app. The two devices seamlessly recreate users’ “true appearance” with lifelike facial expressions and movements.
Canon’s Kokomo ImmersiveCalling allows 1:1 real-scale communications, fully recreating individual virtual reality (VR) users to interact with others. The solution uses live-captured, full-body digital twins of users for communications. This allows people to feel connected, sharing data and digital media in real-time and with an enhanced spatial presence.
Early access users can download the Meta Quest App Lab beta app. This will provide pairing with Canon’s mobile app for both Android and iOS devices.
Canon’s Immersive Solutions
Canon boosted its efforts in the extended reality (XR) market after debuting its Dual Fisheye camera lens in May last year. The novel solution democratised VR filmmaking with stereoscopic 3D filming.
Using Canon’s EOS R5 camera stock, the dual fisheye lens captures 180 degrees of VR video and still footage. This allows professionals and novices to create on-the-fly immersive content for the Meta Quest 2.
It also has a 190-degree field of view (FoV), high-grade L-series optics, and flare control technologies for filming in backlit environments.
A key use case for the device included Media Monks’ Alan Bucaria, a veteran VR filmmaker and advocate of Canon’s videography technologies.
With his longstanding immersive storytelling experience, Bucaria discussed with XR Today last year how Canon’s Fisheye lenses empowered the filming of ‘This Is Bike Life,’ a movie about urban sport biking culture in California.
According to the director, Canon’s EOS VR system provided high-resolution 8K visuals and 360-degree filming. The Canon system also democratised stereoscopic filmmaking with its affordable price point and access to developer and studio tools, among others.
The Japanese firm’s visit to the CES 2023 also teased audiences with its Limitless is More show. While there, Canon showcased its XR imaging toolkit with a preview from M Night Shyamalan’s “Knock at the Cabin.”
The film captured the movie stereoscopically, offering attendees a fully immersive version of the hit movie and providing multiple viewing angles. Filmed in Kawasaki, Japan, audiences can see the action from several characters’ perspectives in the storyline.
