TECHNOLOGY news Google plans to distribute AR platform Tango to museums Google’s augmented reality platform Tango is partnering with a number of museums, offering visitors starting at the Detroit Institute of Arts opportunities to interact with works using the technology. Devices capable of hosting Tango utilise sensors not found in most phones, allowing added depth and scale, which in turn allows digital overlays to be applied more accurately over 3D surfaces. Visitors to the museum can request the use of a Lenovo Phab 2 Pro – the first Tangoenabled smartphone – using the handset to learn more about different artefacts, with examples offered including revealing the inside of a mummified body, visualising lost architecture and showing limestone works with their original colouring. Developed by GuidiGo, an app developer that previously created augmented reality museums guides for the currently on-hold Google Glass project, the Tango app will also include quizzes and games. Following its initial run in Detroit, Tango will be rolled out to a number of yet-to-benamed museums, enhancing the interactive experience for institutions worldwide.
■■Tango-enabled devices can be used to explore museum exhibits in augmented reality “Museums can be great teachers. From art and science to culture and natural history, they educate and inspire us. Still, display signs and audioguides can only convey so much. What if you could explore museums in a different way,” said Justin Quimby, senior
product manager for Tango. “This is just the beginning of how you’ll be able to use Tango to see more, hear more and learn more. Stay tuned as we bring Tango to even more museums around the world.” ■■Details: http://lei.sr?a=R9g4R_T
Hugo Barra joins Facebook to lead VR charge
■■The patent has a number of applications
Universal planning to use drones in parks Universal is hot on the heels of Disney after filing a patent for use of drone technology at its parks in the US. Universal City Studios – a sister division to Universal Parks & Resorts – published a patent covering “special effects techniques,” including water, scent cannons, compressed air blasts, steam, theatrical smoke or fog, snow, bubbles, confetti, flame effects, or directional speakers and other audio. ■■Details: http://lei.sr?a=B3G7A_T
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Facebook has named Hugo Barra its vice president of virtual reality, with the Brazilian tech wizard and entrepreneur to head up the company’s Oculus programme. Barra, who previously ran Chinese phone maker Xiaomi’s global division has also served in a number of product management roles at Google in London and California, including as vice president of Android. During his time at Xiaomi, Barra worked on the company’s own virtual reality headset, also launching a range of new smartphones. “Hugo is joining Facebook to lead all of our virtual reality efforts, including our Oculus team,” said Facebook
■■Barra joins Facebook as vice president of virtual reality CEO, Mark Zuckerberg. “I’ve known Hugo for a long time, starting when he helped develop the Android operating system, to the last few years he’s worked at Xiaomi in Beijing bringing innovative devices to millions of people. “Hugo shares my belief that virtual and
augmented reality will be the next major computing platform. They’ll enable us to experience completely new things and be more creative than ever before. Hugo is going to help build that future, and I’m looking forward to having him on our team.” ■■Details: http://lei.sr?a=H3s4p_T AM 1 2017 ©Cybertrek 2017