#VR in enterprises

[understanding-react-native]

Transforming Enterprises with AR, VR, and IoT Integration

Explore how AR, VR, and IoT revolutionise enterprises by enhancing business operations, improving efficiency, and driving digital transformation.

[simulanissolutions]

In the fast-paced realm of technology, Virtual Reality (VR) is on the cusp of redefining the way we interact with the digital world. As we peer into the technological crystal ball to foresee the landscape of 2024, let's explore the anticipated Virtual Reality Trends 2025 and innovations that promise to shape the future of V

[yoogeswaran]

ALTOS Technologies: Leading Web Development & IT Solutions in India

ALTOS Technologies provides comprehensive IT solutions including web development, mobile apps, AI, Python. With expertise in 3D modeling, digital marketing, and custom software development, we cater to businesses aiming for digital transformation.

[techninja]

Exploring the Potential of Augmented Reality in Education

Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR VR) Software

Explore the world of Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR VR) software, its evolution, applications, benefits, and future trends in this comprehensive guide.

Introduction

Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) have revolutionized the way we interact with technology, offering immersive experiences that blend the digital and physical worlds seamlessly. In this article, we delve into the world of AR VR software, exploring its evolution, types, features, industries, benefits, challenges, and future trends.

Evolution of AR VR Software

AR and VR technologies have come a long way since their inception. From early experiments to sophisticated applications, the evolution of AR VR software has been marked by significant technological advancements. Innovations in hardware and software have propelled AR VR from niche domains to mainstream adoption across various industries.

Types of AR VR Software

AR VR software encompasses a diverse range of applications tailored to different needs and industries. Consumer-oriented AR VR apps cater to entertainment, gaming, and social experiences, while enterprise solutions focus on training, simulation, and visualization tools for businesses.

Key Features and Functions

At the core of AR VR software are its immersive experiences and interactive capabilities. Users can explore virtual environments, manipulate objects, and engage with digital content in real-time, blurring the lines between the physical and virtual worlds.

Industries Utilizing AR VR Software

AR VR technology finds applications in a wide array of industries, including gaming, healthcare, education, and architecture. From immersive gaming experiences to surgical simulations, AR VR software is transforming how we learn, work, and interact with information.

Benefits of AR VR Software

The adoption of AR VR software brings forth a multitude of benefits. In education, students can engage in immersive learning experiences, while businesses leverage VR for training simulations and product visualization. Enhanced customer engagement and experiential marketing further amplify the impact of AR VR technology.

Challenges and Limitations

Despite its potential, AR VR software faces several challenges and limitations. High hardware requirements, user comfort issues, and content quality concerns pose barriers to widespread adoption. Addressing these challenges is crucial for unlocking the full potential of AR VR technology.

Future Trends in AR VR Software

Looking ahead, the future of AR VR software is promising. Integration with artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) will enable new applications and experiences. Advancements in hardware, such as lightweight headsets and haptic feedback devices, will further enhance the immersive capabilities of AR VR technology.

Conclusion

Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR VR) software represents a paradigm shift in how we interact with digital content and the world around us. As technology continues to evolve, AR VR software will play an increasingly integral role in various industries, shaping the way we learn, work, and communicate.

FAQs

1. What is the difference between AR and VR?

2. How does AR VR technology enhance training simulations?

3. Which industries benefit the most from AR VR software?

4. What are the primary challenges associated with AR VR adoption?

5. What advancements can we expect in AR VR hardware?

[hsdigitalmedia]

HS Digital Media Crafting Compelling Narratives through Ad Films

The Power of Ad Films

Why Choose HS Digital Media

Showcase your company’s unique selling characteristics. Highlight any awards, recognition, or successful case studies.

The Creative Process

Provide insights into how HS Digital Media approaches ad film creation. Discuss the collaboration between your team and clients. Emphasize the importance of tailoring each project to the client’s brand and goals.

Technological Edge

Detail the cutting-edge technology and equipment used by HS Digital Media. Discuss any innovative techniques or trends in the ad film industry.

The Team Behind the Magic

Introduce key members of your team and their expertise. Share any success stories or challenges overcome during previous projects.

Client Success Stories

Include testimonials from satisfied clients. Highlight specific projects and their impact on the client’s brand.

Industry Trends and Insights

Discuss current trends in ad film production. Share insights into the evolving landscape of digital media.

Challenges and Solutions

Address common challenges in ad film production. Showcase how HS Digital Media overcomes these challenges to deliver exceptional results.

Social Impact Through Ad Films

Discuss any projects that have contributed to social causes. Highlight the potential for ad films to create positive change.

The Future of Ad Films

Share your vision for the future of ad film production. Discuss emerging technologies and their potential impact on the industry.

[vrsenterprises]

The Advantages of Using VRS Enterprises for Money Transfer

The Advantages of Using VRS Enterprises for Money Transfer

VRS Enterprises is a trusted money transfer company that offers a variety of services, including domestic and international money transfers, instant cash against credit cards, and bill payments. The company has a wide network of agents across India, and it also offers online money transfer services.

There are many advantages to using VRS Enterprises for money transfer. Here are some of the most notable:

Security and reliability: VRS Enterprises is a secure and reliable company. The company uses the latest security technologies to protect your personal and financial information. VRS Enterprises also has a good track record of providing reliable and efficient services. Competitive rates: VRS Enterprises offers competitive rates on money transfers. The company's rates are often lower than those of other money transfer companies. Wide network of agents: VRS Enterprises has a wide network of agents across India. This means that you can easily find an agent near you to transfer money. Convenient online services: VRS Enterprises also offers online money transfer services. This means that you can transfer money from the comfort of your own home. If you are looking for a secure, reliable, and affordable way to transfer money, VRS Enterprises is a great option. The company offers a variety of services to meet your needs, and its rates are competitive.

Here are some additional advantages of using VRS Enterprises for money transfer:

Easy to use: VRS Enterprises's website and mobile app are easy to use. You can transfer money quickly and easily with just a few clicks. 24/7 customer support: VRS Enterprises offers 24/7 customer support. If you have any questions or problems, you can contact a customer service representative at any time. Money-back guarantee: VRS Enterprises offers a money-back guarantee on all money transfers. If you are not satisfied with your transfer, you can request a refund. If you are looking for a reliable and convenient way to transfer money, VRS Enterprises is a great option. The company offers a variety of services to meet your needs, and its rates are competitive.

Here are some tips for using VRS Enterprises safely:

Verify the authenticity of the website: Before you start using VRS Enterprises, make sure that the website is authentic. You can do this by checking the company's website address and looking for the security certificate. Protect your personal information: When you are using VRS Enterprises, be sure to protect your personal information. Do not share your personal information with anyone you do not trust. Use secure payment methods: VRS Enterprises offers a variety of secure payment methods. When you are making a payment, be sure to use a secure payment method, such as a credit card or debit card. By following these tips, you can use VRS Enterprises safely and securely.

[blockchain-23]

Best Metaverse Development Company In 2023 | USA | Chain code Consulting

We are a Metaverse Development company specializing in developing the infrastructure for the Metaverse. We build secure, decentralized applications for the AR and VR metaverse

Chaincode provide blockchain consulting services to help you select blockchain platform, type of blockchain and guide you through blockchain development.

Get your project started today!

[blockchainbeleaf]

Beleaf Technologies - Blockchain Development Company & Service Provider

Beleaf Technologies is an India-based enterprise blockchain technology solutions and services provider. Our team of experts specialises in developing blockchain technology that is tailored to your company's specific requirements. We understand that each organisation has unique needs, so we work closely with them to understand their requirements and develop custom-built blockchain solutions that can help improve their operations and overall performance. Our blockchain technology is intended to provide businesses with a secure, decentralised, and efficient way to manage their data and transactions. You can reap the benefits of blockchain technology without the hassle of managing and maintaining the infrastructure yourself with our solutions. You can rely on us to provide the best blockchain technology development for your company's needs.

[stra-tek]

This is one of the greatest things ever. Walk around every single version of the U.S.S. Enterprise in photorealistic 3D in your browser, from the Roddenberry Archive. On a phone you just see wraparound 3D pics. On a PC or laptop you get the full 3D interactive experience. They NEED to make this VR compatible, it'll be beyond words.

There are more Enterprises here than Tumblr will allow me photos of, and more will likely be added.

Here's the TOS Enterprise, which appears in several incarnations ("The Cage", "Where No Man Has Gone Before" and TOS proper as well as TAS with the second turbolift!), has the correct original graphics and is perfect.

This is the bridge from the unmade Star Trek: Phase II series (whose pilot episode "In Thy Image" was rewritten to become Star Trek: The Motion Picture), with it's legendary big comfy command sofa seat and tactical display bubble!

The Motion Picture, such an accurate recreation that there's even a very faint flicker on the rear-projection animated screens as seen in the movie.

Enterprise NX-01, looking exactly as it did in "Broken Bow"

Recognise this? It's the briefing room of Discovery season 2's version of the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701. Although at the front of the saucer on the "real" ship, here it's off the second bridge door which may well be where the set was IRL.

I wasn't expecting modern Trek to be represented equally as the originals in this project, but it is. This is the Enterprise from Strange New Worlds, with Pike's Ready Room located just off the bridge.

Star Trek V: The Final Frontier. My favourite version of the classic bridge, as a kid I drew all these control panels and stuck them on my bedroom walls. And now I can look around and look at them all close-up! They've even replicated the noticable TVs stuffed into the panels for the more complex animated screens.

The Enterprise-C bridge from "Yesterday's Enterprise". This one has always fascinated me, being a low-budget TV set (formerly the Enterprise-D battle bridge, originally built from the rain-damaged TMP set's back wall and redressed endlessly though TNG) representing TNG's immediate predecessor. In the episode they mostly shoot the back wall and imply the consoles make a huge circle, but here you can see the set's real dimensions and the weirdness of the classic movie helm/nav console in front of the TNG con/ops panels. I love it.

You know how much I love the Kelvin movies, so seeing this was amazing. For some reason the consoles don't have their screens lit (hopefully this'll be fixed soon), but you can see the saucer under the window and it's shiny and amazing.

The last thing I expected was the U.S.S. Titan-A/Enterprise-G bridge, but it's here. And the lights are on.

Other bridges available to explore which I'm out of pictures to show: The Enterprise-D (of course), Enterprise XCV-330 (the ringship, based on concept art for the unmade non-Trek series "Starship"), the Planet of the Titans U.S.S. Enterprise (again, based on concept art for a cool multi-levelled set) and the "launch" U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701 (based on the very first piece of TOS bridge set concept art), the Enterprise-E, the Enterprise-F (seen on viewscreen for all of 2 minutes in Picard) and the U.S.S. Voyager NCC-74656!

Take a bow lads, you've done good. Now just add VR support!

That link again.

[kibbles-bits]

any voxval fics you’d recommend?

Ah, yes, voxval fics... The one ship that finally made me cave and read explicit stuff. I am now numb to everything.

Everything.

I'll only be posting completed fics. Warnings, almost all of these are explicit. A couple also have Angel, you know, suffering.

And please mind the tags.

First off is a couple of favs that I always go back for a reread:

Corrupted Love by DoveFactory (Words: 149,495)

In a moment of blind desperation to one-up Alastor, Vox puts himself in a compromising situation that leaves him worse for wear. His state triggers something in Valentino who decides to change the nature of their relationship.

The title and summary of this is so misleading I thought it was going to be a dark fic but nope. The Vees are a bunch of goobers and Valentino always wins. I would scream about this every time it updated. I love the characterizations and their banter it almost made me forget there's sex in like every chapter. Honestly I wish there was more tags referencing the character/story stuff.

Virtual Reality by passthevoxcord (Words: 7,634)

Vox gets tired of his cybernetic biology being a barrier to his sex life, so he starts a new project to fuck Valentino in VR. Val will try anything once, but he has something else in mind.

This one ends up being so sweet I want to die. passthevoxcord's other fic, Only a Shadow, drives me nuts but its a WIP and hasn't actually gotten to the voxval yet.

choke behind a smile by gloriousmonsters (Words: 19,881)

"I'm not scared by extreme, although I doubt I'll find it interesting. What is it?" Valentino's eyes narrow slyly over his smile. "If you aren't scared, why do you need a warning?" Vox has everything under control in his new business partnership with benefits. His emotions, his unfortunate desires, the little mind games they play. Even Valentino himself. When Val offers an invitation to a special show he's performing, Vox knows it's a dare, and knows he has to take it, show Val that he can't be scared or destabilized. He has no idea of how deep under his skin the show will get.

Everyone's so normal. I love this Valentino. There's another Valvel fic that has the same Valentino I also recommend called bad girls go backstage.

Great Expectations by MarenRose (Words: 11,280)

“It’s his goal. Those three simple words. If he could get to hear them once, could let the reality of their meaning and spoken existence occupy his mind for only a few indiscernible moments, then maybe, Vox could learn to see the appeal of this god forsaken holiday. He might even learn to ‘love’ it too.” Or: Vox hates Valentine’s Days. His prick of a ‘wife’ is just too damn hard to please.

This miiiight have been the fic that made me Lock In on voxval? I'm not sure. It's sweet. Alastor is hilarious.

biting keeps your words at bay by Subedarling (Words: 1,511)

“You can’t hit me,” Valentino says. He’s practically vibrating with rage. “You’re not allowed to—you can’t hit me!” Vox sneers, cruel and mocking and hopefully masking the way his heart is breaking apart inside his chest. “Baby, I can do whatever the hell I want.” A decade into their partnership, Vox and Valentino have their first and last physical fight.

This might be the only non-explicit fic in this list. I am all for Val being the worst just because he's Like That. But I will not say no to an implied tragic backstory. I read this one a lot and want to die. Can I draw this. I want to draw this. Oh my god I have free time I can totally draw this...

And my other recs:

Just For The Record by PeppermintWalrus (Words: 13,795)

Vox is thrilled about his new film enterprise with his business partner, ready to build a lucrative empire for the denizens of hell to experience true cinema, in the only genre their depraved minds desire. There’s just one problem that he finds out too late; Valentino has never filmed porn before. Vox decides that some... hands-on teaching, is necessary to save their production.

Yeah you read that right.

a putrid feeling that i've addressed by spoondrifts (Words: 5,162)

They weren’t a couple because Valentino was pathologically noncommittal and Vox simply knew better. He tried the whole romance thing with a certain radio demon a few decades back, and he’d learned his damn lesson. Hell just wasn’t the place for that sort of cutesy bullshit. Also, he was pretty sure that Valentino was straight up incapable of love, which was both par for the course for Vox’s friendships and amazingly convenient—things couldn’t get complicated if there was nothing to complicate in the first place. Or: Full Moon, Vox/Val edition.

Haha I love pain. I lied, this is the second non-explicit fic.

Little Miss Hellion by DoveFactory (Words: 10,657)

Hell’s worst married couple spends a day of family bonding at a beauty pageant doing whatever it takes to make sure their daughter takes home the crown, because failure is never an option for the Vees. Pilot AU where Vox and Valentino are married and Velvette is their adopted daughter.

It's more Vees than voxval but they're married so.

The Art of Pimping by MarenRose (Words: 9,161)

Desperate to close a deal with one of the most lucrative investors in Pride, Vox does the unthinkable and pimps out Valentino for a one-time date. What could go wrong?

Val's attitude in this one is funny and Vox. Yeah. Vox made a mistake.

You Found Me by passthevoxcord (Words: 4,338)

Long before Velvette came along, it was just them. Vox and Valentino. Valentino and Vox.

Sobbing.

Something Less Than Dishonest by daphnerunning, Galiko (Words: 33,931)

He isn’t expecting the way Valentino walks, for some reason. Maybe it’s the extra limbs. Maybe it’s the wings. Maybe it’s the heels. Vox had skipped briefly through a few of the slut’s movies, for research, and isn’t expecting the way Valentino moves in person to feel so… Different. “…You must be my four o���clock,” he says, standing and offering a hand. Oh, shit, he’s huge. Valentino towers over him, easily would without the stripper heels. Vox is not afraid of heights.

Vox is so offensive in this it loops back around to hilarious.

Red Skies and Valentino by alternatedoom (Words: 86,050)

"Vox and I are special friends, doll. Go give him a kiss," Val says to the boy.

Angel does not have a good time. But the Voxval is nice.

before you go by xoTsundoku (Words: 4,426)

Before Alastor came into their lives, Vox and Valentino were happy. Maybe they still can be.

A Farewell to Ghosts by Accidental_Ducky (Words: 37,149)

"What do you think that is," Vox demands, pointing at the new guy. Valentino turns, eyes raking greedily over the man's body. He's gorgeous, skinny in a heroin chic way with big blue eyes and blond hair that falls just so across his eyes. "Hot." "Don't fucking call the ghost hot!"

The only human AU I've liked so far. Love the character interactions. Vox and Val are hilarious.

God I hope I didn't miss any. There's definitely some good WIP ones out there.

[multidimensionalsock]

Games engines and their pricings for Indie Devs

Based on Unitys recent changes to their pricing model, I thought it would be useful to put together a list of different game making softwares and their pricing models to compare which would be best for you.

Unreal

Programming language: C++ and visual scripting.

Dimensions: 3D, VR and AR

Platforms: all platforms

Standard license: free to use, pay 5% of your revenue over $1 million over the lifetime of the game, due each quarter (as long as the game is still for sale or generates more them $10k per quarter)

Enterprise: $1.5k+ per seat per year, includes premium support and private training and/or custom licensing terms

Custom licenses: larger developers can renegotiate with epic for lower or waived royalty fees.

More about their licensing here

Gamemaker

Programming language: GML and visual scripting

Dimensions: 2D

Gamemaker doesn't require any royalties made off of your game no matter which license youre on.

Free: access to gamemaker and export that can only be used on their games website (GX.games)

Creator: access to game maker, GX export and desktop export $4.99 a month

Indie: access to the above with web and mobile exports, $9.99 a month.

Enterprise: all of the above but with console exports as well $79.99 a month.

Godot

Programming languages: GDScript, C# and C++

Dimensions: 2D, 3D, AR and VR

Platforms: Not able to port to console due to it being open source unless you develop it yourself or via a third party.

Royalty free and free at point of purchase.

RPG maker

Programming language: Java and visual scripting

Dimensions: 3D (in some), 2D

Platforms: windows, mac, web

Doesn't ask for royalties from games, has a 20 day free trial. RPG maker MZ costs £66.99 initial purchase, costs may vary by which engine you buy.

CryEngine

Programming language: C++

Dimensions: 2D, 3D, VR and AR.

Platforms: Windows, Linux, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Oculus Rift, OSVR, PSVR, and HTC Vive. Mobile support is in development.

5% royalty fee over $5k a year, free to download and use.

Cocos2D

Programming languages: C++, C#, Lua and javascript

Dimensions: 2D

Platforms: android, mac, linux, and win32.

Free to use, no royalties

Cocos creator

Programming languages: TypeScript and JavaScript

Dimensions: 2D and 3D

Platforms: IOS, android, windows, mac, HTML5

Free to use, no royalties

Defold

Programming languages: Lua 5.1 and LuaJIT

Dimensions: 2D and 3D

Platforms: PlayStation®4, Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS, macOS, Linux, Windows, Steam, HTML5, Facebook, Q3 2023 PlayStation®5, Q2 2024 XBox

Free to use, no royalties

Phaser

Dimensions: 2D

Programming languages: JavaScript or TypeScript

Platforms: Web (HTML5)

Free to use, no royalties

Unity

Programming language: C#

Platforms: all platforms

Dimensions: 2D, 3D, VR and AR

Edit: unity has changed their policy you can see the new one here

[simulanissolutions]

Globally, the fields of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) have experienced explosive growth, with India emerging as a major participant in this technological revolution. The need for augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) solutions is rising quickly as businesses all over the nation become aware of these technologies' revolutionary potential. At the vanguard of this shift are businesses like Simulanis Solutions, who are advancing innovation and offering cutting-edge AR and VR services to a range of industries.

[gaykarstaagforever]

TNG Season 6 certainly has its good episodes. Like Episode 8, "A Fistful of Datas".

Yes, it's another goofy "Holodeck-on-the-fritz" episode. But I goddamn love these. And the writers seem to too, because they usually tend to be well-written. This one in particular focuses on Worf and Data, probably my two favorite TNG characters, which helps. And Spiner and Dorn get to flex their substantial acting chops, dealing with this fantasy situation.

Also they finally let Troi do something cool. I may be a filthy homosexual, but Cowboy Troi still gets it DONE. Hot damn.

This episode raises all kinds of questions about how the Enterprise-D computer works, and why the hell. You'd think after the "Elementary, My Dear Data" incident of Season 2, they would have physically isolated the Holodeck from the rest of the ship's computer, or at least put up some firewalls or memory-access limits. The VR computer game app should not be able to just use ALL of the ship's insane computing power to run games. Like, games are shit when they do that now. This system keeps fresh air flowing in the ship, and makes it so that not everyone explodes immediately every time you move it. Probably should wall-off the thing running Space Fortnite from the bulk of that.

But they certainly don’t. By the end of this episode, the computer has nonchalantly generated FIVE different perfect recreations of Data for its corrupted cowboy simulation. Five. He's the most advanced android in the known universe, and his inner-workings are a mystery even to Starfleet scientists. And the Enterprise-D computer just made 5 clones of him for a video game. Hot damn, this system is scary powerful.

...Of course, in "Elementary, Dear Data", it accidentally created an ENTIRE SENTIENT MAN, just because Geordi asked it to troll Data. And it let that creation seize the rest of the computer with steampunk levers and nearly kill everyone. Again, why don't they have basic code permissions in place to prevent stuff like this? And yes, I know the answer is this was written in the 80s by people who wrote it on typewriters.

And this comes up again in Season 6 in Episode 12, "Ship in a Bottle", where Moriarty breaks out of his digital prison and attacks them again. And tries to force them to make him real! And they only stop him then by tricking him into trapping himself inside a Space iPad!

Starfleet. For God's sake. Basic security protocols, my dudes!

All this said, the Moriarty thing only happened because Data and Geordi were messing around with the computer, and this cowboy mess only happened because...Data and Geordi were messing around with the computer. That's twice now, guys. Picard should at least give them a stern talking-to. You'd think the Chief Engineer and the Android would be smarter about their computer shenanigans. But here we are.

Here we motherfucking are.

Some people are always playing chicken with the train.

[scifigeneration]

ChatGPT and the movie ‘Her’ are just the latest example of the ‘sci-fi feedback loop’

by Rizwan Virk, Faculty Associate and PhD Candidate in Human and Social Dimensions of Science and Technology at Arizona State University

In May 2024, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman sparked a firestorm by referencing the 2013 movie “Her” to highlight the novelty of the latest iteration of ChatGPT.

Within days, actor Scarlett Johansson, who played the voice of Samantha, the AI girlfriend of the protagonist in the movie “Her,” accused the company of improperly using her voice after she had spurned their offer to make her the voice of ChatGPT’s new virtual assistant. Johansson ended up suing OpenAI and has been invited to testify before Congress.

This tiff highlights a broader interchange between Hollywood and Silicon Valley that’s called the “sci-fi feedback loop.” The subject of my doctoral research, the sci-fi feedback loop explores how science fiction and technological innovation feed off each other. This dynamic is bidirectional and can sometimes play out over many decades, resulting in an ongoing loop.

Fiction sparks dreams of Moon travel

One of the most famous examples of this loop is Moon travel.

Jules Verne’s 1865 novel “From the Earth to the Moon” and the fiction of H.G. Wells inspired one of the first films to visualize such a journey, 1902’s “A Trip to the Moon.”

The fiction of Verne and Wells also influenced future rocket scientists such as Robert Goddard, Hermann Oberth and Oberth’s better-known protégé, Wernher von Braun. The innovations of these men – including the V-2 rocket built by von Braun during World War II – inspired works of science fiction, such as the 1950 film “Destination Moon,” which included a rocket that looked just like the V-2.

Films like “Destination Moon” would then go on to bolster public support for lavish government spending on the space program.

Creative symbiosis

The sci-fi feedback loop generally follows the same cycle.

First, the technological climate of a given era will shape that period’s science fiction. For example, the personal computing revolution of the 1970s and 1980s directly inspired the works of cyberpunk writers Neal Stephenson and William Gibson.

Then the sci-fi that emerges will go on to inspire real-world technological innovation. In his 1992 classic “Snow Crash,” Stephenson coined the term “metaverse” to describe a 3-D, video game-like world accessed through virtual reality goggles.

Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and innovators have been trying to build a version of this metaverse ever since. The virtual world of the video game Second Life, released in 2003, took a stab at this: Players lived in virtual homes, went to virtual dance clubs and virtual concerts with virtual girlfriends and boyfriends, and were even paid virtual dollars for showing up at virtual jobs.

This technology seeded yet more fiction; in my research, I discovered that sci-fi novelist Ernest Cline had spent a lot of time playing Second Life, and it inspired the metaverse of his bestselling novel “Ready Player One.”

The cycle continued: Employees of Oculus VR – now known as Meta Reality Labs – were given copies of “Ready Player One” to read as they developed the company’s virtual reality headsets. When Facebook changed its name to Meta in 2021, it did so in the hopes of being at the forefront of building the metaverse, though the company’s grand ambitions have tempered somewhat.

Another sci-fi franchise that has its fingerprints all over this loop is “Star Trek,” which first aired in 1966, right in the middle of the space race.

Steve Perlman, the inventor of Apple’s QuickTime media format and player, said he was inspired by an episode of “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” in which Lt. Commander Data, an android, sifts through multiple streams of audio and video files. And Rob Haitani, the designer of the Palm Pilot’s operating system, has said that the bridge on the Enterprise influenced its interface.

In my research, I also discovered that the show’s Holodeck – a room that could simulate any environment – influenced both the name and the development of Microsoft’s HoloLens augmented reality glasses.

From ALICE to ‘Her’

Which brings us back to OpenAI and “Her.”

In the movie, the protagonist, Theodore, played by Joaquin Phoenix, acquires an AI assistant, “Samantha,” voiced by Johansson. He begins to develop feelings for Samantha – so much so that he starts to consider her his girlfriend.

ChatGPT-4o, the latest version of the generative AI software, seems to be able to cultivate a similar relationship between user and machine. Not only can ChatGPT-4o speak to you and “understand” you, but it can also do so sympathetically, as a romantic partner would.

There’s little doubt that the depiction of AI in “Her” influenced OpenAI’s developers. In addition to Altman’s tweet, the company’s promotional videos for ChatGPT-4o feature a chatbot speaking with a job candidate before his interview, propping him up and encouraging him – as, well, an AI girlfriend would. The AI featured in the clips, Ars Technica observed, was “disarmingly lifelike,” and willing “to laugh at your jokes and your dumb hat.”

But you might be surprised to learn that a previous generation of chatbots inspired Spike Jonze, the director and screenwriter of “Her,” to write the screenplay in the first place. Nearly a decade before the film’s release, Jonze had interacted with a version of the ALICE chatbot, which was one of the first chatbots to have a defined personality – in ALICE’s case, that of a young woman.

The ALICE chatbot won the Loebner Prize three times, which was awarded annually until 2019 to the AI software that came closest to passing the Turing Test, long seen as a threshold for determining whether artificial intelligence has become indistinguishable from human intelligence.

The sci-fi feedback loop has no expiration date. AI’s ability to form relationships with humans is a theme that continues to be explored in fiction and real life.

A few years after “Her,” “Blade Runner 2049” featured a virtual girlfriend, Joi, with a holographic body. Well before the latest drama with OpenAI, companies had started developing and pitching virtual girlfriends, a process that will no doubt continue. As science fiction writer and social media critic Cory Doctorow wrote in 2017, “Science fiction does something better than predict the future: It influences it.”

[bluebeezle]

Payoff

So this session has been 7 months in the making.

I'm running a campaign for my nieces (8 and 10). Shortly after we started, they asked if it could take place in outer space. So while I don't like borrowing characters and stifling more creative options... I figured it'd allow me to buy toys for myself (see: Riker in the background of this picture) and might entice them to take an interest in a show I'd like them to like, so the spaceship that comes to help them on their mission is none other than Picard's Enterprise.

We've been playing for some time now. I think over a year at this point, at least. 7 months ago we visited Austin from across the country for my sister's wedding, and I knew an upcoming battle would be an underwater encounter with Leviathan. I asked my friend in Austin to print a normal sized model, but he insisted on printing this beast. I tried both air brushing and dry brushing for the first time with it, and I'm decently satisfied with how it turned out

Yesterday, we painted some underwater creatures that they would be fighting against (one that would fight alongside them via charm animal).

Anyways. Today was the day of the reveal. They were blown away by the figure, though the escape sequence that followed (despite my recreating the mini-game in JavaScript to run it thousands of times in an attempt to balance it) was a relatively simple one, until near the end when my niece said, "I want the Leviathan to be faster."

It started gaining very quickly. It got very tense, and Riker was down to one health by the end of it. They burst out of the water, the Leviathan's jaws closing around them just as the Enterprise transported them back on board.

They even saw the bridge and the holodeck for the first time today. I had stupidly never shown them what the inside of the Enterprise looked like, so each time I said they were on the "bridge", they had been very confused. I have a thing set up on my Quest VR headset so they can see those two locations, so they were able to see those in VR today.

Afterwards, they mentioned they liked Stardew Valley, but the beginning was really sad. I told them sometimes people like sad stories, and that there's a very good Star Trek episode that's a very sad story (referring to The Inner Light). They've never seen an episode before, but they seemed anxious to see it, and were disappointed that we couldn't today because my Blu-ray player is being repaired.

But yeah, I finally won them over. They're interested in seeing Star Trek now, and were even worried that I'd forget to show them next time when my player was fixed.

I sort of would prefer not to show them Inner Light as the first, because the way Picard clutches the flute at the end hits a bit harder when you know how cold and distant he usually is, but I'm not gonna look a gift horse in the mouth (a human proverb).

[allstartrekgames]

Star Trek: Bridge Crew

Original Release: 2017

Developer: Red Storm

Publisher: Ubisoft

Platform: PS4, PC

Bridge Crew was originally released as a VR exclusive, before being patched to allow people to play it without VR. The ideal experience is to play this in VR with motion controllers with three other friends playing it in VR with motion controllers. I have played this with friends, but the VR is way beyond my budget.

The game itself borrows heavily from Artemis Spaceship Bridge Simulator, a LAN game where you essentially create a starship in your house, with each person having a PC to represent their station (or the viewscreen for the captain). I’ve played it at a convention and it’s a great experience, and Bridge Crew is the closest thing that can be done online.

There are four stations in this game: Captain, Helm, Tactical and Engineering. Captain is the simplest role in multiplayer: you get told the orders to pass on to your crew, answer hails and push the red alert button. Most of this role is via the voice chat, giving commands to your crew (and hoping they pay attention).

Helm gets to fly the ship and set warp and “impulse” destinations (what the game calls in-system warp), and is probably the most involved position due to this.

Tactical gets to control the phaser and shield. There’s no phaser arcs or shield arcs, so unfortunately the combat is very basic. You can disrupt enemy weapons, shields or engines via hacking.

Engineering sets power levels and prioritises repairs, this is probably the worst role to have and you don’t even get a clear idea of what is happening due to not having access to sensor data like the other three roles.

In singleplayer, you play as the captain but can give orders to the crew. The AI is very basic and some actions can reset other orders. The helm officer won’t avoid obstacles, so for some situations, you can take over the station and control it directly (although you can’t give orders from there, you have to return to the Captain’s position). It’s not the ideal way to play, but it gets the job done and is far better than not having the option.

The main (and incredibly short) 6-mission story takes place on the USS Aegis, a ship from the Kelvin timeline. The bridge itself is wonderfully made and fits the aesthetic while adapting it to work for a game like this. The missions are fine, but after this all that’s left is random missions. There’s not a lot of content in this game.

The game does include additional ships you can use in the random missions: the prime timeline original TOS-style Enterprise and (as part of DLC) the Enterprise D. The TOS bridge absolutely looks the part and is very authentic, although you definitely need to use the help overlay to work out which buttons do what. It’s difficult to use, but it gets the feel of being in The Original Series really well.

The Enterprise D bridge takes a few more liberties in its interface, mainly making the LCARS displays more game-like to help it play a lot better. This also makes the engineer’s job (renamed as “operations”) better by improving the repair side of things by assigning damage teams.

Bridge Crew is a great start for a multiplayer Star Trek game, but would have been nice with more in depth gameplay for weapons and shields, as well as far more structured missions.