2020年のオリンピックは、「VRやMRを通じたスポーツ観戦の本格的なプレゼンテーションの場」となるはずだろう……。数年前、そう思っていた人は決して少なくなかったはずだ。しかし蓋を開けてみるとVR／MRの活用は寂しいものだった。「XRの社会実装」の現在位置を確かめるべく、VR／MR空間を制作・配信するためのプラットフォーム「STYLY」を開発・運営するPsychic VR Labの渡邊信彦にリアルな展望を訊いた。
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Student proves Twitter algorithm ‘bias’ toward lighter, slimmer, younger faces
Company pays $3,500 to Bogdan Kulynych who demonstrated flaw in image cropping softwareTwitter’s image cropping algorithm prefers younger, slimmer faces with lighter skin, an investigation into algorithmic bias at the company has found.The finding, whi…
Wix launches a no-code app builder for $200 per month
This morning, Wix announced a new product for business owners called Branded App by Wix, which allows users to develop native apps without writing code. The publicly-traded company provides tools for people and businesses to manage their online presence, but it’s most well-known for its drag-and-drop website builder. Now, the platform is expanding its user-friendly […]
Will central bank digital currencies dethrone the dollar?
Some say the greenback’s dominance of cross-border payments will be erodedThis week marks the 50th anniversary of “the weekend that changed the world”, when the US president Richard Nixon suspended the dollar’s convertibility into gold at a fixed price…
Venmo voyeurs: why do we let friends see our financial transactions online?
Some Venmo users enjoy the voyeurism of public payments – but soon the days of snooping on strangers’ spending habits will be overWould you ever want your friends to see how many taxi rides you share on a wild weekend out? Who you had Thai noodles with…
Artificial intelligence could be used to diagnose dementia
Researchers say AI tool could lead to earlier diagnoses that could improve patients’ outcomesIt’s been used to detect eye diseases, make medical diagnoses, and spot early signs of oesophageal cancer. Now it has been claimed artificial intelligence may …
Emojis aren’t debasing language – they’re enriching it | Benjamin Weissman
With a new set about to be released, it’s time to consider how these little symbols enhance the way we communicateThroughout history, writing systems have reflected available technologies. Ancient Mesopotamian cuneiform featured triangles and lines bec…
Senators press Facebook for answers about why it cut off misinformation researchers
Facebook’s decision to close accounts connected to a misinformation research project last week prompted a broad outcry from the company’s critics — and now Congress is getting involved. A handful of lawmakers criticized the decision at the time, slamming Facebook for being hostile toward efforts to make the platform’s opaque algorithms and ad targeting methods […]
UK launches £4m fund to run fibre optic cables through water pipes
Project that could bring fibre broadband to remote areas while monitoring pipes for water leaksThe government has launched a £4m fund to back projects trialling running fibre optic broadband cables through water pipes to help connect hard-to-reach home…
Why Instagram’s creatives are angry about its move to video
The social media platform was once a favourite of artists and photographers, but a shift towards TikTok-type videos and shopping could leave them looking for a new home onlineIn late July, hobbyist photographer and self-proclaimed “sunrise hunter” Sam …