New AR and VR Tools and Toys You Need to Know About

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I was recently invited to an event to check out so many new things from the Consumer Technology Association and with Techlicious. There are so many great new AR and VR tools and toys you need to know about, that I wanted to share them with you. Augmented reality (where you can see part of real life and things are added…think like Pokemon Go) and Virtual Reality (where you wear a headset and are immersed into a new world) have made so many advancements over the years from fun to incredibly useful and life-changing!

New AR and VR Tools and Toys

VR and AR are changing the world in many markets by making education and tools more accessible than ever.  

Where AR and VR changes are being seen:

  • Health care
    • Surgeons are using VR for training and surgery practice
  • Construction
    • Construction foreman and worker are performing dangerous job training using VR and AR before going on a job site
  • Real estate
  • Product design
  • Retail
    • Try before you buy at home (Amazon and Wayfair have this set up, see below)
  • Education 
    • Students can use VR and AR to perform dissections as well as see the anatomy of various animals

AR anatomy and dissection

  • Travel
    • A personal guide can translate signs and menus
    • hear guidebook information with points of interest come into view
    • see attractions and restaurants overlaid on surroundings
    • see information in real time when visiting museums or walking tours
  • Escape stress
    • Using products like Healium (see below)
  • Gaming with a side benefit of exercise
    • The Virtual Reality Institute of Health and Exercise provides ratings indicating how many calories you can expect to burn while playing a VR game.
    • Some can burn as many as 600 calories per hour

In addition to using VR and AR on computers, there are also products and toys using this same technology. 

Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700

Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 deliver everything you expect — and things you never imagined possible. Think of them as smart headphones that let you keep your head up to the world with easy access to voice assistants. Not only do they allow for voice assistance, but you can confidently take a call with the most powerful microphone system for voice pickup. Plus, they feature Bose AR.

Bose AR is a first-of-its-kind audio augmented reality platform in development by Bose that supports an ecosystem of apps that can enable you to stay connected to your digital world and stay engaged in the physical world at the same time through an innovative set of sensors that detect and respond to head movement. Using various apps, and while wearing a Bose AR-enabled product, simply look and tap to hear information, and get navigation to attractions and points of interest.

Another app allows for using landmark-based directions and the power of Bose AR, instead of telling you to turn left in 0.3 miles, Walc might say, “Turn left at the McDonald’s.”

noise canceling Bose headphones

Bose Frames Audio Sunglasses

To most, they might look like regular sunglasses, but they are so much more. Bose Frames feature miniaturized Bose electronics hidden in the temples. It’s a state-of-the-art personal listening experience within a classic sunglasses design. While you hear the rich an immersive sounds of Bose quality, others around you will practically hear nothing. 

They are also enabled with Bose AR. 

Bose frames with speakers

Healium

Do you like to meditate and practice mindfulness? Healium takes it one step, or maybe more like 10 steps further. By combining virtual and augmented reality worlds that are powered by your wearables via a brain-sensing headband and/or smart watch, Healium allows you to SEE your feelings. Helium also helps you understand how your mind and heart have power to control things not only in the virtual world but the real world as well. 

Healium

Lenovo Star Wars: Jedi Challenge

Star Wars: Jedi Challenges is a new augmented reality Star Wars product that allows fans to experience Star Wars in ways never before possible. Disney and Lenovo have partnered to create the augmented reality (AR) game that is compatible with both Android and Apple’s iOS.

The partnership combines Disney’s knowledge in developing character-based experiences and storytelling with Lenovo’s background in AR and consumer technology expertise that is sure to make a fun experience for all who like to play. 

Starwars jedi challenges

Amazon Shopping

The Amazon Shopping App View in Your Room features lets you view products in your home before you buy them. You can see how products fit and look in your home before you bring them home. Curious whether a chair is the right size for your living room, or whether a coffee table you like will go along with your sofa? Now just pull out your phone to find out. 

amazon view in your room

AR and VR are definitely here to stay. With so many helpful new tools and some fun toys along the way, you are sure to see something with AR and / or VR in your home soon if not already.

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5 Comments

  1. Wow, technology has advanced so much!! I would have loved to try the healing thing to see if it works. Also, you know I dig anything Star Wars!!

    1. I didn’t get to try out the healing thing, but I heard it was amazing and very easy to take a trip to the beach!

  2. My husband wanted that Jedi game SO BADLY and it’s never been compatible with his phone!

    1. I’m pretty sure this one is now compatible with iOS and android!

  3. I love new tech. I have never seen those Bose frames, they sound very interesting. I love using STEM in my classroom and am always looking for new things to integrate.

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