Google Close to Acquire Intel, Samsung -backed AdHawk Microsystems for $115 Mn

Google is reportedly in the final stages of acquiring AdHawk Microsystems, a Canadian startup specializing in eye-tracking technology, for $115 million. This acquisition is part of Google's renewed focus on headsets and smart glasses, aiming to integrate AdHawk's advanced eye-tracking technology into its Android XR operating system.

Image ~ AdHawk@X/Twitter

AdHawk Microsystems, founded in 2017, has developed innovative eye-tracking technology that eliminates the need for traditional cameras, enabling higher sampling rates, lower latency, and improved efficiency. Their technology is particularly valuable for augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) applications, making it an attractive acquisition for Google.

AdHawk has received investment from major tech firms like Samsung, Intel, HP, and Sony, as well as Ray-Ban owner EssilorLuxottica, which is Meta's partner in smart glasses. This highlights the industry's confidence in the Canada based startup's technology and potential.

AdHawk Microsystems is a relatively young company, founded in 2017. While its technology is advanced, the company may not yet have achieved significant market penetration or revenue generation, which can impact its valuation. The acquisition price of $115 million for AdHawk Microsystems, despite its innovative technology, can be attributed to this along with several other possibile factors.

The eye-tracking technology market is competitive, with several players offering similar solutions. While AdHawk's technology is innovative, it may face competition from other companies, which can influence its valuation.

The acquisition includes $15 million in performance-based payments, indicating that the final price is contingent on AdHawk meeting certain targets. This structure allows Google to manage risks and ensure that the technology delivers on its promises.

This possible acquisition aligns with Google's broader strategy to enhance its presence in the AR/VR market, following its previous acquisition of parts of HTC's XR division and the launch of the Android XR operating system.

Interestingly, AdHawk Microsystems has had some notable interactions with Meta (formerly Facebook). In 2022, Meta considered acquiring AdHawk Microsystems, but the deal did not materialise. AdHawk's advanced eye-tracking technology, which is crucial for augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) applications, made it an attractive target for Meta. However, the acquisition talks did not progress, and AdHawk continued to operate independently.

AdHawk's micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) eye tracker requires significantly less data than camera-based systems, producing higher sampling rates and lower latency. This technology is particularly valuable for augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) applications.

AdHawk has also developed products like the MindLink glasses, which offer high-speed, high-quality eye tracking in a mobile device. These glasses are used by researchers and clinicians to study eye movements and their connection to neurological and ocular health.

AdHawk's eye-tracking technology is used in various fields, including human-computer interaction, cognitive wellness, and productivity enhancement. Their technology provides valuable insights into human behavior and mental states, making it a powerful tool for AI assistants and other applications.

Google's past acquisitions in AR /VR segment

Google has made several strategic acquisitions in the AR/VR sector over the years to enhance its capabilities and expand its presence in this market.

In 2016, Google acquired Eyefluence, a company specializing in eye-tracking technology for AR/VR headsets. This acquisition helped Google enhance its eye-tracking capabilities, which are crucial for creating intuitive and immersive AR/VR experiences.

In 2017, Google acquired a portion of HTC's XR (extended reality) division for $1.1 billion. This acquisition brought in talent and technology to bolster Google's AR/VR efforts, particularly in developing hardware and software for immersive experiences.

In 2020, Google acquired North, a Canadian company known for its Focals smart glasses. This acquisition aimed to strengthen Google's position in the smart glasses market and integrate North's expertise in creating lightweight, stylish AR glasses.

NCERT Now Deemed-to-be-University; Edu Minister Suggests AR/VR and AI Labs in 7 Regional NCERT Centres

Last Friday, Union Minister for Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Mr Dharmendra Pradhan, informed that NCERT has been given the status of a Deemed-to-be-University.

The minister, Mr. Pradhan, also inaugurated a new Information and Communication Technology (ICT) laboratory of the Central Institute of Educational Technology (CIET), a constituent unit of NCERT.

Hereafter, the 'deemed university' status will now allow NCERT to offer its own graduate, post-graduate and doctoral degrees and have autonomy in terms of introduction of programmes, course structure, conducting examinations and management, among others.

Established in 1961, NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Training) has been an autonomous organisation of the Government of India to assist and advise the Central and State Governments on policies and programmes for qualitative improvement in school education.

NCERT on becoming a research university will offer opportunities for global collaborations and contributions to the global educational landscape.

In addition to this, NCERT will also be developing educational material in all 22 languages with the help of software like Anuvadini.

Mr Pradhan also emphasized developing content in mother tongue. Resently, India’s Science & Technology Minister, Dr Jitendra Singh, also informed that Medical education has commenced in Hindi and soon Engineering studies will also begin in Hindi and translation of Engineering books has commenced in eight languages such as Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Gujarati & Bengali, across the country.

Further, Mr Pradhan also suggested setting up Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence labs in all 7 regional centres of NCERT. To make India the global hub of research and innovation these centres should be equipped with the latest technologies from around the world with future-ready infrastructure, he added.

The Minister also urged NCERT to standardize the Teachers’ training curriculum to NCERT in its Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE).

The Minister also informed that NCERT has developed "Jadui Pitara" — a play-based learning-teaching material tailored for children between the age group of 3-8 years.

Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) and Microsoft Collab To Build Mixed Reality Solutions and Services

Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, Nashik, has announced a collaboration with Microsoft for digital innovation and collaboration in healthcare services and medical education. The two organizations will work together on engagements leveraging emerging technologies in the healthcare sector, including tech-led remote healthcare solutions, patient care using mixed reality, and medical education and training.

As part of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) and Microsoft India, the two organizations will also explore tech solutions using HoloLens 2 to improve healthcare delivery, mixed reality solutions for proctoring doctor and building training content for doctors, nurses, and staff through mixed reality.

Hon'ble VC MUHS Lt Gen Dr. Madhuri Kanitkar (Retd) said, "MUHS is on a pathway of a new vision and new vistas. In this regard, we are happy to collaborate with Microsoft using mixed reality to reach the unreached. We stand by our commitments towards Digital Health as a way forward aligning with the nation’s Digital India policy."

Rubén Caballero, CVP, Mixed Reality, Microsoft, said, "We are excited to work with an innovative institution like Maharashtra University of Health Science, Nashik, to expand access to healthcare services and medical education using mixed reality technologies, including HoloLens 2. We are proud to come together to help address underserved communities and expand access to healthcare to every part of India."

The year-long collaboration agreement includes the development of any solution by MUHS or any of its chosen partner(s) under the innovation lab. Microsoft will provide the tools and technologies required by MUHS to build applications in relation to the project on Microsoft’s cloud infrastructure, DevOps, collaboration suite, blockchain, IoT, analytics, AI, ML, AR, VR and Mixed Reality

Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT” @microsoft) enables digital transformation for the era of an intelligent cloud and an intelligent edge. Its mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. Microsoft set up its India operations in 1990. Today, Microsoft entities in India have over 13,000 employees, engaged in sales and marketing, research, development and customer services and support, across 11 Indian cities – Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, New Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Pune. Microsoft offers its global cloud services from local data centers to accelerate digital transformation across Indian startups, businesses, and government organization.

Virtual Reality Makes Inroads in to Rural Maharashtra; Immersive Media Startup Tellme Awarded in Shining Maharashtra Exhibition

Immersive media like virtual reality are making inroads into a number of businesses, ranging from education and entertainment to aviation and tourism.

This component of the ‘MetaVerse’ is spreading not just in urban India but rural areas. Thanks to the efforts made by India Tourism Mumbai and the content and technology powered by the start-up TellMe, visitors at the recent Shining Maharashtra Exhibition held at Phaltan had a memorable encounter with VR: Meta Quest.

The showcase of VR in tourism and culture provided a unique opportunity to visitors of all ages. From youth to seniors, stunning views of exotic places like Dal Lake in Srinagar, Gateway of India, and Malshej Ghat near Pune were experienced.

On popular demand, particularly from women and seniors, an immersive darshan of Shree Mahalaxmi of Kolhapur and several other temples was also given.

Audiences of all ages responded with a lot of enthusiasm to the footage seen and described their experience as one of actually being there – but virtually. Students, in particular, were enthusiastic at seeing more and were also inquisitive to know if their education curriculum can be shown in VR.

The exhibition by TellMe served as good validation of these concepts in the Metaverse. In response to the positive feedback from the exhibition visitors, the organisers of Shining Maharashtra 2022, the Swaraj Foundation, Phaltan, felicitated TellMe and Indiatourism with the ‘Best Interactive Stall Award’.

“We are working on creating high quality and immersive digital content of points of interests pan-India. We use all modes of photography- 360 degree panoramas, videos, aerial shoots using drones, and high quality 2D videos,” explained Srinivasa Rao, Director and Promoter of TellMe. The Pune-based startup is working on cutting edge technologies in the field of digital content and geospatial data.

"The response and excitement generated in all demographic groups has motivated us to accelerate our plans. We will also cater to the educational content segment which is much in demand to make subjects like history and geography more interesting,” he added.

TellMe being awarded in Shining Maharashtra

This media technology can also cater to the needs of those who are seniors or differently abled. “We took our VR headsets to old-age homes and were pleasantly surprised to see the eagerness and appreciation of the content,” Srinivasa observes.

“The emotions expressed while they were viewing the content was unbelievable. A senior citizen actually folded her hand with reverence while viewing Mahalaxmi of Kolhapur in the aarti video played on VR,” he added.

Srinivasa thanked India Tourism Mumbai for taking the initiative of exhibiting VR in all the road shows and exhibitions.

Ajnalens and Tata Technologies Redefine the Future of Industrial Training, Virtually ‘Teleport’ Trainees to Job Sites

A trainee using AjnaXR Station for spray painting simulation

Largest implementation of a VR based trade skilling simulator in the world - Upgraded 150 ITIs across Karnataka

Introducing AjnaXR Station, Phygital (Physical + Digital) VR training solution for skill development

Taking a giant leap to bridge the demand for skilled workforce, AjnaLens, Mumbai-based XR hardware and software company, joined hands with Tata Technologies to digitize 150 ITIs in Karnataka. The initiative equips ITIs with AjnaXR stations, the VR-based Phygital Training Simulator that provides immersive skill training to drive performance and reduce training cost. The Karnataka ITI Upgrade into Industry 4.0 aims to upskill more than 9,000 students this year as part of this initiative. By far, this is the largest implementation of a VR based trade skilling simulator in the world.

AjnaXR Station is a made-in-India, highly scalable VR training simulator for Industrial trainings

• One-stop solution for diverse set of trainings
• Virtually teleports trainee to an actual job site/paint shop/welding workshop
• Unlimited practice on industry-graded tools to build muscle memory
• Multilingual training that gives immediate ROI

Performance assessment report of the activity

"Skilling will drive India through the Industrial Revolution 4.0. Enabling and empowering the grassroots is pivotal to bridge the skill gap. AjnaLens has successfully transformed the ITIs in Karnataka and is ready to create more ripples by cascading the impact to other states of India. It is a well-equipped workforce that will truly harbour India’s future and meet the growing demand of the industry.” says Sushil Kumar, Global Head, Govt Projects & Skill Development at Tata Technologies.

AjnaLens has been working towards creating a tangible impact in the training sector with their innovative ideas backed by cutting-edge technology.

Abhijit Patil, Co-founder & COO, AjnaLens says, “Collaboration is key to bringing an inclusive and lasting change. We thank Tata Technologies for making us a part of this impactful initiative. Aligned with our vision of Make in India and creating a positive impact at the grassroots, this partnership is a key milestone towards upskilling the current and future workforce of India. Combining immersive virtual experience with the actual industry-graded tools paves the most effective and sustainable way to make India’s youth job-ready. Going forward, we plan to multiply the impact by expanding the training module across other states.”

AjnaXR Station is a scalable VR training solution which is manufactured and assembled in India. Each station is equipped to provide training across multiple modules by representing the real world in the virtual world, making training effective and engaging while reducing the training time and cost.

"Upgrading the skilling ecosystem of the country, AjnaXR station provides scalable, data-driven training to the youth.  While we are progressing on multiple development indices, the rate of unemployment and skill gap in India is glaring. Our goal is to encourage youth to gain hands-on experience and help them increase their earning potential by becoming employable.” he adds.

Enabling the trainees to practice the skills for long hours, the company has built one of the world’s most lightweight VR Glasses which weigh only 153 gms, as compared to the popular international brands which weigh around 500 gms. In order to help students build muscle memory, AnjaLens has built an innovative tracking system to track real-life tools in the virtual environment, making the product highly scalable for training.

The initiative will empower youth at the grassroots by exposing them to upskilling opportunities which AjnaXR Station brings to their nearest ITI. The impact-driven startup, AjnaLens, has successfully created direct and indirect employment for students, especially for female ITI students by engaging them to assemble and deliver 300 units of AjnaXR Station. The trained students play the role of peer-facilitators, encouraging more students to join and create scalable impact by bridging the skill gap.

AjnaLens is trusted by prominent clients including the Indian Army, Navy, Ministry of Defence, DRDO, Government of Maharashtra, Vedanta and supported by Forge Accelerator, a leading startup incubator, through every stage of its journey.

About Ajnalens - 

Named after ‘Ajna’, the sixth chakra or the third eye which activates ‘intuitive vision’, AjnaLens is a Mumbai-based company making immersive augmented, virtual and mixed reality devices and software solutions for Defence, Enterprise and Skilling sectors. It is the first and only XR hardware OEM to manufacture AR/VR glasses in India.

The impact-driven startup is on a mission to unlock human potential by empowering them with augmented intelligence. In November 2014 at IIT Bombay, AjnaLens was established with a purpose to foster inclusive development in society by empowering people at the grassroots with the right tool for this decade - a ‘holographic computer’. It empowers and enables humans into perceiving and doing what is beyond their capabilities by seamlessly connecting the digital world with reality.

AjnaLens is currently helping India’s government and fortune 500 companies in their digital transformation journey by providing end-to-end solutions such as Enterprise Metaverse, VR training simulators, AR-based remote assistance, Digital twin as well as providing indigenous defence solutions like see-through armour to Indian Defence forces.

AjnaLens has filed 15+ National and International patents in augmented reality and allied fields. The company has won accolades like the Most promising startup by ECLINA Defennovation for cutting-edge innovations. AjnaLens is a growing family of 50 people, inviting bright minds to join their vision.

VouchPro Introduces Next-Gen Metaverse Platform to Redefine Virtual Events in India

Enables a new level of human interaction in the virtual world

VouchPro, a vigital technology solutions provider, is set to lead the revolution of virtual events with the introduction of its cutting-edge metaverse platform. Capable of facilitating next-gen virtual worlds, the platform will bring people together across a myriad of geographies and provide unparalleled opportunities to experience life like never before. People would be able to have near real-time interactions through virtual events, effectively integrating their digital and physical selves via innovative 3D avatars. For the first time in the history of corporate virtual events, attendees will be able to meet and interact with others like never before.

The platform is integrated with mixed reality (MR) & virtual reality (VR) technologies that facilitate networking and conducting social and entertainment events in the metaverse. Event planners are looking for new ways to engage attendees, and stakeholders are demanding more value than can be provided by traditional 2D platforms. By bringing life-like experiences into the digital realm with a 3D immersive experience, VouchPro modernises traditional events and promises to eliminate the top struggles of event professionals. VouchPro's 3D web platform provides customers with an entirely new virtual world of experiences, including 3D spaces, 3D videos, AI avatars, and mixed reality.

Mr. Anubhav Bajpai, Founder & CEO, VouchPro.

Commenting on the same, Mr. Anubhav Bajpai, Founder, VouchPro, said, "With our next-generation events platform, we're significantly raising the digital bar. We're building a metaverse for the events industry using cutting-edge technology. Our platform allows attendees to create their own avatars, resulting in a more diverse audience and, as a result, a more diverse range of experiences and opinions. During a virtual event, these avatars can walk, talk, dance, shake hands, share, like, comment, and engage. We believe that the next era of virtual events will usher in cutting-edge technological advancements that will entice people of all ages to engage and enthusiastically participate. This will perpetually bridge the gap between the digital and real worlds while also delivering truly exceptional experiences."

Brimming with potential, the Metaverse is positioned to become an integral part of our everyday lives. Investment in Metaverse technology was around USD 21.91 billion in 2020. The global Metaverse Market is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 41.7% from 2021 to 2030.

VR Headsets for Cows To Produce More Milk Being Tested By A Rancher in Turkey

Image - www.aa.com.tr

A rancher (cattle owner) in Turkey has put on virtual reality headsets on some of his cows to see if the they can produce more milk as VR headsets simulate that cows are outside in a nice, sunny field. 

Developed in coordination with vets to ensure the cows are safe, these VR headsets are first tested in Moscow, Russia. The cow owner - Izzet Kocak -- a cattle breeder and rancher living in Aksaray, Turkey has so far used the VR devices on two of his cows and he claims that the cows’ milk output has gone from 22 liters to 27 liters a day.

Koçak stated to Anadolu Agency (AA) that previous studies have proven that environmental conditions affect the health and milk production of cows.

❝İşletmemizdeki ineklerden günlük ortalama 22 litre süt alıyoruz. Sanal gerçeklik gözlüğü taktığım 2 ineğin süt ortalaması 27 litreye kadar çıktı❞

🐮🐄 İneklere sanal gerçeklikle yeşil çayırları izleterek süt üretimini artırmayı hedefliyor https://t.co/YDI2lUmqBT pic.twitter.com/Zz5tPEVuHM

— ANADOLU AJANSI (@anadoluajansi) January 6, 2022

Koçak makes his animals listen to relaxing music with these VR glasses, and also walk them around the vast pasture.  He contacted the company that produces these VR headset in Russia. He now hopes, that if he is successful in all 10 cows he's currently testing, he will order glasses from Russia for all of his cows.

Explaining that they make the cows feel like they are in the middle of a vast grass on a summer day with virtual reality glasses, Koçak continued his words as follows:

"We get an average of 22 liters of milk daily from the cows in our business. We make the cows we wear virtual reality glasses watch a vast green pasture. The milk average of the 2 cows I wear virtual reality glasses is up to 27 liters. These glasses (VR headsets) are emotionally good for the animals. We observed that the animals are less stressed. Both of these conditions are reflected in the milk yield, the quality and quantity of milk is increasing. It was tried in a business in Russia, we saw this by chance on social media. We decided to try it, too. For now, we put it on 2 of our cows and observed the increases. We are currently in the trial phase. As the second stage We have ordered 10 more virtual reality glasses. If we are successful with them, we will order our glasses for all our nerds."

The VR headsets tested in Moscow cover both eyes of the animals, but Koçak experimented by giving an image to one glasses. Noting that cows cover their other eyes with glasses.

Virtual is the Way Forward Says LivePixel

Adopting virtual as the way forward: LivePixel

In the past year and a half, technology has seeped into the lives of the common man like never before. With the spread of Covid-19 in early 2020, people were, and still are, relegated to confinement within the four walls of their homes. The fear of contracting the virus or passing it onto your loved ones rightly transcends any and every need to be 'outside'. We live in an era where everything is gradually shifting online and becoming digital. The boundaries that separated the 'real' from the 'virtual' have started to blur, paving way for the new normal. From the advent of video calling to now being able to 'phygitally' interact with people in the virtual world, technology has come a long way, bridging the distance between people and making human life a little bit more convenient by the day.

The LivePixel group is foraying into the new normal by leveraging their ground breaking technology and knack for innovation. We can now hold elaborate business conferences, meetings, and events with next to no compromise and a bucket-load of added convenience. Even our outdoor leisure activities have found a way to be on our digital screens; we can now take 3D tours of museums, attend exhibitions virtually, discover the depths of the ocean or ride through the endless space. LivePixel makes all of this possible online through the advent of technology that renders lifelike virtual images akin to what we would have otherwise experienced in reality.

Indraneel Guha, Creative Head – LivePixel Technologies mentions that aesthetics and technology can blur the lines separating the virtual from real. He opines that these days it has become rather and economical to mix digitally created content with the real world. This can be carried out using techniques like photogrammetry, LIDAR scanning, using modern equipment like digital cameras, etc. He believes that it is all about getting the viewer to believe that what they are experiencing is real. He says, "The design of the virtual product should be in such a way that a viewer can connect it with the real world. There has to be a strong aspect of storytelling." Proper digital camera lens systems can be used with proper environmental effects and the right blend of lighting and shadows to provide realistic visuals. When we naturally see, we have a biological lens value in our eyes and the same needs to be captured virtually or else our subconscious mind tends to reject it.

Rajeev Dwivedi, CEO – LivePixel Technologies ascertains that technological advancements have made it possible to enhance the outcomes of creative efforts. "They are upgrading extremely rapidly and allowing creative artists to push boundaries and reinvent paradigms." he said. Powerful engines like Unreal and Unity make it possible to churn out extravagant content with the most believable visual quality. Hardware technology has improved drastically, enabling the display of heavier geometries and rendering crystal clear visuals. Latest equipment and gears can very effectively recognise hand and audio gestures and translate them into digital commands. Even the size and weight of technologies that enable excellent visual quality have reduced drastically, thereby making them more mobile.

Recognizing an opportunity with great potential during these times, LivePixel Technologies ® (LPT) in collaboration with its sister concern LivePixel Events International (LPEI) launched MVX - Megaa Virtual Expo last year. MVX is a platform that can enable interaction for businesses with the use of state-of-the-art technology, by creating simulations and immersive experience based interfaces. This property can be utilized across various sector and industries to carry out exhibits, conferences, summits and other events that took a backseat with the pandemic coming into play. Besides that, carrying out events digitally is a far more sustainable, economical and convenient process and LivePixel's technology makes it simple and seamless for businesses and users, which is why virtual events are here to stay. 

Ssamridh Aggarwal, COO, LivePixel Events International, said --

The event industry, especially, is one where the audience matters, the crowd matters, their presence is what counts and the pandemic didn't allow us to achieve that. However, we focused on breaking those barriers and marching ahead. we haven't seen this new lifestyle as a challenge but rather we see it as an opportunity.

Bootstrapped Young Startup InfiVR Providing VR/AR Training, Simulation Tech to Indian Armed Forces and Defense Organizations in the US and Middle East

InfiVR Founders

At moment, employee training, technician training, remote technician support and assistance are very boring and not scalable. It requires expensive simulators, among other hinderance,. and within this scenario problems faced by companies/organizations in their employee training, learning & development functions. Existing simulators used by large organizations be it armed forces or be it big companies are very expensive, bulky, not scalable and only limited trainees can get trained on it.

Bangalore-based InfiVR Technologies is building Virtual Reality (VR) based training solutions which solve this problem making it a lot more immersive, interesting, and affordable with ease of scaling. With the latest Augmented Reality (AR) / VR technology InfiVR is solving this problem and taking it to a new level.

InfiVR helps companies and organizations provide immersive and affordable virtual reality-based training solutions. The deeptech AR/VR startup is working with few of the leading fortune 500 companies in India and globally, and is also working with armed forces and prominent defense equipment manufacturing, aerospace companies in India, North America and Middle East.

It was when InfiVR founders -- Atish Patel and Rohal Chandrakar -- heard their friends in defense and aerospace industries criticizing obsolete technologies in simulation, training, and manufacturing processes. Alternatives available to these industries were either inadequate or prohibitively expensive and that's where InfiVR founder duo saw an opening to an opportunity.

Atish and Rohal thus then co-founded InfiVR in 2018 to provide the aerospace, defense, and manufacturing industries with cutting-edge AR/VR technology that meets or exceeds Western expectations while remaining cost-effective.

InfiVR's Defence AVR Solution

InfiVR provides high tech VR/AR training and simulation technology to Indian armed forces which were not accessible before to Indian armed forces due to very high cost. InfiVR is a unique startup to provide such cutting edge AR/VR mission critical tech to Indian armed forces.

Within a short span of 2.5 years InfiVR claims to have worked with organizations like Air Force, Navy, Army and ISRO and the young startup is now exporting and providing these tech to leading defense organizations in the US, Middle East and other friendly partner nations.

Despite being bootstrapped, InfiVR boasts to have brought down the training and infra cost of client companies by more than 65% and have helped improve overall average KPIs of training for employee by more than 76% besides increasing the trainee engagement and retention by more than 116%.

As an advice to young and future entrepreneurs, the InfiVR founders say --

Don’t aim to build a unicorn business, an entrepreneur is one who utilizes resources available to create some value and wealth. Start with aim to create value and business around it, rest things will automatically follow. There are many companies which are small which build life saving technologies and products but are not as big as e-commerce giants or home delivery businesses. What they are building is useful and critical in their own way. So aim should be to create value & wealth through some good product or service rest things will automatically follow.

Though just a 3-year old start-up, InfiVR team is into the AR/VR business for more than a decade as before establishing InfiVR, Atish and Rohal had earlier co-founded a profitable VR startup 'OoBI.in' [Out of Box Interactions], which was acquired by Newscorp-backed India’s top real estate portal. Atish claims that OoBI.in helped crack more than 300 top real estate developers across India.

InfiVR's AVR/Simulation Training Solution for Oil & Gas Industry

The global virtual reality market size was valued at USD 15.81 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.0% from 2021 to 2028. Moreover, post COVID-19 outbreak, VR technology has experienced a surge in demand due to the necessity of companies to continue their business operations remotely/virtually during this pandemic.

Bootstrapped but backed by partners/mentors with more than 30 years of experience InfiVR counts industry veterans as the startup's mentors including -- Mr. Pratyush Prasanna, a former Vice President at Paytm and founder of Plustxt, a privacy enabled text messaging system in 7 Indian languages, acquired by One97/Paytm; Mr. Puneet, an industry veteran with nearly 20 years of experience in global technology and digital consulting services and CTO for GlobalLogic.

In scale-up mode, InfiVR is now seeing 5X growth as post COVID-19 the startup has seen around 12X increase in traction received for AR/VR based training, simulations, and remote assistance solutions. Post COVID scenario has drastically changed, many organizations who were considering Virtual reality & Augmented reality technologies for R&D purposes only have now realized its power. They now want to include these technologies as their part of their mainstream processes.

In a Tips for Entrepreneurs, InfiVR founders suggest --

Don't do a startup with an aim of raising funds and then growing, funding is rare and doesn't ensure success. Try to think beyond funding, there are several other ways of running and scaling your business. Funding is something which your business would naturally ask for and that would be the most suitable time to get funded. When you are starting, always have plan B apart from funding.

Klip VR Becomes the First Indian EdTech Company to Win Global 'VR Awards'

CHANDRAYAAN VR - Virtual Expedition to Moon by Klip VR

Raising the bar for the Indian ‘Virtual Reality’ industry on the global stage, Klip VR Immersive Technologies won the prestigious VR Award for ‘Rising Company of the Year 2020’ hosted by the Academy of International Extended Reality (AIXR). The recognition comes at a time when Indian AR & VR industry is buoyant for a bright future, as per NASSCOM, the Indian Immersive Media Market was estimated at USD 0.55 Bn in 2018 and is expected to grow to USD 6.5 Bn by 2022. Klip VR Co-founded by Rishi Ahuja and Aditya Tuknait brings a universe of learnings to Classrooms with state-of-the-art immersive virtual reality (VR) technology. Klip VR’s world-class VR experiences bring another level of understanding, right inside the classroom for students and is an initiative to address existing learning gaps in Indian school education with the help of immersive experiences by Virtual Reality technology.

Klip VR, India’s premier fully Integrated Virtual Reality learning system complements and empowers the existing educational practices. Its first debut Virtual Eduventure “CHANDRAYAAN VR- Virtual Expedition to Moon” allows learners to be a part of the Space Mission and experience several events that aid the scientific learning of the subject. With accurate recreation of the lunar mission, the students are teleported to explore a virtual world, enabling them to become an Indian Space Scientist, Launch the rocket and Conduct Lunar Surface Experiments, etc.

Rishi Ahuja & Aditya Tuknait, Co-founders of Klip VR with Award

Mr. Rishi Ahuja, Founder, Klip VR Immersive Technologies Pvt. Ltd. said, “It’s a great honour to receive the award of ‘The Rising VR Company of the Year 2020’ and would like to thank AIXR. Virtual Reality holds immense potential in India and in the next few years it can really transform the quality of teaching by offering an immersive experience and simplification of hard-to-understand topics. This recognition is for the Indian EdTech industry, which is on the cusp of a revolution, we at Klip VR are really excited and after ChandraYaan, we are working on a number of projects and titles, to enthral the 21st-century educators and learners.”

Adding further Mr. Ahuja said, “Today, many experts foresee a paradigm shift at workplaces and job profiles in the next 10 years and it would be largely due to fast-paced technological advancements. All students learn at a different pace and in different ways, VR is an immersive learning and experience tool that creates a deeper understanding and engagement with focused objective to promote “Learning by doing, Creativity & Curiosity, Developing Ambition” leading to critical thinking and another level of understanding and knowledge.”

Klip VR is powered by sophisticated technology and content covering various global perspectives with most advanced technology in development and the delivery of the immersive experience comparable to the best world has to offer. Also building on the immense opportunities in current educational methodologies and to prepare students for future, Klip VR is working on various other projects and its coming Titles include Jurassic Era, Human Anatomy, Life in water, earth ecology, Life in Water etc.

Klip VR is the first Indian company to win the ‘VR Award’ after it was instituted to recognize the achievements of the most influential players of the immersive technology industry globally in 2017. The VR Industry’s most prestigious award acknowledges Industry players from across the globe in 12 different categories every year. In the “The Rising VR Company of the Year 2020” category’s other finalists included some of the best companies globally like Cybershoes, Emperia, Everner Games & VR Inn.

Virtual Reality is the New Reality - Vice President; Calls for Hybrid Education Model for All-Round Development of Students

• Vice President calls for mass movement to promote digital literacy in the country
• Information is the main commodity today and ‘digitalization’ is the medium of access to such information – Vice President
• This is the era of digital life and virtual reality is the new reality – Vice President
• Vice President calls for a hybrid education model for all-round development of students
• Says, online education is here to stay in the post-pandemic period as well
• Calls for bridging digital divide in the society
• Governments and private sector need to enable a ‘digital India’ – Vice President
• Says ‘closeness’ to an able Guru is very important to impart value-based and holistic education among the children
• End rote learning and promote critical thinking– Vice President
• Virtually launches Adi Shankara Digital Academy

The Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu today called for a mass movement to promote digital literacy and urged all technological and educational institutions to play a leading role in that endeavor.

Virtually launching ‘Adi Shankara Digital Academy’ at Kaladi, the birthplace of Adi Shankaracharya, the Vice President said that information is the main commodity in the present-day knowledge society and whoever has quick access to information has the advantage. He called ‘digitalization’ as the medium of access to such information.

Drawing attention towards the unprecedented disruptions caused by Covid-19 pandemic, Shri Naidu said that it has forced millions of students out of classrooms due to closure of schools and the world community is trying to address this challenge by adopting online education.

He said technology provides us an opportunity to transform teaching and learning and expressed the need to constantly update and develop education models that suit the new era's demands in view of the fast-changing technology.

Enumerating several benefits of online education, the Vice President said that it can enable access to quality and affordable education in remote areas; it allows for a personalized learning experience and is especially helpful for groups such as working professionals and housewives who might not be able to attend regular courses.

Because of these advantages, the Vice President opined that online education is likely to remain a preferred choice in the post-pandemic period as well. There is no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the education landscape forever, he added.

Observing that even before COVID-19, the adoption of technology in education was gaining momentum, Shri Naidu said that global EdTech sector is attracting billions of dollars of investments and offers a huge opportunity to not only learners but to education entrepreneurs as well. He exhorted the youth to come forward and innovate to tap the potential offered by this sector.

Observing that the Covid-19 pandemic has forced us to learn how to keep the socio-economic process going in times of adversity, he said this experience has thrown up questions like how many are equipped to live the digital way. “Issues of availability of infrastructure, access to the required tools like computers and smart phones, speed and availability of internet came to the fore for which solutions need to be found out”, he added.

The Vice President, however, cautioned to adopt a realistic approach in terms of what online education can deliver and what it cannot. “Online classes facilitate better teacher-student interaction through chat groups, video meetings, voting and document sharing, but it cannot replace the personal touch and warmth of a classroom”, he said.

Referring to a recent study by Azim Premji University, Shri Naidu underlined that a vast majority of the teachers and parents consider the online mode of education inadequate and less effective. He opined that this could be partly due to hasty adoption of online education necessitated by Covid-19 that has left much to be desired in terms of quality.

Stressing the importance of face-to-face classes and schools, he said that school provides a socializing space to students and enables them to imbibe values and discipline. Physical fitness, sports and Yoga are important elements of holistic development of the students which cannot be attained by online education alone, he said.

Stating that ancient Gurukul system strived to build a direct relationship between the Guru and Shishya, the Vice President said that this ‘nearness’ or ‘closeness’ to an able Guru is very important to impart value-based and holistic education among the children. Therefore, Shri Naidu called for developing a hybrid education model, in which classes are conducted both online and offline for all-round development of the students.

He also emphasized the need to put an end to rote learning and promote critical thinking, imagination and innovation among the students.

Calling for bridging the digital divide that exists between rural and urban areas, he wanted conscious policy decisions to support online education infrastructure by ensuring internet connectivity.

Stating that the evolution of human civilization has been a saga of innovation and use of tools for improving the ease and the comfort of living, Shri Naidu said that science and technology have made a huge difference in the way we live. “Digitalisation is the order of present-day life. E- education, e- health, e-commerce, e-governance etc are the virtual reality now”, he added.

He praised ‘Digital India’ initiative for preparing the nation for Industrial Revolution 4.0 and empowering the citizens with technological entitlements. “The main objective is to improve the quality of life in all possible ways”, he added.

Talking about the extensive use of digital technology in different sectors ever since the pandemic disrupted our normal routine, the Vice President commended the Indian judiciary for digitally hearing and disposing of cases. He specially complimented the Supreme Court for taking the lead in this regard and said this is the way forward.

He further said that E-medicine has found new traction and e-delivery of government services and entitlements in our country is proving to be effective with huge gains. “In essence, this is the era of ‘digital life’. Virtual reality is the new reality”, he added.

Referring to the World Bank estimate that improved access to internet adds to GDP growth, Shri Naidu said that this indicates the scope and potential of technology and process improvement through innovation.

Calling for putting in place ‘an equitable digital eco-system’ in the country, the Vice President said the Governments and private sector need to work on appropriate models for collective effort to enable a ‘digital India’ which gives every citizen her or his due.

To fully realize the benefits of the digital technology, the Vice President called for bridging the gap between ‘digital haves’ and ‘digital have nots’.

Appreciating a number of digital initiatives by the Government for promoting digital education, he said that the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020 proposes integration of technology in a big way for enhancing learning outcomes. He hoped that this push for digital education will play a key role in making India a global hub of education and innovation.

He praised the Adi Shankara Group of Institutions for nurturing the leaders of tomorrow and hoped that Adi Shankara Digital Academy (ASDA) would live up to the people’s expectations by providing them a good online learning experience.

Shri K Anand, Managing Trustee, Adi Shankara Trust, Sr C R Gowrishankar, CEO and Administrator, Sringeri Mut, Smt. Chitra, Director e-Drona Learning and others were present.

Delhi based Startup Launches Smart Helmets to Broadcast Real World in VR

Have you ever imagined a service that allows you to shop, visit, meet, celebrate and register your presence everywhere right from home!

If not then now you can do it through Proxgy's smart helmet from a Delhi based start up. Proxgy allows its users to book real human beings who will do real world walks for you in real time while you are sitting at home yourself. In order to keep its customers away from the corona epidemic and provide a full real-world experience, Proxgy has built a smart helmet with a 360-degree rotating camera. This camera mounted in a VR powered helmet will do live broadcasting of 3D view.

"The New Normal is Here, Be Everywhere" is the inspiration to make Proxgy! The aim of Proxgy is to give a completely new dimension to people's everyday outdoor activity. Proxgy customers will be able to experience 360 ​​degrees of video and audio live through the camera mounted on top of the smart helmet of the proxy person booked through the mobile application. The special thing about smart helmets is that the high definition camera on the top will be controlled through the customer's mobile app. Proxgy uses patented technology for broadcasting live audio and video to give the customer the most up-to-date experience.

Just as real-time action and movement are revealed in video games, Proxgy also responds in real-time to the smart helmet camera with audio commands and inputs directed by its client from the app. Proxgy's mobile app is so great that it sends live feeds from the smart hatmate's camera to the customer's mobile. On the pattern of VR - virtual reality, it can also be seen on small and big screens, which makes the trip to your home more exciting. 

Pulkit Ahuja, founder of Proxgy LLP, serial entrepreneur, inventor, owner of several patents, believes that "Proxgy started as a dorm room service conceptualized for the elderly and other high risk prone individuals as a pilot in New Delhi during the corona virus citywide lockdown, wherein these people who were at a higher risk to corona virus could stay safe at home while their younger, fitter proxgies navigated the city for them live using an off the shelf whatsapp video call, helping them with their daily chores."

In the pilot project, this concept received such tremendous support that Pulkit prepared it for many cities as well as many verticals. Currently, Proxgy will be used in shopping, virtual travel, old age care, real estate, remote KYC, car servicing, many other sectors as well as B2B and B2C services.

Pulkit Ahuja further states that "These cutting edge technological innovations have helped us to create a truly immersive and exceptional augmented reality experience for the end users. Proxgy is now using 360 degree rotation cameras on Proxgy smart helmets, 3D viewing options, VR head controlled camera movements and one to many broadcasting abilities to provide the end user an ultimate mix of the real and augmented worlds right at their home."

Proxgy is currently operating on a limited customer base under the beta version. For quick service, you can visit www.Proxgy.com or download Android app from Play Store.

About the Founder

An author, Entrepreneur and Inventor, Pulkit Ahuja, 33 has always been a dreamer and an ideator who believes in chasing the unknown and taking up the unthinkable. A rising star in one of world’s largest car rental company, a two time published author, owner of multiple patents and three time entrepreneur, Pulkit’s visionary thinking and a penchant for novelty saw him embark upon a successful entrepreneur journey early on.

With a career spanning over decade, Pulkit’s expertise in converting new or unknown tech ideas into successful business saw him emerge as a serial entrepreneur in disruptive technologies with a series of successful startups in transportation, ad tech & education domains. Embodying a winning attitude and a unique thinking, it is his ability to think out of box that has constantly led him to innovate concepts that cut through the clutter.

Unlockar, Pulkits first startup was a mobile company that presented users selected content on the lock screen of their android phones. The app was very received by users and within just 8 weeks of the launch the app managed to garner .It was also selected as part of Business World Accelerates second batch in 2015 and emerged as a winner of both m Billionth Award South Asia and Madlabs both in the year 2015. Pulkit’s second and more ambitious venture Cabsguru, which covered about 75 Indian cities saw him raise USD 200000 at an USD 3.5 Million valuation. Cabsguru worked as a cab search, compare and booking aggregator with a booking bot called Robocab receiving huge response from users.

IIT Roorkee Alumni’s Travel-Tech Startup ties with Incredible India campaign to offer Virtual Reality Experiences

The partnership is in line with Hon’ble PM Narendra Modi’s vision of AtmaNirbhar Bharat

A travel-Tech startup established by alumni of IIT Roorkee, has partnered with Union Ministry of Tourism’s Incredible India campaign, to offer interactive virtual reality experiences of touristic destinations to the users. 

OutsiteVR was founded in 2016 by Amit Singh and Mayur Karodia, from the Department of Architecture and Planning (2010-15), IIT Roorkee. OutsiteVR is innovating reality with Immersive Technology in the Travel & Hospitality Industry. It is enabling travel enthusiasts to experience travel destinations and unexplored places from their comfort and make informed travel plans. 

The partnership is in line with Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of #AatmaNirbharBharat and supports world-class products manufactured in India.

“We are thrilled to partner with the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, to offer personalized and immersive travel experiences which help users to travel our Incredible India from the comfort of their homes. I would like to thank our mentor & alumnus Mr. Pramod Saxena, Chairman of Oxigen Services and Aarambh Ventures for constant support & helping us to accomplish this mission. Also, I am thankful to our faculty (especially Prof. P. S. Chani & Prof. Avlokita Agarwal from Architecture & Planning Deptt.) at IIT Roorkee. The partnership underscores our commitment to support the Hon’ble PM Narendra Modi’s vision of #AatmaNirbharBharat. Virtual Reality is an enabler to boost India’s tourism potential and help regain the confidence of users once the COVID-19 pandemic subsides” said Mr. Amit Singh, IIT Roorkee alumnus and Co-Founder & CEO, OutsiteVR.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRpkAXbfPb0

“Travelling in virtual reality is the #NewNormal and we are building a technology that makes VR accessible to the masses. In this global crisis, we are aiming to help people travel safe & make better travel decisions” said Mr. Mayur Karodia, IIT Roorkee alumnus and Co-Founder & Head of Products, OutsiteVR

“The innovative & immersive solutions offered by OutsiteVR will enable us to showcase India’s cultural diversity and heritage on a global tourism map. OutsiteVR’s one-of-a-kind solution satiates the users’ wanderlust amidst the COVID-19 lockdown. This partnership will help travel enthusiasts to experience Incredible India even from any corner of the world & facilitate informed travel plans by the users” said Mr. Venkatesan Dhattareyan, Regional Director (West and Central Region), Ministry of Tourism

“We are delighted with the success of Amit and Mayur. Their pathbreaking professional journey will encourage more students to discover their passion and charter their unique entrepreneurial courses," said Prof. Ajit K. Chaturvedi, Director, IIT Roorkee

OutsiteVR has also been conferred the prestigious "National Tourism Award-2019" by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India for its contribution to encouraging international tourism through the innovative solution. It has earlier won MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA) Innovation & Entrepreneurship Bootcamp in February 2018. The MIT innovation program is one of the best business programs for the world's leading entrepreneurs. It has also been featured amongst India's TOP-24 innovative startups on CNBC & CNN TV in 2017. Moreover, it has won the first prize at IIM Ahmedabad's Masterplan'18 (National level business plan competition) as well as '1 Cr Challenge' by Matrix Partners, India. Both the founding members are distinguished TEDx Speakers.

Mr. Amit Singh is actively supporting the aspiring entrepreneurs at IIT Roorkee and has invested in RecogsquarePvt. Ltd (Invoid), one of the startups incubated at TIDES, IIT Roorkee. The TIDES Business Incubator plays a catalytic role in encouraging the spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation at IIT Roorkee. 

Trainman Integrates Virtual Reality 360-Degree Tour Feature on its Portal/ App

Trainman, the highest rated PNR status and train information app for Indian Railways travelers, by assisting them with extensive train related information and intelligence, has introduced an all new way of experiencing tourist destinations through Virtual Reality 360 Degree Tour section. The new add-on feature is available on Trainman’s android application and now provides a real-time experience to the users.

With the Virtual Reality 360 Degree Tour feature, users can now get a closer and detailed overview of their favorite travel destination. Powered byOutsiteVR, the new feature allows the user to travel to more than 30 national and international locations, sitting right in the comfort of their homes. In addition to this feature, one doesn’t even require a VR headset, hence making it an extremely easy-to-use application. The feature enables the users with better research options to not only just look at pictures, but also engage using audio guide thereby immersing them into an experiential viewing experience

Commenting on the launch of the Virtual Reality 360 Degree Tour feature, Mr. Vineet Chirania – DIrector & CEO, Trainman said, “We have been striving to give the best-in-class experience to our users. Now that we have launched our VR Tour section, we are affirmative that it will enable users of the app to plan their travel with accordance and apt information. We have got some really positive responses for this feature. We plan to add more destinations, both national and international, so that our customer base could have an elaborative and immersive experience just by one click from their couch."

[caption id="attachment_130500" align="alignleft" width="1280"] Vineet[/caption]

Launched in 2014, Trainman is an online platform which provides a simple and user-friendly interface to the complex Indian Railways rules and systems on the site and mobile applications across Android, iOS and Windows devices. With over 45 Lakh downloads, the website and app currently has over 5 Lakh daily visits.

The uncertainty of confirmation for waitlisted tickets coupled with the complex rules and regulations of Indian Railways paved way for the launch of Trainman, a smart and simple system that not only predicts the confirmation probability of waitlisted tickets but is one stop-shop for all train related queries. Available in 7 regional languages, Trainman’s core strength lies in its waiting ticket prediction functionality with over 92% accuracy. Apart from PNR status prediction, the constantly evolving platform also provides features like Automatic Notification on Change in PNR Status, Four month Seat Availability Calendar, Train Schedule and Running
Status which works even without internet, Live Station Status and Platform Number and Coach Position among others. One year back Trainman also started train ticket booking on their app.

Trainman is IRCTC official partner for train ticket booking. In addition, Trainman provides offline train tracking services to the travelers to keep up with the scheduled stations and time during their travel and over low connectivity.

4 Industries That Can Benefit from Advances in Technology

It seems as if there is always a new game-changing development in technology. The hype surrounding innovations like self-driving cars, augmented reality and artificial intelligence makes it seem as though everyone is onboard with these developments. However, for every business implementing new technology, there are hundreds or even thousands who haven’t even started to do the research. The marketing, banking, and retail industries have clearly embraced big data, and they are using it to offer the types of services modern consumers are demanding. However, there are still some industries which lag somewhat behind or which haven’t fully embraced all the benefits that technology provides.

Education - Personalized and Convenient Learning

Most developments in technology can be used in the educational sector in some way. Arguably though, the greatest benefits can be found in targeting educational programs to the needs of individual learners. Online education developed in response to the difficulties some people have in attending brick-and-mortar colleges. They may have family commitments, limited funds, transportation problems or other personal issues. There is scope for online education to be expanded even further, so people anywhere in the world have greater access to instruction.

However, even students in the classroom can benefit from personalized instruction. Those who are visual learners would glean more from being immersed in a VR experience than they would from a textbook. Teachers can also use digital simulations and models to explain complex phenomena. Learners are exposed to video and other visual content every day, so it makes sense to incorporate these features into educational experiences.

Conducting assessments online can also help educators to identify challenges students may be facing. Unlike paper tests, digital platforms allow them to see how long each student spent on each question. Ordinarily, teachers would only know which questions the students got right or wrong. Getting even more information on how students take tests would enable educators to zoom in on areas which prove to be difficult.

Healthcare - More Accurate Diagnoses and More Intensive Data Mining

It is likely that the use of artificial intelligence in the healthcare industry will grow rapidly over the next few years. Already, significant investments are being made. Some healthcare providers have moved from paper records to electronic record management systems, but there is scope for them to do even more. Governments, hospitals, and doctors’ offices have decades of data on patients’ symptoms, diagnoses, treatments, and outcomes. It would be almost impossible for them to manually mine this data for patterns and connections. The wider availability and application of artificial intelligence can produce actionable information to improve the healthcare services offered to patients.

AI can also help significantly with the diagnosis of illnesses. Early diagnosis leads to better outcomes for patients and cost savings to governments, insurance companies, and individuals. No matter how skilled healthcare professionals are, there are things which they may be incapable of picking up. AI technology developed by Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital was found to be more accurate at predicting heart disease than cardiologists. The widespread use of AI would, therefore, go a long way in helping doctors to better diagnose and treat illnesses across specialties.

Construction – Detailed Visualization and Centralized Management

The construction industry was initially one of the slowest to embrace technological developments. However, things have started to change, and as technology evolves, construction should follow suit. Technology can improve safety and efficiency, reduce costs and lead to better-built structures. Construction used to be about pen and paper, but tech has made it possible for transformations in both on-the-job tasks and business management.

Virtual reality and augmented reality can help workers and building owners to get 3D and 4D experiences of projects under construction. They can then collect data from the environment and make adjustments as needed. Apps like MeasureKit make it easy to measure distances and achieve level surfaces using a phone or iPad.

Sometimes a single app can assist across multiple areas. Take FieldPulse, for example. This hub helps contractors to:

• Manage and allocate human resources


• Create estimates and invoices


• Track employees time and location


• Collect online or on-the-spot payments

Centralized management reduces delays and errors, makes payment collection easier and reduces costs. It is expected that more construction companies will turn to digital solutions over time.

Customer Service – Video Chats and Bots for Speedy Assistance

Customer service is key to any business but it is especially important to those in competitive industries. When a customer doesn’t get a timely response from one business, they are almost guaranteed to go elsewhere. The business which provides fast and helpful responses to queries has an obvious competitive advantage. Technological advances can be used to anticipate what consumers want, adapt business processes to serve them, and ultimately make the business more efficient.

Many companies already use Facebook Messenger or live chat services on their websites to communicate with customers and prospects. However, text communication doesn’t convey tone well. Enter face-to-face video chats. Video is increasingly in demand, and there is no reason why it shouldn’t be incorporated into customer service. It allows for more personalized support and better relationships between businesses and those they serve.

Bots can also be used to serve and support customers when people can’t be there. Many operations can’t afford to have customer service staff on-call for 24 hours each day. Therefore, bots can answer common questions and assist with troubleshooting during off-peak hours. In the future, bots can be also be programmed to handle complex queries which involve teaching or training.

The technological revolution is well underway, and industries continue to be disrupted. Ride-sharing apps have disrupted transportation, Amazon continues to push the boundaries of retail, and digital payments have reduced the need to walk with cash. Despite, these advances, many of the technological solutions which are now gain ground can do a lot to boost many other industries. Mobile apps augmented and virtual reality, bots, and video can really lead to new frontiers in construction, education, healthcare, and customer service.

Industry Body IAMAI Forms Committee for Augmented and Virtual Reality

After setting up a new blockchain committee earlier this month, industry body, Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), has formed an another new industry expert committee focused on Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR).

Formed under IAMAI's Emerging Technology Council, the new AR/VR committee will help India’s AR/VR ecosystem by evangelizing AR/VR technology in partnership with government, industry and startups and thereby driving economic growth, job creation, and skill development in the country.

On the agenda of this, committee will be -- a) nurturing India’s AR/VR technology and talent ecosystem, in particular by driving Skill Development; b) engaging with business, industry and government to evangelize acceptance of the technology; c) Help drive training workshops, to familiarize potential users with technology and build use cases, in key sectors.

The committee is chaired by Namrita Mahindro, Senior General Manager od Digital Transformation, Mahindra Group and co-chaired by Satyajeet Singh, Head of Facebook's Strategic Product Partnership, India & South Asia.

The committee would also closely work to develop potential sectors like Healthcare, Tourism, Auto, Agriculture, Education and Skill Development.

“Immersive technologies like AR/VR and Mixed Reality will become the new engines of values creation in the experience economy. They will enable far more effective story telling for brands and businesses, drive greater efficiencies with product prototyping in manufacturing & beyond, facilitate training at scale, anytime, anywhere, to name just a few use cases," Namrita Mahindro, Chairperson of AR/VR Committee, IAMAI, said in a media statement.

“However, in order to be more effective and scale AR/VR to become main-stream needs industry, government and academia working in synergy,” she said.

The IAMAI AR / VR committee will focus on fostering collaboration between industry demand and supply side in the digital reality ecosystem to enhance awareness, enable dialogue, knowledge sharing and access, accelerate growth, promote research and innovation, help develop industry standards and nurture talent to benefit all stakeholders in the community.

Satyajeet Singh, Co-Chairperson, AR/VR Committee, IAMAI, said, "AR and VR technologies are making their mark across domains and Indian startups’ foray in the space of emerging tech is only the beginning. This expert committee formed under the aegis of IAMAI is a much needed initiative which will further provide an impetus for the growth and expansion of emerging technologies across the length and breadth of our country."

“As a part of this committee, we want to fuel homegrown emerging technologies ecosystem; enabling AR/VR ventures with the knowledge and help them navigate and harvest the growing opportunities in this new age emerging tech ecosystem,” he said.

Notably, last year in November, Facebook has expanded its scope of operations in India by announcing India Innovation Hub Accelerator programme, for which Facebook will pick up Virtual Reality based startups in India. This might be one of the reason that IAMAI has chosen Satyajeet Singh from Facebook to co-chair the AR/VR committee.

Besides, Marks Zuckerberg, the CEO of Facebook, in the annual F8 developer conference 2017 announced the social networking giant's ambitious plan of adapting and moving its wings to Virtual and Augmented Reality by launching a an augmented reality platform called Spaces.

Source - KNN India

AR and VR Revolutionize the Way Retailers Connect with Customers : Report

Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies are reshaping the retail landscape by improving customer experience both in-store and online. With extensive usage of smartphones and the advent of wearable technologies, AR and VR are witnessing considerable consumer uptake and are set for disruptive growth in the retail sector, says leading data and analytics company GlobalData.

According to GlobalData’s Digital Retail Platform, AR can be used to guide customers around stores in an informative and entertaining way by blending in product details and whereabouts. AR solutions are relatively less disruptive to existing store layouts, formats and processes compared with VR, which completely immerses shoppers in the experience and can be used for product demonstrations and games in selected areas.

AR can be useful for supporting staff in stores and warehouses by providing them with practical information without disrupting their view and keeping their hands free since they no longer need to hold tablets or ruggedized devices while carrying out tasks such as loading, packing or recording inventory. In contrast, VR has a more limited use for staff since it is more immersive, but can be useful for training.

Needless to mention AR and VR are transforming the customer experience journey in several innovative ways. IKEA has created a high-definition and interactive showroom that uses the immersive power of VR to offer an innovative 3D product experience. Similarly, L’Oreal store in Paris features a Make Up Genius bar where women can virtually try on makeup through the Make Up Genius app on mobile devices. Swarovski launched a VR shopping app in partnership with MasterCard to drive the Atelier Swarovski Home Décor line.

For the past two years, home improvement store Lowe's has been developing visualization capabilities using AR and VR tools. Furthermore in early 2018, Walmart has acquired a small VR start up Spatialand to augment its VR efforts and it hopes to transform the shopping experience across the company’s different websites and stores. Other major retailers embracing AR/VR include Tesco, Carrefour and Kroger.

In India, Bengaluru-based Preksh Innovations is an Augmented Reality solutions startup that claims to launch World’s first patented augmented Reality solution for retail market, in 2015, and filed two patents for same. Preksh offers omni-channel solution to retailer that can be rendered on AR gadgets to allow consumers to shop from stores while sitting at home.

Andreas Olah, Digital Retail Analyst at GlobalData, says: “AR and VR have been tested in retail for a while, but have only been implemented in a limited way so far. However, this is expected to change as major supermarkets, department stores, fashion retailers and DIY stores look to roll out them for various purposes, from in-store navigation and virtual apparel trials to product demonstrations, games and interaction with virtual shop assistants. Furniture retailers are also expected to compete more intensely on AR for projecting furniture into customers’ homes to encourage online purchases and reduce the rate of product returns.”

[Top Image Via - RetailNews.asia]

Delhi-based AR/VR Startup Simulanis Raises $500K Via Education Catalyst Fund

Delhi-headquartered augmented & virtual reality based ed-tech startup Simulanis has raised $500,000 in a pre-Series A round from Education Catalyst Fund, an early-stage education and skilling fund for low-income groups, reported VCCircle.

Founded in 2013 by Raman Talwar, Simulanis initially started out as an e-learning and skills training company that delivered computer-aided design and training services to engineering students. It subsequently branched out to providing simulated work environments to help train corporate professionals as well.

Later in 2015, the startup theb pivoted to a product-based model and started working on augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies that addressed the pain points in engineering education and industrial training.

Prior to this fresh funding, the startup had raised an undisclosed amount in pre-Series A funding from early-stage investment firm Village Capital and a consortium of investors including India Skills chairman Pawanjit Ahluwalia; Apurva Chamaria, VP and head -- corporate marketing, HCL Technologies; and Mridul Upreti, chief executive officer of Segregated Funds Group at Jones Lang LaSalle.

Earlier, yesterday only, we reported that how despite high growth of AR/VR in Indian market, only 5% of AR/VR startups in India got any capital investment.

A couple of months back only, Bengaluru based AR-enabled interactive educational games startup Play Shifu has raised funding of undisclosed amounf in a pre-Series A round led by IDG Ventures and IDFC-Parampara Fund and, in the same month, followed by $500,000 funding of Kalpnik Technologies, which is a virtual reality-driven spiritual startup.

Prior to this, famous West Indies cricketer Chris Gayle had too invested in a Bangalore based AR startup FlippAR.

In October 2017, another VR & AR startup GridRaster has a raised $2 million in seed funding from a group of venture capital firms.

In May 2017, Chymera VR Inc, a virtual reality advertising platform, had secured funding from a clutch of angel investors, including People Group founder and chief executive Anupam Mittal, Airbnb’s global expansion head Varsha Rao, Google executive Surojit Chatterjee, and HHC Holdings chairman Nirav Choksi.

Delhi-based AR/VR Startup Simulanis Raises $500K Via Education Catalyst Fund

Delhi-headquartered augmented & virtual reality based ed-tech startup Simulanis has raised $500,000 in a pre-Series A round from Education Catalyst Fund, an early-stage education and skilling fund for low-income groups, reported VCCircle.

Founded in 2013 by Raman Talwar, Simulanis initially started out as an e-learning and skills training company that delivered computer-aided design and training services to engineering students. It subsequently branched out to providing simulated work environments to help train corporate professionals as well.

Later in 2015, the startup theb pivoted to a product-based model and started working on augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies that addressed the pain points in engineering education and industrial training.

Prior to this fresh funding, the startup had raised an undisclosed amount in pre-Series A funding from early-stage investment firm Village Capital and a consortium of investors including India Skills chairman Pawanjit Ahluwalia; Apurva Chamaria, VP and head -- corporate marketing, HCL Technologies; and Mridul Upreti, chief executive officer of Segregated Funds Group at Jones Lang LaSalle.

Earlier, yesterday only, we reported that how despite high growth of AR/VR in Indian market, only 5% of AR/VR startups in India got any capital investment.

A couple of months back only, Bengaluru based AR-enabled interactive educational games startup Play Shifu has raised funding of undisclosed amounf in a pre-Series A round led by IDG Ventures and IDFC-Parampara Fund and, in the same month, followed by $500,000 funding of Kalpnik Technologies, which is a virtual reality-driven spiritual startup.

Prior to this, famous West Indies cricketer Chris Gayle had too invested in a Bangalore based AR startup FlippAR.

In October 2017, another VR & AR startup GridRaster has a raised $2 million in seed funding from a group of venture capital firms.

In May 2017, Chymera VR Inc, a virtual reality advertising platform, had secured funding from a clutch of angel investors, including People Group founder and chief executive Anupam Mittal, Airbnb’s global expansion head Varsha Rao, Google executive Surojit Chatterjee, and HHC Holdings chairman Nirav Choksi.

Only 5% AR/VR Startups in India Raised Any Funding in Last 5 Years

In past few years there has been an quite a good emergence of 170 Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) startups in India, 60% of which launched in the past 24 months. Bengaluru takes the lead, attracting 27% of these startups, followed by Delhi at 25% and Mumbai at 13%, according to a Market Pulse Report on AR and VR, by GrowthEnabler, a data and intelligence firm on disruptive technology/digital startups.

Various industry estimates peg the global AR/VR market at $100-120 billion by 2021.

According to a Market Pulse Report on AR and VR, by GrowthEnabler, a data and intelligence firm on disruptive technology/digital startups, in the world across the AR segment has received $2.5 billion in funding, and VR $2.7 billion.

“In India, of the 100 AR startups, only 5% have received any form of capital investment of $1-1.5 million. Of the 70 VR start-ups, only a handful have raised any seed/angel capital. Even the top 15 AR/VR start-ups that GrowthEnabler has identified based on over 50 parameters, have collectively raised under $3 million in funding. But all that is going to change in the next five years,” Banda said.

The Karnataka governmnet is actively promoting AR/VR start-ups by providing incubation, mentoring, idea validation by experts, opportunities to deploy pilots with various departments, along with fund support for eligible ones. “We have around 50 start-ups in the AR/VR space in our physical and virtual incubation programmes” said Priyank Kharge, Karnataka IT Minister.

Despite of all this however there's a good news for all AR/VR startups in India that Indian AR/VR market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 76% over the next five years, fuelled by demand from business and consumer sectors.

The above report was first published in Business Line.

A couple of months back only, Bengaluru based AR-enabled interactive educational games startup Play Shifu has raised funding of undisclosed amounf in a pre-Series A round led by IDG Ventures and IDFC-Parampara Fund and, in the same month, followed by $500,000 funding of Kalpnik Technologies, which is a virtual reality-driven spiritual startup.

Prior to this, famous West Indies cricketer Chris Gayle had too invested in a Bangalore based AR startup FlippAR.

In October 2017, another VR & AR startup GridRaster has a raised $2 million in seed funding from a group of venture capital firms.

In May 2017, Chymera VR Inc, a virtual reality advertising platform, had secured funding from a clutch of angel investors, including People Group founder and chief executive Anupam Mittal, Airbnb’s global expansion head Varsha Rao, Google executive Surojit Chatterjee, and HHC Holdings chairman Nirav Choksi.