🇱🇻 Latvia's Military is ready to use XR

Good morning everyone!

Virtual Reality's applications aren't limited to their original intentions. As we've seen this week, these innovative technologies can serve a nation's greater purpose…

Today’s Topics:

• 🇱🇻 Latvia's Military Ambitions Soar with 5G and XR

• ⌨️ Anything can become a keyboard

• 🌐 The Metaverse is having its own Architecture Biennale

Reading time: 4min

🇱🇻 Latvia's Military Ambitions Soar with 5G and XR

NATO's Allied Command Transformation partners with Latvia 🤝 to establish a 5G test bed for military-grade emerging technologies, including extended reality (XR), amid the Russia-Ukraine War and increased Western military defense collaboration.

Details:

• Latvia, in collaboration with NATO, will use the Ādaži military base as a testing ground for military defense technologies 🛡️, focusing on 5G-enabled XR applications.

• The tests aim to determine how NATO can procure, develop, and implement technological initiatives using 5G and XR 📶, particularly in the context of digital transformation by 2030.

• China's advancements in 5G technology have prompted Western military officials to invest in networking capabilities and enhance information sharing among allies 🌐.

• The initiative aligns with Latvia's cybersecurity and tech requirements outlined in its Cybersecurity Strategy 2023 – 2026 🔒.

Why it matters: Amidst a world marked by escalating global tensions, technologies like 5G and XR have evolved into essential assets, enriching military capabilities. The shift from their origins in entertainment and creativity to instrumental tools in preserving military relevance is an undeniable reality of our times.

⌨️ Anything can become a keyboard

Meta's CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, posted an intriguing video on Instagram, offering a glimpse into Meta's XR vision. The video showcases experimental technology that transforms any flat surface into a virtual keyboard 💻.

Details:

• In the video, Mark Zuckerberg and Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth test a surface-locked virtual keyboard using a Quest 2 headset 👓.

• Current text input methods in VR and AR are clumsy and inconvenient making this typing method slower than traditional devices 🐢.

• The technology would offer haptic feedback and wrist comfort 🤲, eliminating the need for a physical keyboard.

Why it matters: Typing with a VR headset can be quite frustrating. By resolving this issue, Meta has the opportunity to enhance the user experience and make working from Virtual Reality more accessible to everyone.

🌐 The Metaverse is having its own Architecture Biennale

Decentraland and W3rlds join forces to present the world's first Metaverse Architecture Biennale (MAB) 2023, titled "Presence of the Future," 🏛️ from September 21 to 24.

Details:

• The event brings together top architectural firms and creators within the virtual realm, showcasing the Metaverse's potential for digital transformation in various industries 🏗️.

• The MAB takes inspiration from renowned events like the Venice Biennale and Expo, presenting virtual pavilions and experiences 🏟️ created by leading architects and brands.

• Participating entities include Killa Design, LAVA, PLP, ATRIUM, and numerous others, with expectations of over 50,000 visitors 👥 and ten major companies in attendance.

• The MAB offers immersive experiences, discussions, and trials of business solutions tailored to digitizing operations in the Metaverse 🔮.

Why it matters for the Metaverse: MAB 2023 stands as a pivotal milestone in affirming the credibility of Metaverse development. It underscores the immense potential this realm holds across diverse industries while nurturing collaboration among architects, designers, and digital creators.