Emerging tech

TECHLIFE’S PRACTICAL MONTHLY ROUNDUP OF EMERGING TECH EXPERIENCES, INCLUDING ALL THE LATEST VIRTUAL AND AUGMENTED REALITY APPS, ALONGSIDE AI-DRIVEN BOTS AND OTHER USEFUL TOOLS.

IN 2017, APPLE CEO Tim Cook stated that AR was the next big tech ‘idea’, putting it on par with the revolutionary change brought by the smartphone. While we wouldn’t say we’ve seen sufficient evidence of that just yet, it’s clear that the first multiplayer FPS game that uses AR, and a novel if hyperactive karaoke-meets-Snapchat AR application have stolen the spotlight in terms of consumer apps this month.

But while VR and AR play around with games, AI is out finding extra planets in alien solar systems, working on fraud cases against Rolls Royce, volunteering at nursing homes, participating in the Winter Olympic torch relay and creating fake porn videos of celebrities. So naturally we’re wondering if the Apple capitan got his augmented reality and artificial intelligence acronyms wrong, or if he just knows something we don’t.

VR progression was a little slower this month, but there is another neat story coming from the developers behind the award winning VR films Dear Angelica, Henry and Lost. Don’t be too disheartened, though; soon you’ll be able to take a virtual vacation in your favourite Airbnb room whenever you want.