Metaverse Working Group

[Chris Collins <>]

Hi all,

A quick reminder that the Metaverse Working Group will hold its monthly meeting tomorrow, March 1st at 3:00 PM EST / 12:00 PM  PST / 8:00 PM UTC using the Blue Jeans platform.  

The draft meeting agenda can be found on the MWG wiki at:  https://spaces.internet2.edu/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=95715367

Agenda

1.  Introductions for first time attendees

2.  Co-chair needed - volunteers?

3.  Report on possible immersive meeting platforms for the group.
Ideal Requirements:  Free, open standard or open source, permits connection with and w/o VR HMD (desktop), integrated voice and telephone call-in

• Ben Fineman - JanusVR - http://www.janusvr.com/
  
• Amela Sadagic - BlenderVR - https://blendervr.limsi.fr/doku.php
  
• Dan Eklund - VRChat - http://www.vrchat.net/
  
• Chris Collins - AltSpaceVR - http://altvr.com/
  
• Any consensus on a platform to try?  Other platforms we should explore?
  

4.  Updates on consumer VR hardware releases

• Oculus Rift:  $599 - Pre-orders open: https://shop.oculus.com/en-us/cart/ (July delivery)
• HTC Vive: $799 - Pre-orders open:  https://store.htcvivecart.com/store/htcus/en_US/quickcart/ThemeID.40533800/OfferID.48383055501  (April delivery)
• Playstation VR: Price and release date not yet announced, rumored June 30th
• OSVR Dev Kit: $299 - Available for purchase:  http://www.razerzone.com/store/osvr-hdk
• Leap Motion update: New hand tracking firmware update greatly improves VR functionality
• Leap Motion Orion update page:  https://developer.leapmotion.com/orion   
• Leap Motion Orion video:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnlCGw-0R8g
• Other hardware updates?
  

5.  Internet2 Global Summit - Chicago - May 15-18, 2016

• Who's attending?
  
• Metaverse Working Group in-person meeting - goals/agenda
  
• VR Applications in Education presentation
  

6.  Open Discussion

For those unable to attend last month, the February Meeting Minutes are available at:  https://spaces.internet2.edu/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=93653392

Looking forward to our discussion!

- Chris

Chris M. Collins (Avatar: Fleep Tuque)

Center for Simulations & Virtual Environments Research (UCSIM)

Division of Innovation & Partnerships, Research & Development

UC Office of Information Technologies (UCIT)

University of Cincinnati

400 University Hall

PO Box 210658

Cincinnati, OH 45221-0658

(513) 556-3018

http://ucsim.uc.edu