Ryan Hooks

Blockchain interoperability can not be the responsibility of a single project, it needs to be an industry-wide effort, argues Temujin Louie. https://lnkd.in/gfXQQeVd

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How Soul Paint Uses XR To Help You Understand Your Body And Emotions Here's my coverage for Forbes https://lnkd.in/eSz94gv2

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Nightshade: Defence Against the Dark Arts of AI How Artists Are Using Poison Data to Protect Their Creations in the Age of AI How are artists fighting back in the age of AI when their work is taken without consent to train AI models? Introducing Nightshade, a revolutionary tool that empowers artists to protect their digital masterpieces by wielding the "dark arts" of data poisoning. Nightshade is a prompt-specific poisoning tool developed by researchers at the University of Chicago, which offers a new line of defence for artists. Nightshade potentially represents a significant leap in protecting artists' rights. By allowing artists to subtly alter their digital works, it creates poisoned samples that look identical to the original images to human viewers but cause AI models to misinterpret them. Nightshade isn't just about ethics or fairness—it's an existential challenge for AI itself. How can we trust AI models when we know that the integrity of the data used for training is being deliberately targeted? How can we argue against the right of artists to be recognised and remunerated for their work? Learn how this groundbreaking tool is disrupting the balance of power between creators and technology, and what it means for the future of AI. Intrigued? Click the link below to uncover this compelling story and see how the battle between art and AI has taken a dramatic turn. Read the full article and join me in this exploration on Medium. If you do not have access to Medium, the article can also be viewed here: https://lnkd.in/e6_wBJzt #AI #FutureOfArt #NightshadeAI #PoisonData #CreativeRights #EthicalAI #DataProtection #TechEthics #FutureOfArt #DataEthics

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There may be no better argument for affordable yet reasonably performant mixed and virtual reality than the new Meta Quest 3S. it strips away a handful of features from the Quest 3 that most users might not notice to achieve a pocket-friendly price point, and it may soon occupy a spot near the top of our best VR headset list. After chasing the high-end with the now-discontinued Meta Quest Pro, and then leapfrogging that headset with a more affordable Meta Quest 3 (which included a better chip and higher display resolution) Meta pulled has back just a bit on resolution, image quality, and depth-sensing, to deliver its most compelling combination of value and performance yet in the Meta Quest 3S. There may be a lesson here for Apple, which has been chasing the high-end with the $3,499 / £3,499 Apple Vision Pro, a headset that has the highest imaginable specs, and includes powerful hand and face tracking. However, while Apple hasn't shared much about sales, it's clear that it has not enjoyed iPhone-level adoption.

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Nonlinear Editing??? Traditional editing often follows a linear path—cutting, refining, and arranging with a clear goal. But what happens when we approach editing as a nonlinear exploration? Non-linear exploration leverages AI to map out and traverse a "latent space" of creative options. Instead of moving from point A to point B in a linear fashion, it allows us to explore multiple directions, alternative pathways, and unexpected outcomes all at once. It’s less about following a script and more about discovering hidden gems in a sea of possibilities. For example, imagine designing a new character or landscape. Traditional editing might involve tweaking individual features step by step. In contrast, non-linear exploration lets you instantly visualize diverse variations, uncover creative combinations, and even stumble upon designs you hadn’t imagined. This approach transforms creative workflows, empowering artists, designers, and innovators to embrace serendipity and break free from linear constraints. Can nonlinear methods reshape how we think about editing? https://lnkd.in/gv2Gbagi #NonLinearExploration #CreativityWithAI #CreativeWorkflows #DigitalCreativity #ArtificialIntelligence

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Art's value goes beyond numbers and data, it’s about emotion, context, and the human experience. While AI can assist, the true essence of art is best understood through the eyes and hearts of people. AI's role in the art market is evolving, providing tools that can enhance but not replace human expertise. What are your thoughts on AI's role in art valuation?

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10 Reasons Why Having a 3D Video (Ad, Explainer, or How-To) on Your Product Page One of the most effective ways to differentiate your product is by incorporating 3D videos into your listings. Here are ten compelling reasons why 3D videos (whether ads, explainers, or how-to guides) are essential for your product page or Amazon listings: Enhanced Visual Appeal 3D videos are visually striking and can captivate potential customers' attention much more effectively than static images or text. Better Product Understanding A 3D explainer video can demonstrate your product’s features and benefits in a clear and engaging manner, helping customers understand exactly what they’re buying. Increased Engagement Videos are inherently more engaging than text or images. They can keep potential buyers on your listing longer, increasing the chances of a purchase. Showcase Product Functionality 3D how-to videos can show customers exactly how to use or install your product, reducing confusion and increasing confidence in their purchase decision. Boosts Conversion Rates High-quality 3D videos can significantly boost conversion rates by providing a more comprehensive and engaging presentation of your product. Builds Trust Professional 3D videos can enhance your brand's credibility, making customers more likely to trust and buy from you. SEO Benefits Listings with videos often rank higher in Amazon search results, increasing your product’s visibility and potential sales. Reduces Return Rates By clearly showing how your product works and what it looks like in a real-world setting, 3D videos can help set accurate customer expectations, reducing return rates. Competitive Advantage Many listings still rely solely on images and text. Incorporating 3D videos can give you a competitive edge, making your product stand out. Versatility 3D videos can be used across multiple platforms beyond Amazon, such as your website, social media channels, and other e-commerce sites, providing consistent messaging and branding. https://lnkd.in/g3ZRiyi6

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A counterpoint for artists navigating AI. Thanks again #musictechcinference Miami for having me. #speaking #founder #aimusic #chadgerber #meloscene #AI #vr #spatialcomputing #visionpro #metaquest #shadowgen #speaker #musician #technology #musictechnology #miami #web3 #virtualreality #artificialintelligence

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Computer Science is something more than science and is mislabelled therefore. It relies on iterative algorithm rather than derivative reductionism. Once we add that element of creative choice science nolonger applies. It's also becoming increasingly clear that a TOE will be algorithmic rather computational. What would be a better name for Computer Science?

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🚀 Friday Recap! 🚀 It's been another exciting week for XR technology and innovation. Here's what we've been up to and what we've seen: 🔍 Understanding ROI in XR: Check out this insightful article by MACE Virtual Labs on the ROI of XR in your business or department. Thank you for sharing this valuable information! - https://lnkd.in/e_Us8Whq 📱 Apple Vision Pro Controllers: The Vision Pro is getting motion controllers soon from a third-party creator. This is crucial for expanding content, especially in education and training. 🎮 Spatial Ops by Resolution Games: This exciting game showcases the power of Mixed Reality and its ability to interact with large environments. 🎨 Pencil by 4th Wall Breakers: A fantastic MR app on a smaller scale, demonstrating how MR could soon revolutionize art classes and other educational settings. 🚒 San Diego Fire-Rescue Department Partnership: We're thrilled to announce our new partnership with San Diego Fire! The most exciting part? We're building a collaborative community in the fire service where solutions for one department are shared with everyone, regardless of size or location. - https://lnkd.in/efpziMke Follow me (Evan Sitler-Bates) and XpertVR for more exciting news in XR! 🌟 #XR #MixedReality #Innovation #Education #Training #FireService #Collaboration #TechNews #FridayRecap

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This is unfortunate. Humanoid Origin is closing down. These are ex-Bioware devs (and others) trying to build an exciting new sci-fi series. Funding is very tough for indie game studios right now (that are not spewing unsustainable 'gen' AI nonsense to investors). Publishers and investors are both being more conservative, more scrutiny, more due diligence, more questioning. Funding is not automatically being reupped. And game devs are getting hit hard. The one observation I would make is that nobody as an indie or independent developer should be making a Triple A budgeted game right now, especially not with new IP. Leave the Triple A and Quadruple A to internal dev studios of publishers using it for existing IP. Or to independent studios making sequels and franchise extensions with comfortable funding. New IP has to start smaller and prove itself in the market in a Single A to Double A range. What "Triple A" means has grown so much in the last 25 years that it has stopped meaning just "make a high-end, quality game". And it has become, "make a game for $30 to $50 to $100 million". The market, (and publishers) cannot bear or justify $50 million games for new IP. I don't want to keep seeing studio closures. We have to start smaller. Put simpler Humanoid Origin needs to build a new single player. character driven. narrative game not with the budget of a Mass Effect 4 or even a Mass Effect 1, but with what BioWare would have made Mass Effect 1 with if BioWare hadn't been bought by JR's VGH holdings. Indie studios have to build indie games on indie budgets. Because the market and economy are unforgiving right now. Good luck all. My heart goes out to them. This sucks. Keep trying to make that game, but make it smaller to start. Make what the market can bear. ----- VideoGameChronicle: "Mass Effect trilogy director Casey Hudson’s studio is shutting down. Humanoid Origin is closing due to “an unexpected shortfall of funding” (Tom Ivan) (Nov 25, 2024) "Humanoid Origin, the studio led by former BioWare general manager Casey Hudson, has announced it’s shutting down. In a post on LinkedIn, the Canadian studio said it was closing because of funding issues. “Earlier today, we informed our staff that Humanoid Origin will be shutting down,” it said. “Despite efforts to shield the studio from broader challenges in the industry, an unexpected shortfall of funding left us unable to sustain operations. “Thank you to everyone who supported us throughout our journey.” Humanoid Origin was founded by Hudson and a team of game industry veterans in 2021. Its first game was going to be a multiplatform AAA title focused on character-driven narrative. During almost 20 years at BioWare across two stints, Hudson directed and produced the original Mass Effect trilogy and Star Wars: Knight of the Old Republic. He left the company for the second time in December 2020." VideoGameChronicle: https://lnkd.in/g3jPXheC #gameindustry #gamedev #indiegames #studioclosure

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"The Drill" – AI-Powered Satire at Its Wildest 🎥🤖 I just came across "The Drill," a satirical music video that uses AI-generated likenesses of actual political figures. There were no actors—just their faces brought to life in a surreal, provocative way. It’s bold, controversial, and visually insane. Watching it, you can’t help but think about how far this tech has come and what it means for storytelling. The video is sharp, unsettling, and hilarious—it’s the kind of satire that makes you sit back and go, “Wow, they went there.” AI is such a game-changer for creativity right now. It gives us tools to create things that were impossible before. But it also raises questions: Where’s the line? How far can we push before it’s too far? 🚨 Fair warning: This is not for everyone. These are not my personal views, but if you’re into things pushing boundaries and provocative, watch it. 💭 What’s your take on this kind of AI-driven content? Is it a powerful new medium or crossing ethical lines? Let’s hear it!

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Delighted today by the very thoughtful, intentional #friction, helpful object #scarcity & #skeuomorphic design choices in RAUM virtual reality collaboration platform. Sebastian said something key today: "FORCE the users to talk to each other." So a design pillar that seems to permeate their whole product is this idea of interaction being linked to artificially scarce objects. It's very nicely dialed-in sweetspot on the #UX spectrum between annoyingly-frictional<--->overwhelmingly-frictionless . A great example, and my favorite feature: The in-world camera object, which you need to be holding to take pics/selfies. The environment design features enough of these objects hung up on walls or sitting on surrfaces to be not totally out of reach, but also not just something that you can continuously pull up like magic. It's actually even a little lower tech than reality, where our phones are always a grasp away. On paper this might sound like it could get annoying, but it actually felt liberating: like I could focus a bit more on the specific collaboration task at hand, and not have this perpetual frictionless possibility of a feature (taking picture) kind of riding my back. And maybe even more importantly, and to Seb's point: it's often easier to just ask if you can use the camera someone else is holding, which creates an opportunity for human interaction, connection, collaboration, etc. Duplicate this across features & you can see how many more moments of interaction this can spawn across the user experience. I'm REALLY enjoying this moment in immersive UX design, where we have opportunities to say: maybe we DONT need everything constantly at our fingertips. Maybe slowing things down a bit is a GOOD thing. Maybe friction ISNT a bad word, as hypergrowth-focused tech product teams might be trying to train us to believe. It's on those terms that immersive platforms become something that is truly and undeniably NOT #slack , right? Like, they have overlapping but ultimately very different purposes. Licensing a product like this for your business DOESNT need to compete for P&L space with #microsoftteams. It's not like this is a brand new concept: The greatest games are all about intentional friction. Kirk Maddy & Jason just had a whole episode of #Tripleclick on this topic: https://lnkd.in/gHjND6J5 BUT it's extremely cool to see this kind of design thinking being represented in immersive spaces and platforms outside of games. thanks for the tour Sebastian & Michael, highlight of my day! See you In Koln :) #vr #spatialcomputing #spatialux #immersivecollaboration #futureofcollaboration #remotework #designsprints #virtualcollaboration #virtualoffice #usefulfriction #skeuomorphicdesign #uxfriction #ux #uxdesign #gamedesign #metaverse #virtualwrolds #surpriseanddelight #delightfuldesign

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"Volumetric video is poised to reshape the future of media, especially in immersive technologies like virtual and augmented reality. The ability to navigate around a fully three-dimensional scene, view it from any angle, and even interact with it in real-time opens up new possibilities for storytelling, gaming, live events, and healthcare. As this technology continues to develop, the work of Radiance Fields will play a pivotal role in pushing these advancements from the lab into real-world applications." #VolumetricVideo #GaussianSplatting #ExperientialLearning #LearnByDo Video demo: https://lnkd.in/eTXpSAxJ https://lnkd.in/e2-m7iaD

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Here is a glimpse of the CGI liquid simulation that I did for the Rollick commercial. #Rollick #CGI #3d #c4d #realflow

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Over the past month, I've been experimenting with AI generated voiceovers from scripts that I've written and paired with some quick Motion Typography/3D/After Effects work. As someone who has frequently been in the toils of working with voiceover actors, this approach actually expedited my turnaround time by 3-4x. AI might not be good enough for top tier work yet, but the day to day brand awareness assets can turn out decent, in my opinion. This one took 5 hours start to finish. #AI #GenerativeVO

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One of the better articles I have read that sums up my thoughts on generative AI. https://lnkd.in/gi_B_nyh

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Have you ever wanted to crumple a paper using 3D software? And this crumpling shot you want just can't be filmed? In my new Patreon tutorial, you’ll learn two approaches for crumpling a paper ball - one fast and another high-fidelity - and when to use each in Houdini. Full tutorial and project files on my Patreon: https://lnkd.in/eKVDhk3s

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