Manus Quantum Metaglove Demonstration – GDC 2022
This week at GDC 2022, VR glove creator Manus showed a demo of its new Quantum Metagloves which the company says has significantly more accurate finger tracking than with its former version. The company says it eventually wants to deliver the tech to consumers, but right now the price is more feasible for enterprise solutions ($9,000!!).
Snap Acquires Brain-Computer Interface Startup NextMind
Snap announced it’s acquired neurotech startup NextMind, a Paris-based company with a $400 pint-sized brain-computer interface (BCI). NextMind’s BCI is non-invasive and thin enough to fit into the strap of XR headsets. Because it’s non-invasive and has to read through the scalp, skull, etc, NextMind’s tech only can do basic inputs like simple UI interaction. This technology might be used in Snap’s Spectacles, their brand of augmented reality glasses.
Surgery Training Platform ‘Osso VR’ Raises $66M In Series C Financing
Osso VR, the VR surgical training platform founded in 2016 by UCLA and Harvard-trained orthopedic surgeon Justin Barad, MD, announced it’s closed a $66 million Series C financing round led by Oak HC/FT, which Osso will use to enhance its VR surgical platform and hire more experts. There was participation from Signalfire, GSR Ventures, Tiger Global Management and Kaiser Permanente Ventures.
Osso’s total outside investment is now around $109 million. Osso VR’s platform provides educational experiences to surgeons to help them with emerging techniques and technologies. The company works alongside industry giants such as Johnson & Johnson, Stryker, Zimmer Biomet and Smith & Nephew.