The Tap bracelet was a standout innovation at the event. This little wearable allows users to navigate AR/VR interfaces using hand gestures, similar to the Apple Vision Pro experience. However, the sensor placement on the underside of the wrist sometimes made it challenging to consistently register finger movements, requiring users to keep their hand pointed downward.

Another intriguing piece of wearable tech was the Freeride roller skates. These allow users to walk around freely in VR, providing a more practical alternative to treadmill-based solutions. While I didn't get to try them myself due to scheduling conflicts, observing others using the Freeride skates suggested they offered a more natural and immersive way to navigate virtual environments compared to static in-place locomotion.

One of the highlights of the Augmented World Expo for me was trying out the immersive motion experiences from companies like YAW VR and SimTech.

The YAW VR device was a simulator that allowed you to sit in a moving platform and experience a virtual underwater submarine environment. The device's movements were synchronized with the visuals in the VR headset, creating a truly immersive roller coaster-like experience. The demo I tried had me navigating an underwater world, feeling the twists and turns as the "submarine" moved around. It was an incredibly realistic and thrilling experience, blending the virtual and physical worlds in a captivating way.

Another intriguing device I got to try was the SimTech hoverboard. This virtual hoverboard allowed me to lean and move around in a shooter game, simulating the experience of riding a real hoverboard. While it was a bit disorienting at first, after a few minutes my brain adjusted and I found the experience to be really fun and engaging. The hoverboard's responsiveness to my movements made for an immersive gaming experience that felt much more realistic than a traditional controller.

Both the YAW VR simulator and the SimTech hoverboard demonstrated how companies are pushing the boundaries of immersive motion experiences in the VR/AR space. These types of devices have the potential to bring a new level of realism and embodiment to virtual experiences, blurring the lines between the digital and physical worlds.

One of the most impressive demonstrations at the Augmented World Expo was the haptic feedback gloves from the company Haptx. These gloves allow users to physically feel the objects they interact with in virtual reality.

When you put on the gloves and enter a VR environment, you can actually feel the texture and shape of virtual objects as you grasp and manipulate them. The gloves provide a vibration-based feedback that simulates the sensation of touch, tricking your brain into believing you're truly interacting with physical items.

This technology has the potential to significantly enhance the immersion and realism of virtual experiences. By engaging the sense of touch, users can form a more tangible connection with the digital world, making interactions feel more natural and intuitive.

The Haptx gloves were showcased with a variety of virtual scenarios, from handling delicate objects to feeling the resistance of virtual materials. The level of detail and responsiveness in the haptic feedback was truly remarkable, blurring the line between the physical and digital realms.

As virtual and augmented reality continue to evolve, integrating haptic feedback devices like these gloves will be crucial in creating truly immersive experiences. The ability to touch and feel the virtual environment opens up new possibilities for training, entertainment, and even remote collaboration, where users can collaborate as if they were in the same physical space.

Space Toop's 360-degree virtual workstation was a standout at the Augmented World Expo. This unique setup allows users to create a fully immersive computing experience without the need for a traditional monitor.

By utilizing the xreal Air Ultra glasses, users can see their entire virtual workspace surrounding them in a 360-degree view. This enables them to position various screens and applications all around their field of vision, creating a truly immersive and productive work environment.

The system also includes a physical keyboard and mouse, providing a familiar input method while still being able to take advantage of the spatial computing capabilities. Users can arrange their virtual screens, browsers, calendars, and other applications in any configuration they desire, allowing for enhanced multitasking and productivity.

This innovative approach to computing is particularly well-suited for scenarios where traditional setups may be impractical, such as working on the go or in confined spaces. The 360-degree virtual workspace offers a level of flexibility and customization that can boost efficiency and focus.

Overall, Space Toop's 360-degree virtual workstation represents a significant step forward in spatial computing, blending the benefits of virtual reality with the familiarity of a desktop computing experience.

This year at the Augmented World Expo, I had the opportunity to try out several new virtual reality headsets that I hadn't experienced before. While the latest iterations of the Meta Quest headsets didn't blow me away with marginal improvements, there were a few standout devices that left a lasting impression.

The Sony VR headset was a pleasant surprise, offering an immersive virtual experience on par with the Quest 3 and Apple Vision Pro. The ability to flip the headset up and down to seamlessly transition between the virtual and physical worlds was a particularly compelling feature.

The Pico headset also impressed me with its performance, especially during the intense "Tyo Reboot" martial arts fitness game. The headset provided a highly engaging and immersive workout experience.

Perhaps the most intriguing device I tried was the Magic Leap augmented reality headset. Unlike the fully immersive VR headsets, the Magic Leap overlays digital content onto the real world, creating a unique mixed reality experience. The way it seamlessly integrated virtual elements into the surrounding environment was truly impressive.

While the latest VR headsets may not have been revolutionary, the advancements in haptics, wearables, and specialized devices like the "free aim" roller skates and the "yaw" motion simulator suggest that the future of immersive experiences is rapidly evolving. I'm excited to see what the next year will bring and can't wait to explore these emerging technologies further.

One of the most exciting things I saw at the Augmented World Expo this year was a sneak peek of a new VR headset prototype from Palmer Luckey, the original inventor of the Oculus Rift. During a panel discussion, Luckey and a representative from the company Big Screen revealed a compact VR headset that fits in a small tube, smaller than a water bottle.

The headset itself looks like small ski goggles, very similar to the ones seen in the movie Ready Player One. Luckey and the Big Screen team didn't provide many details on the internal specifications, but the form factor alone is a significant improvement over current bulky VR headsets.

One of the biggest issues with existing VR headsets is their size, weight, and heat generation, which can make them uncomfortable to wear for extended periods. This new prototype addresses those concerns by aiming for a much more compact and lightweight design.

While I didn't get to try on the prototype myself, the mere fact that such a small and portable VR headset is in development is incredibly promising. It suggests that the industry is making progress towards creating VR experiences that are more seamless and comfortable for users.

I'm excited to see how this prototype evolves and potentially makes its way to consumers in the future. Next year's Augmented World Expo will be the perfect opportunity to get hands-on with this intriguing new VR hardware.

The augmented World Expo was a fascinating event that showcased the latest advancements in virtual reality, augmented reality, and other emerging technologies. While the improvements in VR headsets were incremental, the author was particularly impressed by the advancements in haptics, wearables, and immersive devices that enhance the VR experience.

The author highlighted several innovative products, including the TAP bracelet for gesture-based control, the FreeAim roller skates for VR locomotion, the YAW VR motion simulator, and the SimTech virtual hoverboard. Additionally, the author was impressed by the Pico headset, the Sony VR headset, and the Magic Leap augmented reality headset.

Beyond the technology, the author enjoyed the opportunity to connect with other enthusiasts and industry professionals at the event, noting the friendly and collaborative atmosphere. The author looks forward to returning to the augmented World Expo next year to see what new advancements and innovations will be showcased.