先日、ようやくHTC VIVEを体験してきました。予想はしていましたが、やっぱり凄いの一言ですね。あの見つめられる感じは現実世界とほぼ変わらない感情を呼び起こさせてくれます。夢に出てくるんじゃないかと。あんなの毎日見てる人、頭おかしくなるんじゃないかって本気で心配してしまいますね。
さておき、東の横綱GoogleがDaydreamを発表したことで一気に盛り上がりを見せてきたバーチャル空間ビジネスですが、当然、気になってくるのは西の横綱Appleの動きです。待望論ありつつもこのUploadVRに直近の動きがまとめられていたので参考に。チームは数百人規模で構成されており、中にはMicrosoftのHoloLensチームにいた人物などが参加してて、関連企業も少なくとも5社は買収してるのだとか。
四半期レポートでティム・クックCEOもこの市場ポテンシャルは認める発言してるそうなので、入る入らないじゃなくていつ入るか、だけなんでしょう。Apple VS Microsoft VS Googleという三つ巴が見れるというのは別の意味で胸熱です。
ということでしばらく取材等々でニュースチェックおさぼりでしたので今日はまとめて。
人工知能・チャットボット
- Amazon built an Echo simulator you can use in the browser via VentureBeat
- Should virtual assistants be humanized? via Recode — All
- What if a bot could run a country? via VentureBeat
- Product Hunt launches Kittybot, its first Slack bot via VentureBeat
- Why bots won’t replace apps anytime soon via VentureBeat
- Bot review: Poncho, 1–800-Flowers, and CNN rated for design and usability via VentureBeat
VR・AR関連
- Budget VR 101: How To Get PC VR Streaming To A Phone via UploadVR
- ZTE launches 5.5-inch Google Daydream-ready Axon 7 for $450 alongside its first VR headset via VentureBeat
- HTC is making its first VR game for its Vive headset via VentureBeat
- Apple is Playing The Long Game With VR — And It May Work via UploadVR
- Solos’ augmented reality glasses let you bike like an Olympic cyclist via The Verge
- WorldViz creates ‘warehouse-scale’ motion-tracking for VR headsets via VentureBeat
- The reality of augmented and virtual reality venture capital via TechCrunch
- Jurors could visit crime scenes in VR in the future via The Next Web
資金調達関連
- Front raises $10 million to build out its ‘Slack for external communications’ service via VentureBeat
- AmpMe raises $8 million for its portable sound system, integrates with YouTube via VentureBeat
- Skillshare books $12 million to take its education platform international via TechCrunch
- New fantasy sports app SportsHero raises $2.4M ahead of planned Australia IPO via TechCrunch
- EquipmentShare raises $5.5 million for peer-to-peer marketplace for heavy equipment via TechCrunch
- Singapore startup raises US$5M using Co-founder’s own VC firm via e27
- Money transfer company TransferWise raises further $26M at a $1.1B valuation via TechCrunch
- Newark Venture Partners closes $23 million fund, opens accelerator program via VentureBeat
- Scoop raises $5.1 million seed round for enterprise carpooling service via TechCrunch
- Pebble passes $1 million Kickstarter goal in about an hour via VentureBeat
Snapchatファンドレイズ
- Snapchat quietly added an IPO specialist to its board via Tech
- Here’s why investors are throwing money at Snapchat via Tech
- Snapchat is telling investors it will be a billion dollar company next year via Recode — All
- Snapchat raises $1.81 billion in new funding round via VentureBeat
- Snapchat raised $1.8B in a Series F round; leaked deck reveals revenues, user numbers via TechCrunch
