First unveiled at CES 2022 early final yr, Canon has now taken its first step into shopper VR software program with Kokomo, its fledgling social VR platform. In comparison with extra full-featured collaboration apps, Kokomo isn’t there but, nevertheless it’s a begin in a brand new path for Canon, which up till now has been largely centered on XR {hardware} aimed toward enterprise.
The Japanese optics and imaging big introduced that early entry to its Kokomo social collaboration software program for Quest 2 is now out there in beta within the US and Canada.
In the event you didn’t hear about it at CES 2023 again in January the place it had a reasonably large outing, right here’s the way it works: you first use a cell companion app to scan your face whereas making a number of expressions to generate a mannequin of your head. Mixed with the digicam in your telephone, you invite a buddy to leap into Kokomo’s social VR setting the place your avatar is actually a combined actuality projection of you, replete with that face scan you probably did earlier to cowl the place the Quest 2 would usually obscure your eyes.
Realistically, the app nonetheless wants numerous work. There are just a few digital environments, which though plush, are easy backgrounds with out a lot utility past wanting good. Furthermore, the face scanning and projection on the combined actuality avatar feels a bit too uncanny to provide that face-to-face vibe the Japanese tech big goes for proper now. The fail state of Kokomo’s headset alternative is fairly humorous too, as your mug can generally find yourself pasted awkwardly in mid-air.
Granted, it’s nonetheless in open beta, so we’re hoping to see some enhancements within the close to time period earlier than contemplating it over skilled collaboration apps like Meta’s Horizon Workrooms, Spatial or Immersed.
And why Canon? The Japan-based firm accounts for almost half of all international digicam gross sales, placing it in a great place to search for methods to combine its high-quality optics in service of metaverse immersion. For now, it’s removed from probably the most useful social collaboration instrument we’ve seen, though the corporate’s dedication to sidestepping a few of the inherent weirdness of avatars at present (Zuckerberg has faux legs for you) by utilizing what you have already got in your pocket could present some actual outcomes with time.
Contrasted with one thing like Google’s Challenge Starline, which gives a stereo right 3D chatting expertise because of its host of sensors, light-field show, spatial audio, and pc imaginative and prescient—extra akin to a phone sales space from the longer term—Canon’s Kokomo actually takes accessibility to coronary heart.
On the flipside, Canon has quite a lot of XR units that are largely centered on the Japanese enterprise market. Its most up-to-date MREAL combined actuality headset remains to be very costly—assume 10s of 1000’s of {dollars}—making Kokomo step one in a wholly new path for the corporate.
We’ll be checking in on Kokomo because it progresses within the coming months. Within the meantime, you may strive it out for your self by downloading the free app on Quest’s App Lab, and free companion app for both Android or iOS system.