Google Maps London directions

This episode focuses on some of the topics that Michael and Michael really love:  games, VR, AR and robots.  As Michael M was on the road this week, it’s only fitting that he was recording from his car.  Starting off with the concept of when games begin to feel like work, the co-hosts discuss when and how that feeling has happened for them.  

Turning to VR, and how it is being used to change how companies recruit and provide employee education, Michael and Michael remark on the power that VR can bring, and how it may also increase empathy and understanding of employees in the field by those in headquarters.  

Then donning an-as-yet-speculative pair of AR specs, the pair contemplate how an Apple entrant into the AR glasses space might work, and how the fashion experience driven by the other wearable in the Apple portfolio, the Apple Watch may help the company gain a leg up.  The newly enabled AR capabilities of Google Maps point a way to the future, where the camera begins to recognize the exact orientation of the user by the buildings around them, and direct them with AR where the user wants to go.  Staying with the maps theme, we have examples of games such as Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego, using Google Earth, and the latest example of the Niantic engine, which powers the Harry Potter: Wizards Unite game.

Closing things out for this episode is with a new robotic car mover that is about to be deployed in France.  Check out the shownotes for a video on how this robot can park your car for you.

Selected Links

Kotaku article: It’s Okay To Stop Playing — https://kotaku.com/its-okay-to-stop-playing-1833145712 

World of Warcraft — https://worldofwarcraft.com/en-us/battle-for-azeroth 

Red Dead Redemption 2 — https://www.rockstargames.com/games/info/reddeadredemption2

CNN Business article: How VR is transforming HR — https://edition.cnn.com/2019/02/26/tech/vr-transforming-hr-intl-biz-evolved/index.html 

Deutsche Bundesbahn — https://www.bahn.com/en/view/index.shtml 

DW.com article: Deutsche Bahn pumps billions into Germany-wide rail upgrade — https://www.dw.com/en/deutsche-bahn-pumps-billions-into-germany-wide-rail-upgrade/a-47596788 

Inverse article: Apple AR Glasses: Launch Date, Price, Features & Design for Secretive Specs — https://www.inverse.com/article/53927-apple-ar-glasses-launch-date-price-features 

MacBreak Weekly Episode 652 Ironic Sans — https://www.twit.tv/shows/macbreak-weekly/episodes/652 

Owen Williams tweet on the AR capabilities of Google Maps: 

Holy wow Google just added augmented reality walking directions into maps and it's WILD