An avid gamer and sharp media critic explains meritocracy's negative contribution to video game culture-and what can be done about it Video games have brought entertainment, education, and innovation to millions, but gaming also has its dark sides. From the deep-bred misogyny epitomized by GamerGate to the endemic malice of abusive player communities, gamer culture has had serious real-world repercussions, ranging from death threats to sexist industry practices and racist condemnations. In The Toxic Meritocracy of Video Games, new media critic and longtime gamer Christopher A. Paul explains how video games' focus on meritocracy empowers this negative culture. Paul first shows why meritocracy is integral to video-game design, narratives, and values. Games typically valorize skill and technique, and common video-game practices (such as leveling) build meritocratic thinking into the most basic premises. Video games are often assumed to have an even playing field, but they facilitate skill transfer from game to game, allowing certain players a built-in advantage. The Toxic Meritocracy of Video Games identifies deep-seated challenges in the culture of video games-but all is not lost. As Paul argues, similarly meritocratic institutions like professional sports and higher education have found powerful remedies to alleviate their own toxic cultures, including active recruiting and strategies that promote values such as contingency, luck, and serendipity. These can be brought to the gamer universe, Paul contends, ultimately fostering a more diverse, accepting, and self-reflective culture that is not only good for gamers but good for video games as well.

Augmented and virtual reality (AR and VR) offer exciting opportunities for human computer interaction (HCI), the enhancement of places, and new business cases. Though VR is most popular for video games, especially among younger generations, AR and VR can also be used in applications that include military, medical, navigational, tourism, marketing, and maintenance uses. Research in these technologies along with 3D user interfaces has gained momentum in recent years and has solidified it as a staple technology for the foreseeable future. Multimedia and Sensory Input for Augmented, Mixed, and Virtual Reality includes a collection of business case studies covering a variety of topics related to AR, VR, and mixed reality (MR) including their use in possible applications. This book also touches on the diverse uses of AR and VR in many industries and discusses their importance, challenges, and opportunities. While discussing the use these technologies in sectors such as education, healthcare, and computer science, this book is ideal for computer scientists, engineers, practitioners, stakeholders, researchers, academicians, and students who are interested in the latest research on augmented, mixed, and virtual reality.

What is Spatial Computing and why is everyone from Tesla, Apple, and Facebook investing heavily in it?

In The Infinite Retina, authors Irena Cronin and Robert Scoble attempt to answer that question by helping you understand where Spatial Computing - an augmented reality where humans and machines can interact in a physical space - came from, where it's going, and why it's so fundamentally different from the computers or mobile phones that came before.

They present seven visions of the future and the industry verticals in which Spatial Computing has the most influence - Transportation; Technology, Media, and Telecommunications; Manufacturing; Retail; Healthcare; Finance; and Education. The book also shares insights about the past, present, and future from leading experts an other industry veterans and innovators, including Sebastian Thrun, Ken Bretschneider, and Hugo Swart. They dive into what they think will happen in Spatial Computing in the near and medium term, and also explore what it could mean for humanity in the long term. The Infinite Retina then leaves it up to you to decide whether Spatial Computing is truly where the future of technology is heading or whether it's just an exciting, but passing, phase.

What you will learn:

• Look back at historical paradigms that changed the face of technology
• Consider how Spatial Computing could be the new technology that changes our lives
• See how Virtual and Augmented Reality will change the way we do healthcare
• Learn how Spatial Computing technology will lead to fully automated transportation
• Think about how Spatial Computing will change the manufacturing industry
• Explore how finance and retail are going to be impacted through Spatial Computing devices
• Hear accounts from industry experts on what they expect Spatial Computing to bring to their sectors

The increase in smartphone usage and new technologies embedded in smart devices have led to innovative developments and applications throughout a variety of industries. However, new techniques such as spatial augmented reality are becoming more affordable for business, allowing consumers to experience and interact with the world as they never have before. AR and VR have vast implications for management and can allow companies to increase their sustainability and reduce their CO2 footprint. Managerial Challenges and Social Impacts of Virtual and Augmented Reality is a pivotal reference source that provides vital research on the applications of VR, AR, and related technologies from the perspectives of managers and marketers in the industry and discusses the social impact of these technologies. While highlighting topics such as consumer analysis, privacy ethics, and relationship marketing, this book is ideally designed for managers, marketers, technology developers, managing directors, business professionals, academicians, students, and researchers seeking current studies on the evolution of interactive technology.

"With his YouTube channel, Mitch's VR Lab, Mitch has helped thousands of people understand the foundations of locomotion and interaction mechanics with clear and concise UE4 videos. I'm thrilled that he has taken the time to bring all his knowledge and experience in working with Unreal Engine and Virtual Reality to the Unreal (R) Engine VR Cookbook.... Mitch is uniquely qualified to share this book with the world." -Luis Cataldi, Unreal Engine Education, Epic Games, Inc. For game developers and visualization specialists, VR is the next amazing frontier to conquer-and Unreal Engine 4 is the ideal platform to conquer it with. Unreal (R) Engine VR Cookbook is your complete, authoritative guide to building stunning experiences on any Unreal Engine 4-compatible VR hardware. Renowned VR developer and instructor Mitch McCaffrey brings together best practices, common interaction paradigms, specific guidance on implementing these paradigms in Unreal Engine, and practical guidance on choosing the right approaches for your project. McCaffrey's tested "recipes" contain step-by-step instructions, while empowering you with concise explanations of the underlying theory and math. Whether you're creating first-person shooters or relaxation simulators, the techniques McCaffrey explains help you get immediate results, as you gain "big picture" knowledge and master nuances that will help you succeed with any genre or project. Understand basic VR concepts and terminology Implement VR logic with Blueprint visual scripting Create basic VR projects with Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Gear VR, Google VR, PSVR, and other environments Recognize and manage differences between seated and standing VR experiences Set up trace interactions and teleportation Work with UMG and 2D UIs Implement character inverse kinematics (IK) for head and hands Define effective motion controller interaction Help users avoid motion sickness Optimize VR applications Explore the VR editor, community resources, and more If you're ready to master VR on Unreal Engine 4, this is the practical resource you've been searching for! Register your product at informit.com/register for convenient access to downloads, updates, and corrections as they become available.

The internet of things (IoT) is quickly growing into a large industry with a huge economic impact expected in the near future. However, the users' needs go beyond the existing web-like services, which do not provide satisfactory intelligence levels. Ambient intelligence services in IoT environments is an emerging research area that can change the way that technology and services are perceived by the users. Ambient Intelligence Services in IoT Environments: Emerging Research and Opportunities is a unique source that systemizes recent trends and advances for service development with such key technological enablers of modern ICT as ambient intelligence, IoT, web of things, and cyber-physical systems. The considered concepts and models are presented using a smart spaces approach with a particular focus on the Smart-M3 platform, which is now shaping into an open source technology for creating ontology-based smart spaces and is shifting towards the development of web of things applications and socio-cyber-physical systems. Containing coverage on a broad range of topics such as fog computing, smart environments, and virtual reality, multitudes of researchers, students, academicians, and professionals will benefit from this timely reference.

Due to the growing prevalence of artificial intelligence technologies, schools, museums, and art galleries will need to change traditional ways of working and conventional thought processes to fully embrace their potential. Integrating virtual and augmented reality technologies and wearable devices into these fields can promote higher engagement in an increasingly digital world. Virtual and Augmented Reality in Education, Art, and Museums is an essential research book that explores the strategic role and use of virtual and augmented reality in shaping visitor experiences at art galleries and museums and their ability to enhance education. Highlighting a range of topics such as online learning, digital heritage, and gaming, this book is ideal for museum directors, tour developers, educational software designers, 3D artists, designers, curators, preservationists, conservationists, education coordinators, academicians, researchers, and students.

Unreal Engine 4 for virtual reality game design, development, User Experience design techniques and Blueprint programming to create virtual reality gameplay for HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, PSVR, and Windows Mixed Reality headsets. Key Features Build VR games from scratch with the power of Unreal Engine 4 Learn User Experience design practices to take your VR game to the next level Understand the best practices to creating art for games on HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, and PSVR Book DescriptionWith the ability to put players directly in the game, virtual reality gives users the chance to experience digital worlds directly. Nevertheless, many designers are unsure where to start when working with this amazing technology. With this book, you will learn user experience design processes and create immersive gameplay experiences designed for entertainment and player comfort. Using the power of Unreal Engine 4's Blueprint visual scripting language, you will build player interaction and locomotion systems from scratch and use these flexible systems to create a sample game, as well as develop functional 2D and 3D user interfaces for players to interact with. And also learn the best practices for creating game art for virtual reality. Finally, you will learn how to test your application with your target audience and finalize your game for distribution. By the end of this book, you will have the knowledge to be able to make the leap from traditional game development to creating immersive virtual reality experiences using Unreal Engine 4. What you will learn Understand how to get started with VR development in Unreal Engine 4 Design and create interaction and locomotion systems from scratch Plan and program a sample game for VR Understand how VR affects user experience and user interfaces Discuss what is needed to create optimized art for VR Test your game with users and prepare for distribution Who this book is forThe audience for this book is intermediate or advanced users of Unreal Engine 4 but who have not begun working with VR technology. These users are familiar with the game engine and have an interest in VR technology. They are just beginning to explore the VR features that the game engine has to offer.

Create engaging Augmented Reality (AR) applications with Unity 3D that can be experienced with devices such as HoloLens and Daydream Key Features Learn the principles of AR application development Work with the most popular sensors used in AR games and applications across Android, Apple and Windows Build experiences with interactive objects, physics, UI, animations, and C# scripting Book DescriptionAugmented Reality allows for radical innovations in countless areas. It magically blends the physical and virtual worlds, bringing applications from a screen into your hands. Meanwhile, Unity has now become the leading platform to develop augmented reality experiences, as it provides a great pipeline for working with 3D assets. Using a practical and project-based approach, Unity 2018 Augmented Reality Projects educates you about the specifics of augmented reality development in Unity 2018. This book teaches you how to use Unity in order to develop AR applications which can be experienced with devices such as HoloLens and Daydream. You will learn to integrate, animate, and overlay 3D objects on your camera feed, before gradually moving on to implementing sensor-based AR applications. In addition to this, you will explore the technical considerations that are especially important and possibly unique to AR. The projects in the book demonstrate how you can build a variety of AR experiences, whilst also giving insights into C# programming as well as the Unity 3D game engine via the interactive Unity Editor. By the end of the book, you will be equipped to develop rich, interactive augmented reality experiences for a range of AR devices and platforms using Unity. What you will learn Build and run AR applications for specific headsets, including HoloLens and Daydream Create 3D scenes with Unity and other 3D tools while learning about world space and scale Move around your AR scenes using locomotion and teleportation Create filters or overlays that work in tandem with facial recognition software Use GPS, geolocation services, and the camera feed to create a fitness application Integrate AR and VR concepts together in a single application Who this book is forUnity 2018 Augmented Reality Projects is for you if you're a game developer familiar with 3D computer graphics and interested in building your own AR games or applications. Any experience in Unity and C# is an advantage.

As virtual reality approaches mainstream consumer use, new research and innovations in the field have impacted how we view and can use this technology across a wide range of industries. Advancements in this technology have led to recent breakthroughs in sound, perception, and visual processing that take virtual reality to new dimensions. As such, research is needed to support the adoption of these new methods and applications. Cases on Immersive Virtual Reality Techniques is an essential reference source that discusses new applications of virtual reality and how they can be integrated with immersive techniques and computer resources. Featuring research on topics such as 3D modeling, cognitive load, and motion cueing, this book is ideally designed for educators, academicians, researchers, and students seeking coverage on the applications of collaborative virtual environments.

Explore the latest features of Unity 2018 to create immersive VR projects for Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Daydream and Gear VR Key Features A project-based guide to teach you how to develop immersive and fun VR applications using Unity 3D Build experiences with interactable objects, physics, UI, animations, C# scripting, and other Unity features Explore the world of VR by building experiences such as diorama, first-person characters, 360-degree projections, social VR, audio fireball game, and VR storytelling Book DescriptionUnity has become the leading platform for building virtual reality games, applications, and experiences for this new generation of consumer VR devices. Unity Virtual Reality Projects walks you through a series of hands-on tutorials and in-depth discussions on using the Unity game engine to develop VR applications. With its practical and project-based approach, this book will get you up to speed with the specifics of VR development in Unity. You will learn how to use Unity to develop VR applications that can be experienced with devices such as Oculus, Daydream, and Vive. Among the many topics and projects, you will explore gaze-based versus hand-controller input, world space UI canvases, locomotion and teleportation, software design patterns, 360-degree media, timeline animation, and multiplayer networking. You will learn about the Unity 3D game engine via the interactive Unity Editor, and you will also learn about C# programming. By the end of the book, you will be fully equipped to develop rich, interactive VR experiences using Unity. What you will learn Create 3D scenes with Unity and other 3D tools while learning about world space and scale Build and run VR applications for specific headsets, including Oculus, Vive, and Daydream Interact with virtual objects using eye gaze, hand controllers, and user input events Move around your VR scenes using locomotion and teleportation Implement an audio fireball game using physics and particle systems Implement an art gallery tour with teleportation and data info Design and build a VR storytelling animation with a soundtrack and timelines Create social VR experiences with Unity networking Who this book is forIf you're a non-programmer unfamiliar with 3D computer graphics, or experienced in both but new to virtual reality, and are interested in building your own VR games or applications, then this book is for you. Any experience in Unity is an advantage.

Learn to design and build Virtual Reality experiences, applications, and games in Unreal Engine 4 through a series of practical, hands-on projects that teach you to create controllable avatars, user interfaces, and more. Key Features Learn about effective VR design and develop virtual reality games and applications for every VR platform Build essential features for VR such as player locomotion and interaction, 3D user interfaces, and 360 media players Learn about multiplayer networking and how to extend the engine using plugins and asset packs Book DescriptionUnreal Engine 4 (UE4) is a powerful tool for developing VR games and applications. With its visual scripting language, Blueprint, and built-in support for all major VR headsets, it's a perfect tool for designers, artists, and engineers to realize their visions in VR. This book will guide you step-by-step through a series of projects that teach essential concepts and techniques for VR development in UE4. You will begin by learning how to think about (and design for) VR and then proceed to set up a development environment. A series of practical projects follows, taking you through essential VR concepts. Through these exercises, you'll learn how to set up UE4 projects that run effectively in VR, how to build player locomotion schemes, and how to use hand controllers to interact with the world. You'll then move on to create user interfaces in 3D space, use the editor's VR mode to build environments directly in VR, and profile/optimize worlds you've built. Finally, you'll explore more advanced topics, such as displaying stereo media in VR, networking in Unreal, and using plugins to extend the engine. Throughout, this book focuses on creating a deeper understanding of why the relevant tools and techniques work as they do, so you can use the techniques and concepts learned here as a springboard for further learning and exploration in VR. What you will learn Understand design principles and concepts for building VR applications Set up your development environment with Unreal Blueprints and C++ Create a player character with several locomotion schemes Evaluate and solve performance problems in VR to maintain high frame rates Display mono and stereo videos in VR Extend Unreal Engine's capabilities using various plugins Who this book is forThis book is for anyone interested in learning to develop Virtual Reality games and applications using UE4. Developers new to UE4 will benefit from hands-on projects that guide readers through clearly-explained steps, while both new and experienced developers will learn crucial principles and techniques for VR development in UE4.