Episode 303 — ARt imitates life

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5pointz art in NYC
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For the first episode of 2021, Michael and Michael start off with a couple of technology and gaming focused articles related to the attack on the US Congress on the 6th.  The Washington Post article focuses on what is being done to preserve the live streams, both for posterity and as evidence, and a Mashable post draws similarities to alternate reality games (ARGs).  The cybersecurity breach via SolarWinds appears to be even worse than originally thought.  For more details, check out Steve Gibson’s Security Now podcast link in the show notes below.

There is a bevy of AR topics, starting with Looking Glass, which takes advantage of your phone to capture holographic imagery.  The DC Metro includes a full map of the metro in augmented reality on every Metro card.  And, there is a concept of macOS in AR that looks just fantastic. Between these examples and the new art installation at LaGuardia’s airport, we can truly say that AR imitates life.  Don’t miss the combination of Mario Kart Live with LEGO Super Mario – what a great concept. 

Speaking of concepts, an intriguing idea for wireless recharging is expressed in an Apple patent “Inductive charging between electronic devices” whereby a MacBook or iPad could provide power to other devices like phones or watches.  

Screens get some air time during this podcast as well – the OLEDs from LG as well as the new Mercedes Hyperscreen.

Before closing out this week’s episode with a new video of Boston Dynamics dancing robots, Michael and Michael muse on the idea of immortality that could be afforded by machine learning engines ingesting text, audio and video of a loved one in such a way that would allow post mortem interaction with the trained AI model.  Much to think about – and a cool flashback to Games At Work episode 26 from 2012 on this subject.

Selected Links

Washington Post article: The Capitol mob recorded its own history. Now, volunteers are trying to preserve the record. — https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/01/07/capitol-mob-recorded-its-own-history-now-volunteers-are-trying-preserve-record/ 

Curiouser Institute post: A Game Designer’s Analysis of QAnon — https://medium.com/curiouserinstitute/a-game-designers-analysis-of-qanon-580972548be5 

The Verge article: SolarWinds hack may be much worse than originally feared — https://www.theverge.com/2021/1/2/22210667/solarwinds-hack-worse-government-microsoft-cybersecurity 

Security Now episode 800 Solarblizzard — https://twit.tv/shows/security-now/episodes/800?autostart=false 

TechCrunch article: Looking Glass is launching 3D photo software for its holographic tech — https://techcrunch.com/2021/01/06/looking-glass-is-launching-3d-photo-software-for-its-holographic-tech/ 

Looking Glass Factory — https://lookingglassfactory.com 

Cult of Mac article: Awesome macOS concept imagines the AR iMac of the future — https://www.cultofmac.com/731723/awesome-macos-concept-imagines-the-ar-imac-of-the-future/ 

Cult of Mac article: Making MacBooks and iPads into wireless chargers is a brilliantly dumb idea — https://www.cultofmac.com/731761/apple-patent-mac-ipad-wireless-chargers-charging/ 

WUNC article: Epic Games To Move HQ To Cary Towne Center — https://www.wunc.org/post/epic-games-move-hq-cary-towne-center 

Gizmodo article: Combining Mario Kart Live With Lego Super Mario Creates the Ultimate IRL Video Game Experience — https://gizmodo.com/combining-mario-kart-live-with-lego-super-mario-creates-1845983472 

Travel + Leisure article: LaGuardia Airport’s New Art Installation Will Turn You Into NYC Graffiti — https://www.travelandleisure.com/airlines-airports/laguardia-airport/5pointz-graffiti-interactive-installation-laguardia-airport 

Mashable article: LG wants to put transparent OLEDs in restaurants and subways — https://mashable.com/article/lg-transparent-oled/ 

TechCrunch article: Mercedes unveils Hyperscreen, a cured 56-inch screen for its flagship EQS electric vehicle — https://techcrunch.com/2021/01/07/mercedes-unveils-hyperscreen-a-curved-56-inch-screen-for-its-flagship-eqs-electric-vehicle/ 

The Times article: Chatbot could let you speak to relatives beyond the grave — https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/chatbot-could-let-you-speak-to-relatives-beyond-the-grave-2929fp3xk 

Games At Work episode 26 — Business Process Management and Immortality — https://gamesatwork.biz/2012/11/04/episode26/ 

The Verge article: Amazon marked free podcasts as costing $8.95 with a discount for Audible subscribers — https://www.theverge.com/2021/1/6/22216803/amazon-audible-subscription-podcast-advertisement 

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Episode 302 — Good Riddance

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goodbye 2020 bus on a beach
Photo by Nubia Navarro from Pexels

Andy, Michael and Michael start off with another unobtanium console. This time, it’s the KFConsole, which keeps your fried chicken toasty while you play games.  Michael and Michael bring in KFC stories from Japan and Hungary to compliment the gaming platform.

Funny to note that in this week’s selection, we have several newspaper articles from the Times — from New York, LA and the UK.  A slightly new twist on augmented reality clothing comes from a NYT article that focuses on footwear, and the ability to see what the shoes might look like on your own feet.  The LA times article showcases the VR possibilities of visiting the Disney Star Wars Galaxies Edge theme park. It also expands on the point of a metaverse experience where you have physical architecture, props & people to interact with, alongside a digital experience that enhances those IRL elements.  One would say that it augments them.  

For your blockchain entertainment, check out Conga Comics, and as an added entertainment bonus, read them out of order.  In automotive entertainment, you can change the sound of your Tesla horn with this week’s update to anything you wish to record provided you have the optional pedestrian speaker feature.  A favorite is the sound of European swallow delivered coconuts clapping.

A discussion on strategies raising awareness of email phishing attacks outlines an opportunity to show how sophisticated the trickery is these days. The hosts also provide a possibility to reward people who don’t fall for the attack.

As the global COVID-19 vaccinations begin to be administered, the idea of how to recognize who has had which shot is being addressed in multiple ways. Both the Apple and Google wallets provide a digital representation (perhaps supported by blockchain) of the vaccination record.

Winding up the show, Michael, Andy and Michael reflect on how actor James Doohan, Scotty of Star Trek, has managed to get into space aboard the ISS through a clever act and extend his 5 year mission.

There you have it – almost all of the favorite topics wrapped up in one episode to close out the year.  To work in one more, the title of the episode surfaces close to the end of Tolkien’s Return of the King, where Sam comments on the events that lead to the naming of what became known as Sharkey’s End.  

The Games At Work team is looking forward to starting our season X and wishing you a very healthy and happy New Year!

Selected Links

NME article: The KFConsole is real and is said to bring the end to console wars — https://www.nme.com/news/gaming-news/kfc-the-kfconsole-is-real-and-will-end-the-console-wars-2844512 

LAD Bible article: More Than Three Million Japanese Families Will Eat KFC On Christmas Eve — https://www.ladbible.com/news/food-more-than-three-million-japanese-families-eat-kfc-on-christmas-eve-20201224 

KFC in BP — https://mammut.hu/en/stores/kfc 

Bud Light and Miller Lite consoles discussed in e298 — https://gamesatwork.biz/2020/11/23/episode-298-black-friday-light-beer/ 

New York Times article: Does the Shoe Fit? Try It On With Augmented Reality — https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/22/technology/augmented-reality-online-shopping.html 

LA Times article: How the new virtual reality ‘Star Wars’ experience gets us closer to a theme park ‘metaverse’ — https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2020-12-28/virtual-reality-showcase-tales-from-galaxys-edge-is-my-favorite-star-wars-theme-park-experience 

Conga Comics — https://congacomic.github.io 

Mashable article: Tesla drivers can now set their horns to fart sounds — or record their own — https://mashable.com/article/tesla-horn-fart/ 

The Verge article: GoDaddy wins our 2020 award for most evil company email — https://www.theverge.com/2020/12/24/22199406/godaddy-wins-2020-stupidity-award 

9 to 5 Mac article: COVID-19 vaccination proof can be added to Apple Wallet in Los Angeles — https://9to5mac.com/2020/12/28/covid-19-vaccination-proof-can-be-added-to-apple-wallet-in-los-angeles/ 

CNN video: ‘It didn’t hurt at all’: 91-year-old Briton on receiving Covid-19 vaccine” — https://edition.cnn.com/videos/world/2020/12/08/uk-coronavirus-covid-19-pfizer-biontech-vaccine-rollout-vanier-intv-intl-ldn-vpx.cnn 

The Verge article: The ashes of Scotty from Star Trek are aboard the International Space Station — https://www.theverge.com/2020/12/27/22201874/ashes-james-doohan-scotty-star-trek-international-space-station 

The Times article: Ashes of Star Trek’s Scotty smuggled on to International Space Station —https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ashes-of-star-treks-scotty-smuggled-on-to-international-space-station-6lpgs05n6 

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Episode 301 — Grinch Bots

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green frowny faced robot
Photo by Alejandro Mendoza on Unsplash

Andy, Michael and Michael start off this episode with Apple’s new sky blue AirPods Max and Fitness+ service.  The power of effectively combining hardware and services is quite evident in Apple’s recent offerings.  The discussion turns to a possible future where Fitness+ becomes an app store for fitness services, much like the music learning services that enabled on GarageBand from artists such as John Legend and Ben Folds, but even more so because of how the iPhone could help determine proper positioning and form with the cameras and LiDAR.

The conversation then turns to Grinch Bots, and the various defenses against them.  The Cnet article describes such bots as those that buy up the available supply of the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S gaming consoles as soon as they are available on retailer websites.  Identifying which square has a stoplight or a crosswalk is not enough of a defense against these bots, and different retailers are trying other actions to thwart them.  There is even legislation being considered in the UK on this subject.

Speaking of games & gaming platforms, you can play version of Doom using the Pico-8 emulator, or stretch your mind even more with a quantum version of chess that makes use of superposition and entanglement of pieces.  Have a look at the show notes below to learn more.

Michael, Michael and Andy touch on the upcoming Dungeons and Dragons movie, and that conversation led to a point about Rona Jaffe’s novel Mazes and Monsters.  As it turned out, there was actual a made for television film based on Mazes and Monsters in 1982.

AR examples in this episode include a restaurant in China, and bringing Grougu to your desktop courtesy of Google.  

What are your favorite holiday movies?  Drop the Games at Work team a line on Twitter to @gamesatwork_biz and share!

Selected Links

AirPods Max – Sky Blue — https://www.apple.com/shop/buy-airpods/airpods-max/sky-blue 

iMore article: There’s an Apple Watch hidden in your AirPods Max and it’s very Apple — https://www.imore.com/theres-apple-watch-hidden-your-airpods-max-and-its-very-apple 

The Verge article: Apple Fitness Plus is now available — https://www.theverge.com/2020/12/14/22174574/apple-fitness-plus-watch-iphone-release-date-price 

Apple Fitness+ — https://www.apple.com/apple-fitness-plus/ 

Apple Support article: GarageBand Learn to Play — https://www.apple.com/shop/help/downloadable_software#Learn 

Cnet article: Walmart doesn’t want bots to snag your new PS5 or Xbox Series X — https://www.cnet.com/news/walmart-doesnt-want-bots-to-snag-your-new-ps5-or-xbox-series-x/ 

Metro article: UK politicians suggest new law to stop PS5 and Xbox Series X scalpers — https://metro.co.uk/2020/12/16/uk-politicians-suggest-new-law-to-stop-ps5-and-xbox-series-x-scalpers-13761482/

PC Gamer article: Poom is a pixelated 1980s version of Doom you can play right now — https://www.pcgamer.com/au/amp/poom-is-a-pixelated-1980s-version-of-doom-you-can-play-right-now/ 

ArsTechnica article: We have a winner in the world’s first quantum chess tournament — https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2020/12/we-have-a-winner-in-the-worlds-first-quantum-chess-tournament/ 

Schneier on Security blog: Zodiac Killer Cipher Solved — https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2020/12/zodiac-killer-cipher-solved.html 

San Francisco Chronicle article: Zodiac Killer and the ‘340 Cipher’: Our reporter answers your questions — https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Zodiac-Killer-and-the-340-Cipher-Our-15815153.php 

The Verge article: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold Review: A Folding Screen Filled With Potential — https://www.theverge.com/22175087/lenovo-thinkpad-x1-fold-review 

The Verge TL;DR article: Baby Yoda can live on your desk thanks to AR and Google Search — https://www.theverge.com/tldr/2020/12/17/22187717/baby-yoda-google-search-ar-star-wars-grogu-the-child 

Slashfilm article: New ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ Movie Will Star Chris Pine — https://www.slashfilm.com/dungeons-and-dragons-movie-chris-pine/

Rona Jaffe’s Mazes and Monsters — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazes_and_Monsters

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Episode 300 — Never Gonna Give (You) Up

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sign: never give up
Photo by Thirdman from Pexels

Michael and Michael get together to record the three hundredth episode of Games At Work, starting off the show with an article focusing on Arthur, a new VR app for the socially distant to connect in a 3D space, which uses sunglasses and virtual limbs on the avatars.  These features remind the co-hosts of Men In Black, the typing animation in Second Life and Phantom Limb from the Venture Bros.

Combining the virtual with the physical, Quell has designed a gauntlet to provide a boxing/martial arts experience that looks to have some very interesting applications beyond the gaming applications.  Moving to the world of physics, the co-hosts take a look at a wearable means to harvest energy to power other wearables from breathing and human motion.  Speaking of wearables, Michael and Michael take another look at the Amazon Halo band and consider the Washington Post’s article saying that it is the most invasive tech ever.  Staying on the privacy theme for another article, they then discuss Apple’s strategy for “nutrition labels” to make plain what is being done with the data created, stored and used in an app.  

3D printing homes and the physics of sandcastles bring back memories of the drip method of sandcastle construction.  Each of these construction examples are innovative in their own right.

Unsurprisingly, Rick Astley continues to capture the attention of many, and on Reddit, he has the post of the year, and he has also taken his rickrolling message on to TikTok, starting up what the singer has dubbed “RickTok”.  Here is one musician who is never going to give up.  Michael and Michael can appreciate that sentiment given that between Games At Work and DogearNation, they’ve now combined for 500 podcast episodes.

Closing out this week’s episode, the co-hosts touch on the SpaceX Starship test, Numbskull’s Quarter Arcade cabinets and get ready for Ernest Cline’s Ready Player Two virtual event.

Share what you are never going to give up with the Games At Work team by dropping them a line on Twitter to @gamesatwork_biz.

Selected Links

Wired article: VR Meetings Are Weird, but They Beat Our Current Reality — https://www.wired.com/story/arthur-vr-virtual-reality-meetings/ 

Arthur — https://arthur.digital 

Phantom Limb from The Venture Bros — https://venturebrothers.fandom.com/wiki/Phantom_Limb 

Arthur from The Tick — https://the-tick-animated.fandom.com/wiki/Arthur 

TechCrunch article: Quell raises $3M to turn home fitness into a game — https://techcrunch.com/2020/12/07/quell-raises-3m-to-turn-home-fitness-into-a-game/

Quell — https://quell.tech 

Punch Out!! — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punch-Out!! 

Gauntlet — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gauntlet_(1985_video_game)

phys.org article: Stretchable micro-supercapacitors to self-power wearable devices — https://phys.org/news/2020-12-stretchable-micro-supercapacitors-self-power-wearable-devices.html 

Washington Post article: Amazon’s new health band is the most invasive tech we’ve ever tested — https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/12/10/amazon-halo-band-review/ 

Halo Band — https://www.amazon.com/Amazon-Halo-Fitness-And-Health-Band/dp/B07QK955LS 

The Verge article: Apple’s privacy labels are coming to all apps, including its own — https://www.theverge.com/2020/12/9/22165959/apple-privacy-nutrition-labels-all-apps-preinstalled-messages-web

Ars Technica article: Physicists solve 150-year-old mystery of equation governing sandcastle physics — https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/12/physicists-solve-150-year-old-mystery-of-equation-governing-sandcastle-physics/ 

MIT Technology Review The Download — https://www.technologyreview.com/collection/the-download/

The Verge article: Reddit’s top post of 2020 was a Rick Astley photo, posted by Rick Astley — https://www.theverge.com/2020/12/8/22153292/reddit-rick-astley-top-post-2020-never-gonna-give-you-up-rickroll 

Billboard article: ‘Welcome to RickTok’: Rick Astley Joins TikTok — https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/9478168/rick-astley-joins-tiktok/ 

The Verge article: SpaceX flies Starship prototype rocket to highest altitude yet — but doesn’t stick the landing — https://www.theverge.com/2020/12/9/22030125/spacex-starship-prototype-flight-test-12-5-kilometer-launch 

Wired UK article: Inside the obsessive world of miniature arcade machine makers — https://www.wired.co.uk/article/retro-gaming-mini-arcade-machines 

Numbskull Quarter Arcades — http://www.numskull.com/quarter-arcades/ 

Barnes & Noble virtual event: Ernest Cline discusses Ready Player Two — https://stores.barnesandnoble.com/event/9780062146856-2109 

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