Google Cardboard now supports the WebVR API:
Mozilla and Google introduced the WebVR API 1.0 Proposal in March 2016 with the intent of making VR content accessible to anyone with a web browser. Google expanded on that mission in February with the announcement that its Chrome browser and Daydream platform would support WebVR, which meant you could interact with VR experiences on practically any PC, tablet, or smartphone, albeit in 2D and with limited features.
Now the API has made the jump to Google Cardboard. This should make true VR experiences more accessible--few Daydream phones have been announced, which means WebVR currently offers just a small taste of what VR is like. Not everyone can afford a high-end PC, VR HMD, and all the other equipment needed to experience VR; Google Cardboard lets you see what all the fuss is about without breaking the bank on a full setup.
MindMaze has developed a VR add-on that they claim can detect your facial expressions before you make them:
MindMaze developed a cost-effective VR HMD upgrade called Mask that can detect biosignals in your face to bring your facial expressions and emotional queues into VR experiences to help improve virtual social interactions.
[...] MindMaze Mask is a combination of hardware sensors and software. Mask uses biosignal processing technology and machine learning from the healthcare industry to detect your facial expressions "tens of milliseconds" before they manifest on your face. MindMaze's software then replicates your expressions on a VR avatar in real-time.
Next year's headline: Virtual NPCs Deny Sexual Favors to Awkward, Antisocial Players.
Finally, the Futuremark benchmarking company has joined the VR First global initiative, and Unigine has released an updated graphics benchmark test with support for 8K and VR.
