Gorillaz augmented reality concerts are an example to a new and futuristic way of marketing today. This weekend, Gorillaz performed two augmented reality (AR) events in New York’s Times Square and London’s Piccadilly Circus to celebrate the release of their new track “Skinny Ape,” which was attended by hundreds of fans.

At the beginning of the metaverse age, we witnessed a new way of almost everything and augmented reality concerts are the latest example of this.

Google-powered Gorillaz augmented reality concerts took over NYC and London

Following the release of Google’s ARCore Geospatial API, Gorillaz performed their new single “Skinny Ape” using augmented reality in New York City’s Times Square and London’s Picadilly Circus.

The Gorillaz have always considered themselves to be industry pioneers. In 2005, for instance, the virtual band’s first live performance using 3D holograms brought attention. In addition to performing as holograms during the 2006 Emmy Awards, the virtual musicians were projected onto the stage utilizing “Musion Eyeliner” stage technology, and it seems like the legacy continues.

The performances were directed by Gorillaz co-creator Jamie Hewlett and Emmy-nominated director Fx Goby, and created by Nexus Studios using Google’s ARCore Geospatial API, which utilizes Google Street View to create augmented reality content in 86 countries.

“To all our followers, get ready for the biggest Times Square takeover since that other gorilla smashed the place up. Bigger in fact cos there’s four of us. Thanks to the techies at Google, we’ve created the music video event of the century, so don your pink robes and come see Gorillaz like you’ve never seen us before. The future is nigh!”

Gorillaz’ bassist, Murdoc

Check out fan-shot footage of the Gorillaz augmented reality concert that occurred in New York.

This month’s release of Skinny Ape precedes the group’s impending album, Cracker Island, which will be released by Parlaphone on February 24, 2023. Here you can pre-order the LP.

Check out the rise of virtual influencers

Gorillaz augmented reality concerts can be viewed until 2023

Fans can view Gorillaz augmented reality concerts in Times Square and Piccadilly Circus until June 2023.

Fans who were unable to attend the aforementioned places can watch the performance at home by downloading the Gorillaz Presents app for iOS or Android.

What is Google’s ARCore Geospatial API?

With the ARCore Geospatial API, developers may remotely attach content to any location in Google Street View, opening the door to creating worldwide augmented reality (AR) applications.

It detects the surroundings using the smartphone’s sensors and GPS coordinates and then applies a localization model provided by Google’s Visual Positioning System (VPS) to pinpoint the user’s device. To work in a unified coordinate system, the API also integrates the user’s local coordinates with the geographic coordinates from VPS.

Google’s ARCore Geospatial API use cases

Below are some examples of how the Geospatial API can be used in your work:

Guide users to specific locations

While GPS is fantastic for constructing location-based experiences, it can be a little off the mark when it comes to constructing precise augmented reality applications.

The Geospatial API will ensure that your digital assets stay in one place. Users can more easily locate their cars in congested cities or navigate bustling venues by attaching relevant content to specific points of interest through explicit mapping.

Location-based AR experiences

Using the Geospatial API, you can make engaging user experiences that are both practical and enjoyable without having to construct and update maps of various regions, such as Gorillaz augmented reality concerts.

Gaming and self-expression

The Geospatial Application Programming Interface allows users to transform the entire planet into a blank slate on which to unleash their imaginations.

Check the official page for detailed information.

Two undoubtedly huge trends have been dominated our news roster this week- augmented reality, and the Internet of Things. It’s becoming ever more apparent that these two fields of technological development are going to shape how we live, work and think in the coming years. In augmented reality, MagicLeap’s imaginative and baffling patent designs gave us a glimpse into what the AR tech of the future might look like; Microsoft got in on the game with their take, HoloLens- and startup Meta announced $23m funding to develop their AR product.

As for the Internet of Things, Google & Biogen teamed up to use wearables to research multiple sclerosis and Onyx unveiled their enterprise-grade encrypted beacon. There are plenty more IoT stories in our weekly picks, including how the IoT is going to change the economy, and how one museum in Cleveland are getting in on the game.

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How Sensors Will Shape Big Data and the Changing Economy

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Making the Most of the Internet of Things

“The number of connected devices related to the Internet of Things is rapidly growing, raising the question of whether enterprises are prepared for IoT. While many enterprises may be overwhelmed by the influx of IoT devices, early adopters are embracing it.”

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Latest Company to Tap into Beacon & Mobile App Technology is the Cleveland Museum of Art

The Big Data Analytics sprawl has permeated into the arts. This month, we reported on how beacon technology was being used to overhaul the library experience. Now, The Cleveland Museum of Art are similarly turning to mobile apps and iBeacons to create a more interactive customer experience.

Apache Samza Levels Up to a Top-Level Project; Witnesses Large Scale Adoption

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17-20 February, 2015- Strata + Hadoop World Conference, San Jose CA

“Immerse yourself in the world of big data at Strata + Hadoop World. Explore solutions to your most challenging problems, connect with the brightest minds in data, find out what’s new in emerging technologies and Apache Hadoop—and see for yourself what data can do.”

22 – 23 April, 2015 – Apps World Germany

“Apps World; the leading global event series in its 6th year that has grown to be the leading set of events in the app industry is launching a new show in Berlin – the city fast being recognised as a thriving hub for technology and start-ups, this April.”

TOP DATACONOMY JOBS

Sr. Data Engineer (m/f) –NumberFour AG   

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If you would like to be part of a highly innovative, challenging and extremely future-oriented software market, and a young and highly motivated team, then please send us your detailed application.

MagicLeap beguiled and amused us all last week with their inventive patents for their augmented reality headset. But they’re far from the only players in the Augmented Reality game, as Meta have proven this week. They just scooped up $23 million to power the development of their device. They intend to shake things up things a bit with their offering which promises smooth interaction between the wearer of its flagship head gear and digital images.

“We’ve got traction, we’re shipping a product and now we’ve got capital to ramp this and move it forward,” said Meta Chief Product Officer Soren Harner, reports the Wall Street Journal. “This turns your whole world into your display. In five years we want to replace your computers and cellphones. The dream is to make it the next form factor.”

“With @metaglasses you can view data for the first time the way your brain intended”

Earlier they has started with a 2013 Kickstarter campaign to raise $200,000 for the first developer kit, going up to $2 million and logging 1,500 preorders. Now available for shipping, the headsets have a 3-D see-through display, two cameras, Dolby 3-D audio and 360-degree head tracking, reports WSJ. The sensors and projectors allow for projection of digital items into the physical world and allowing wearers – pioneers – to interact with the digital image.

With the unveiling of Microsoft’s HoloLens and the existence of virtual and not augmented reality devices like Sony Corp.’s Project Morpheus and Facebook’s Oculus Rift in the market and developing still, a lot of expectations and excitement is bound to follow.

Unlike predecessors, Meta sees enterprise applications as well.The company’s vision is to replace all forms of computers and smart devices with wearable ones.

“It’s a question of when, not if,” Harner said. “The lesson we took from Google Glass is you don’t overpromise and under deliver.”

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Images courtesy of Meta.

MagicLeap’s history has been shrouded in mystery, to say the very least. Their nebulous plans for the future of augmented reality became even more shrouded when they announced a staggering $542 million funding round, led by Google. Clearly, they had grand plans- but we still didn’t get to see what those grand plans were.

Recently released patents contain clues to the future of this company, and needless to say, it’s fascinating. The focus seems to be around augmented reality glasses, which comes as no surprise, but what the glasses might allow us to see and do is imaginative to say the least. The MagicLeap team foresee a future where the whole world is a digital canvas- where you build alternate realities, have virtual desktops over your real desktop, and turn shopping experiences into games (and minefields of virtual reality advertising obviously).

It’s worth reiterating that these are patents- sadly, we won’t be accessing Twitter through a strange, virtual hula hoop anytime soon- but they provide a fascinating insight into what our augmented future might look like. Amongst our favourites are: