Thread by @UploadVR

The keynote has started! #OC6

Mark Zuckerberg takes the stage.

Mark is talking about why AR and VR are the next computing platform.

The top apps that are used today are focused on social interactions. We are in 2019 and we are still revolved around apps, and not social interactions. VR delivers a sense of presence no other tech has ever delivered.

"We're going to be able to live anywhere we want, and feel that we are present with the people and jobs and opportunities we want access to."

"We need to do a couple of things. We need to build a lot of technology ... and build an ecosystem."

"Quest is off to a great start. We are selling them as fast as we can make them. Retention is good. People are using them week after week.."

Forward-compatibility with future devices is a big goal.

People have bought more than $100 million USD of content on the Oculus store.

More than 20% is from Quest.

There has been a software update, and a new product called Oculus Link. If you have a gaming PC and a USB-C cable, you can run Rift content on your Quest.

Oculus Link will be available this November.

"It will work with most USB-C cables, you don't have to buy ours!"

We are talking about... hands... is it happening!?

Early 2020, hand tracking will be launching on Oculus Quest.

No buttons, no controllers, no straps...

..No batteries! Just hands.

Six months ago, you needed a lot to play VR. Computer, cables, sensors, etc... Soon, you can just bring the headset. The hardware is getting out of the way.

The future of input..

Neural interfaces has been brought up. Talking about the CTRL-Labs acquisition.

"It will be a number of years" before we can just "think things" to make them happen. CTRL-Labs is "just a wristband."

We are now talking about social experiences in VR.

Facebook Horizon is a new social VR experience where you can build your own world and experiences. You'll be able to play games, explore, hang out with friends, meet new people..

Taking a look at Facebook Horizon.

Plenty of activities were shown; painting, walking around, flying planes..

"You don't need to know how to code in order to build something. But it certainly can help to do some of the more advanced things."

The goal is to be able to share ideas, and create and attend events, all in VR.

"We are putting the finishing touches on it now." It will release in 2020.

Talking about how far the technology has come since 2014. Started as a $600 unit in 2016 that required a $1000+ gaming PC, etc. Now we have a standalone headset with hand tracking.

Andrew Bosworth, VP of AR/VR, takes the stage.

"Physical distance can translate into emotional distance. What is it that allows people to feel close to each other?"

Frequency of interactions, diversity of interactions, and the strength of your interactions - these are all easier when we are physically interacting with each other. "VR could be the tool that erases those miles."

"Phone calls and text messages are great, but there's not a lot of variety there. In virtual reality, there's a lot of diversity in interactions you can share together. There are over 1000 interactions people can already engage in."

For frequency, the simple solution is that "we need more people in VR." Building a better ecosystem, more experiences, and increasing the presence with avatars.

He is now talking about how he enjoys watching basketball with his father, and how VR makes it possible for his father to invite him over to watch the game.

Video shows their avatars sitting on the couch together watching the game.

Father asked for an IPA. Unfortunately, beer in VR isn't possible yet.

"VR has the power to bring us closer together."

"Even VR has its limits. There are areas where people will struggle to connect in VR."

"We cannot look at our phones without looking away from the world around us."

Talking about AR, and how AR can help us connect physically outside of virtual reality.

"We are building AR glasses."

Prototypes are in development, and still "a few years out."

The research they are doing is called "Live Maps." An image shows a "real world index" with content, dynamics, object instance, semantic, structure, texture, physical and spatial addressing.

Live Maps research aims to help people connect and interact in "deeper ways."

"All of these technologies are being built to make people feel closer."

Stehpanie Lue, Technical Program Manager, takes the stage.

"Go is great for entertainment, while the Rift S continues to unlock the most rich, and immersive experiences. Quest is changing the game."

Now for some updates on core experiences.

Since launch, they have responded to user requests such as launching apps from your phone, adjusting Guardian sensitivity, etc

Passthrough+ is available on Oculus Quest next week. Gives you a more comfortable stereo dynamic view.

You can pull Passthrough+ up at any time.

A "bunch" of apps will be available on Quest. There will be an "upgrade" program for apps bought on Go to Quest.

Starting next week, 50+ Go apps will be available on Quest.

Improvements are being made to RenderDoc.

OVR Metrics will also have the ability to see the metrics as you play in the headset.

"Once you built an app, we want to help you more effectively reach your audience." Purchase funnel metrics will be added so you can see conversions and metrics related to searching and browsing.

Mixed reality capture will be native on the Oculus platform.

Oculus Link is coming in November 2019. Quest owners with gaming PCs will "have the best of both worlds."

We are now looking into the tech behind hand tracking.

Meaghan Fitzgerald takes the stage.

"We need to enable more ways for communities to grow, and more things for them to do and share."

Building gathering places for people to go to is a major goal, as well as creating additional creator tools.

Adding chats so you can message your Oculus friends in or out of your headsets, as well as adding events, and being able to post to Facebook from VR.

Destinations and Rich Presences for developers.

Starting next month, you can see your friends' "rich presence" locations. Privacy settings will allow people to control what they share.

Rich presence locations will extend to Messenger and Facebook.

"It's like a portal that takes friends directly to each other."

People love to watch media in VR. "It's not always obvious to invite friends to co-watch with you." Later this year, there will be major updates to Oculus TV on Go and Quest.

Media Studio - a VR media management tool where you can upload and publish your VR native content.

Horizon is launching with a closed beta early next year.

One go the games is Wing Striker, an aerial striker team sport.

World building is being shown. Visual scripting tools will also be available to build interactions into your worlds.

Everyone at #OC6 gets an invite to join the Facebook Horizon closed beta.

oculus.com/facebookhorizon

Showing how VR helps corporate training.

Oculus for Business is helping Hilton train employees, and learn empathy.

Nestle Purina has a virtual factory tour, that helps improve productivity and safety.

Ford and Gravity Sketch use VR to show off car designs.

Maria Fernandez Guajardo, Head of Enterprise AR/VR takes the stage.

VR helps develop empathy for customers, and co-workers.

"VR is improving outcomes."

Sandra Humbles, VP Global Education from the Johnson & Johnson Institute takes the stage.

VR introduces a new era of surgical training.

Imperial College London conducted a study on VR and how to improve training on the residency level.

83% of those trained in VR could then go into a lab setting with minimal guidance. 0% of those traditionally trained could do the same.

"Those trained in VR completely outperformed the traditionally trained in the study."

"We want to make VR available to every surgeon in every hospital across the world."

Oculus for Business will now have dedicated customer support. A new help center with a dedicated team to help keep operations running.

Oculus for Business is launching in November with a closed beta.

Jason Rubin, VP of Special Gaming Initiatives, takes the stage!

"Should I buy into VR? Is now the time? The answer, without hesitation, is YES!"

The time for developing for VR is also now. Do it now. DO IT ALL NOW!

Mike Verdu, Director of Content, AR/VR, takes the stage.

VR IS NOW.

"Quest is bringing the future to a whole lot more people."

Average attach rate on Quest is higher than on any other platform; 80% of people bought apps/games within a month.

Vladimir Hrincar, CEO and Co-Founder of Beat Games and Jan Ilavsky, Creator and Co-Founder, take the stage.

Beat Saber x Panic! At The Disco; new music pack coming out NEXT WEEK.

360 levels will be coming out in December.

Boneworks has a new title coming to Quest next year...

..No title. :'(

A montage of games coming soon is being played.

Jose Perez III and Alyssa Finley of ILMxLAB take the stage.

Episode II of Vader Immortal picks up right where the first episode leaves off.

"What would it be like for you to be the hero of a Star Wars adventure?"

@MayaRudolph voices a droid in Episode II.

We will be checking out the launch trailer for Episode II.

Looks like we'll be able to use the Force!

Vader Immortal Episode II is AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW.

We're now talking about Asgard's Wrath and Stormland.

Asgard's Wrath is coming out October 10th, Stormland November 14th. Now available for pre-order.

Everyone at #OC6 is getting Asgard's Wrath and Stormland for free.

There are also demos on the show floor.

Looking at the new project from Respawn.

Medal of Honor: Blood and Beyond.

The game will launch in 2020.

Michael Abrash takes the stage.

"Right now we are in the most exciting place."

VR needs to grow "as rapidly as possible" in the next five years.

"VR hasn't changed the world yet, but it will."

Optics, machine perception, and avatars are being worked on and improved on.

Half Dome 2 - the new FRL prototype. It is targeted for ergonomics and comfort.

The new mechanical varifocal module reduces noise and vibration.

But wait, now we have Half Dome 3!

All the moving parts have been removed, and everything is electronic.

Half Dome 3 is considerably smaller than the original Half Dome.

A Deep Dive blog post on varifocals will be going up later today.

The reconstructions of rooms was very impressive. Simulated lighting was also shown off.

Now we are taking a look at the avatars.

Expressions are being reconstructed in real time, by the cameras on the headset.

Talking about what capabilities the next generation of hardware should ideally have. Elevating gaming, entertainment, communication, education and productivity.

Collaborative workspaces are the future; we need better optics and displays, the ability to render faster, eye tracking, and "excellent" real time mixed reality.

"The best way to predict the next generation of VR is to build it."