The Multiverse Of Metaverse, AI, And Robots

Loaded with tech-sights worth seeing, the first-ever innovation expo of Hong Kong, InnoEX, was jointly organised by its government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) in April this year. The fact that the exhibition ran in conjunction with the Spring Edition of Hong Kong's Electronics and Lighting Fair made it all the more exciting. Though we know that advanced, futuristic technology is the backbone of such exhibitions but what made it stand out? Let's dive into the event highlights to know while also collecting some lessons for India on the go...

- VAISHALI YADAV

The one experience which grabbed the most attention during the expo was the fantastic use cases of augmented reality/virtual reality (AR/ VR) and metaverse. While metaverse production companies like Canvas Land seemed set to thrive on applications and advisory services of this new tech, a company called STEPVR exhibited the "world's first" metaverse gaming portal, Gates 01. The top-down console with an omnidirectional treadmill brought laser positioning, robotic haptics, and mixed reality together to teleport the gamers between the real and virtual worlds.

Mixed reality is everywhere!

Another use-case of MR was found with a company called Manifold Tech Limited, which worked with real-time 3D mapping algorithms and advanced robotics technology to provide 3D reconstruction services. Concurrently, hardware companies like YVR are already digging deep into the R&D of next-generation VR glasses. We must ask, where is India positioned?