Augurs is a demo showcasing a decentralized prediction market platform built on the Solana blockchain. It allows users to create and participate in prediction markets on various topics, using play money. The platform demonstrates features like creating binary (yes/no) markets, buying and selling shares representing outcomes, and visualizing probability distributions based on market activity. It aims to highlight the potential of decentralized prediction markets for aggregating information and forecasting future events in a transparent and trustless manner.
Meta's Project Aria research kit consists of smart glasses and a wristband designed to gather first-person data like video, audio, eye-tracking, and location, which will be used to develop future AR glasses. This data is anonymized and used to train AI models that understand the real world, enabling features like seamless environmental interaction and intuitive interfaces. The research kit is not a consumer product and is only distributed to qualified researchers participating in specific studies. The project emphasizes privacy and responsible data collection, employing blurring and redaction techniques to protect bystanders' identities in the collected data.
Several Hacker News commenters express skepticism about Meta's Project Aria research kit, questioning the value of collecting such extensive data and the potential privacy implications. Some doubt the project's usefulness for AR development, suggesting that realistic scenarios are more valuable than vast amounts of "boring" data. Others raise concerns about data security and the possibility of misuse, drawing parallels to previous controversies surrounding Meta's data practices. A few commenters are more optimistic, seeing potential for advancements in AR and expressing interest in the technical details of the data collection process. Several also discuss the challenges of processing and making sense of such a massive dataset, and the limitations of relying solely on first-person visual data for understanding human behavior.
Researchers at Tokyo Tech developed a high-speed, robust face-tracking and projection mapping system. It uses a combination of infrared structured light and a high-speed projector to achieve precise and low-latency projection onto dynamically moving faces, even with rapid head movements and facial expressions. This allows for real-time augmented reality applications directly on the face, such as virtual makeup, emotional expression enhancement, and interactive facial performance. The system overcomes the limitations of traditional projection mapping by minimizing latency and maintaining accurate registration despite motion, opening possibilities for more compelling and responsive facial AR experiences.
HN commenters generally expressed interest in the high frame rate and low latency demonstrated in the face-tracking and projection mapping. Some questioned the practical applications beyond research and artistic performances, while others suggested uses like augmented reality, telepresence, and medical training. One commenter pointed out potential issues with flickering and resolution limitations, and another highlighted the impressive real-time performance given the computational demands. Several expressed excitement about the possibilities of combining this technology with other advancements in AR/VR and generative AI. A few questioned the claimed latency figures, wondering if they included projector latency.
Creating Augmented Reality (AR) experiences remains a complex and challenging process. The author, frustrated with the limitations of existing AR development tools, built their own visual editor called Ordinary. It aims to simplify the workflow for building location-based AR experiences by offering an intuitive interface for managing assets, defining interactions, and previewing the final product in real-time. Ordinary emphasizes collaborative editing, cloud-based project management, and a focus on location-anchored AR. The author believes this approach addresses the current pain points in AR development, making it more accessible and streamlined.
HN users generally praised the author's effort and agreed that AR development remains challenging, particularly with existing tools like Unity and RealityKit being cumbersome or limited. Several commenters highlighted the difficulty of previewing AR experiences during development, echoing the author's frustration. Some suggested exploring alternative libraries and frameworks like Godot or WebXR. The discussion also touched on the niche nature of specialized AR hardware and the potential benefits of web-based AR solutions. A few users questioned the project's long-term viability, citing the potential for Apple or another large player to release similar tools. Despite the challenges, the overall sentiment leaned towards encouragement for the author and acknowledgement of the need for better AR development tools.
Summary of Comments ( 7 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43088735
HN users discussed Augurs' demo, with several expressing skepticism about the claimed accuracy and generalizability of the model. Some questioned the choice of examples, suggesting they were cherry-picked and lacked complexity. Others pointed out potential biases in the training data and the inherent difficulty of accurately predicting geopolitical events. The lack of transparency regarding the model's inner workings and the limited scope of the demo also drew criticism. Some commenters expressed interest in the potential of such a system but emphasized the need for more rigorous evaluation and open-sourcing to build trust. A few users offered alternative approaches to geopolitical forecasting, including prediction markets and leveraging existing expert analysis.
The Hacker News post titled "Augurs demo" linking to https://demo.augu.rs/ generated a moderate discussion with several interesting points.
One commenter expresses skepticism about the practical applicability of the demo, stating that while it's a cool demonstration of technology, they haven't encountered any real-world problems where this type of augmented reality interface would be superior to existing solutions. They question the value proposition of the technology beyond its novelty factor.
Another commenter focuses on the user interface and user experience aspects. They raise concerns about the potential for "UI hell" with augmented reality applications, pointing out the challenges of managing and interacting with numerous virtual elements overlaid on the real world. They suggest that this type of interface could quickly become overwhelming and difficult to use effectively.
A different user picks up on this UI/UX thread and compares the demo to previous attempts at AR interfaces. They draw a parallel to Google Glass and suggest that the demo suffers from similar issues of clunkiness and a lack of clear use cases. This commenter believes that the core interaction paradigm needs significant improvement before such technology becomes truly useful.
Some commenters discuss the specific technical implementation of the demo. One user questions the choice of using WebXR, suggesting that native development might offer better performance and a smoother experience. Another delves into the technical challenges of object recognition and tracking, pointing out the difficulty of accurately placing virtual objects in the real world and maintaining their position as the user moves.
One commenter offers a more positive perspective, suggesting that the demo could be useful for specific niche applications, such as providing real-time information to maintenance technicians or assisting with complex assembly tasks. They acknowledge the current limitations but see potential for future development.
Finally, a few commenters express general excitement about the potential of augmented reality and see the demo as a promising step in the right direction. They believe that as the technology matures and the interface improves, augmented reality could have a significant impact on how we interact with the world around us.
Overall, the comments reflect a mixture of excitement, skepticism, and pragmatic concern about the current state and future potential of augmented reality technology as demonstrated by the Augurs demo. Many commenters acknowledge the technical achievements while questioning the practicality and usability of the current implementation. The discussion revolves around key themes of user experience, technical implementation, and real-world applications.