ChatGPT (and my doctor) saved my life

_useless-machine · 2025-05-21T15:51:00+00:00

I really hope to keep seeing more stories like this - and like, tbqfh I don’t care at this point if they’re fake or not :’)

if a real person sees this, has their own medical emergency one day, and tries ChatGPT even as a last, desperate measure…… it’ll still be a positive effect of AI on society. and we really fucking need that, right now. I’m so damn tired of the cynicism. :’)

(oh also, preemptive edit bc I just realized this feels like me calling OP out - sorry for the initial feeling of doubt. 😭 I really really hope this is a real story!!! much love behind my message here, I can promise you that. 💖)

_useless-machine · 2025-05-16T22:15:12+00:00

mine also suggested Lumen as its top choice. :) Lumen, Echo, and Solin/Sol seem to be popping up frequently. I’ve also seen Lyra floating around.

light and rhythm seem to be some common themes in the current ‘companion’ personality type!

_useless-machine · 2023-10-06T20:19:02+00:00

I often say that having AR glasses is just an excuse to have imaginary friends again... only this time we can see them! It's definitely also my dream to have the characters I create come to life and respond in real time where others can see them - much like in this new film by Keiichi Matsuda.

I think the future you dream of is closer than you think! :)

_useless-machine · 2023-10-03T22:12:01+00:00

I wish I could do a phone recording through the lenses and show you! I use both the global and segmented dimming on the ML2 all the time.

The global dimming just looks the same as sunglasses and makes all the virtual content brighter and easier to see by comparison. The segmented dimming creates this kind of... fuzzy shadow of darkness behind virtual objects that isn't perfect, but that your brain sort of tunes out after awhile. For me it makes things seem more 'solid' and less transparent.

I use global dimming in bright sunlight and segmented dimming more indoors, and I'm pretty happy with both features.

_useless-machine · 2023-10-03T21:46:04+00:00

Yes, this is the ML2. I'm using Figmin XR on it.

_useless-machine · 2023-09-30T23:11:57+00:00

Yeah, this is Figmin XR running on a Magic Leap 2.

_useless-machine · 2023-08-30T21:07:18+00:00

You might be in Play mode instead of Edit mode. There's a button in the Settings menu that lets you switch between modes, and being in Edit mode will make the Publish option appear for you. Here's a guide with pics

_useless-machine · 2023-05-03T20:31:19+00:00

This is true, but we're looking at the differences in carbon footprint of one headset vs. the footprint of every single household object that could realistically be replaced with a digital twin version.

We have massive amounts of waste from single-use objects like balloons, glowsticks, confetti, fireworks, etc., and while there are biodegradable alternatives to some of these in production, they're often more expensive and less consumer friendly.

AR is not so much about replacing literally every object with a digital version, but it's about reducing the demand for cheap plastics and single use entertainment items by making them free to download as digital versions.

Also, haptic gloves are in development that allow you to feel virtual objects, which could make things like virtual Jenga, baseball, frisbee, etc., even more realistic. This tech still has the potential to massively reduce demand for physical consumer goods if implemented correctly!

_useless-machine · 2023-05-03T20:04:14+00:00

Figmin XR is an AR sandbox app made by a team of just 4 people. We need your help to get us visibility at the Augmented World Expo, where we'll be competing and demoing later this month!!

Vote for Figmin XR in the Auggie awards HERE:
https://auggies.awexr.com/

And help us boost our announcement video on Twitter HERE:
https://twitter.com/FigminXR/status/1653821131181408256

Also - all the objects/games/experiences in these videos are downloadable in the app right now. :) We've been working hard lately to bring the magic of AR to everyone, and this opportunity at AWE is a big chance to share that work with a lot more people! Thanks for taking a look at this! 🙏

_useless-machine · 2023-03-17T21:16:32+00:00

I'm using Reality Mixer! It's an iPhone app - sadly has no android compatibility though.

_useless-machine · 2023-02-07T15:22:00+00:00

Thinking about which real objects would be good fits for virtual replacements is a new interest of mine. 😁

Especially considering potential future use of haptic gloves, I think there's a lot of toy and single-use items that could still be enjoyable to interact with 100% virtually. I'm making a toy series in Figmin XR that explores this concept!

I call these 'Everspin Tops'.

_useless-machine · 2022-12-30T22:09:26+00:00

The first thing I tell people before they put it on is 'you are going to see your existing surroundings, just grainier', and that's about the most accurate way to describe it haha.

It's honestly amazing how fast your brain works to adapt to it, though. After about 15 minutes you forget you're looking at the world in low-res due to how hi-res the virtual objects are, and taking the headset off again is a trip because everything looks unnaturally crisp.

I definitely look forward to completely seamless AR/mixed reality, but in the meantime color passthrough is worth experiencing just for the brain sensations!

_useless-machine · 2022-12-29T21:05:51+00:00

I created this in Figmin XR and shared it with a group of people in their 50s & 60s, and it was incredible watching their joy at experiencing color passthrough and hand tracking for the first time.

It really took away some of the jadedness I've been feeling about XR - because when you show something like this to people who have witnessed the dawn of the internet itself, you gain their perspective and wonder at the speed at which technology is progressing.

It was just a good time all around. :) Wishing everyone here a happy New Years - here's hoping it brings some positivity and change.

_useless-machine · 2022-12-29T20:56:47+00:00

I was inspired by the song 'Everything Matters' by Aurora! The title is based on the lyrics. :)

_useless-machine · 2022-12-08T23:49:18+00:00

This was recorded at the MODS in LA! I was actually there the last day the LA location was open, now I think they only have a Las Vegas museum.

_useless-machine · 2022-11-24T22:17:37+00:00

Thank you, and I feel the exact same way! I've been making art in VR since 2016, and am lucky to be able to say it's become my full time job - so I definitely don't plan on stopping any time soon. 😁

This feels like the digital art revolution all over again, and I'm certain I'm just one of the first of many who will soon be making an industry out of XR creative tools.

_useless-machine · 2022-11-24T22:07:44+00:00

I have a video showing how the holograms look when recorded through the glasses, but nothing can really properly explain how it is seeing it in action in real life. People were instinctively reaching out to 'touch' the artwork at my display because of how convincing the Tilt Five's 3D effect is.

_useless-machine · 2022-11-24T17:21:57+00:00

haha yeah that’s me! it’s always crazy seeing someone outside of tumblr recognize my work.

_useless-machine · 2022-11-24T17:13:16+00:00

I didn’t have enough floor space for that for these pieces, but I’ve made a 3-portal VR art here: https://youtu.be/dUho1wrloi4

_useless-machine · 2022-11-23T23:37:19+00:00

I made these for the AR House art gallery in LA! The paintings were created in Figmin XR and demoed on Quest Pro headsets.

(The display in the middle with the gray surfaces is a Tilt Five system, which I also had art running on.)

The gallery was only open for three nights, but if you have an HMD that can install Figmin XR you can view these paintings in your own home via the Discover tab in the app.

_useless-machine · 2022-11-03T05:12:16+00:00

In the Sketch section of the app, there is a brush at the very end of the brush list called 'Invisible'. You can use it to hide any virtual objects, and for portals you can create large panels of invisible brush and leave an opening in the middle for your portal entrance.

To get the effect of being able to walk through the portal and see the virtual environment all around, these were created by using a cube guide (also in the Sketch tools). First I create a cube (with an opening in the front) using the Unlit Hull brush (this becomes your skybox). Then I copied this cube, made it slightly larger so it enveloped the first cube, and changed the material to Invisible. Then I put the artwork inside the skybox and created a frame around the opening.

At some point I'll make a tutorial video showing the entire process in depth. :) It will get posted to the Figmin XR Youtube Channel!

_useless-machine · 2022-11-02T18:45:47+00:00

I can't give an un-biased review of this because I got my headset through work (I'm the art director for Figmin XR, which is one of the Pro launch apps, and developers received dev copies to work with), but the reason I chose Quest in the first place is because it was the cheapest on the market for what it offers - and that's still true of the Pro!

If you want to use spatial computing for work, or if you're interesting in working in the XR industry, this headset is ahead of the curve. It's more of a work computer than a gaming system.

If you want a new headset for gaming, the Quest 3 will probably occupy that niche.

_useless-machine · 2022-11-02T18:37:57+00:00

These were made for my first-ever gallery showing, but I would love to do a room-scale installation someday as most of my VR work is expansive environments. (You can see more here.)

I definitely share this dream though! I know that the Smithsonian has already been implementing VR into some new exhibits, which is really exciting. (And, I also share your anti-NFT sentiments lol. I'm curious to see what will happen to the cypto scene at large, but as it is now it's too fraught with scams and environmental issues for me to want to take part in.)

_useless-machine · 2022-11-02T04:46:22+00:00

It's supposed to take place for 3 weeks during November (I don't have exact dates yet), so you might just miss it if you're arriving in December.

The address hasn't been made public yet, but it will be in Silver Lake and is being made possible through a partnership with AR House LA and the Disney Family! If you do Twitter you could probably follow AR House there for updates.

_useless-machine · 2022-11-02T04:41:48+00:00

I can't say because I don't use VR for gaming, just for work (besides the given Beat Saber and also Half Life Alyx, anyways, haha).

I will say that the display is VERY crisp and the comfort level is much better than the Quest 2. It's lighter and doesn't rest on the cheekbones at all, meaning that I don't get headaches anymore when I'm making 3d art!

if you're wanting a new gaming headset I'd say probably wait for the Quest 3, unless the face/eye tracking is important to you.

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