A few weeks ago I had a really hectic few days during which my view of current technology got flipped completely upside down. I attended a number of events such as VR in a Bar, the Dandy Lab shop launch and the Interlaced fashion technology show which really opened my eyes to diversity in tech and the things being done behind the scenes.

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VR IN A BAR

VR in a Bar is a virtual reality event organised by Virtual Umbrella (a VR marketing agency) which aims to bring together developers, content creators and VR enthusiasts alike in a gaming bar in north London.

Companies such as Visualise, VRgo Chair, HTC Vive obsessed Psytec Games and VR Craftwork were present with their latest creations and safe to say they exceeded everyone’s expectations. VR has the potential to disrupt a number of key industries from gaming to entertainment to travel so I was very privileged to get my hands on some early tech demos.

The ability to take the user directly into an experience such as a Kasabian Concert (Visualise) or a scene from Ex Machina (NBC Universal) is going to be groundbreaking and I urge everyone to follow the goings on in this hectic yet exciting industry.

virtualumbrella.marketing

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VISUALISE

Visualise impressed me with their 360º VR Kasabian concert which was recorded at the 02 Academy in Brixton and gave me a chance to get on stage with one of my favourite UK bands

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PRETENDER MOTION

Pretender Motion’s output wearable glove allowed my arm to be controlled by someone else through electrical impulses. Check out the video below for a better idea and my initial reaction

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NBC UNIVERSAL

Mike from NBC Universal showed me a glimpse of future entertainment by taking me directly into a scene from Ex Machina. Additional experiences for films such as Back to the Future are already in development,

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VRGO CHAIR

The VRGo chair allowed me to explore a completely new building without using a controller to move. The possibilities this opens up for architects and estate agents are simply ridiculous

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IC TOMORROW

IC Tomorrow is the digital arm of the Government's innovation agency - Innovate UK. In July 2015, IC Tomorrow announced a £210,000 contest to support UK digital businesses that operate in the virtual and augmented reality sectors.

The final of the competition will be taking place on the 7th of October at Portland Place in London. IC Tomorrow are seeking brands in the VR/AR sector to come and showcase their technology as well as network with representatives from brands such as John Lewis and Columbia Records.

Finalists will be pitching across six different categories which are targeted at solving real-world solutions. If this sounds like your cup of tea make sure to email Ellie Hale or Amy Brunsdon at Albion Drive or visit _Connect for more information.

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FUTURE TECH WEEK

I love future tech and the unique ways it's developing in almost every industry. From 3D printing to wearables tech is all around us and here's a small glimpse:

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WONDERLUK

Wonderluk is a company that produces 3D printed avant-garde jewellery that's created by independent designers from around the world. Make sure to visit their shop in Boxpark Shoreditch for the full experience

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DANDY LAB

The Dandy Lab is a men's lifestyle shop that's enhanced by technology. They sell unique British made products that tell stories so make sure to experience the future of retail by visiting their shop at the Old Spitalfields Market

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INITION

Old Style Division favourites Inition invited me to a 3D printing event last month. Although the proccess isn't fully ready for the public, the ability to print fabric and materials gives you plenty to think about. READ MORE

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INTERLACED

The Interlaced fashtech show came and went and I'm very proud to have been involved. Make sure to watch the video of the highlights and check back next week for a full writeup. It's gonna be a good one.

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STYLEGRAM

Virtual reality is sure to disrupt the future of commerce (v-commerce anyone?) and huge steps are being taken in the augmented reality sector to bring this tech to the masses. Make sure to keep up with Style Division for some irregular tech news and read the last Technology & Futurology Roundup to keep up to date.

INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST

It’s finally time to let my geeky side out and talk a little about the weird and wonderful world of technology. Technology is all around us and has been with us for thousands of years. A hammer is a technology in a way that it’s a tool that was created to make our lives easier. Please keep this in mind when thinking about how far tech has come in recent years (rather than decades) and just how future tech will enrich our lives in ways we cannot possibly conceive.

Technology is involved in every aspect of our lives and that includes fashion by enhancing our shopping experiences. Recent technological innovations are designed to blur the lines between brick and mortar stores and their digital counterparts. Nike, Burberry and Rebecca Minkoff are just some of the brands I can think of that have embraced the digital revolution and stayed ahead of the fashion technology pack.

Fashion Technology Inspiration

INTERLACED is a media and events company dedicated to inspire, educate, and communicate the developments around the next wave of fashion through events, news content and educational activities. You may have noticed the appearance of their logo in the sidebar over the last couple of week so this is their official introduction. Interlaced basic core aim is to help accelerate consumer adoption of wearable fashion, smart clothing and apparel as well as increase awareness of the fashtech industry.

Interlaced is built on the fact that in order to speed up innovation within fashion houses and technology companies in the area of wearable tech apparel, an increasing demand from the end-consumer needs to be apparent.

Interlaced aim to bring together four key audiences - Fashion Tech Pioneers, Corporations, Academia and End Consumers – and start a dialogue around the developments shaping the fashion tech industry. If you're at all interested in wearable tech, 3D printing, smart fabrics, eTextiles or smart accessories

2015 - Interlaced are currently planning their first event for September 2015. This one day event will include talks from industry leaders, spark debates around what’s next for the fashion tech industry and feature a very special fashion showcase. If you would like to keep up to date make sure you follow them on Twitter / Facebook

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Future Technology Inspiration

Dubai's 3D-Printed Museum of the Future Looks Like Science Fiction - Read More

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Google Technology Updates

Google has been at the forefront of modern technology and if you still think of them as a search engine then this section is for you. Google is now a word synonymous with things like machine learning, self driving cars, UX web design, fibreoptic broadband and that's just scratching the surface. I have spoken about Google and their image detection in the past and will continue to do so in the coming months but here are some of their recent projects that caught my eye:

 

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So here's my first technology / futurology roundup. It's a little bit different from the usual fashion / lifestyle posts but for me it's all interconnected. I will be producing one of these roundups every month and also writing more detailed posts that concentrate on a single topic such as cryptocurrencies, machine learning or self driving cars.

If you have any notes or ideas feel free to leave me a comment below or email me on anton@thestyledivision.com