TechCrunch Summary (2023-05-31 12PM)

Source: A brief history of VR and AR

Summary
A brief history of VR and AR, from the first simulation device in the early ’60s to the upcoming announcement of Apple’s mixed reality headset at WWDC.

Facts

👓 The first VR simulation device was Sensorama in 1962.

🏍️ Virtual reality seemed to hold the keys to the next great paradigm shift in the early ’90s.

🎮 Nintendo’s Virtual Boy was a headset/console built around (very red) stereoscopic vision.

🎬 VR dominated pop culture and featured in movies like “Johnny Mnemonic,” “Lawnmower Man,” and “Virtuosity.”

💡 Morton Helig’s 1962 patent aimed to deliver a realistic simulation for potential work and military training purposes.

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Source: Realta Fusion lights up with $9M seed for industrial heat led by Khosla Ventures

Summary
Realta Fusion, a startup working on adapting an experimental reactor design to produce power and heat, has raised $9m to develop an industrial-scale demo plant in the early 2030s to reduce carbon pollution from industrial heat, which accounts for roughly 10% of carbon pollution in the US.

Fact

💡 Realta Fusion aims to use experimental reactor design to convert heat into electricity for industrial use.

💰 The startup has raised $9m in seed funding led by Khosla Ventures.

🏭 Industrial heat accounts for around 10% of carbon pollution in the US.

🌡️ Fusion power works best when run continuously, making it an ideal energy source for industrial processes like chemical refining or metal smelting.

🔮 Realta Fusion hopes to ignite the plasma in an industrial-scale demo fusion plant in the early 2030s.

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Source: U.S. cars and trucks could soon be required to brake for you in an emergency

Summary
All new U.S. vehicles under 10,000 pounds could soon be required to have automatic emergency braking (AEB) systems capable of stopping and preventing accidents with other vehicles and pedestrians at speeds of up to 62 miles per hour. The proposal is part of a national strategy aimed at reducing road fatalities and injuries, and could save lives, prevent costly crashes, and raise the bar for safety.

Facts

🚘 Nearly all U.S. light vehicles could soon be required to have AEB technology equipped in them.

🚛 The AEB system would be capable of stopping and avoiding contact with a vehicle at speeds of up to 62 miles per hour.

👩‍🦯 Consumer safety advocates agree that this rule would save lives and make the roads safer, at a time when more than 100 people are dying in vehicle crashes every day in the US.

📊 Federal requirements to have AEB installed in vehicles could ensure that every new car comes with the safety feature without consumers being forced to pay extra.

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