Connect with us

Technology

Honda Combines Personal Mobility and VR in World’s First Extended Reality Mobility Experience to Debut at SXSW 2024

Published

on

Honda will introduce all-new entertainment experience fusing virtual reality with UNI-ONE, a hands-free, personal mobility device users steer by shifting their center of gravity Honda envisions UNI-ONE having applications at theme parks, entertainment facilities and retail spaces across the U.S.

TORRANCE, Calif., Feb. 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Fasten your seatbelt, Honda will hold the global debut of a first-of-its-kind extended reality1 (XR) experience at SXSW 2024, merging the joy of mobility with virtual reality (VR) adventures. The all-new Honda XR Mobility Experience integrates digital environments with the real-world experience of riding the Honda UNI-ONE, a hands-free, personal mobility device. 

Honda is seeking to collaborate with AR and VR developers to create custom digital experiences.

SXSW attendees will be able to immerse themselves in the all-new Honda XR Mobility Experience at the company’s booth #729 located in the SXSW Creative Industries Expo at the Austin Convention Center, March 10-13, 2024. Watch a demonstration of the Honda XR Mobility Experience at https://honda.us/ExtendedReality.

“With the Honda XR Mobility Experience, we are expanding the joy and freedom of personal mobility into entertainment applications,” said Hirokazu Hara, vice president of New Business Development, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “By combining the unique, physical experience of riding the Honda UNI-ONE with highly immersive digital entertainment, Honda is creating a brand new multimodal experience that takes extended reality technologies to the next level.”

Making Mobility More Fun with UNI-ONE

 SXSW 2024 marks the U.S. debut of the Honda UNI-ONE, a hands-free, personal mobility device that features advanced self-balancing technology and sensors that enable the user to move in any direction based on postural movements.

UNI-ONE features a seat that can be raised and lowered, making mobility more fun when interacting with people at the same eye level. In “high position,” the user is closer to the eye level of someone standing and can move in all directions – forward, backward, sideways or diagonally – as well as turn around with both hands free, simply by leaning in one direction to shift their weight. In “low position,” the user is able to better communicate with those who are seated or small children and can move in any direction by steering with a joystick.

The electric UNI-ONE is equipped with Honda’s original wheel mechanism, Honda Omni Traction Drive System (HOT Drive System), an evolution and advancement of the Honda UNI-CUB β device – first introduced in 2013. UNI-ONE has two units of the HOT Drive System – one on each side – enabling the user to move smoothly in any direction. Based on a user’s posture, UNI-ONE can estimate the user’s intentions, such as a desire to stay in place or move in a specific direction and speed. The stabilization function controls UNI-ONE’s wheels so it does not lean too far and applies feedback to achieve natural behavior that is neither too fast nor too slow.

Beginning in 2023, Honda has been demonstration testing UNI-ONE for multiple use cases in Japan, including at the Mobility Resort Motegi in Motegi, Tochigi; Suzuka Circuit Park in Suzuka, Mie; and the Gotemba Premium Outlets in Gotemba, Shizuoka. For the demonstration testing at Suzuka Circuit Park, Honda integrated UNI-ONE with AR technology to create a game. Users play by holding a tablet and navigate UNI-ONE according to scenes displayed on the tablet. These demonstration trials are helping to validate UNI-ONE as a mobility device for entertainment applications.

UNI-ONE is designed to offer stress-free mobility and appeal to a wide range of users. It is battery-operated and has a maximum speed of 3.7 miles per hour. The maximum user weight capacity is 242 pounds.

New Entertainment Applications with UNI-ONE

 SXSW attendees can ride UNI-ONE and immerse themselves in their own “choose your VR adventure” at the Honda XR Mobility Experience. While wearing a VR headset and shifting their body weight to steer UNI-ONE, users can experience the peaceful feeling of floating in the sky or the exhilarating feeling of gliding along a half-pipe path.

Working toward commercialization in the U.S., Honda envisions people enjoying the XR mobility experience in indoor and outdoor obstacle-free spaces, including theme parks, entertainment facilities and retail spaces such as shopping malls. Honda also believes that UNI-ONE can be used as a mobility device in XR games, such as a racing game where players use their hands while moving freely or a game in which players follow certain routes.

In addition to entertainment and retail business partners, Honda is seeking to collaborate with AR and VR developers to create custom digital experiences choreographed with the movements of riding UNI-ONE. Interested companies can visit Honda’s booth #729 at the SXSW Creative Industries Expo or contact unione@na.honda.com.

UNI-ONE Specifications

Dimensions

(length x width x height)

30.3 × 26.8 × 30.3 inches (lowered)

25.6 × 22.8 × 36.2 inches (raised)

Seat Height

21.7 inches (lowered)

27.6 inches (raised)

Weight

Approx. 154 pounds

Riding Capacity

1 person

Maximum User Weight

242 pounds

Maximum Speed

3.7 miles per hour

Range

5 miles (at 2.5 miles per hour)

Battery

Lithium-ion battery (replaceable)

Drive Wheels

Honda Omni Traction Drive System (HOT Drive) – 2 wheels

*When UNI-ONE is in the low position, HOT Drive wheels and four auxiliary wheels are on the ground. 

Honda in America
Honda started operations in the United States with American Honda Motor Co., Inc. in 1959. Today, Honda employs over 30,000 associates in America engaged in the development, manufacturing, sales and service support of Honda and Acura automobiles, Honda power equipment, Honda powersports products and the HondaJet advanced light jet.

Based on its longstanding commitment to build products close to the customer, Honda operates 12 major U.S. manufacturing facilities, working with 600 U.S. suppliers to produce a diverse range of Honda products. Honda has built automobiles in America for over 40 years, and in 2022, more than two-thirds of all U.S.-sold Honda and Acura automobiles were produced in America, using domestic and globally sourced parts.

Honda also conducts research and development activities at 23 facilities in America where we fully design, develop and engineer many of the products the company manufactures in America.

Learn more with Honda’s Digital FactBook

1 XR stands for “extended reality,” an umbrella term for technologies such as VR (virtual reality), AR (augmented reality) and MR (mixed reality) that fuse the real world with the virtual world to enable the perception of things that do not exist in reality.

 

 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/honda-combines-personal-mobility-and-vr-in-worlds-first-extended-reality-mobility-experience-to-debut-at-sxsw-2024-302073950.html

SOURCE Honda

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Technology

Bank Alfalah Acquires Strategic Stake in UAE Fintech Jingle Pay

Published

on

By

DUBAI, UAE, Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Bank Alfalah, a leading commercial bank in Pakistan with a network of over 1,000 branches, has announced its acquisition of a 9.9% equity stake in Jingle Pay, one of the fastest growing fintechs in the MENAP region. The Bank’s fintech investment underscores its commitment to driving digital transformation and fostering financial inclusion across key markets.

Jingle Pay has redefined the fintech space with its proprietary AI-powered tech stack already processing over 2 million transactions and facilitating over $1 billion in international money transfers in 2024, saving customers over $6 million in fees. Jingle Pay was recently awarded the top global fintech for remittances into Pakistan.

Jingle Pay has solidified its position as a high-growth fintech leader in the MENAP region, supported by prestigious investors, including MoneyGram, G42-backed Applied AI, and prominent U.S. venture capital firms known for backing global fintech giants like N26 and PayPal, Jingle Pay continues to disrupt the industry. Bank Alfalah’s equity investment and appointment to Jingle Pay’s Board signal a robust partnership aimed at driving growth and innovation. This collaboration leverages Bank Alfalah’s extensive infrastructure to amplify Jingle Pay’s impact on cross-border payments and digital banking, advancing its ambitious vision for the MENAP region.

Jingle Pay provides innovative services, including multi-currency accounts, instant money transfers via the world’s first remittance marketplace, card payments, and last-mile payouts across 150+ corridors in 99+ currencies. Additionally, its Remittance-as-a-Service solution enables banks, FinTech’s, and non-financial institutions to facilitate seamless international money transfers.

Jingle Pay plans to launch its digital banking services in Pakistan in Q1 2025 as a branchless banking mobile app targeting to bring seamless and inclusive financial services to the country’s largely unbanked population. Jingle Pay will leverage Bank Alfalah’s infrastructure to bring seamless banking solutions to millions of customers. The partnership will create synergies in cross-border payments strengthened by shareholder MoneyGram.

As Pakistan’s 5th largest remittance partner, Jingle Pay plays a crucial role in driving global financial flows that contribute significantly to the country’s GDP. Establishing local presence in Pakistan will strengthen its partnership and cross-border capabilities, further cementing Jingle Pay’s position as a leader in the remittance ecosystem.

Leadership Remarks

Farooq A. Khan, Group Head – Corporate, Investment Banking and International Business of Bank Alfalah, emphasized: “This acquisition is a milestone in our journey to lead the digital banking revolution. By combining Jingle Pay’s innovative platform with Bank Alfalah’s resources, we aim to redefine cross-border financial services and deliver exceptional value to millions of users.”

Amir Fardghassemi, Founder and CEO of Jingle Pay, said: “Partnering with Bank Alfalah empowers us to scale our vision of inclusive finance. Together, we aim to enrich the digital economy and create transformative cross-border financial solutions.”

The collaboration also enhances Bank Alfalah’s role in the global Payments ecosystem, strengthening its position as a leader in cross-border financial flows and delivering unparalleled value to customers in the MENAP and beyond.

About Bank Alfalah

Bank Alfalah is a leading commercial bank in Pakistan, with over 1,000 branches across 200 cities and an international presence in the UAE, Bahrain, and Afghanistan. Its heritage and prominence extend over 25 successful years, highlighted by achievements that reflect exponential growth in the country’s financial sector.

The Bank offers various products and services to private-sector institutions and governments, including corporate and investment banking, consumer banking, securities brokerage, commercial, small and medium enterprises, agricultural, Islamic, and asset financing.

The Bank has established itself as a premier digital bank by introducing various features on its banking app, such as Alfamall, Buy Now Pay Later, and Term Deposit Receipts. It has also launched Pakistan’s first digital lifestyle branch. 

About Jingle Pay

Jingle Pay, a UAE born fintech, is the MENAP region’s leading and fastest-growing fintech, specializing in cross-border money transfers licensed by Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA). Jingle Pay operates in the UAE, Bahrain, and Pakistan, offering cutting-edge financial services. Backed by global financial institutions like MoneyGram, Bank Alfalah, top-tier U.S. and international venture capital firms that have backed PayPal and N26, as well as G42 backed, Applied AI.

The company provides a wide array of solutions, including Remittance-as-a-Service for financial institutions, enabling seamless global payouts across 150+ corridors and 99+ currencies. Additionally, Jingle Pay operates a B2C app for retail customers, facilitating card payments and international money transfers focused on driving financial inclusion and leveraging AI to redefine cross border payments.

CONTACT: Jingle Pay, Media@jinglepay.com, +971 4 547 7778

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2594862/Jingle_Pay.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/bank-alfalah-acquires-strategic-stake-in-uae-fintech-jingle-pay-302347236.html

Continue Reading

Technology

Better Business Bureau Serving the Tri-Counties Warns Homeowners About Donation Scams Following Southern California Fires

Published

on

By

BBB Offers Recommendations for Donating to Southern California Wildfire Requests, Warning to Beware of Click-Bait and Phishing Scams, Bogus Crowdfunding Requests

SANTA BARBARA, Calif., Jan. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Better Business Bureau Serving the Tri-Counties issues warning to businesses and consumers tied to donation scams following Southern California Fires. As reported, strong winds fueling a fast-moving fire in Southern California has caused more than 100,000 people to evacuate their homes. For those seeking to help those in need, BBB Wise Giving Alliance offers the following tips to give thoughtfully.

For those seeking to help those in need, BBB Wise Giving Alliance offers the following tips to give thoughtfully.

Tips for Donating to Southern California Wildfire Relief Efforts

Make Sure the Charity Is Trustworthy: Before giving, search for the charity’s report on Give.org to find out if the charity meets the BBB Standards for Charity Accountability (i.e., a BBB Accredited Charity). While disaster fundraising has not yet fully emerged for this tragedy, donors might check with the following BBB Accredited Charities to help start their selection of organizations offering help: American Red Cross, Direct Relief, GlobalGiving and Salvation Army.

Look for Specific Fire Relief Activities in Appeals: Be wary of relief appeals that have vague program descriptions and do not explain what activities your support will assist.

Watch Out for Click-Bait and Phishing Scams: Online giving scams tend to pop up after a disaster to take advantage of public sympathy. Don’t click on email, text, or social media links promising to connect you to a familiar charity. Instead, go directly to the charity’s website on your own.

Review Crowdfunding Requests: Some crowdfunding sites take precautions in carefully screening, vetting, and managing postings after a disaster or tragedy. Others might not. If unsure, review the procedures described on the site and also find out about transaction fees and other specifics.

Verify Charity Registration: About 40 of the 50 states require charities to annually register. Check with your state’s office of the attorney general or secretary of state’s office.

Understand the Phases of Disaster Relief: Most disasters go through three periods of activity: rescue, relief, and recovery. Each phase involves different activities and support. You can familiarize yourself with each phase on our Supporting Disaster Relief and Preparedness page.

Better Business Bureau Serving the Tri-Counties intends for this advice to help donors to give with confidence while avoiding questionable efforts.

For more information
To report a scam, go to BBB Scam Tracker.
To learn how to protect yourself, go to “10 Steps to Avoid Scams.”

Media Contact

Frank Tortorici, Marketing Maven, (908) 875-8908, frank@marketingmaven.com, https://marketingmaven.com/ 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prweb.com/releases/better-business-bureau-serving-the-tri-counties-warns-homeowners-about-donation-scams-following-southern-california-fires-302347662.html

SOURCE Better Business Bureau

Continue Reading

Technology

Pollo AI Launches Consistent Character Video to Maintain Consistency of Characters, Objects, or Scenes in Generated Videos

Published

on

By

SINGAPORE, Jan. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Pollo AI  continues to raise the bar in AI video generation with the addition of its latest feature: Consistent Character Video, which can transform still images into high quality AI videos, while maintaining consistency of characters, objects, or scenes throughout every frame.

Users can upload one or up to three images of a subject to the tool – it could be a person’s face, for example, or image(s) of an inanimate object, like an appliance or piece of clothing, or image(s) of specific scenes. The AI video generator will then use the image(s) as the reference point(s) when generating its video content, ensuring that the original visuals are accurately and consistently portrayed.

This way, users can make multiple videos while keeping the same consistent subjects. They can make themselves the star of numerous clips, for example, or incorporate real-life items into their video creations. While other elements of the videos may change, the core subjects you choose will always remain consistent.

The uses for this are numerous. Brands, for example, could upload images of their latest products and then make various AI-generated videos featuring those products in a range of settings and scenarios. Or creators could make entire feature-length films by generating multiple short-form AI videos with the same consistent subjects in different scenes.

You could even upload an image of a famous landmark or monument, and instruct the tool to use that throughout your video creations. This makes it so much easier to create sequences or series of videos with the same consistent background, environment, or setting – a feat that many AI video generators have historically struggled with.

It’s a huge leap forward for AI video technology. Before the Consistent Character Video Generator, many users had expressed frustration when it came to trying to keep the same characters and subjects in multiple AI-generated videos. But with this new tool, that challenge has been solved.

What’s more, the Consistent Character Video Generator is backed up by Pollo AI’s advanced algorithms and powerful technology. Thanks to that, it’s able to make some of the most visually impressive AI videos, with cinematic levels of quality, fluid motion, realistic physics, and other desirable characteristics.

Plus, just like other AI videos generated with Pollo AI, the user has total control over various aspects, such as the aspect ratio, the length of the video, the resolution, and the camera movement. With this bold new addition, Pollo AI continues to assert itself as one of the leading and most innovative names in the AI video sphere.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pollo-ai-launches-consistent-character-video-to-maintain-consistency-of-characters-objects-or-scenes-in-generated-videos-302347735.html

SOURCE Pollo AI

Continue Reading

Trending