Ever since I discovered it in March, I have been endlessly fascinated with what I can create by plugging Second Life avatar selfies into the two AI facial refacing and animation apps on my iPhone, WOMBO and Reface (here’s my original post, and I wrote three more here, here, and here).
There’s just something about the stylized, perfect way that Second Life avatars look that lends itself perfectly to being manipulated by WOMBO and Reface, which makes the resulting images and videos leap right over the Uncanny Valley for me!
WOMBO only creates lipsync videos, and Reface started off with inserting any face into still images, artworks, and Hollywood movie clips. But recently, Reface also started letting you take any selfie and create lipsync music videos as well:
Marilyn Monroe: “I wanna be loved by you…”
But not to be outdone, WOMBO has just released WOMBO combos: duets where you can select two facial images to animate! Here’s three examples:
Promiscuous, by Nelly Furtado
Anything You Can Do, from the musical Annie Get Your Gun
The following is one of my all-time favourite Monty Python comedy sketches! (My brother and I used to say this to each other all the time…)
“Help! Help! I’m being repressed!” from the movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Both WOMBO and Reface are available for Apple iOS and Android devices. They’re great fun, the results are entertaining, and I can recommend them both highly!
Fundamental Surgery is a VR platform by a company called FundamentalVR, consisting of several components, and a sterling example of social VR used for a serious, practical purpose: the training of surgeons. The training program has been accredited by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) and the Royal College of Surgeons England.
Here’s a one-minute video overview of all five components of Fundamental Surgery:
The components are:
HapticVR: deep simulation and procedural surgical rehearsal with kinesthetic haptic feedback (you can see a bit of this in the first video up top);
@HomeVR: procedural walkthrough, anatomy and environment familiarization and testing, using a standalone VR headset;
Teaching Space: a social VR-based virtual training space (see image below);
Data Insights: a central data dashboard to track progress; and
MultiuserVR: a collaborative/social VR platform for surgical training (see video below).
This is an animated GIF demonstrating the Teaching Space, complete with a shared whiteboard:
Teaching Space [is] an unlimited multi-user virtual classroom designed to help medical schools around the world who’ve been impacted by the pandemic; a virtual space where they’re able to get that crucial hands-on training while working other students in a collaborative virtual environment.
COVID-19 has presented big challenges in the medical field when it comes to surgical training. In many cases, it has completely disrupted traditional training programs, which have always relied on actual face-to-face classroom environments. Zoom and Skype conferencing do provide alternative learning environments, but they’re limited. 2D platforms can’t fully replace the teaching and learning opportunities offered by in-class training.
This new VR learning space provides a safe environment for instructors to meet with trainees, no matter where they are located.
The virtual classroom environment includes a virtual whiteboard that instructors can use to present additional notes as they discuss procedures with their class. From there you can hop on over to Fundamental Surgery’s virtual operating room where you can run demos of surgeries and get even more hands-on experience.
Here’s a short video showing you what the MultiuserVR surgical experience looks like:
In addition, surgeons in training can take their lessons home with the @HomeVR program:
@HomeVR expands the Fundamental Surgery platform, offering an easy route for residency programs to integrate the latest educational technologies into their curriculums. It supports consistency in training delivery and assessment across a cohort, and can be used to enhance the effectiveness of an institution’s curriculum…
The @HomeVR product is used on standalone headsets and can be taken home to use whenever and wherever the user would like, providing flexibility of learning. The @HomeVR product serves as a great introduction to the HapticVR product, which supports full skills development.
As the VRScout article states,
Think of FundamentalVR’s medical training system as a ‘flight simulator’ for both medical students and their instructors. If you’re going to make a mistake, this is the environment to do it. Because the experience is fully immersive—using realistic audio, video, and haptic feedback—the emotions that you experience are real.
Who knows? The next time (God forbid!) you go under the surgeon’s knife, she might have had part of her training in virtual reality!
If you had purchased earlier versions of either the Anya or Alexa bodies, you can upgrade to Analexa 4.1 for free; just slap the Redelivery sign in the Kalhene store, located directly across from the N-Core footwear store.
For only L$2,495, you get a Bento, Bakes on Mesh body that is compatible with most apparel and footwear designed for Maitreya Lara, plus a lot of extra options which would normally cost you extra!
In addition to a transgender option (i.e. an optional penis with a HUD), the body comes with four different chest options (flat-chested, petite, normal, and large/implant breasts), a choice of two Bento heads, even hair and a nice starter wardrobe! In a previous blogpost, I did a detailed cost comparison between version 4.0 of the Anya body and a Maitreya Lara body/Catwa head combo, and now you get even more for your money with the Analexa 4.1 package.
Here’s what the head and body look like, wearing an outfit I picked up using a free QE Designs gift card at the SL18B Shop and Hop event, which ended yesterday. The Bakes on Mesh skin and eyes are included in the Analexa package.
In addition, Kalhene has released a brand new full-body package called Erika. This is a fuller-figured body that reminds me of the Belleza Freya, INTHIUM Kupra, and Katena bodies, where you can get a much curvier, juicier figure!
Here’s what Erika looks like, right out of the box, with the included skin and long hairstyle, and wearing one of the 10 included outfits (the sneakers are a freebie from VERSOV):
The Erika body comes with not one, not two, but three different Bento heads! Here’s a look at the “soft” head, with rounder features, which I quite like!
And here’s a look at the second, “hard” head, with sharper, more angular features:
There is also an Asian head with two shapes, which unfortunately I cannot show you because I was unable to find a suitable Bakes on Mesh skin for it. (By the way, skins designed for other brands of mesh heads might look a little weird on this head. Always demo before you buy!)
Once again, for L$2,495 you get a LOT for your money. The package includes many options which usually cost you extra in other bodies (e.g. pregnant belly). Let’s take a look at what comes in the Erika 1.0 package, comparing it with the INTHIUM Kupra body, the one I think it resembles the most:
Kalhene Erika 1.0
INTHIUM Kupra
Base Cost of Mesh Body
L$2,495
L$3,999
Included Body Shapes
5: skinny, natural, curvy, chubby, and pregnant
3: skinny, curvy, and “bimbo” (ugh!)
Breast Options
5 shape options; optional HD nipples
3 shape options; 5 types of 3D nipples
Bento Handsand Nails
5 fingernail options; 16 colours nail polish
5 fingernail and 4 toenail options; 32 colours nail polish
Mesh Feet
3 heel heights controlled bu HUD: flat, mid, and high; the feet are Maitreya Lara compatible
4 heel heights controlled by HUD: flat, mid, high, and tiptoe; the Kupra body comes with three options for feet, supporting footwear made for Kupra, Maitreya, or Slink feet
Bento Mesh Head
3 heads included: soft, “hard”/more angular features, and Asian
Not included (Catwa heads cost L$5,000 each)
Starter Skinand Eyes
5 skin tones, 8 eye colours
2 skin tones
Starter Hair
Included (works with all breast types)
Not included
Starter Wardrobe
10 complete outfits with footwear (see images below for examples)
Sport shorts, top, bikini top, panties, and thong
Transgender Option (Penis)
Included
Not included
TOTAL COST
L$2,495 (including hair and a very generous starter wardrobe)
L$8,999 for the Kupra/Catwa combo (not including the cost of hair and wardrobe)
Here’s a look at some of the ten complete outfits, with footwear, which are included in the wardrobe package (please click on each picture to see it in a larger size):
In other words, you can hit the ground running with the Kalhene Erika body at one-third the price of a Kupra/Catwa setup; all you have to do is add an animation override and you’re all set to hit the grid as a big, bold, beautiful woman!
Remember, you can mix and match, and use the Erika head and body separately with other heads and bodies you might already own (the body comes with Catwa and LeLutka options on the HUD to avoid neck seam issues for those heads). The body responds well to the head and body sliders, so you should be able to adjust the shape to suit your preferences.
In fact, the only drawback that I can find with the Kalhene Erika body is that (unlike the Analexa 4.1 body), it is not compatible with apparel designed for other mesh bodies (which is probably why the designer included a generous starter wardrobe with ten different outfits). Given that most avatar clothing designers are loath to rig for yet another body (most already do 6 or 7), it will be an uphill battle to coax creators to make clothing for this body! However, the feet on the Erika body are Maitreya Lara-compatible (although you will have problems with things like straps high on the ankle or calf).
Given the creator’s track record, you can expect frequent updates to both the Analexa 4.1 and Erika 1.0 bodies. Join the Kalhene store group for only L$25 and pick up some free group gifts, such as outfits and shapes, at the store (here’s the SLURL).
Happy bargain shopping!
UPDATE July 8th, 2021: I forgot to mention that a couple of well-known SL vloggers, Isabelle Cheren and Naria Panthar, have already put the new Kalhene Erika body through its paces. Watch one or both videos to get a better feel for the body, before you buy:
Isabelle Cheren’s review of the Erika body
Naria Panthar’s review of the Erika body
UPDATE July 10th, 2021: A commenter gave me more information about the Kupra bodies: three options for feet (Kupra, Maitreya, and Slink), plus details on the clothing that comes with the Kupra body, so I have updated my comparison chart accordingly. Thank you, Olé Olé!
Dr. Jeevan Perera, an aerospace engineer with the U.S. space program;
Dr. Walter Greenleaf, a neuroscientist at Stanford University; and
Dr. Stephen Goldberg, a psychiatrist with the Mental Health Association, Maryland.
Here’s a brief description of the talk:
With increased numbers of companies adopting hybrid/remote work models, employee well-being and mental health are fast becoming top priorities as companies race to adapt to this new working environment. So, who better to turn to for guidance than the ultimate remote workers – astronauts!
Join us on Mars, in Breakroom’s virtual world, for a free virtual event featuring some of the world’s leading authorities on mental health to discuss the impact of isolation and remote working on employee wellbeing. Hear from Dr. Jeevan Perera from the US space program, who will share his experience managing risk for large, crewed missions and discuss how astronauts prepare for long periods of isolation and their steps to protect their mental health, and how to apply them in the workplace. Dr. Walter Greenleaf, a neuroscientist from Stanford University, and Dr. Stephen Goldberg, a psychiatrist, will join Dr. Perera to discuss mental health in the workplace, its potential impact, and what companies can do to support employee well-being.
With a large chunk of the workforce still working from home (many, like me, in self-isolation) during the current coronavirus pandemic, this event promises to be both timely and pertinent!
After all, astronauts are the ultimate in remote workers!
You can register for the event here; you will receive an email with instructions on how to access the event, accessing a special Mars world in Breakroom using your web browser (you won’t need to download a client program). See you there!
The Mars world in Breakroom, where the event will take place
This blogpost is sponsored by Sinespace, and was written in my role as an embedded reporter for this virtual world (more details here).
