Brace yourselves for digital art 🖼
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When the internet fully started more than 20 years ago, it was all about web pages. During the last decade, we have seen the rise of social media and e-commerce. The future now seems to be about creation and digital art.
Because of the pandemic, we were not able to visit galleries and museums for a long time and you know what they saying - if the mountain will not come to Mohammed, Mohammed must go to the mountain. We can see a huge shift from cultural institutions.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York launched in January an interactive virtual art exhibition featuring augmented reality versions of iconic Met masterpieces. The Met Unframed offered access to immersive digital galleries, with select works of art “coming to life” through clever use of augmented reality technology (the exhibition is now closed). 🎨
Another hot news came from Paris. Louvre, the largest art museum in the world, makes its entire collection (more than available 380,000-pieces) available online. Every piece of art (yes, even the Mona Lisa), can be now experienced virtually on its website. 🗿
But this is not all about switching physical objects into virtual. Digital art is starting to take over "the real" art. Superchief Gallery opened the "world's first physical NFT gallery" in New York City at the end of March. The first exhibition "Season One Starter Pack" features NFT artwork from 360 artists.
The celebrities are jumping on this bandwagon, too. American rock band Kings of Leon released their latest album, "When You See Yourself" as an NFT. They offered the album as a vinyl and digital download for a token priced at $50. 📀
The Weeknd partnered with the Nifty Gateway platform and sold art collections containing his previously unreleased songs raising $2.29 million in sales.
Shawn Mendes teamed up with Genies - an American avatar technology company that is behind your personalized avatar on iPhone, Messenger, or WhatsApp. They created NFTs, digital goods like Shawn's virtual guitar, necklace, vest, or earrings. You can buy the virtual guitar for 263 dollars. 🎸
Even Lindsay Lohan is back in the game! She recently released her new single "Lullaby" as an NFT in the online auction for about $32,000.
And how you can show these cool virtual things you own? Perhaps on a blockchain necklace! 💎
Latest Digi Snacks 🍩
🍪 AR headsets for the US army
Microsoft announced that it has received a contract to outfit the United States Army with 120,000 augmented reality headsets for $21.88 billion. 👮♂️
🍪 Gender equality for Siri
Apple will remove the female voice as the default for its Siri assistant. Users would pick from a range of voices and accents. 🎙
🍪 Eco-friendly Google Maps
Google's Maps app will start directing drivers along routes estimated to generate the lowest carbon emissions based on traffic. The new feature could be available in the US this year and later for the rest of the world. 🗺
🍪 Would you pay to follow your favorite Instagram influencer?
Could this be the "new normal"? Should Instagram launch subscription-based accounts to make this thing easier? 🤑
🍪 Facebook & prisoners
Facebook is working on a software called "The Re-Entry App" for people who are released from prison back into society. The app should help with “preparing for life after prison with community support,”. 📲
🍪 Take your workout to a new level
Lululemon created new yoga mats called "Take Form mat" with 3D technology that can guide you toward proper posture by indicating where to place hands and feet during yoga poses. 🧘♀️
One recommendation 👌
Did you know that the biggest action fights and acrobatics in movies are often provided by robots? 🤖
If you’re interested to see how it’s working, watch this video.
One Random Fact 🤓
A Pennsylvania woman is accused of doctoring photos and videos of her daughter's cheerleading rivals to try to get them kicked off the squad. 🤸♀️
That’s a wrap for a week five! Did you like it? Feel free to share and your feedback is more than welcome.