Tech News

Gregory Dorcel, son of and patron of the brand Marc Dorcel, doubts the potential of virtual reality in the porn industry.

When thinking about applications of virtual reality, the pornography industry arises as obvious. Yet Gregory Dorcel, CEO of the famous French brand, is no longer convinced. Last October, the company produced two films for virtual reality helmets, with 360 videos. The more sober of the two was free, the other sold at 10 euros. Result: 80 000 downloads in the first 15 000 sales for the second. A return of EUR 150 000, for a production that has cost 200,000 due to the complexity of the shoot involving 18 cameras.

Dorcel noted that his company made a try whilst other were playing a waiting game. He concluded:

I see no market for at least five years. But in five years we will be moved on; maybe holograms?

Thousands of Europe's drivers will be spied upon by their cars from 2018 when every vehicle sold could alert advertisers, insurers, councils, tax authorities, traffic wardens and police to their habits and locations, a European motoring organisation is warning.

The Federation International de l'Automobile (FIA), a Brussels-based consumer body representing 111 motoring and touring clubs and 38 million drivers, has launched a campaign urging greater safeguards for the use of information on drivers gathered by tracking devices that will soon become compulsory in all new cars. FIA spokeswoman Andrea Campbell said its:

My car, my data campaign reflected the fact that information gleaned from cars is not protected by European data legislation.

From 2018, every new car will have a wireless box for road safety, and there is talk of retro-fitting telematics boxes into older cars. It's only a small step to offering infotainment, traffic information and rest stop promotions.

Manufacturers can track you, and lock you in to their terms and conditions. So we are pushing for dedicated privacy legislation for consumer data protection, greater consumer awareness, and a fair after-market for services.

Britain's AA motoring organisation is to join the campaign. Its president, Edmund King, said:

Connected cars offer drivers a vast array of new and exciting services and they can also help with breakdowns and crashes. But drivers may be unaware of just what information is collected, how it is used, who owns it and how is it protected. We support the FIA's campaign aimed at ensuring greater transparency.

Data-connected cars gather information on driving styles, including the duration of journeys, speeds, acceleration and sudden braking, as well as details of where cars park, refuel or charge their batteries, and latest destinations entered into on-board navigation systems.  Smart systems can identify driving violations and mobile phone use, record the number of passengers and relay information about engine trouble to emergency services. Such data can be sold to third parties.