Empowering Healthcare Innovation: Recap of the Beyond Boundaries Conference by UAB and VRARA Alabama

By VRARA COO John Cunningham.

The "Beyond Boundaries" conference hosted by the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the VR/AR Association (VRARA) Alabama (led by Nathan Klose) is a wrap!

Thank you Melissa Mancini, Associate Chief Innovation Officer and Vice President of Strategy and Business Development at UAB Medicine and the amazing team at the University of Alabama at Birmingham - Collat School of Business (Cori Perdue) for hosting this event and bringing together over 200 people from Birmingham and Huntsville to learn and share about XR and how to apply it in healthcare.

When I asked "How are you partnering with the VRARA?" Melissa responded "You guys are providing us with a tremendous platform and connecting us with your ecosystem of experts to help educate and connect the dots".

She then concludes "we can't do this alone, no one can!" So true.

The VRARA - Where XR meets Reality!

Exclusive Interview: Previewing the Central Florida Immersive Tech Summit with John A. Cunningham and Haifa Raja Maamar, Ph.D.

Check out this morning's interview with John A. Cunningham and Haifa Raja Maamar, PhD discussing the Central Florida Immersive Tech Summit happening this Thursday and Friday at Full Sail University! Stay up-to-date on the latest trends and innovations in immersive technology and connect with industry leaders.

This is a free event and open to the public. Register today!

Has Healthcare Reached the “Tipping Point” for Mass Adoption of XR?

The use of virtual and augmented reality technologies (collectively known as extended reality or just XR), in the healthcare industry is on a dramatic rise.  Some industry analysts predict healthcare to be one of the fastest growth industries for the use of XR. 

Recently there have been many press releases and case studies from organizations that have implemented XR solutions for patient care starting from analysis, diagnosis, critical care, therapy, surgical procedures, and of course medical professional training.  Are these indicators that we are at the “Tipping Point” for mass adoption of XR in the Healthcare industry?

However, there are many skeptics and naysayers in the healthcare industry .

So where are we really at in terms of adoption of XR in the healthcare industry?

That was the primary question that was asked during the recent VR/AR Association Healthcare Summit at the University of Miami on February 24, 2024.

This 1 day conference and technology exposition was hosted by the University of Miami and brought together physicians, researchers, and technology companies who are leading the way in using XR to share information, experiences and opinions about where we are, and where we are headed in terms of adoption of XR in healthcare.

With over 100 attendees both in person and virtually on the ENGAGE XR platform this conference exceeded attendees expectations.

We would like to thank the VR/AR Association South Florida Chapter, the University of Miami and our conference sponsor Magic Leap for helping us put on this initial event.

If you weren’t able to attend the Miami event then you can join us in Orlando on April 11th and 12th for the VR/AR Central Florida Chapter Immersive Technology Summit at Full Sail University where we will have a track and exhibitors focused on XR and healthcare such as eXeX (the first company in the world to use the Apple Vision Pro in surgical operations who are from Orlando), AdventHealth University, Orlando Health, the US Defense Health Agency, US Army, Navy and Air Force.  In addition hardware providers such as HTC Vive, Magic Leap, Varjo, Magnetic 3D will participate and be showcasing their solutions and experiences. 

Due to the success of the Miami event we are looking to host Healthcare summits with our VRARA Chapters and other associations around the world. If you are interested, please contact John Cunningham at john@thevrara.com.

Please watch the highlight video of the VRARA Healthcare Summit!  

Central Florida Immersive Technology Summit to be Held at Full Sail University April 11-12, 2024

WINTER PARK, FL – March 7, 2024 – The VR/AR Association Central Florida Chapter is proud to present the 2nd annual Central Florida Immersive Technology Summit on Thursday, April 11 and Friday, April 12, 2024, hosted on Full Sail University’s campus. The event welcomes technologists, business leaders and job seekers alike. The Central Florida Immersive Technology Summit is a two-day conference that explores the future impact of VR/AR technologies, business strategies, and solutions. The free event is open to the public and advance registration is required. 

“We are honored to host the VR/AR Association Central Florida Chapter once again for its second ever Central Florida Immersive Technology Summit,” said Dr. Haifa Maamar, Executive Director of Emerging Technologies at Full Sail University. “As an integral part of the region’s vibrant tech scene, we at Full Sail are thrilled to host the event and welcome the tech community to campus. Our aim is to facilitate networking opportunities and host career events that unite individuals, ultimately bolstering the tech ecosystem.”

The two-day event will include a robust technology expo where companies will highlight innovative technology solutions, a career fair where attendees can take advantage of networking opportunities with various tech-focused employers, as well as a plethora of industry technology and educational speaking tracks and panels. The summit expects to attract participants from a variety of industries including technology, aerospace, healthcare, entertainment & travel, sports & fitness, and higher education.

“Many of the world’s leaders in immersive technology will be coming to share their technology and meet with companies and individuals from the Central Florida region to explore how we can collaborate and address the growing global demand for immersive technologies and solutions.  This is our second year of this event, and it will be bigger and better than last year and cover 2 full days,” said John Cunningham, COO, VR/AR Association. 

Check out the event homepage to register and learn more about the 2nd annual Central Florida Immersive Technology Summit.

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About Full Sail University: 

Full Sail University is an award-winning educational leader for those pursuing careers in entertainment media and emerging technologies. Founded in 1979, Full Sail has received numerous accolades throughout its 45-year history, including most recently being named a 2023 "Top Game Design School" by The Princeton Review, and recognized as the 2022-2023 "School of the Year" by the Florida Association of Postsecondary Schools and Colleges.  

Full Sail University is a graduate and undergraduate degree-granting institution offering on-campus and online degree programs in areas related to Art & Design, Business, Film & Television, Games, Media & Communications, Music & Recording, Sports, and Technology. With over 96,353 graduates worldwide, Full Sail alumni have worked on countless award-winning projects with individual recognition including Oscar®, Emmy®, Grammy®, Addy® and The Game Award honors.

About the VR/AR Association – Central Florida Chapter: 

The VR/AR Association (VRARA) is an international organization where XR meets reality, designed to foster collaboration between solution providers and end-users that accelerates growth, fosters research and education, helps develop industry best practices, connects member organizations, and promotes the services of member companies.

Media Contacts  

Jakeyla Hawks – Full Sail University Public Relations Manager - jhawks@fullsail.edu - 407-455-0060

VR/AR Association – Central Florida Chapter – orlando@vrara.com 

Unveiling Our Updated Logo: Where XR Meets Reality - A Discussion with VRARA COO John Cunningham and Kevin O' Donovan

Last month, we unveiled our updated logo which includes a tagline “Where XR Meets Reality” and reflects our stated purpose which is a global member community where people come to Grow, Learn and Connect.

Recently, VRARA COO John Cunningham sat down with Kevin O' Donovan to discuss the intention behind our new tagline, as well as our extensive events coming up for our members. Watch the interview below!

Dr. Robert Masson Appointed to the VRARA Central Florida Board of Advisors

The VRARA is excited to announce that Dr. Robert Masson has been appointed to the Board of Advisors of the VR/AR Association (VRARA) Central Florida Chapter.  Dr. Masson is a world renowned neurosurgeon who has been in practice for 36 years and is the founder of the Masson Spine Institute in Orlando.

In addition to being a spinal microneurosurgeon,  Dr. Masson is also a pioneer in developing new technology in surgery.  He has developed spine implants, technology, procedures and enabling technologies, focusing on least invasive surgery and maximum functional recovery. He has served on advisory boards for microsurgical systems, stem cell research, radiological software, orthobiologics and sports injury treatment & prevention. In addition, he has developed, educated ,and influenced products for groups such as Sofamor Danek, Synthes, Depuy Synthes Spine, a Johnson and Johnson Company, Centinel Spine and Biedermann Motec.

Dr. Masson is also the co-founder and CEO of eXeX, a med tech company that has developed groundbreaking artificial intelligence and mixed reality software solutions that are dedicated to optimizing surgery organization and performance, superpowering surgical teams, making it safer, more efficient, and more accurate.  Its current technology platform has been utilized so far in over 1100 surgeries in 10 alpha test sites across both the US and UK.

“I am excited to join the VRARA Central Florida chapter advisory board in an continuing effort to explore and maximize the potential of XR and spatial computing in healthcare,” says Dr. Masson. “Our focus in surgical logistics and performance gives us a brilliant glimpse of healthcare at large and we look forward to the collaboration with other inspired leaders in creating the new frontier in the healthcare industry.”

“Dr, Masson is not only a global leader in the healthcare industry and has developed one of the first XR enabled surgical systems in production, he is also a passionate technologist and loves to sharing his knowledge and passion with our community,  We are very fortunate to have Dr. Masson join our advisory board and help steer the VRARA so that we can better meet the needs of our members,” adds John Cunningham, president of VRARA Central Florida and COO of VRARA.

Charlie Lewis appointed to Central Florida Chapter Board of Advisors

The VRARA is excited to announce that Charlie Lewis has been appointed to the Board of Advisors of the VR/AR Association (VRARA) Central Florida Chapter. Charlie is the CEO of Bluewave Resource Partners a technology, engineering staffing and recruiting company who supports the simulation and training space and works with companies like SpaceX and Lockheed. Charlie is also the Founder/Managing Director of Waterfall Ventures a technology specific private investment company based in Orlando. Charlie also recently completed his tenure as the Chairman of the Orlando Tech Community over the past 2 years where he has been instrumental in growing the Orlando Technology Ecosystem.

“Charlie is a technology entrepreneur, an investor, a community builder and has a passion for helping others be successful.  At the Orlando Tech Community he was an advocate for the establishment and growth of the VR/AR Association to complement the work that he was doing at the Orlando Tech Community.  We are excited that Charlie is going to be continuing to assist us in this role as an advisory board member” says John Cunningham, Central Florida Chapter President and COO of the VRARA.

Volunteer Participation: AR/VR in the Classroom Research Study from Keiser University

Douglas Boynton, VRARA Member and a doctoral candidate in the Graduate School of Education at Keiser University, is conducting a research study to understand how K-12 teachers and administrators implement and support Augmented/Virtual Reality in the classrooms. He needs the help of his VRARA community.

He is seeking volunteer study participants. If you are 18 years or older and employed as a teacher or administrator at a K-12 public or private school in the United States using Augmented or Virtual Reality (AR/VR/XR) in the classroom, you may participate in this research.

Participation in this study is voluntary, and your identity as a participant will be protected before, during, and after the time that study data is collected. No personally identifiable information will be recorded, and strict confidentiality procedures will be established during and after the study.

If you meet the criteria and want to participate in this study, please email Douglas Boynton at d.boynton@student.keiseruniversity.edu for more information.

Please share this invitation with faculty members in your network who might be willing to participate in this study.

Keiser University

Graduate School of Education

Doctoral Candidate in Instructional Design and Technology

d.boynton@student.keiseruniversity.edu

A Square Games and Talon Simulations complete project for U.S. Marine Corps

ORLANDO, Fla. – Development studios have completed a project for the U.S. Marine Corps to create a virtual reality-based training solution for the USMC’s Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV).

The team of contractors led by VR Training, a Maryland company, joined forces with several Orlando firms – 302 Interactive, Theory Studios, A Square Games and Simulation, and Talon Simulations to deliver both hardware and software that made up the Wave Warrior Driver Training System (DTS).

The driver training system’s portable VR solution, aptly named Wave Warrior, is training the next generation of U.S. Marines using emerging technology, meeting the soldiers where they are comfortable: in a technology-driven environment that has the familiarity of the games that this generation of soldiers are accustomed to. 

“Video games have evolved over the years and are now fundamental to the way we entertain, socialize, and learn” said Austin Pinzon, A Square Games and Simulations’ Chief Operating Officer. “Using gaming technologies, we can improve users’ concentration and retention by providing an engaging experience.”

“When you consider the age of recruits both today and throughout history, it has always been our youngest adults that make up the majority of our Warfighter’s personnel,” followed Bobby Torres, 302 Interactive’s Chief Relationship Officer. “Today, that means a generation of soldiers who have been immersed in video games and virtual reality since they were in early education. Many were given a headset early on and are now so comfortable with the devices that they prefer to learn there. That is why we, as a team, pitched the solution to the Corps.”

The project was enabled through the military’s Other Transaction Authority (OTA), a vehicle that has become more commonly adopted to allow the military the flexibility to work quickly and in a more agile way to protect the Warfighter.

“The foresight the military had by loosening restrictions in recent years of the OTA path to finding partners has been a real boost for small businesses looking to partner,” Torres said. “As a small business, it enabled us to find a team with the talent to build these solutions and bring them all together to expedite the project.”

Team members are showing off the Wave Warrior project in Orlando at the end of the month as a part of the Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference at the Orange County Convention Center. 

I/ITSEC brings together military leaders and private industry suppliers for a weeklong discussion on the future of the military and its training operations. The team that developed Wave Warrior are exhibiting at I/ITSEC and can be found at booth 3301. Closed door demonstrations may be available upon request at www.wavewarrior.training. 

ABOUT 302 INTERACTIVE

Founded in 2014, 302 Interactive is an Orlando-based digital media company that brings together interactive design and emerging technologies to help people live playful lives. Their approach applies the principles of game design throughout the product development cycle to create experiences and solutions across areas in wellness, education, healthcare, marketing, and entertainment. 

ABOUT A SQUARE GAMES AND SIMULATION

Based in Orlando, A Square creates immersive game and simulation experiences for entertainment and training. Using their experience with cutting-edge technology, their mission is to solve problems through technical solutions that don’t simply meet the needs but anticipate them. Their past works include first responder training, social augmented reality experiences, attraction design, and Metaverse products.

Press inquiries:

Robert “Bobby” Torres

(407)900-5967

bobby@302interactive.com

Call for Sponsors: Announcing the Inaugural VRARA Healthcare Summit

One of the hottest growth areas for XR and AI technology is in healthcare and the VR/AR Association (VRARA) and the University of Miami Frost Institute for Data Science & Computing are partnering to put on a 1 day conference and expo at the University of Miami campus on February 1, 2024.

Our keynote speaker for this conference is Dr. Robert Masson MD, world renowned surgeon and technology innovator who is also founder and CEO of eXeX, a medtech company that is transforming the surgical industry by leveraging XR and AI technology.

We would like to invite medical professionals, technologists and companies who have experience in deployment of XR and AI in healthcare who want to share that experience to apply to be a speaker.

Call for speakers closes on December 5th. Please email our COO John Cunningham if you are interested .

La-Z-Boy Announces Next-Gen 3D Product Configuration with WebAR OnDemand™, Powered by 3D Cloud by Marxent

The top 15 furniture retailer reports a +150% leap in AR usage since upgrading their 3D product exploration tools with WebAR for every configuration in their catalog.

ST PETERSBURG, Fla., Sept. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- La-Z-Boy, an iconic leader in the furniture industry, today announced the launch of next-gen 3D product configuration and WebAR OnDemand™ technology, now available on the la-z-boy.com website. Powered by 3D Cloud by Marxent, the innovative tech initiative is part of La-Z-Boy's Century Vision strategic plan.

Aimed at delivering the transformational power of comfort with a consumer-first approach, La-Z-Boy is investing in a range of innovative new shopping and brand experiences for both digital platforms and brick-and-mortar shopping environments. The upgraded product configurators and the addition of appless AR provide an immersive brand experience that bridges online product research with the in-store experience. With over 29 million possible configurations quickly and easily available to consumers, WebAR OnDemand brings a new level of convenience to shoppers who want to research, configure, and plan furniture purchases online before visiting a physical retail location.

This marks a significant departure from conventional approaches to augmented reality for retail. La-Z-Boy's innovative approach uses 3D Cloud WebAR OnDemand to automate 3D content creation and deploy WebAR at scale.

"AR is table stakes for today's furniture shopper. La-Z-Boy customers love it, so we set out to provide AR for every buyable option in our highly configurable catalog," said Jill Brown Thomas, Senior Director of Digital Commerce at La-Z-Boy. "The 3D Cloud product experience platform and 3D Cloud Product Configurator make personalization at scale easy. Shoppers can configure their desired products from millions of possible combinations and preview them in AR without any catalog knowledge and without an app," Brown Thomas said.

With WebAR, sessions are up over 150% versus in-app AR usage when the company was relying completely on app-based AR. 

How it works

1. Visit any La-Z-Boy upholstered furniture product page on a web browser or mobile device. Try the Soren Rocking Recliner or the Joel Reclining Sofa.

2. Configure on a desktop or mobile device.

3. View from any angle.

4. Download a JPG or PNG at any angle.

5. If using a mobile device, view the configured product in AR. QR code support will be added for desktop users later this year.

"La-Z-Boy was early to 3D product configuration and augmented reality," said Beck Besecker, CEO and Co-Founder of 3D Cloud by Marxent. "Their upgrade to WebAR OnDemand gives shoppers the tools to customize quickly, collaborate with loved ones on designs, and buy with confidence," Besecker said.

"This program exemplifies the Century Vision strategic plan in action. We're eager to continue our history of innovation by introducing cutting-edge digital shopping tools like WebAR," Brown Thomas explained. "La-Z-Boy customers spend valuable time researching and customizing products to ensure they find the perfect fit. Our data show that when customers conduct online research they arrive at the store better informed, resulting in a more satisfying buying experience and ultimate product satisfaction," she added.

In addition to WebAR and 3D Cloud Product Configurators, La-Z-Boy's in-house design program uses the 3D Cloud Room Planner to deliver customized floorplans with photorealistic 3D renderings to design clients. Engineered with efficiency and scale in mind, all of their 3D applications are powered by the 3D Cloud product experience platform and utilize the same 3D models and materials.

"La-Z-Boy is a model for omni channel 3D innovation within the furniture industry," Besecker said. "They have outstanding digital leadership. As a long-time innovation partner, it's been our pleasure to help them deliver on their vision. Congrats to both the La-Z-Boy and 3D Cloud teams on an impressive feat," he said.

For more information, follow La-Z-Boy on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

About La-Z-Boy

La-Z-Boy Incorporated is one of the world's leading residential furniture producers, marketing furniture for every room of the home. The Wholesale segment includes La-Z-Boy, England, American Drew®, Hammary®, Kincaid® and the company's international wholesale and manufacturing businesses. The company-owned Retail segment includes 171 of the 349 La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries® stores. Joybird is an e-commerce retailer and manufacturer of upholstered furniture.

The corporation's branded distribution network is dedicated to selling La-Z-Boy Incorporated products and brands, and includes 349 stand-alone La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries® stores and 522 independent Comfort Studio® locations, in addition to in-store gallery programs for the company's Kincaid and England operating units. Additional information is available at la-z-boy.com.

About 3D Cloud by Marxent

3D Cloud by Marxent is the 3D product experience platform and global leader in 3D e-commerce for furniture, kitchen, bath, outdoor, office furniture, closets, and storage. The 3D Cloud platform is a B2B SaaS that allows retailers and brands to build endless applications from a single 3D product catalog. With 3D Cloud, 3D content is created, managed, and published to all 3D applications from a single source of truth for consistency across every touchpoint in the customer journey. Applications that run on 3D Cloud include 3D Cloud Product Configurators, 3D Cloud Sectional Configurator, 3D Cloud Room Planner with Design from Photo, 3D Kitchen Designer, 3D Cloud Virtual Reality, 3D Cloud 360 Product Spins, 3D Cloud Instant Renders, and 3D Cloud WebAR Augmented Reality. 3D Cloud by Marxent has offices in Miamisburg, Ohio; St. Petersburg, Florida; London, England; and Auckland, New Zealand. Clients include a major U.S.-based home improvement retailer, Kingfisher plc, PlaceMakers, Mico, Kinsman, Macy's, Ashley, HNI Corporation, La-Z-Boy, Joybird, and John Lewis and Partners. The company is backed by Dan Gilbert and Arnie Bellini. For more information, visit 3DCloud.com.

3D Cloud by Marxent Press Contact
Sonia Schechter
Chief Marketing Officer
206-335-2846

Now Hiring: The Department of Interactive Media, University of Miami

VRARA Member The University of Miami is hiring!

The Department of Interactive Media at the University of Miami (https://lnkd.in/gRf3CQ7c) is currently seeking applications for a full-time, nine-month, tenure-track or tenure-eligible faculty position at the Assistant Professor level for faculty conducting research in immersive media. We are dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive academic community and enthusiastically encourage applications from individuals who can contribute to this mission. The candidate must possess a Ph.D. in Communication, Human-Computer Interaction, Media and Technology, Media and Society, Media Arts, Emerging Media, Computer Science, or a related discipline by the beginning of the appointment, August 15, 2024.

Learn more and apply at https://lnkd.in/gt5jNdWA.

3D Cloud by Marxent Announces Early Access Program for 3D Cloud Room Scanner

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., June 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, 3D Cloud by Marxent, the leader in 3D kitchen design and furniture planning, is excited to announce an early access program for the highly anticipated 3D Cloud Room Scanner. Retailers can now sign up to be among the first to deploy the game-changing capabilities of the company's LiDAR room scan-to-design solution for capturing room measurements that can then be directly dropped into 3D Cloud Room Planner for designing with real, buyable products.

3D Cloud Room Scanner seamlessly connects precise measurements to 3D design. Designed with furniture and home improvement retailers in mind, 3D Cloud Room Scanner makes it easy to capture accurate measurements, design in 3D Cloud Room Planner, and buy an entire furnished room or kitchen remodeling project. Drop room scans directly into 3D Cloud Room Planner to speed up in-home measuring appointments and show off impressive designs faster.

The 3D Cloud Room Scanner addresses a significant pain point in the industry by revolutionizing the process of obtaining precise floorplan measurements for interior spaces and then turning those measurements into buyable projects with speed and efficiency.

"With 3D Cloud Room Scanner, users can effortlessly capture accurate floorplan measurements and seamlessly import them into our comprehensive suite of design applications, including the 3D Cloud Kitchen Designer, 3D Cloud Office Planner, 3D Cloud Bathroom Designer, and 3D Cloud Room Planner," said Beck Besecker, CEO and Co-Founder of 3D Cloud by Marxent.

This limited opportunity to participate in the 3D Cloud Room Scanner early access program allows eligible enterprise furniture and home improvement retailers to be among the first to market with this groundbreaking customer experience.

Key benefits of the 3D Cloud Room Scanner include:

• Simplified and accurate measurements: Say goodbye to expensive measuring appointments that don't convert. Capture precise floorplan measurements with ease and send them directly to design software.

• Seamless integration with 3D Cloud Room Planner: The 3D Cloud Room Scanner seamlessly integrates with 3D Cloud Room Planners, empowering users to turn their floorplan scans into immersive 3D designs effortlessly.

• Streamlined design-to-purchase experience: Rapidly transform floorplan scans into fully customized spaces, complete with real products, enabling a quick and seamless transition from design to purchase.

"We are thrilled to offer this exclusive preview opportunity for the 3D Cloud Room Scanner," said Beck Besecker, CEO and Co-founder of 3D Cloud by Marxent. "With early access, retailers will have the chance to experience the future of in-house interior design programs firsthand, unlocking new levels of efficiency, accuracy, and creativity. We are excited to collaborate with our clients and gather their invaluable feedback as we continue to shape the future of 3D design technology."

Request an invitation to the early access program for 3D Cloud Room Scanner today. Limited spots are available to eligible retailers, so early registration is encouraged.

About 3D Cloud™ by Marxent

3D Cloud™ by Marxent is the global leader in 3D e-commerce for furniture, kitchen, bath, outdoor, office furniture, closets, and storage. The 3D Cloud™ platform allows retailers and brands to build endless applications from a single 3D product catalog. With 3D Cloud™, 3D content is created, managed, and published to all 3D applications for consistency across every touchpoint in the customer journey. Applications that run on 3D Cloud™ include 3D Product Configurators, 3D Sectional Configurator, 3D Room Planner with Design from Photo, 360 Product Spins, 3D Renders, WebAR, Augmented Reality retail apps, and Virtual Reality retail apps. 3D Cloud by Marxent has offices in Miamisburg, Ohio, and St. Petersburg Florida as well as an international presence with offices in London, England; Paris, France; and Auckland, New Zealand. Clients include a major U.S.-based home improvement retailer, Kingfisher plc, PlaceMakers, Mico, Macy's, Ashley, HNI Corporation, La-Z-Boy, Joybird, and John Lewis and Partners. For more information, visit 3dcloud.com.

Why we picked Orlando for our Immerse Global Summit 2023

Our Immerse Global Summit 2023 (IGS 2023) will happen in Orlando, Oct 17-19.

Why we picked Orlando and why you NEED to be there:

• VRARA Orlando Chapter is our top Chapter globally

• Leading region in the U.S. for building the foundation of the Metaverse with its MetaCenter

• Existing huge simulation & training industry ($6 Billion!) with U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine, Lockheed Martin, Siemens, CAE, many others

• Largest concentration of VR/AR faculty and researchers from all U.S. universities (and UCF's Game Design Program Ranked No. 1 in the World and EA Sports Orlando office)

• No. 1 Fastest-growing City for Entrepreneurs

• Rising Star” City of Tech Employment and Job Growth

• Talent rich, with 550,000+ higher education students within 100 miles

• Other top industries include:

  • (1) Healthcare: CVS,  AdventHealth;

  • (2) Tourism, Entertainment, Hospitality: Disney, Universal, Sea World). Orlando is leading the U.S. in tourism (60M visitors every year with a $31B economic contribution);

  • (3) Aviation and Aerospace: US Air Force, JetBlue, United Airlines

  • (4) Insurance industry: Liberty Mutual, AAA, etc

  • (5) IT and photonics 

  • And, Florida is home to the second-largest medical device manufacturing industry in the U.S., second-largest pharmaceuticals manufacturing industry and the fifth-largest biotech R&D industry.

• The climate and weather, and so much to do! We will have so much fun!

Register, apply to speak/sponsor at IGS 2023 Orlando, here

Read more: 

Orlando Mayor opens 2,500 metaverse jobs aimed at reinforcing Orlando as the MetaCenter

Fueling Orlando Tech Innovation with Digital Twins

Orlando Sets Out to Cement Itself as the Center of the Metaverse

Orlando is hot technology center for VR/AR

Fueling Orlando Tech Innovation with Digital Twins

Learn more at our Immerse Global Summit in Orlando in Oct!

The CEO and President of Orlando Economic Partnership, Tim Giuliani, talks about the OEP/Unity partnership to develop the Orlando digital twin:

• OEP’s roadmap, from first establishing a digital twin of the region to potentially using its real-time data to tackle city-wide issues/challenges

• What integrated tech is fueling the project?

• Closing thoughts on the Metaverse

Source

Full Sail Brings Tech Leaders Together for Central Florida Immersive Tech Summit

Full Sail University recently hosted the Central Florida Immersive Technology Summit, a collaborative conference featuring more than 100 speakers from some of the top tech companies in the Central Florida area.

The summit kicked off with a Women’s Breakfast, where high-achieving women in tech could network while enjoying coffee and refreshments. Several women took turns speaking to the group about the importance of leading and representing the next generation of female tech professionals.

“I don’t want to be a typical nurse. I don’t want to be a typical anything,” said Colonel Cheryl Lockhart as she told her story about making waves in the Air Force. “About a year and a half ago, we were able to bring in the Air Force’s first medical treatment facility [virtual reality] program.”

“Bringing women together and having this alliance between all these different women who are working in different industries in the technology space is very important for us,” shared Full Sail’s Education Director of Emerging Technologies Dr. Haifa Maamar.

Students and industry professionals also attended a Unity Developer Workshop. Several company heads, including Brady Moore, Cesium's Director of Mission Support, walked participants through best practices using Unity software. Their talks featured demos, insights into their decision-making, and opportunities to get hands-on with Unity.

“What's really important about the Unity workshop is that there is a ton of opportunity for anyone to access Unity, learn it, and then take their ideas to the next level. One of the biggest things that Unity is all about is democratizing development,” explained Full Sail graduate Caris Baker, a Senior Technical Artist with Unity Technologies and one of this year’s inductees into the Full Sail University Hall of Fame.

There were several opportunities to play with companies’ gear and technology at the summit.

Throughout the day, summit attendees could sit in on 30-minute talks held around campus. Speakers included John Cunningham, Head of Government and Aerospace at Unity, Carol Ann Logue, Director of Programs and Operations at the University of Central Florida, and Kevin Carpenter, General Manager at Siemens Energy.

“[The summit] is taking the people who are developing a lot of this technology and putting them in a room with people who are going to use it,” said Full Sail’s Education Director for Visual Arts Rick Ramsey. “It's exciting that people who provide technology are here at a school where we teach technology to the next generation that's going to be out there.”

Students could also attend the large career fair located in the Full Sail Live venue, which was held in partnership with the VR/AR Association of Central Florida. Several tech companies, including Magic Leap Inc., X-Force, and AVT Simulation, set up booths and welcomed students to come chat throughout the afternoon.

“Today’s in-person career fair is an opportunity to get to network and meet these employers who are looking to cultivate talent [in the Central Florida region]. Students couldn’t ask for a better situation to get started,” shared Full Sail’s Associate Director of Career Development Brad McDonald.

The Central Florida Immersive Technology Summit came to a close in the evening with an outdoor networking reception. Industry professionals and students gathered to socialize, exchange ideas, and celebrate a successful summit.

Tim Hill of Intuitive Research and Technology joins the Board of Advisors of the VRARA Central Florida Chapter

The VRARA is excited to announce that Tim Hill is joining the Board of Advisors of the VR/AR Association (VRARA) Central Florida Chapter. Tim is currently the Director of Central Florida Operations for Intuitive Research and Technology Corporation (INTUITIVE), a defense aerospace company specializing in providing engineering services and building teams to solve hard problems. 

Tim is a former Navy Captain, who retired from the Navy in 2021 after completing a successful tour commanding Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD) and Naval Support Activity Orlando. His tour was the culmination of nearly 30 years of naval service, split between flying operationally and in developmental test, and managing large weapons systems acquisition programs. He accumulated over 3,200 flight hours and 600 carrier arrested landings, deployed aboard four different aircraft carriers, and participated in operations in the Former Yugoslavia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. In Central Florida, Tim has led many strategic initiatives, including establishing the Central Florida Tech Grove and STARBASE Central Florida.

Tim is extremely passionate about applying leading edge technology and actively serves throughout our community to foster an ecosystem of innovation. He is active with groups such as the National Center for Simulation, National Training and Simulation Association, Orlando Tech Community, and the Central Florida Navy League.

“The VRARA Association is an organization focused on education, networking and creating business opportunities for our members.  Tim has been a member of the Central Florida ecosystem for many years both while in the Navy and now as a business leader.  I am pleased to welcome Tim to the VRARA Central Florida Advisory Board where he can help shape the direction of the Association and ensure that we continue to meet the needs of our membership and our ecosystem!” John Cunningham, President VRARA Central Florida Chapter.

INTUITIVE® Joins the Virtual Reality Augmented Reality Association

Intuitive Research and Technology Corporation (INTUITIVE), a professional engineering and technology services company, has joined the Virtual Reality Augmented Reality Association (VRARA) through the Central Florida Chapter.

Over the last decade, INTUITIVE has explored and invested in emerging, interdisciplinary visual solutions for advanced control and communication. They are focused on revolutionizing visualization methods, and how data is perceived, analyzed, and experienced. The company’s analytics and visualization software packages allow users, physicians, analysts, engineers, patients, and stakeholders to be immersed in their data. 

INTUITIVE’s team of digital and technical artists, game developers, and digital and software engineers utilize a myriad of visualization applications—including VR and AR domains—to provide immersive solutions to its Department of Defense (DoD) and commercial customers. Some of the VR/AR applications they have created include virtual experiences for viewing and interacting with medical imagery, holding multi-analyst design reviews, and even to scale replications of aircraft. INTUITIVE’s team has experience with many of the leading-edge Extended Reality (XR) technologies on the market today. 

Tim Hill, INTUITIVE’s Director of Central Florida Operations, said, “With VR & AR technologies, the sky is the limit. To keep up with the ever evolving and changing world, and the growing amounts and types of digital data, we must advance how we survey, analyze, view, and experience complex data. We are excited to join VRARA, and to collaborate with a community of creators who share our same passion and vision.” In addition to joining VRARA, Hill now serves on the VRARA Board of Advisors for the Central Florida Chapter. 

INTUITIVE’s Internal Research & Development (IR&D) investments in the area of XR has resulted in a deep portfolio of widgets, toolkits, and an extensible framework that can be used to rapidly prototype and deliver VR and AR solutions.  The company holds several patents on the technology and applications that they have developed in this area since 2014, many with applicability for medicine and radiology.  INTUITIVE’s tools are data agnostic—they can easily re-purpose the methods and interfaces they have developed for the medical domain for any data-intensive engineering and aerospace discipline, such as non-destructive test and evaluation, automatic target recognition, and image processing.  INTUITIVE’s Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Dr. William Marx, said, “We’ve been pioneers in developing and delivering visualization solutions for many years.  Our current and future IR&D investments in this area allow us to explore linear and non-linear training solutions; multi-platform and multi-player distributed collaboration; and development of natural user interface solutions that provide intuitive, innovative methods to perform data analytics within the virtual environment.”

ABOUT INTUITIVE RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION:

INTUITIVE® is an aerospace engineering and analysis firm that provides production support, software and systems engineering, programmatic support, product development, rapid prototyping, and technology management to the Department of Defense, other State and Federal Government agencies, and commercial companies. Our approach couples the latest technology with engineering expertise, analytical proficiency, and keen managerial oversight.  From design through production to sustainment, we proudly provide management and technical solutions throughout all phases of the system’s life cycle.

For more information about this topic, please contact Arlee Holmes at 256.936.4186 or email at arlee.holmes@irtc-hq.com.