December was an eventful month for VRARA Vancouver. We officially launched in Vancouver with a sold out event on December 5th during a snow stormy day, that didn't stop 160+ attendees to join us at Unbounce. The event featured speakers and fireside chat panel from industry leaders, as well as VR/MR demonstrations. The first speaker, Eric Hine from Archiact VR, discussed the next 5-10 years in VR and MR, while Ryan Peterson CEO of Finger Food Studios discussed further on what to expect with Mixed Reality in the near future. While there is a lot of conversation around gaming in VR, we were able to showcase practical applications of VR and MR. Some of these demonstrations included a VR Real Estate Walkthrough, education demo, as well as a VR Simulator in orthopedic surgery. See more here.
VR/AR Assocation Vancouver launch event: VR/AR/MR The Future of Computing at Unbounce
Just few short days following the launch event, we helped organize the Pacific Roadshow. We had the opportunity to network with some of the most exciting VR Companies from the West Coast including Vancouver, Seattle, and Portland. While on the road, we attended the VRX event hosted in San Francisco. This event was all about discussing the possibilities of virtual reality, augmented reality and mixed reality and how it can be integrated in the years to come. Some of the speakers/attendees were industry leaders from companies such as Oculus, HTC Vive, Magic Leap, Intel, Audi, BMW as well as top venture capitalists investing in immersive technologies.
As we geared into the holidays and the season of giving, our chapter had a very special opportunity to bring smiles to the children at the Canuck Place Children’s Hospice on December 16th. The Canuck Place provides care and support for children and families living with progressive life-threatening conditions. With the help of a couple VR headsets, we were able to bring the children into the depths of the sea, the jungle, and their first roller coaster rides. The three children we met were mesmerized by how realistic the games and demonstrations were, and didn’t seem to want to take the headsets off. This special experience brought smiles to the kids, as well as the families and staff, and we realized the potential and future opportunities for the Vancouver chapter to become more involved in our community by bringing virtual reality. See more here.
The VRARA Vancouver wishes everyone a happy holidays and fruitful new year! Watch out for exciting events and initiatives coming in 2017, we're looking ahead!
Post by Laura Ryu
