By Patrick Niersbach, InContext
“VRARA is important because as an industry we need to commit to the long game for VR and AR. Right now those seeds are starting to sprout but it’s going to take a concentrated effort from corporations, solutions providers, universities, students, studios, etc. Without this it will stay in first gear as an enthusiast platform.”
At one time, not that long ago, virtual reality technology was a futuristic, hypothetical concept for the most part—there were gamers who were very much into the advancement of VR, but it wasn’t something people saw potential in beyond entertainment. Until it was. The past decade has shown us that VR has a multitude of important uses far beyond gaming—it has infiltrated the business world, and created advancements in health and education.
That’s why we were so excited when InContext was giving the opportunity to join the VR/AR Association and lead the Chicago/Milwaukee chapter. The VRARA, as it’s known, is an “international organization designed to foster collaboration between innovative companies and people in the virtual reality and augmented reality ecosystem that accelerates growth, fosters research and education, helps develop industry standards, connects member organizations and promotes the services of member companies.”
As chapter president, InContext CTO Tracey Wiedmeyer is looking to help bring together the Midwest VR and AR communities to further establish the technology’s long term value by setting up a foundation to build upon.
“VRARA is important because as an industry we need to commit to the long game for VR and AR,” he said. “Right now those seeds are starting to sprout but it’s going to take a concentrated effort from corporations, solutions providers, universities, students, studios, etc. Without this it will stay in first gear as an enthusiast platform.”
As members, InContext will be able to participate in Industry Committees and will organize bi-monthly events that will help connect and introduce VRARA members to the local community. The Midwest is quickly becoming a technology hotspot, and Tracey hopes that through the VRARA he can help facilitate conversations that have been isolated in the past.
“In typical humble Midwest fashion, there is actually a lot going on in the space, but no one talks about it,” he said. “If we can share ideas, approaches, best practices, and knowledge, the community can start to build upon itself like any other evolutionary technology.”
For InContext, specifically, being a VRARA member will give us access to the Retail & eCommerce Committee, which gives us the ability to share our knowledge of VR solutions for retail, and learn from others within the space. We're always looking to advance our VR capabilities for clients, and the VRARA offers us a unique chance to establish a supportive community to do just that.
Contact Tracey for more information or to become a member of the VR/AR Association!
Original article here
