In the VR/AR Bytes Podcast, Orlando Chapter President and VRARA COO John Cunningham provides short interviews with the movers and shakers in the VRARA industry who share their insights into how VR & AR is impacting their businesses.
This week, John sat down with three of the authors of the recent VRARA Enterprise Committee Whitepaper titled "The Power of Immersion Issue 2 - Transforming Manufacturing with XR".
Orlando, Florida, October 7, 2024 - Global leader in premium XR solutions HTC VIVE and European XR enterprise software and solutions provider Virtualware have established a strategic partnership to accelerate adoption of enterprise XR solutions within the Americas market.
This partnership establishes HTC VIVE as an official distributor of the VIROO Enterprise XR Software Platform and applications in North America. Under the agreement, HTC VIVE will sell VIROO directly as well as through its value-added reseller network in the Americas.
VIROO is a global award-winning enterprise XR platform that enables companies and institutions worldwide access to immersive technology securely through public or private cloud services or through an on-premises server architecture. The robust enterprise XR platform provides multiple ready-to-use applications for users, as well as tools for developers to create and distribute their own custom multi-user XR, simulation and digital twin applications.
Adoption of XR devices is on the rise, with 17 of 23 federal civilian agencies having used immersive technology in fiscal year 2023 per a survey conducted by the United States Government Accountability Office. Strong security is paramount to support the growing use of XR, including for use cases like engineering design, digital twins of restricted sites, and training simulations.
Both Virtualware and HTC VIVE place the highest priority on ensuring the privacy and security of their users. Virtualware holds certification in ISO27001, the globally recognized standard for information security, as well as ISO9001:2015, the standard for quality management systems. HTC VIVE's robust global privacy compliance program is continuously monitored, reviewed, and updated to meet certification requirements in standards like ISO27001, ISO27701, SOC, and open standards like BSIMM.
“Our partnership with Virtualware allows us to offer enterprise customers a broader portfolio of solutions that are integrated with HTC VIVE’s products and technologies. The VIROO platform is a proven enterprise XR software platform that enables large organizations to scale multi-user collaboration, training and digital twin capabilities securely and cost effectively through public cloud and private corporate infrastructure,” said Dan O’Brien, President Americas at HTC VIVE.
John A. Cunningham, President of Virtualware USA stated “HTC VIVE and VIrtualware are already providing the underlying technology platforms for large organizations who are scaling XR. For example, GE Vernova has deployed our platforms to enable training for nuclear power plant operations across the US and Canada. This new partnership opens up our products to the entire XR ecosystem who want to develop end user solutions using proven technologies that have been designed from the ground up for enterprise use.”
More information about Virtualware and VIROO can be found in the VIVE business directory and on Virtualware's website. Learn more about HTC VIVE's latest XR headset, VIVE Focus Vision, and get a 1-year VIVE Business+ Pro tier license when you pre-order the Business Edition headset here. This is a limited-time offer. Terms and conditions can be found on the product page.
Orlando, Florida. August 28, 2024 – Inc. recently announced that VRARA Member Mass Virtual, a leader in scalable, enterprise-wide XR solutions, ranked No. 604 on the 2024 Inc. 5000, which annually showcases the fastest-growing private companies in America. This prestigious ranking provides a data-driven look at the most successful companies within the economy’s most dynamic segment—independent, entrepreneurial businesses. This is the second consecutive year Mass Virtual made the list.
“This achievement wouldn’t be possible without our incredible team,” said John Brooks, Mass Virtual CEO. “Their passion, creativity, and dedication have fueled our growth and positioned Mass Virtual as a leader in the XR industry. We’re just getting started.”
Since being named to the Inc. 5000 list last year, Mass Virtual has continued its upward trajectory, realizing a remarkable 49% jump in ranking from 1190 in 2023 to 604 this year. This growth has been driven largely by efforts to support the Air Force through the enterprise-wide deployment of Virtual Hangar, a customized version of its MassXR platform.
“This achievement reflects our deep commitment to scaling our capabilities and delivering exceptional value to our partners within the defense sector,” said Brooks. “As we continue to lead the charge in immersive technology, our focus remains on improving human performance and driving impactful outcomes.”
In addition to the Inc. 5000 recognition, Mass Virtual was also named a 2024 Best Places to Work in Orlando for the second consecutive year. This honor reflects the commitment to fostering a positive and supportive work environment, where team members are empowered to innovate and excel.
About Mass Virtual: Mass Virtual is a leader in extended reality (XR) solutions, dedicated to transforming training and enhancing human performance. By leveraging cutting-edge XR technologies, Mass Virtual creates immersive, effective, and scalable training solutions across various industries. Their commitment to innovation and excellence positions them at the forefront of the XR industry, providing robust platforms and tools that empower organizations to achieve their training and educational goals.
In the latest VRARA Bytes podcast, our COO John Cunningham interviews Lorne Fade who is the co-Founder and COO of VR Vision, a Toronto based company specializing in development of enterprise XR and Digital Twin solutions. In addition to his role at VR Vision Lorne is also involved with various other ventures including founding a digital marketing studio called Fade Digital and being CTO of a VR Healthcare company called Reality Well that focuses on improving quality of life for seniors.
Some of the questions that Lorne Fade answers are:
1) What things are you excited about in terms of recent technologies, developments, etc. that are driving adoption of XR generally
2) What are some of the biggest challenges that enterprise users still need to overcome
3) What is your favorite case study/example of XR
4) Do you think we have reached the tipping point for adoption of XR in the enterprise segment
5) Tell us about the whitepaper that you published with other industry experts? What was the motivator? What kind of reception have you
To read VR Visions Whitepaper go to https://lnkd.in/grmGB8z8
By Shane Klestinski, Associate Editor, Team Orlando News
The Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality Association (VRARA) Central Florida Immersive Technology Summit 2024 featured an afternoon of multiple discussion panels themed on the “The Future of Immersive Tech in Aerospace & Defense” at Full Sail University, April 18.
Hunter Stinson, senior technologist at Integration Innovation Inc. (i3), introduced the afternoon’s series by addressing the challenges of adopting immersive technology in the defense and aerospace industries, and he provided some insights on what he thought these industries might face in the future. Stinson also described examples of immersive applications that are currently improving military readiness, like Mass Virtual’s “Virtual Hangar” extended reality (XR) suite that trains Air Force aircraft maintenance workers. He also mentioned technology like Red 6’s augmented reality efforts that project holograms onto a pilot’s visor for live dogfighting scenarios in flight.
“Planes move pretty fast,” Stinson said. “Stabilization algorithms and putting holograms in a specific place are hard problems, especially when you’re moving hundreds of miles an hour. They’re solving some really neat challenges with this tech.”
Nathan Klose, senior creative director at i3, moderated the first two “Immersive Tech in Aero/Defense” panels, which he described as “call and response” discussions. The first provided a government perspective on the topic. Klose began the discussion by asking about solutions that addressed concerns and improved training readiness for operations and maintenance. John Meyers, executive director for the Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division, responded by noting the Navy’s issues in pilot training.
“We just can’t make as many pilots fast enough, so now we’re training with T-45 [-related] devices,” Meyers said. “We started with virtual reality and now we’re getting practice with mixed reality… so now we’re saving flight time and we’re getting pilots those reps and sets so they can get their wings faster.”
The second “Aero/Defense” panel gave industry representatives a chance to share their insights and respond to topics raised in the previous panel. During the discussion, Klose mentioned sustainment, interoperability, and standards, which the previous panel had discussed. He asked the second panel about “pain points” associated with those topics, and how to resolve them.
“The mission doesn’t change, but the budget does, so what have we learned before and what can we bring back in?” said Waymon Armstrong, CEO and founder of Engineering & Computer Simulations, as he emphasized the importance of reuse. “[With medics,] what we do for the Army applies to Navy corpsmen for the Marines and Air Force pararescuemen. There are things that align very well for that reuse… so build once and deploy often.”
The next panel concentrated on immersive technology, such as XR, in aerospace, which was moderated by Andy Smith, Halldale Media CEO. Retired Air Force Col. Michael Peeler, a former pilot and current communications director at Mass Virtual, said that he benefited from immersive training near the end of his career, but emphasized that he would have been much more proficient if it had been available when he was just starting out.
“Growing up, the traditional thinking was that you could get something really good, really fast, or really cheap, but you couldn’t get all three – and that affected training in trade-offs, for example, in an aircraft’s fuel consumption versus its speed,” Peeler said. “We don’t have those restrictions at this inflection point in XR training. We can simultaneously get our customers better training faster than they’ve ever had before, with a return on investment that’s enormous, and they’re measuring that return in months, not years.”
Orlando, Florida – April 16, 2024.—Engineering & Computer Simulations (ECS) recently received a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II award from the Defense Health Agency (DHA) for its Advanced Haptics Development project. ECS Chief Technology Officer, Shane Taber, will be the principal investigator.
In this two-year project, the first year will focus on creating a microlearning modular content library of haptic scenarios using intervention levels to train students in procedures involving escharotomy, needle chest decompression, combat application tourniquets, airway management, blood sweep, and care under fire. ECS’ efforts will modularize various scenarios into a library of content packs that students and instructors can access at a point of need. The second year will aim to incorporate the new HaptX G1 mobile edition glove unit into development.
“Our ECS team has been incorporating haptics technology into our projects for several years now in order to provide more realistic and more memorable training so that our warfighters can receive the best emergency care,” said Waymon Armstrong, ECS’ founder and CEO. “We’re proud to support the Army in their efforts to improve the readiness of medical personnel serving in harm’s way and to save more lives.”
ECS’ plan will ultimately use networked, collaborative multiplayer features to allow combat medics and combat life savers to train and work together using haptics in a virtual reality environment. This application will provide options to have instructors and observers watch students during training. Instructors will also be able to interact in scenarios to assist students in learning different procedures, which will improve teleteaching and telementoring opportunities.
Students typically execute the training procedures listed above via different applications, but soon they will be in one location, which will provide easier access. Once ECS integrates the new version of the HaptX G1 system, students will gain improved mobility and ease of use, particularly when training for larger-scale scenarios. The multiplayer features and multirole scenarios that ECS will further develop with its SBIR award will also expand the applicable audience for training and improve commercialization value for dual-use applications, such as civilian training markets. Mayo Clinic Jacksonville who will provide subject matter support and user testing.
About ECS
ECS is an award-winning global training and technology solutions company, headquartered in Orlando, Florida, with operations in Huntsville, Alabama, and San Antonio, Texas. An industry innovator with a vast portfolio of training programs, ECS is a trusted provider of training, maintaining and sustaining military service members, frontline workers, and commercial clients around the world. http://www.ecsorl.com/
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!
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!
In March 2023, we held the inaugural VRARA Central Florida Immersive Technology Summit at Full Sail University and hosted over 800 attendees in an action packed 1 day event. This year, the 1st Annual VRARA Central Florida Immersive Technology Summit will be bigger and better and will span over 2 days (April 11 & 12) and plan to host over 1000 attendees.
The Summit will bring local and global experts in the area of XR, AI and other immersive technologies together to share and learn about the technologies that are changing the way we play, learn and work and why Central Florida is being recognized as a leader in Immersive Technologies.
Recently, VRARA COO and Orlando Chapter President John Cunningham discussed with Kevin O’Donovann the upcoming event, including how those who cannot make the event in person can still attend for FREE!
Here is just a sampling of what to expect:
- Conference (3 tracks) - Available in person or virtual on Engage XR - 11 April
- "Hands On" Developer XR workshops with Unity, Apple Vision Pro, Magic Leap, Varjo, ESRI and others - 11 April
- Conference Reception - 11 April
- Women in Technology Breakfast - 12 April
- Technology Expo - 25 Companies - 12 April
- Career Fair (40 companies) - 12 April
Learn more details on these events AND reserve your FREE spot today!
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
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!
We are pleased to support the PowerSource Global Summit which will take place on February 25 – 29 at the World Center Marriott Orlando. VRARA Members can take advantage of a special 30% discount off of the full conference rate. Email info@thevrara.com to obtain your discount code, register, and don’t forget to visit our exhibitor booth during the event!
Our very own Central Florida Advisory Board member Carol Ann Dykes will be moderating both Cyber Security Breakfast Sessions, covering Enterprise Security and The Future of Nation State Security.
About the Summit
Our conference is intentionally multigender and multicultural, taking great care to have representation from a multitude of cultures, backgrounds, and perspectives. We invite highly educated, innovative, and tech-savvy professionals to join us as we spotlight successful thought leaders and share important keys that will open doors for current and future leaders to ensure that the sky is no longer the limit for women or humankind.
Industry Leading Speakers
Our conference will feature a lineup of industry-leading speakers who are at the forefront of technological innovation, bringing their expertise and insights to inspire and empower attendees.
Expo Booths & Career Fair
The Powering the Metaverse STEAM conference offers exhibitor booths and a dynamic career expo, providing attendees with valuable opportunities to connect with leading companies, explore career options, and discover innovative products and services.
Exciting Events & Great Venue
The Marriott World Center in Orlando, Florida, our chosen event venue, offers a wonderful combination of luxurious accommodations, state-of-the-art facilities, and a convenient location, providing a perfect setting for attendees to learn and play.
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.
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.
In his weekly video VR/AR Bytes Podcast, Orlando Chapter President and VRARA COO John Cunningham provides short interviews with the movers and shakers in the VRARA industry who share their insights into how VR & AR is impacting their businesses. Watch his interview below with Unai Extremo of Virtualware as they discuss the question, “Have we reached the Tipping Point for XR?"
ENGAGE XR is thrilled to be a platform sponsor for the Miami Healthcare Summit on Feb 1st and to join the VRARA.
ENGAGE is an education, enterprise and presentation platform that seeks to transform how people share ideas and teach lessons to each other globally by harnessing the power of virtual and spatial computing technologies. ENGAGE is a social learning platform where educators are furnished with the tools they need to enable them to create their own immersive lessons and experiences, transforming how educational content is delivered to their students.
ENGAGE also enables people and businesses to connect in a more intimate way by placing you inside the meeting room and allowing users to collaborate using immersive tools such as virtual whiteboards, presenting screens, spatial recordings and virtual locations. The ENGAGE platform seeks to continuously innovate in the social platform spaces, integrating generative AI and spatial reality experiences to enhance how businesses and educational institutions engage with content, learning, teaching and collaboration.
ENGAGE XR is utilized by top universities and Fortune 500 organizations for the purpose of better engagement, retention of information, and experiencing environments that otherwise wouldn’t be accessible in the real world. Event organizers can host presentations, meetings and workshops inside digital twin locations, educators can teach students about the Roman marketplaces in ancient Rome, and businesses can showcase new products in fully immersive spatial experiences.
ABOUT ENGAGE XR:
ENGAGE is a SaaS Enterprise advanced spatial computing platform aimed at the professional and academic market. Designed for professionals, event organizers, educators and corporations to build their own virtual worlds, provide metaverse services directly to their own clients, and create new business models.
For more information about ENGAGE, contact info@engageplc.com or visit www.engageplc.com
In his weekly video VR/AR Bytes Podcast, Orlando Chapter President and VRARA COO John Cunningham provides short interviews with the movers and shakers in the VRARA industry who share their insights into how VR & AR is impacting their businesses. Watch his interview below with Sheena Fowler of Red 6 as they discuss the question, “Have we reached the Tipping Point for XR?"
In his weekly video VR/AR Bytes Podcast, Orlando Chapter President and VRARA COO John Cunningham provides short interviews with the movers and shakers in the VRARA industry who share their insights into how VR & AR is impacting their businesses. Watch his interview below with Rob Petrosino of Peak Activity as they discuss the question, “Have we reached the Tipping Point for XR?"
