Acclaimed Computer Scientist and Virtual Reality Pioneer Joins UCF Faculty

Carolina Cruz-Neira, based in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, will bring cutting-edge tech to benefit students.

Acomputer scientist known worldwide for creating the CAVE system, a fully immersive virtual reality environment within a room-sized cube, has joined the faculty of the University of Central Florida.

Carolina Cruz-Neira, based in the UCF College of Engineering and Computer Science, is a pioneer in the areas of virtual reality and interactive visualization, having created and deployed a variety of technologies that have become standard tools in industry, government and academia.

Cruz-Neira is a member of the National Academy of Engineering, which is considered the highest professional distinction for engineers in the United States. UCF now has seven NAE members on its faculty.

Her CAVE system enables face-to-face discussions while immersing all users in the same shared physical and virtual space. It has been used by many industries such as car manufacturers to anticipate problems and plan accordingly before creating real world versions. Scientists also use the system to explore problems that are difficult to do so in the macro world.

“What really attracted me is that UCF is a vibrant place that fosters innovation, partnerships and unique initiatives centered in student and faculty success.” — Carolina Cruz-Neira

She plans to bring that environment to UCF.

“In engineering, CAVEs are used to better analyze and understand ways to plan things such as factory floors, complex 3D constructions, flow visualization and simulation analysis,” Cruz-Neira says. “In sciences like biology, chemistry, astrophysics or mathematics they allow users to experience three-dimensional structures, concepts and data and exploration of worlds that are too small, too large, too hostile or just plain impossible in ways that support faster and more complete understanding.”

Cruz-Neira plans to build several CAVEs at UCF which would help students get hands-on experience with some of the latest technology being used in industry and could propel new ideas and research projects across multiple disciplines.

Recently, Cruz-Neira was named a fellow of the Institute for Electronics and Electrical Engineers. The IEEE distinction recognizes her significant scientific contributions that have advanced the field of virtual reality. IEEE is a professional association focused on advancing technology for humanity with 400,000+ members in 160 countries.

Throughout her career, Cruz-Neira has worked to expand opportunities for others, spearheading several open-source initiatives to disseminate and grow VR technologies, and leading entrepreneurial initiatives to commercialize research results.

A prolific researcher, Cruz-Neira has been awarded more than $75 million in grants, contracts, and donations, and has authored more than 100 scientific articles, book chapters, magazine editorials and other publications. She is also recognized for having founded and led highly successful virtual reality research centers, including the Virtual Reality Applications Center at Iowa State University, the Louisiana Immersive Technologies Enterprise and the Emerging Analytics Center at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

Among her numerous national and international recognitions, Cruz-Neira is an Association of Computing Machinery Computer Pioneer. She is a recipient of the IEEE Virtual Reality Technical Achievement Award and the Distinguished Career Award from the International Digital Media & Arts Society. She has appeared as a subject expert on TV shows and podcasts and served as a keynote speaker at conferences and forums worldwide.

Cruz-Neira joined UCF along with her longstanding research team of 15 years – husband Dirk Reiners and research scientist Carsten Neumann – crediting UCF’s strong reputation in computer science.

“UCF is a nationally-recognized leader in computer science, modeling and simulation, and in virtual and augmented reality,” Cruz-Neira says. “What really attracted me is that UCF is a vibrant place that fosters innovation, partnerships and unique initiatives centered in student and faculty success. UCF has demonstrated that it can rapidly change and adapt to the needs of the region, that it can quickly expand to take advantage of new trends in technology, and that it can be a model for 21st century academic institutions. I definitely want to be part of all this!”

Before joining UCF, she was the Donaghey Distinguished Professor in Information Sciences and the executive director of the Emerging Analytics Center at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and an Arkansas Research Scholar through the Arkansas Research Alliance.

She holds a doctoral and a master’s degree in electrical engineering and computer science from the University of Illinois in Chicago; and a bachelor’s degree in systems engineering from the Universidad Metropolitana in Caracas, Venezuela.

For more info contact:

Carol Ann Dykes Logue

Director, Innovation Districts Programs & Operations
Office of Partnerships & Innovation

University of Central Florida

3259 Progress Drive
Orlando, FL  32826
407-635-9882 office
407-489-5990 cell

carolann.dykeslogue@ucf.edu

www.ucf.edu

VIP Exhibition Hall Access for I/ITSEC 2019 - Courtesy of the VRARA

Register here

The Orlando Chapter of the VRARA in partnership with the National Training and Simulation Association (NTSA) is offering complimentary VIP passes for the Exhibition Hall at I/ITSEC 2019 the 2nd - 6th of December.

To register please follow instructions here

I/ITSEC is the world's largest modeling, simulation and training conference.

The VR/AR Association (VRARA) announces appointment of John Meyers of the Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division to the Central Florida Chapter Advisory Board

The VR/AR Association (VRARA) is pleased to announce that John Meyers, Executive Director of the Naval Air Warfare Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD) has been appointed as an Advisory Board Member of the Orlando-Central Florida Chapter.  In his role as Board Advisor, Mr. Meyers will assist the VR/AR Association to pursue its global mission of fostering connection and education through the use of immersive technologies.

 “We are delighted that John has agreed to join the advisory board to assist us to improve collaboration between commercial, academic and defense organizations in order to accelerate development of immersive solutions.  With John’s extensive experience in modelling and simulation he will help us to steer the organization and develop our ecosystem” says John Cunningham, VRARA Orlando Chapter President. “The Central Florida region is the global hub for modelling and simulation and immersive technologies are going to change the way we learn, play and work and we need to build an ecosystem to share ideas, requirements and technologies.  The VRARA provides a great platform in which to collaborate globally and locally. This is good for the VRARA, the US Navy and the Central Florida Region as we leverage this technology to develop our regional economy.”

According to Mr. Meyers, “We are constantly looking at new and immersive technologies to apply their value and effectiveness in our mission of improving human performance of our warfighters.  In today’s environment where the technological advantage in the warfighting arena is razor thin, it is imperative that we are able to prepare our warfighters to out-think the competition. With NAWCTSD being recently designated as a NavalX Tech Bridge site and having the important connection with the VRARA, this will allow us the opportunity for greater collaboration, communication, and transparency for all Department of Navy initiatives in this technology space to benefit collectively.”

Media Contacts:

VRARA Orlando Central Florida

John Cunningham

President, Orlando-Central Florida Chapter

orlando@thevrara.com

VR/AR Association Orlando Chapter is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Irwin L. Hudson of the US Army to its Advisory Board

Come meet us at the VR/AR Global Summit Nov 1-2

Dr. Hudson is currently the Human Performance Lead for Simulation and Training for the US Army Futures Command, Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC) Soldier Center located in Orlando.  One of the missions of the CCDC is to identify how use of VR/AR technologies can be used to improve how to improve training and soldier effectives.  Dr. Hudson specializes in Human Performance Training via Physiological Attributes such as heart rate, eye-tracking, and blood-flow. 

According to Dr. Hudson "Immersive technologies are changing the way we work, learn and play and the US Army is at the forefront of pushing VR/AR technologies.  We are looking to leverage the global ecosystem that the VRARA has created to identify various technologies and applications that can better help the warfighter perform his/her mission.  It is my honor and a privilege to be part of this global organization and contributing to helping promote collaboration and networking through the VRARA." Having been a Government Civilian Engineer for over 25 years in Orlando and a Nationally recognized Basketball Coach/Trainer with over 25 years of experience, "DrCoach" Hudson has used both avenues to promote the AR/VR technologies via STEM and Athletics.

Central Florida is the recognized global epicenter for the modeling and simulation industry and the US Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines have various technology and procurement agencies co-located at the University of Central Florida Research Park and partner with UCF and the National Center for Simulation in a program called "Team Orlando".  Over $6B per year of contracts in the area of simulation and training are awarded to commercial companies through Team Orlando.

For more information about how to get connected to the VRARA Central Florida Chapter and the member organizations please contact John Cunningham at orlando@thevrara.com

Orlando tech targets growing VR and AR field at Florida Simulation Summit and VRARA event

Come meet us at the VR/AR Global Summit Nov 1-2

By Alexander Soderstrom – Staff writer, Orlando Business Journal

When Dan Ayoub addressed a ballroom full of people at the Florida Simulation Summit on Sept. 26, he acknowledged the flaw of his delivery method: a verbal speech aided by a slideshow. 

“This is the worst way for anyone to learn anything,” said Ayoub, general manager of education for Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) and keynote speaker at this year’s iteration of the annual Orlando summit.

Ayoub shared his experiences working on Microsoft’s push to put augmented and virtual reality — known as AR and VR — programs in classrooms and training programs. Independent studies show the use of AR and VR leads to more effective learning, Ayoub said. 

AR and VR were the themes of this year’s Florida Simulation Summit, an event which brings together academic, business and military leaders involved in the modeling, simulation and training (MS&T) industry. AR and VR are predicted to become a $571 billion industry by 2025, according to Allied Market Research, and Central Florida businesses are well-positioned to act as major players in the field, which locally is a $6 billion industry.

The region’s MS&T industry has risen to prominence on the back of Central Florida Research Park. The campus, adjacent the University of Central Florida, serves as the center of simulation operations for the U.S. Air Force, Army, Marines and Navy, as well as the headquarters of multiple private companies. Many local MS&T companies already create AR and VR products.

During the summit, CEOs, researchers and industry experts shared the capabilities of AR and VR, from pairing with artificial intelligence to train autonomous vehicles to training surgeons how to operate in a virtual setting before allowing them to operate on a human. 

The theme of the summit reflects a recent push in the Orlando area to increase the focus on AR and VR. John Cunningham, chief revenue officer of Orlando-based modeling and simulation firm DiSTI Corp., launched a Central Florida chapter of the VR/AR Association, and the association held its second event the night before the Simulation Summit. The group's purpose is to provide exposure and organization for the area’s AR and VR companies, Cunningham told Orlando Business Journal.

“The idea here is we’re going to start putting Central Florida on the map — the global map — as a hub for VR/AR expertise,” said Cunningham, who serves as president of the local chapter. 

The summit explored AR and VR applications in diverse fields such as education, gaming and health care, but Central Florida’s MS&T industry has predominantly been tied to defense due to the close proximity of military simulation operations. But it's a good thing, since military contracts can give MS&T companies a source of funding when venture capital is hard to come by, Cunningham said. The challenge, he said, is when companies make the transition to commercial industries and must commercialize their products. 

The Simulation Summit has touched on MS&T topics from big data to health simulation in its five years of operation. The event is hosted by the National Center for Simulation, Orange County and the Orlando Economic Partnership. National Center for Simulation President and CEO George Cheros said this year’s summit brought on of the best turnouts, with an estimated attendance of least 400 people.

Source

Recap of our Orlando Event with Microsoft and 200 business leaders hosted by the Orlando Science Center

Come meet us at the VR/AR Global Summit Nov 1-2

Thank you to all that attended and supported the VRARA Orlando / Central Florida Chapter event last night. We had over 200 business, technology and academic leaders join and a number of students from UCF, Full Sail, and DAVE School. The theme of the night was how VR/AR is going to transform how we learn!

The DiSTI Corporation was proud to sponsor the event Thank you to Alan Smithson from MetaVRse and Dan Ayoub from Microsoft for their fascinating talks!

For more info or to join VRARA, email John Cunningham at orlando@thevrara.com