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 VRARA member Dano Debroux ,Senior Director of Public Sector of Magic Leap.
VRARA Member ECS Presenting at I/ITSEC 2023
ECS invites you to visit them at I/ITSEC at Booth #1113 in Orlando, FL from November 27th-30th to see their latest portfolio of training solutions and innovative technology.
This year their showcase of solutions will cover a breadth of training subject matters ranging from aviation, maintenance, logistics, medical, and soft skills. Our training capabilities and portfolio of solutions are well suited for military, first responder, and industry use cases.
Carl Cox’s ground breaking Intermundium show took place in virtual reality with SENSORIUM GALAXY
Electronic music pioneer, the legendary Carl Cox, transcends the confines of reality to deliver a ground-breaking virtual performance in the Sensorium Galaxy.
A 3D fusion with endless possibilities
The 3D software application CATIA from the French company Dassault Systèmes has already successfully established itself in many industries worldwide: in aerospace, the automotive and supplier industry, the construction industry, industrial manufacturing, energy and product technology, mechanical and plant engineering, healthcare and Formula 1. CATIA is not just a CAD application, but a comprehensive software package for product design and development. With CATIA, users can model any product and turn it into a three-dimensional, interactive application. The perfect tool for engineers, architects, technicians, designers and construction professionals. CATIA's sophisticated system architecture allows the most complex products to be developed, analyzed, modified and virtually experienced in real time. CATIA is plug-and-play compatible with Schneider Digital's professional 3D PluraView monitors. The 3D PluraView monitor systems provide the optimal stereo environment for comfortable and fatigue-free work in all 3D stereo and VR/AR desktop application areas. They are based on the innovative and reliable "Beamsplitter" technology and guarantee a pixel-precise 3D stereo display in highest image quality. Both software and hardware meet the high requirements of international standards in terms of quality and safety. Schneider Digital has already certified its 3D PluraView monitors for several hundred applications. With CATIA, another powerful unit is added.
CATIA is a CAD system from the French company Dassault Systèmes, which was originally developed for aircraft construction. Today, the design software is established worldwide and is used in a wide variety of industries in over 140 countries to develop and design virtual products. CATIA is the abbreviation for Computer Aided Three-Dimensional Interactive Application, a computer-aided, three-dimensional, interactive application. CATIA V5, V6 and CATIA 3DEXPERIENCE are the latest and most widely used CAD tools. These are software packages that have both CAE (Computer Aided Engineering) and CAM (Computer Aided Manufacturing) in addition to computer-aided design of precise 2D and 3D stereo models (CAD). This allows products to be viewed not only spatially, but also in the context of movements, strengths, acoustics and thermal conductivity.
Engineers and manufacturers in high-tech industries such as aerospace, automotive, construction, industrial manufacturing, energy and product engineering, consumer products, machinery and equipment, healthcare and Formula One, among others, benefit from CATIA's high design quality, accuracy, centralization of design data and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM). CATIA's design, engineering, systems development and construction applications support specific industry needs by creating real-time virtual environments. These tools make products and sustainable innovations imaginable and tangible and ensure better product performance. For systems engineers, technicians, designers, and construction professionals, CATIA offers a virtual world that they can define, co-create and purposefully change themselves.
High-quality: The CATIA disciplines
The CATIA platform 3DEXPERIENCE, with its 3D modelling and simulation functions, also enables multiple project teams to work together. When designing and constructing complex building and infrastructure projects, the 3DEXPERIENCE Virtual Twin technology creates a design environment based on a single database. All those involved in the project have access to this data from any location during the ongoing design and engineering process. This facilitates teamwork, reduces sources of error and saves time-consuming rework.
CATIA DESIGN/STYLING is the platform for innovative and creative designs as well as surface modelling. Here, designers find everything they need to develop new shapes, materials and surfaces. Mechanical engineers working with 3D modelling benefit from the CATIA ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE platform. It offers a wide range of 3D assemblies for the creation of high-quality, complex and mechanical prototypes, on the basis of which analyses, and diverse simulations are possible.
Powerful: 3D PluraView stereo technology
With its 3D PluraView monitors, Schneider Digital offers a customized technology for the spatial display of 3D models in perfect image quality. Schneider Digital is the world's leading manufacturer and distributor of customized hardware solutions for graphics-intensive computer applications and offers professional users from the fields of CAx, geoinformation, medical technology and many more complete workplace solutions with powerful Intel and AMD-based workstations, professional graphics cards from NVIDIA and AMD, RAM and stealth mice in 3D stereo mode.
The 3D stereo monitors based on flicker-free "beamsplitter" technology make working in virtual reality environments a real high-tech experience. The detailed and high-contrast 3D stereo image display on the PluraView monitors is now the industry standard for all stereoscopic software applications. With its innovative monitor systems, Schneider Digital has given the term "3D CAD" a completely new value in the fields of CAx, construction and design.
As a fully-fledged desktop VR/AR system, the successful 3D PluraView monitors are certified for all common 3D stereo-capable applications in photogrammetry and GIS. They are plug-and-play for their features, provide pin-sharp presentation in real time and allow the user to work fatigue-free even in daylight. Transparent lenses allow unrestricted communication with clients and colleagues. Equipped with a high-tech tracking system, the 3D PluraView also allows interaction with 3D stereo models without a mouse.
CATIA certified for 3D PluraView
Several hundred selected software applications have already been officially certified by Schneider Digital for this cutting-edge technology (PDF list at www.3D-Pluraview.com). The seal of approval assures that quality and safety meet the high requirements of international standards. With CATIA, another software application has now joined the list. The performance of these two future-oriented technologies promises a breathtaking, virtual experience at the highest level. Josef Schneider, CEO at Schneider Digital, can only confirm this: "With this fusion, we not only meet the high expectations for a unique viewing experience in 3D, but we exceed them." Further information online at: www.pluraview.com
Leading CAD software for 3D monitor 3D PluraView certified: 3D stereo visualisation improves CAx workflow with CATIA. The integrated 3D mouse cursor in the software application provides convenient stereoscopic design capabilities.
Schneider Digital – The company:
Schneider Digital is a global full-service solution provider for professional 3D-stereo, 4K/8K and VR/AR hardware. Based on its 25 years of industry and product experience as well as its excellent relationships with leading manufacturers, Schneider Digital offers innovative, sophisticated professional hardware products and customized complete solutions for professional use. Qualified advice and committed after-sales service are the company's own standards.
The Schneider Digital product portfolio includes the right professional hardware solution for the respective requirements in these areas: High resolution 4K/8K to multi-display walls. Schneider Digital is the manufacturer of its own powerwall solution smartVR-Wall and the passive stereo monitor 3D PluraView. Performance workstations and professional graphics cards from AMD and NVIDIA as well as innovative hardware peripherals (tracking, input devices, etc.) round off the product range. Many articles are in stock. This guarantees fast delivery and project realization.
Schneider Digital is an authorised service distributor of AMD FirePRO/Radeon Pro, PNY/NVIDIA Quadro, 3Dconnexion, Stealth int., Planar and EIZO. Schneider Digital products are used primarily in graphics-intensive computer applications such as CAD/CAM/CAE, FEM, CFD, simulation, GIS, architecture, medicine and research, film, TV, animation and digital imaging.
Further information is available at www.schneider-digital.com and www.3d-pluraview.com.
Schneider Digital press contact:
LEAD Industrie-Marketing GmbH Tel.:+49 80 22 - 91 53 188
André GeßnerFax:+49 80 22 - 91 53 189
Hauptstr.46E-Mail:agessner@lead-industrie-marketing.de
D-83684 TegernseeInternet:www.lead-industrie-marketing.de
Mastering drama: Obstacles & Conflicts in Immersive Training
Guest Post from WarpVR:
Virtual reality is revolutionizing not just storytelling, but also the way we train and educate. At Warp VR, our mission goes beyond telling captivating stories to ensure that creating impactful VR training modules is accessible, intuitive, and rewarding for everyone involved.
The power of impactful immersive training comes from its ability to deeply engage users. Two key elements that drive this engagement are obstacles and conflicts. Read our latest blog post to learn more about their power and how to use them effectively.
SynergyXR Expands Its Horizon with HTC Device Integration in Latest Update
Aarhus, Denmark – November 1, 2023 - SynergyXR, a leader in crafting augmented and virtual reality tools for modern enterprise businesses, announces a pivotal integration with HTC devices in its latest 2.6 release. This significant stride is reflective of SynergyXR’s continued commitment to enhancing the immersive experience by broadening the hardware spectrum for its user community.
The spotlight of this integration is on HTC’s flagship headsets, the Vive Focus 3 and Vive XR Elite, providing users with more hardware options to explore the robust features of SynergyXR. This integration has been keenly anticipated by a diverse spectrum of customers and is a testament to SynergyXR’s customer-centric approach to responding to the evolving needs and preferences of its user base.
Users can now seamlessly access the full breadth of SynergyXR features on these HTC devices via multiple avenues including the Viveport store, Vive business store, ManageXR & ArborXR instant apps, or the SynergyXR website. This enhancement not only welcomes a wider audience to the immersive world of SynergyXR but significantly enriches the user journey, making the exploration of immersive virtual environments a more accessible venture on a broader range of hardware.
SynergyXR’s CEO, Mads Troelsgaard, expressed excitement about this integration, stating, “Our alliance with HTC is a substantial move towards offering our users more choices and broadening the possibilities within the SynergyXR ecosystem. By integrating with a reputable hardware provider like HTC, we are ensuring that our users have more options at their disposal to explore, learn, and collaborate in the virtual realm.”
In alignment with the integration, SynergyXR also takes pride in being a part of the HTC ISV partner program, which fortifies the collaboration between Independent Software Vendors (ISVs), Enterprise Developers, and VIVE. This program provides structured support and additional resources to accelerate the adoption of VR solutions, endorsing VIVE as a preferred platform partner. The alliance through the HTC ISV partner program further accentuates SynergyXR’s dedication to fostering a more robust and inclusive VR environment.
Speaking of the partnership, Lars Toft, HTC’s Nordic country manager, also added, “We’re excited to partner with SynergyXR, as we see an increased demand from manufacturing and product industries looking into alternatives in terms of training and simulations. SynergyXR has an established platform that can help address that demand.”
This integration is expected to foster a more inclusive and dynamic XR environment, further solidifying SynergyXR’s position as a frontrunner in making augmented and virtual reality tools accessible and user-centric for business users.
The SynergyXR 2.6 release, along with its HTC integration, is a definitive step towards a more enriched and accessible VR experience, underscoring SynergyXR’s undeterred commitment to pushing the boundaries of virtual collaboration and training.
For full details and technical secifications about the SynergyXR 2.6 release and the HTC device integration, visit the SynergyXR website.
About SynergyXR:
SynergyXR is at the forefront of making augmented and virtual reality tools accessible for modern businesses. With a strong footing in the manufacturing and energy sectors, SynergyXR is dedicated to creating people-first solutions that ensure extended realities like VR and AR become everyday tools for businesses. For more information, please visit www.synergyxr.com
About HTC VIVE:
HTC VIVE is the premier virtual reality (VR) platform and ecosystem that creates true-to-life VR experiences for businesses and consumers. The VIVE ecosystem is built around premium VR hardware, software, and content. The VIVE business encompasses best-in-class XR hardware; VIVEPORT platform and app store; VIVE Enterprise Solutions for business customers; VIVE X, a US$100M VR business accelerator; and VIVE ARTS for cultural initiatives. For more information, please visit www.vive.com.
Press Contact:
Andy Grantham
Head of Marketing, SynergyXR
Email: ag@synergyxr.com
Phone: +45 31239681
Website: https://synergyxr.com
Matthew Dias Announced at VRARA Boston Chapter President
We are thrilled to welcome Matthew Dias as the VRARA Boston Chapter President!
Matt first developed a passion for AR while working at a digital agency in Boston, creating interactive mobile apps for visitors in public venues. He later founded Lingar, a mobile AR app for museum goers with curated digital content, activated by geolocation and object recognition.
He then joined Australia’s JigSpace, as Director of Sales and Marketing for North America. Highlighted annually for ARKit in Apple’s WWDC, JigSpace is a creator platform for enterprise clients to easily deploy interactive 3D and AR product demonstrations.
Matt currently serves as a Mixed Reality Solutions Specialist for SphereGen Technologies in New Haven, CT providing interactive training programs for manufacturers using the HoloLens.
When he’s not in the Industrial Metaverse, he is an advisor to Reading XR, a company on a mission to improve literacy rates through early intervention by harnessing the power of eye-tracking systems in the HoloLens 2.
“I look forward to helping to grow VRARA’s Boston Chapter community by connecting and building relationships with thought leaders in spatial computing. Arguably, Boston has some of the best minds, and innovators in the AR/VR ecosystem and fostering collaboration between individuals, intuitions and brands to advance our industry will be foremost.”- Matthew Dias
UL Solutions Issues First Virtual, Augmented and Mixed-Reality Technology Equipment Safety Certification for Magic Leap 2
UL Solutions’ new testing and certification service helps manufacturers mitigate the unique safety risks associated with virtual reality, augmented reality and mixed-reality products.
UL Solutions announced that Magic Leap 2 is the first device to achieve certification to ANSI/CAN/UL 8400, the world’s first safety standard dedicated to spatial computing and extended reality equipment safety. UL Solutions’ new service helps manufacturers mitigate the unique safety risks associated with virtual reality, augmented reality and mixed-reality products.
SkyTG24 interviews VRARA Italy Chapter President on Metaverse
Guest Post by VRARA Italy Chapter President Lorenzo Montagna:
On Saturday morning I had the opportunity to participate in the live broadcast of Sky TG24 to talk about Metaverse: you can find attached an excerpt and the full version in the first comment!
I would like to reiterate that the Metaverse is not synonymous with video games, NFTs, virtual reality, but it is the concept of an evolved digital world where, thanks to WEB 3.0 technology, we enter the spaces to live new experiences, new content thanks to a pool of technologies including those mentioned above, as well as AR, cloud, MR and 5G.
the Metaverse is therefore evidently an evolution of the current relationship we have with screen-mediated technology: technology has in fact improved from the point of view of speed and ubiquity but remains always linked to increasingly smaller screens.
The Metaverse will therefore be a reappropriation of the "outside" world, of "space" as Apple says, with technology superimposed or even replacing the real one. For this reason, this complex ecosystem cannot be created by a single company and in a few months.
As far as artificial intelligence is concerned - as I say to Sky - I think we have reached a dangerous point of synonymy between artificial intelligence and generative artificial intelligence, which is certainly an impressive part for the possibilities of improving one's work, but which completely diverts attention to deeper issues concerning the role that technology itself will assume between now and the next few years.
What I have not been able to say for reasons of time is that the solutions to be able to use the metaverse and AI combined are really many and that they actually cover an entire so-called value chain: from promotion to communication, from customer relationship to employee training, to sales.
We see this very well as VR/AR Association (VRARA) with a steady growth of investments in VR and AR solutions, i.e. content rather than platforms.
In fact, the problem is that too often companies think of the metaverse as a tactical marketing solution to create simple product launches, perhaps on a young target, and do not realize instead that they have to create a "real" and new world where brand equity is maintained and where there is a very realistic representation of the company.
It is important to underline that in these days the European community is working both to accelerate the creation of a digital identity and for the digital currency: this testifies to the fact that the EEC is strongly committed to the issues of virtual worlds.
PIXO VR Awarded Patent for PIXO Platform
PIXO VR has been granted a patent by the United States Patent and Trademark Office for the PIXO platform.
PIXO’s new patent – U.S. patent 7,166,998 – includes design and development of Extended Reality (XR) workplace training Software as a Service (SaaS) and Platform as a Service (PaaS), and the deployment, management and analytics of XR training software.
“This patent secures PIXO’s place as the industry leader for XR training,” says Sean Hurwitz, CEO and Founder of PIXO. “Our platform has been a differentiator since its launch in 2020. We are continually adding new features to make XR training easier for enterprises, and this is an exciting step in our product roadmap.”
The PIXO platform enables enterprises to easily manage XR programs globally. PIXO offers a vast off-the-shelf VR training library, and the ability to create custom content for an organization’s specific needs. With the PIXO platform, you easily select, deploy, manage and track XR content and users. The platform can be integrated into an existing learning management system for a seamless backend experience.
XPANCEO Raises $40 Million to Launch the First Smart Contact Lenses for AR Vision
40 scientists and engineers from leading universities and research institutions joined forces to create ultra thin, smart contact lenses that will replace bulky AR glasses, and allow humans to use features such as night vision, zoom, health monitoring, and content-watching.
Dubai, UAE, October 16, 2023 — XPANCEO, a deep tech startup, has raised a $40 million seed round to launch the first contact lenses with AR vision features. The round was led by Hong Kong-based Opportunity Ventures (Asia). The funds will be invested to launch the next prototype, in which the company will gather several features in one device.
After several attempts by other companies to create smart lenses, the XPANCEO team has created and successfully tested in the laboratory three separate prototypes to enable night vision and zoom, real-time health monitoring, and the ability to see video and graphic content in AR. The new device, which is the world’s first ultra thin lens, feels as natural to the wearer as their own vision. It is made of advanced optical materials (including low-dimensional and van der Waals materials), which exhibit record-breaking refractive indices and anisotropy and maintain excellent optical properties. The new device is aimed to unleash the full potential of AR technology by making it accessible and easy to use.
The company was founded by Valentyn S. Volkov, a Ukrainian scientist who boasts over 7000 citations in some of the most respected international media, and Roman Axelrod, an experienced entrepreneur with three previous exits. XPANCEO's multidisciplinary team includes over 50 outstanding scientists, engineers and executive leaders from top universities, research institutions and deep tech companies, and gathers expertise both in science and novel technologies as well as product management and development in complex markets. XPANCEO also collaborates with top scientists from universities all around the globe, such as the Donostia International Physics Center (Spain), Chalmers University of Technology (Sweden), National University of Singapore (Singapore), University of Oviedo (Spain),University of Manchester (UK), Aix-Marseille University (France) and the University of Zaragoza among others to create the first all-in-one prototype by 2026.
Co-founder and Scientific Partner, Valentyn S. Volkov, Ph.D. says: ''We are targeting, at least, the $790 billion Augmented Reality and Contact Lenses market, and creating the first device in the market that will allow us to use all apps and software in a single contact lens interface. Our device will effectively merge all your gadgets into one. XPANCEO was recognized as one of the top five optic laboratories in the world by international consulting firm BCG, and has practical experience in developing and studying unique materials (like graphene and other 2D materials), opening a way for the realization of next-generation ultra-compact optoelectronic devices."
The use of classical optoelectronic materials and technologies has proven insufficient to realise this project, as the resulting components are too bulky to be effectively integrated into a practical and user-friendly contact lens. XPANCEO combines over 20 patented technologies in Advanced Optic and Photonics, Novel material, AI, and Neural Interfacing to create ultra-compact and highly efficient optoelectronic devices in smart contact lenses, paving the way for a gradual transition from traditional silicon technologies to the "graphene valley’’ future.
The high refractive indices, coupled with the giant anisotropy of the materials used in waveguide-based devices, are key factors that enable a more efficient light bending and guiding process compared to modern optical devices. This opens up possibilities for the realisation of ultra-compact optical elements. Another key technology developed by XPANCEO is its flexible and transparent electronics, based on highly conductive quasi-2D metallic films with thicknesses of only a few nanometers. To engage with these technologies, we employ AI to develop models capable of accurate predictions regarding the optical characteristics of similar materials. Neural Interfacing gives the user full control over the applications, without the need for awkward eye movements, blinks, or extra controllers.
Opportunity Venture’s (Asia) Managing Director Philip Ma says: “We led this round of funding as a testament to the fact that XPANCEO has not merely an ambition but also a capacity to deliver on its product vision. We believe that now XPANCEO has all the resources needed to drive their R&D and product design forward, and do it even faster. Opportunity Venture (Asia) sees the potential in XPANCEO to define the next generation of computing and to become a major player in the world of personal tech in the post smartphone era."
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About XPANCEO
XPANCEO is a deep tech company developing the next generation of computing via an invisible and weightless smart contact lens that is as natural to the wearer as their own vision. Our lens reinvents the whole concept of human-technology interaction and redefines the way we experience both the real and digital worlds including social media, content consumption, and gaming. Merging all your gadgets into one, the lens transforms the everyday life into an infinite eXtended Reality experience, replete with advanced real-time health monitoring and comprehensive practical recommendations, superpowers like night vision and zoom, and cutting-edge privacy and security measures.
Press kit https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1lA3Zn9XTcOnlMzgdj-NewKhdCgUtPz5w?usp=sharing
Magic Leap Appoints Ross Rosenberg as Chief Executive Officer
Magic Leap today announced the appointment of Ross Rosenberg, an experienced technology executive, as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, effective November 1. Rosenberg will succeed Peggy Johnson, who is stepping down as the Company completes its pivot to the enterprise and moves toward expanding commercial adoption of its Augmented Reality (AR) platform technology.
Rosenberg is a seasoned operating, strategy, and marketing executive with extensive experience in executing transformational growth strategies in enterprise and industrial technology companies, such as Bain Capital (software portfolio), Danaher, First Solar and Belden. In these leadership roles, he has led the launch, development and acquisition of new technologies, products and services that drive innovation velocity, productivity and insight for customers in their most mission-critical use cases.
With the enterprise Augmented Reality market beginning to coalesce around a core set of use cases and verticals, Rosenberg will focus the next phase of Magic Leap’s evolution around solving for the needs and challenges of its target customers.
“As companies begin to see true ROI from deploying AR technologies, there is now a clear need state that Magic Leap is capable of solving for,” said Ross Rosenberg, Magic Leap’s incoming CEO. “I am incredibly excited to begin working with the world class team at Magic Leap and want to thank Peggy for her leadership in guiding the company through a critical phase of its development.”
Johnson assumed the role of CEO in August 2020 with a mission to bring Magic Leap’s transformative technology to the enterprise, with a focus on designing, manufacturing, and launching Magic Leap 2, the most advanced AR technology for business.
In her time at Magic Leap, Johnson, with the help and hard work of the company’s executive leadership and incredibly talented employees, has positioned Magic Leap for its next phase of success including stabilizing the company, launching Magic Leap 2, and establishing Magic Leap as a technology leader in enterprise AR. As a result, Magic Leap has secured collaborations with some of the biggest players in technology including Nvidia, AMD, and Cisco, as well as licensing and contract manufacturing agreements with large technology companies.
“Having accomplished so much of what I set out to do at Magic Leap, I felt the time had come to transition leadership to a new CEO who can guide the company through its next period of growth,” explained Johnson. “I’m incredibly proud of the leadership team we’ve built at Magic Leap and want to sincerely thank all of the employees for their work in helping to successfully reorient the company to the enterprise market.”
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About Ross Rosenberg
Rosenberg has served in senior executive leadership roles in private and public technology companies, including Bain Capital (software portfolio), Danaher, First Solar and Belden. In these roles, he has led the launch, development and acquisition of new technologies, products and services that drive innovation velocity, productivity and insight for enterprise customers in their most mission-critical use cases.
Most recently, Rosenberg served as an operating executive in Bain Capital’s software portfolio, where he helped lead the transformation at Rocket Software, a large-scale enterprise IT software company. Through this transformation, the company integrated processes, systems, infrastructure and teams across more than $1 billion of software acquisitions, accelerated revenue and EBITDA growth, increased recurring revenue and net retention, diversified sales channels and expanded into hybrid cloud, data management and application development products.
Prior to Bain Capital, Rosenberg was a senior executive at Belden, Inc. (NYSE: BDC), a $3 billion global industrial technology company providing communications infrastructure, networking hardware and software in industrial automation, energy, transportation, media and “smart building” applications. At Belden, Rosenberg drove innovation and organic growth initiatives, including building and leading the company’s “incubator” program, as well as the company's strategic planning, M&A and operational integration functions for newly acquired businesses.
Prior to joining Belden, Ross led Global Marketing, Strategy and Corporate Development at First Solar (Nasdaq: FSLR), the largest provider of utility-scale solar power plant solutions. During Ross’s tenure, revenues grew from $500 million to $4 billion. Under Ross’ leadership, First Solar completed multiple acquisitions, several joint ventures and corporate venture capital investments in strategic partners, deploying $1 billion of invested capital which resulted in the development, construction and financing of the largest utility-scale solar project pipeline in the world and the expansion of the company's capabilities from manufacturing to engineering, procurement and construction, project development and software-based power plant operation and remote maintenance/predictive analytics.
Prior to First Solar, Ross ran a $500 million division of Danaher (NYSE: DHR), a $30+ billion diversified industrial technology company. At Danaher, Ross held several executive management roles including operating/P&L responsibility for a global industrial automation business. Under Ross’s leadership, the business improved its revenue growth rate from -3% to 11% and grew operating profit 14% year over year via the development and launch of one of the fastest growing and most profitable new product lines in company history. This transformation resulted in higher recurring revenue and increased gross margins. At Danaher, Ross also served as Vice President, Marketing for a $1 billion division and Group Vice President, Strategy and Business Development, where he executed several billion dollars of acquisitions.
Prior to Danaher, Ross led corporate development at Zebra Technologies, where he founded and built the M&A function and led the company’s growth in warehouse logistics technology and expansion into radio frequency identification (“RFID”) technology.
Ross was an investment banker in the Mergers & Acquisitions group at Merrill Lynch and started his career at PricewaterhouseCoopers where he conducted buy-side due diligence and valuation for corporate and private equity clients. Ross holds an MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a BS in Accounting (and CPA) from University of Illinois.
Have We Reached the Tipping Point for VR? {VRARA Bytes Podcast}
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 interviews below with Kris Kolo, our Global Executive Director, and Nathan Pettyjohn, Founder & President of VRARA.
Watch the entire series here, and subscribe to receive the weekly podcast!
HyperTunnel News: US Air Force RFP, Creative Destruction Lab, and Apple Vision Pro
We are excited to share three remarkable developments that have unfolded with HyperTunnel during the last quarter.
1) US Air Force RFP: It is with immense pride that we share our acceptance of a Request for Proposal (RFP) from the US Air Force. This RFP outlines specific objectives for our HyperTunnel technology, encompassing the scaling of our server backend to meet stringent security requirements and the customization of client apps for aircraft maintenance use cases. This contract, structured as a Sequential SBIR Phase II Grant, promises non-dilutive funding and signifies the immense potential and relevance of our technology in critical applications. We are fully committed to seizing this opportunity and tailoring HyperTunnel to meet the Air Force's specific needs.
2) Creative Destruction Lab: We are delighted to inform you of our selection to participate in the prestigious CDL Compute Program. This program is designed for founders with the vision to commercialize groundbreaking computing hardware and software technologies capable of leaving a significant impact on humanity. CDL offers us a unique chance to accelerate our growth, gain invaluable insights, and connect with top-tier mentors and experts. These mentors will assist us in refining our objectives, optimizing resource allocation, raising capital, and engaging with experts at the forefront of research. The program commences on October 27th, and we are fully prepared to make the most of this transformative experience.
3) Apple Vision Pro: Another significant achievement to celebrate is Apple's certification of our HyperTunnel app's full compatibility with the forthcoming Vision Pro platform. Apple's evaluation revealed no compatibility issues with our visionOS app version, underlining our unwavering commitment to delivering innovative solutions. This certification opens doors to exciting new possibilities for our app within the Apple ecosystem.
As we embark on these exciting endeavors, we assure you that we will keep you updated every step of the way. Thank you for being an integral part of our success!
VRdirect is now available on Discover XR
VRdirect is excited to announce that we have partnered with ManageXR! This collaboration means that our VR software is now accessible on their Discover XR platform, making it easy for businesses to quickly adopt VRdirect.
This extends our reach while delivering an exceptional user experience, ensuring broader accessibility to our VR solutions for businesses.
Click here for more information about Discover XR!
VRdirect News: Compatibility with all major XR devices
VRdirect now supports the HTC Vive XR Elite as well as the recently launched Meta Quest 3. Both devices are ideal for B2B use cases, offering a wide range of useful features at an affordable price. They are a great choice for enterprises to scale VR across their organization. Read our review of Meta Quest 3 here.
VRdirect is fully compatible with these headsets, as well as the other already supported devices from Meta, PICO and HTC. Our goal is to simplify the integration of headsets into enterprises, regardless of which ecosystem they come from.
Schedule a meeting with us to learn more about the integration of VR into your organization!
Acer SpatialLabs View Pro displayed for the first time, along with other SpatialLabs devices at the Immerse Global Summit (IGS) in Orlando during Metacenter Global Week
The newly announced Acer SpatialLabs View Pro 27 was on display for the first time, along with other SpatialLabs devices at the Immerse Global Summit (IGS) in Orlando, Florida from October 17-19.
The Acer SpatialLabs View Pro 27 is a canvas for creators and developers, turning ideas into vivid 3D worlds, glasses-free. With SpatialLabs technology, designs leap out with clarity. Every detail stands out, bringing concepts closer to reality.
A New Scale of Immersion With Exquisite Details
Acer SpatialLabs View Pro 27 fuses art & tech in a 27-inch 4K display. The advanced 3D system, from visuals to acoustics, is crafted for immersion. Explore detailed models or vast landscapes, bringing designs to life with unmatched realism.
Optimized 3D for Extremely Low Light Settings
Enjoy flawless 3D visuals, even in low light. Our tech precisely tracks eye positions in dim environments, ensuring the 3D experience is always perfectly tuned to the viewer. Whether you prefer working in low light settings or want to showcase your creations in soft-light ambience, visuals perfectly adjust to your movements for consistently captivating and clear view.
Elevate Your 3D Creations to Their Truest Form
Dive into your projects with a 160Hz refresh rate, making animations fluid and lifelike. A detachable hood ensures focused immersion, while the truest colors shine through, thanks to a Color Gamut Delta E < 2. With the SpatialLabs View Pro 27, live every detail of your creation.
Acer Immerse Audio: A Complete Visual-Audio Experience
Acer Immerse Audio is an advanced AI-driven sound system, along with beamforming and head tracking, that creates a spatial audio experience that surrounds you. Every detail, from hardware to algorithms, is optimized to immerse you in sound. Whether in a digital realm or cinematic content, the audio adjusts in real-time like a virtual headset, syncing with every movement and emotion.
Perfect for Every Place and Purpose
The SpatialLabs View Pro 27 epitomizes adaptability. Perfect for interactive exhibits, educational hubs, or professional workspaces, its ErgoStand design offers versatile tilt, swivel, pivot, and height adjustments. Enhanced by VESA compatibility, it supports diverse mounting options. You can also pair it with a mini PC to transform it into a dynamic centerpiece for any environment.
The VRARA Appoints John A. Cunningham to Chief Operating Officer
The VR/AR Association is pleased to announce the appointment of John A. Cunningham to the position of Chief Operating Officer of the VRARA. In this role John will support the executive leadership team and the members of the Association to help develop new programs and initiatives to further the mission of the VRARA to foster collaboration between spatial computing solution providers and end-users in order to accelerate growth.
Nathan Pettyjohn, President “We are really excited that John is joining us in this new global role as COO. With his contagious passion for XR, tremendous experience in growing technology organizations around the world and his hands-on experience founding and building the Orlando-Central Florida Chapter of the VRARA to become the largest in the world, John will help us take the Association to the next level and provide even more value to the XR ecosystem globally”.
“I am excited to have John support us to create new programs and initiatives to grow our ecosystem,” says Kris Kolo, Global Executive Director of the VRARA. “We have been wanting to bring on someone with the right experience both in the XR industry and with the Association to help us expand our capabilities to support our members globally.
John Cunningham was formerly an executive at Unity where he founded and led Unity’s Aerospace and Defense business since 2020. Prior to joining Unity, John served as Chief Revenue Officer of a private equity owned software company specializing in Aerospace, Defense and Automotive XR solutions.
John Cunningham adds “We are at a pivotal point in the adoption of XR in both the consumer and enterprise segments and the global XR industry needs its own association to help both technology companies in XR as well as end users looking for ways to utilize XR technology to increase their business, train workers, and create safer and smarter work environments. We want VRARA to be the place where people go first for information, connection and business opportunities. Essentially we want the VRARA to be the place where XR gets done! I will support Nathan, Kris and all of our Chapter Presidents to build on what they have established and help develop new programs and initiatives to drive value for members at both the local and global levels!
