Celebrate Virtual Reality Day in Barcelona!
Join us for an afternoon of hands-on demos, expert discussions, and networking with industry leaders at Talent Garden in Poble Nou. Whether you're a VR enthusiast, developer, or just curious about immersive technology, this event is for you!

Calling ALL Mobile Developers
Don’t miss a special showcase by the team behind Media View, a Meta Quest spatial application built entirely in Android Studio using the new Meta Spatial SDK. L+R's mobile development team with over a decade of experience stepped into the exciting world of VR and XR and if you’re curious about expanding your mobile dev skills into spatial computing, come by and learn more!

Custom Multiplayer VR Showroom
KoiKollektiv in their launch of their new studio will be showcasing an amazing sci-fi showroom experience in a completely custom built multiplayer VR experience built and running on their own tech stack on top of Unity.

Brought to you by
Daniel Sisson from KoiKollektiv XR Studio
Carolin Akhtari from KoiKollektiv XR Studio
Ivan Leider from L+R
Jose Ferrer from Badalona Serveis Assistencials
Alessio Romano from VRARA Barcelona Chapter President

Date: November 23, 2024
Location: Talent Garden, Poblenou
EventBrite: https://www.eventbrite.es/e/entradas-international-global-vr-day-barcelona-1079162978519

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝟱𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗚𝗼𝗹𝗳 𝗩𝗶𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟮

Register Here

Our community is coming together for year 5 of Ready Player Golf where your $100 tax deductible donation to play Golf in VR with your friends brings VR experiences to kids battling terminal pediatric cancer. For the third year in a row, we are benefiting Children’s Cancer Research Fund's Big Dreams Virtual Tour, run by James Orrigo.  Your overwhelming support has made a huge impact, and this year, we’re taking it to the next level!

NEW THIS YEAR: We’re inviting our amazing supporters to step up as Team Captains! Lead your own team of up to 8 players for a fun-filled day of virtual golf in Walkabout Mini Golf and ENGAGE on November 22nd.

Here’s how you can get involved:
Register as an individual and join an existing team.
Help us by reposting this with your own thoughts.

Become a Team Captain: Create a team and invite up to 7 friends or colleagues to join you. Each player donates $100 to play.

As a SUPPORTER in our XR community, WE are excited for you to join in, amplifying the impact. Here's how you can get started!:

— Join a TEAM

- Build Your Squad: Up to 8 players can join a team!  So INVITE a friend to join in. We’ll send you a  link to share with your network, making it easy for them to sign up.
- Promote Your Team: Celebrity Captains are provided with a Customized Team Leader Card to share on socials and with your community, letting everyone know you’re leading the charge for this great cause
- Play in VR: The event takes place in VR on Walkabout Mini Golf and ENGAGE, supported by Meta ( Quest & Rift), Steam VR, and Pico platforms.

If you’re unable to attend but would still like to support, we welcome individual donations or sponsorships to help us make a difference for these kids.

This is your chance to lead, have fun, and make an even bigger impact. We couldn’t do this without the incredible heart of our community, and together we’re making a difference that matters.

Your donations are tax deductible through the Academy of Immersive Arts and Sciences a 501(c)(3) Public Charity.

Register here

Encuentro VRARA en Querétaro: Potenciando el Entrenamiento con XR

Querétaro, México – November 20th – The Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality Association (VRARA) invites you to "Encuentro VRARA en Querétaro: Potenciando el Entrenamiento con XR", an exciting event dedicated to exploring the impact of Extended Reality (XR) technologies—VR, AR, and MR on professional training and development. This event will feature expert speakers, live demos to showcase how XR is transforming training. 

Event Highlights:

• Keynote Speakers on XR’s role in training.

• Interactive Demos for hands-on XR experiences.

• Networking Opportunities with XR industry leaders.

Join us in Querétaro, Mexico to explore the future of immersive learning!

Date: November 20th, 2024
Time: 9:00am - 1:00pm CST
Parque Tecnológico - Tec de Monterrey. 801 Prolongación Tecnológico, Santiago de Querétaro, QUE 76159

Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1050957802077?aff=oddtdtcreator (FREE)

This presentation provides insights into how XR technologies can effectively support and transform STEAM education. It outlines the integration of XR technologies into an MA program in Learning & Communication Technologies and Educational STEAM, which emphasizes the use of new and emerging technologies to enrich STEAM learning. The session begins with an overview of the program’s goals, highlighting its innovative focus on incorporating AR, VR, and MR applications into educational practices. Following this introduction, course instructors will discuss their use of these technologies in their courses, emphasizing practical applications and pedagogical methods designed to create interactive, experiential , and engaging learning experiences within the STEAM framework.

Presenters' short bios:

Dr Maria Meletiou-Mavrotheris is a Professor of Mathematics Education at European University Cyprus (EUC), Coordinator of the MA program Education Sciences: Technologies of Learning & Communication and STEAM Education, and Director of the ICT Enhanced Education Research Laboratory. She has a Ph.D. in Mathematics Education (University of Texas at Austin), an M.Sc in Statistics (UT Austin), an M.Sc. in Engineering (UT Austin), an M.A. in Open and Distance Learning (UK Open University), a B.A. in Mathematics (UT Austin), and Teacher’s Certification in Primary Education. She has engaged extensively in research and has established a respected research record through numerous scholarly publications and repeated invitations to participate in international conferences. Her success in attracting considerable research funding from national and international sources is also testimony to the high quality of her work and her scientific leadership potential. She has been involved in over 45 EU-funded projects (H2020, Erasmus+, LLP-Grundtvig, Socrates Minerva and Comenius, Leonardo da Vinci, Eureka). Her research record includes the coordination of five EU-funded projects (EarlyStatistics, SMASH, Living Book, FemSTEAM Mysteries, DataScEd4CiEn). Notably, the Socrates-Comenius project EarlyStatistics won the 2009 Best Cooperative Project Award in Statistical Literacy from the International Association of Statistics Education (IASE), while the Erasmus+KA2 projects The Living Book and FemSTEAM Mysteries received the 2021 European Innovative Teaching Award in Primary Education, and the 2023 European Innovative Teaching Award in Secondary Education respectively.

Dr. Ioanna Vekiri is an Assistant Professor in New and Emerging Technologies for STEAM Education in the Department of Education Sciences at European University Cyprus. She studied as a Fulbright scholar in the U.S., earning an MA in Educational Communications and Technology at New York University, as well as an MA in Science Education and a PhD in Education at the University of Michigan. She has worked in higher education institutions for many years in both conventional and e-learning programs and has taught in numerous teacher training programs. Her research has been published in international conference proceedings and high-impact journals (e.g., Computers & Education, Educational Psychology Review).

Dr. Demetrios Sotiropoulos serves as a Scientific Collaborator in the Department of Education at European University Cyprus, where he teaches in the MA program Education Sciences: Technologies of Learning & Communication and STEAM Education. Additionally, he is a member of the Laboratory Teaching Staff in the Department of Special Education at the University of Thessaly in Greece. His qualifications include a PhD in the use of digital technology in education in science (University of Athens), a Master's degree (M.Sc) in science education (University of Athens) and an undergraduate degree (B.A) in physics (AUTh). He has considerable experience of teaching at all levels of education and of training teachers in the use of new technologies in educational practice. At the primary, secondary and post-secondary levels of education, he has taught the subjects of computer science and science. At the tertiary level, he has taught numerous courses on the pedagogical use of digital technology for several years and has also provided guidance to students in the preparation of their postgraduate theses. Furthermore, he has participated in a multitude of European educational programmes, including Erasmus+, Horizon 2020, and earlier initiatives, and has presented his research findings at numerous academic conferences, journals and forums in Greece and abroad.

Join the event here

The VRARA Houston Chapter is proud to be a exhibitor and media sponsor of the 2024 Tech Fest Expo at University of Houston Tech Bridge! Tech Fest Live is a non-profit educational technology events company that is connecting the youth of today for a better tomorrow through technology opportunities.

VRARA Members receive 30% ticket prices; email info@thevrara.com to obtain. Contact Chapter President Ryn Delpapa for additional information if you are interested in more involvement opportunities!

🚀 Get ready to dive into the future of Conversational AI and VR/AR! Register today!

Join the VRARA Sweden chapter for a special webinar to explore how chatbots are transforming immersive experiences, enhancing user interactions, and unlocking new possibilities across industries.

🎤 Guest Speaker: Alex Romero 💡 from SentientInfo, a leader in AI solutions, will be sharing his expertise on integrating chatbots into VR/AR environments. His innovative work is helping to shape the future of immersive technologies.

What to Expect:

• Innovative Integration: Discover how chatbots enhance VR/AR experiences.

• Real-World Applications: Case studies demonstrating the powerful impact of this technology.

• Future Trends: Insights into the evolving landscape of conversational AI and immersive tech.

• Interactive Q&A: Engage with industry leaders and ask your burning questions.

🚀 Don’t miss this opportunity to learn, connect, and be part of the future of tech! Explore how innovation can be driven together.

Exciting News: Webinar on Conversational AI and Immersive Tech!

We’re diving into the future of Conversational AI and VR/AR!

Join us for a special webinar where we explore how chatbots are transforming the immersive experience, enhancing user interactions, and opening new possibilities across industries.

Guest Speaker:
I’m thrilled to have Alex Romero from SentientInfo, a leader in AI solutions, sharing his expertise on integrating chatbots into VR/AR environments. His innovative work is helping shape the future of immersive technologies!

What to Expect:
Innovative Integration: Discover how chatbots enhance VR/AR experiences.
Real-World Applications: Case studies showing the powerful impact of this technology.

Future Trends: Insights into the evolving landscape of conversational AI and immersive tech.

Interactive Q&A: Engage with industry leaders and ask your burning questions.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn, connect, and be part of the future of tech! Let’s explore how we can drive innovation together.

https://lnkd.in/gAE49-WD

The Alabama Chapter is celebrating Ethar – a local startup in the Alabama ecosystem here – and the upcoming release of their Geospatial Toolkit, which will help shape XR standards across the board

• We’re streaming the event, where Ethar’ll make a call for beta testers, and everyone can watch from their own shindigs

• We’re going from 5p – 7:30p, with the main stage event happening at 5:55p

• Call in to network with folks around the chapter + watch the announcement from the stage: https://meet.google.com/ewn-bdqj-ejd

• There’s Virtual Speed Networking via the same call, so that folks from all over can meet each other and hang between the main stage event

Join us on October 15, 2024 for the inaugural Nationwide Children’s XR Symposium to connect, collaborate and invigorate technological advancement, research discovery, talent development and impact of extended reality (XR) in the Midwest and beyond.

The conference will highlight emerging technology, research findings, innovative applications, and create partnerships in the field of extended reality across a number of industries. Our goal in hosting this conference is to bring together XR enthusiasts from across the Midwest to share exciting XR projects, happenings and lessons learned, generate new ideas, stimulate collaboration and foster a multi-industry XR community in the region.

VRARA Members receive 10% discount on their ticket; email info@thevrara.com to obtain and register today!

The Dallas Chapter President, Greg Ladd from Gamedriver, is pleased to announce that the Dallas Chapter will be hosting a VRARA Business Networking Event on the 14th October at the Hyatt Regency Dallas, Monduels Restaurant from 6-8pm.

This event is sponsored by HTC Vive and Virtualware.  Come meet with HTC Vive North America President Dan O'brien and his leadership team, Virtualware CEO Unai Extremo and Virtualware USA President John Cunningham and enjoy a drink and hor d'oeuvres and learn about exciting new products from both companies while meeting with other senior executives from the industry.

We have reserved 25 free seats for VRARA Members on a first come first serve basis.

So if you are planning to attend the Augmented Enterprise Summit that starts on the 15th of October in the same hotel then you might want to register for a ticket.  

Visit the event site for more information and to register (Note: VRARA members must have a code to register. Please email john@thevrara.com for the registration code.)

Register Today!

The VRARA Kansas City chapter is hosting the International Virtual Reality Healthcare Association (IVRHA) Midwest demo tour!

This will be an open house (you don't have to attend all 5 hours) featuring 12-15 companies demoing their XR solutions for healthcare. There will be a lunchtime presentation, "Deploying a Patient Facing AI Application at the American Cancer Society: Lessons Learned" and a VR Blood drive giving you a chance to donate blood while enjoying an immerse experience on the Hololens2. Please register on the tour site, tour.ivrha.org.

See you there!

The VRARA Orlando Chapter is pleased to invite you to the next VRARA Central Florida Chapter event on Oct 2nd from 5:30-7:30 at the Orlando Tech Hub.

Our theme is "The Intersection of XR and AI" and we have 2 speakers that will share their insights and lead some panel discussions with other experts!  Dr. Brian Stensrud, Technical Fellow at CAE USA and Dr. Robert Masson, CEO of eXeX a medtech startup here in Orlando.  

Sheena Fowler, Vice President of Red 6 will be our Panel Moderator and Ariane Fikki is our event manager! 

Come join us for an evening of learning and business networking!

REGISTER HERE!

VRARA is proud to be a media partner of AR/VR Display Forum 2024. Our members receive $100 off their ticket price; email info@thevrara.com to obtain.

AR/VR is the fastest growing application for the display industry and is expected to be a multi-billion dollar opportunity for suppliers. Many companies in the supply chain are developing technologies and components that will enable more immersive VR headsets and AR smart glasses.

In-Person Conference

DSCC will be hosting this in-person event fully dedicated to the emerging display technologies for Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality. The conference will be held in-person for the first time in the Silicon Valley, gathering leading companies and experts to discuss the latest innovations in display technologies for Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality.  

All attendees will also have access to recordings of the presentations after the event.

Exhibition

An exhibition area will be provided to showcase new products and prototypes. Space is limited so please get in touch to reserve a spot now. Sponsorship is also available: contact us for more information on the benefits of becoming a sponsor.

Venue and Co-located Event

The AR/VR Display Forum will take place on October 1st at the Fremont Marriott Silicon Valley (Fremont, CA). The following day, DSCC and Counterpoint Research will hold the Tech Market Research Conference to present the latest insights and market analysis. This makes it simple and cost-effective to attend both events. 

Join us for the exciting launch of the VRARA San Diego Chapter - an XR Industry event you won't want to miss!

Join us for an unforgettable evening of XR innovation and networking! Immerse yourself in the exciting world of spatial collaboration as you connect with industry leaders, explore emerging trends, and discover new business opportunities.

Discover the latest advancements in XR technology and learn how it's transforming industries from manufacturing, to defense, healthcare, and beyond.

Network with like-minded professionals, investors, and startups to build valuable relationships and explore potential collaborations.

What to Expect:

• Industry Insights: Hear from experts in the emerging tech industry

• Networking Opportunities: Connect with investors, startups, and market leaders

• Engaging Presentations: Gain valuable insights from fascinating panel discussions

• Exclusive Demos: Explore immersive experiences unlike anything you’ve tried before

• Networking Reception: Enjoy appetizers and beverages while mingling with fellow XR enthusiasts

Speakers

• Nathan Pettyjohn: Founder & President, VRARA

• Sven Brunner: CEO, Sphere

• Panel Speakers from Qualcomm, Globant, Interlock Capital, EvoNexus, and UCSD Center for Cyber-Archaeology.

Hands-On Demos From:

• Sphere

• Qualcomm

• Globant

• TAP Systems

• UCSD XR Lab

Address: The Qualcomm Institute is located in Atkinson Hall on the UC San Diego campus at the corner of Voigt Drive and Equality Lane; the building address is 3195 Voigt Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093.

Parking: Visitor parking is available in UC San Diego’s Hopkins Parking Structure (for more on visitor parking, see UC San Diego Transportation Services).

Maps: https://qi.ucsd.edu/contact/

Register Today! Space is limited, so register now to reserve your spot and be a part of this exciting launch event!

VRARA Minneapolis and Dr. Masson from eXeX to discuss how XR & Ai are revolutionizing surgery to improve outcomes and patient care. Register Today!

Join us for a discussion on how XR and Ai are being used to optimize surgery with Dr. Robert Masson from eXeX. Started in 2022, the company recently raised $5.8m in seed funding to bring increased efficiency to surgical rooms and reduce complications arising from prolonged surgery. This online event is a great opportunity to learn how XR and Ai are shaping the future of healthcare.

Register Today!

The VRARA University and Colleges Committee is pleased to offer this online presentation on September 20th which explores the innovative use of virtual and augmented reality in tourism education, drawing from the 'My Hometown Project' and related research conducted at Kyoto University of Foreign Studies. We'll discuss how immersive technologies are being utilized to address real-world challenges in the tourism industry, such as over-tourism in popular destinations, while simultaneously providing students with valuable hands-on experience.

The talk will showcase a custom-built VR platform that allows students to create, curate, and share virtual tours of their hometowns and other locations. We'll examine how this technology, combined with a specially designed immersive learning environment, enables students to simulate real-world tour experiences. The presentation will highlight key findings on the impact of these simulations on students' sense of presence, motivation, and preparation for careers in tourism. By demonstrating the practical applications of VR/AR in vocational education, this talk aims to inspire new thinking about the potential of immersive technologies in training the next generation of tourism professionals and reshaping the future of the industry.

Speaker Bio: Eric Hawkinson

Eric is a learning futurist, tinkering with and designing technologies that may better inform the future of teaching and learning.  Eric's projects have included augmented tourism rallies, AR community art exhibitions, mixed reality escape rooms, and other experiments in immersive technology.  Full listing of research and projects at https://erichawkinson.com 

Roles
Professor - Kyoto University of Foreign Studies
Research Coordinator - MAVR Research Group
Founder - Together Learning
Developer - Reality Labo
Community Leader - Team Teachers
Chair - World Learning Labs

No advance registration required; Mark your calendars and join us!

VRARA Member Cañada College invites you to campus on Friday, September 20th at 11am, for an introduction to our team, full review of all things apprenticeship, and open dialog about how we can collaborate to best meet your hiring needs. If you have questions please feel free to reach out!

RSVP today!

Register here

Event hours: 11am-2pm EST

Register here

PROGRAM:

30+ speakers and 1000s of attendees.

Rob Pereira from PICO

PICO's Vision for Transforming Edu with VR:
Discover how PICO is revolutionizing classrooms & scaling immersive learning across edu institutions of all sizes. We’ll showcase real-world deployments with a tangible impact on edu globally, offering valuable insights on integrating this cutting-edge tech into your school or institution.

Haifa Maamar from Full Sail University

Innovating Edu: AI, Immersive Tech, and EdTech at Full Sail

How AI is revolutionizing personalized learning, how immersive tech is creating hands-on, interactive educational experiences, and the innovations driving the next generation of EdTech. Real-world examples where students are immersed in cutting-edge projects. From AI-driven creative tools to VR labs that simulate professional environments, Full Sail is leading the way in integrating the tech into edu. At Full Sail, students are not just being prepared for the future—they're actively shaping it.

Sean Fenton from Lifecache

Empowering Educators with AR: Unlocking Immersive Learning with No-Code using Lifecache:

Lifecache removes barriers to managing and deploying AR experiences at scale using no code. As a Location-Based AR platform with a SaaS model, Lifecache enhances the user experience providing organizations with an easy to use scalable AR platform allowing the deployment of content agnostically across Mobile and XR Devices. 

Carlos Ochoa & Colleen Bielitz, VRARA Co-Chairs

New Challenges & Opportunities in Building Edu Community:

The VRARA Education Committee has been building one of the largest global communities of experts, exploring new tech advancements, use cases, immersive spaces, roundtables, expert debates, research studies, and much more.

Ana Ilievska, Warp VR & Elizabeth Stoner, Bentley Univ

Empirical Results from VR Scenarios in Higher Ed

We’ll explore 360-degree video scenarios in higher ed & highlight how VR can bring certain locations into the classroom that are either too remote or outside the budget. How VR scenarios enhance student engagement & learning.

Kimberly Workum, Univ of Manitoba

Use of VR in Assessing & Developing Competencies for Internationally Educated Nurses

How VR enables evaluating & improving foreign nurses skills, knowledge, & judgment. Learn about the integration of VR into the competency assessment process & its role in professional development, ensuring that foreign nurses meet rigorous standards.

Khodaei Dolouei, Samira, RWTH Aachen University

XR Literacy: Enabling Future Educators for Immersive Learning

Key qualifications educators need to integrate XR into their teaching. Whether you're an XR enthusiast, a veteran educator, or just starting out in the field, this session invites you to reflect on and share the skills you've already applied in crafting immersive learning experiences.

Dan Munnerley, Arizona State Univ

AI, Spatial & Game Tech Convergence at ASU's Next Lab:

Univ of the Future, a radical version of self-determined learning that puts learners in control of learning, a new era of self-directed learning by offering personalized, immersive & engaging edu experiences.

Alex Dzyuba, CEO, Lucid Reality Labs & Daniel Daugherty, American Red Cross

Designing for Scale–Upskilling & Certifying 300,000 Lifeguards Annually with VR:

Award-winning training program demonstrating real-world impact.

Jim Chaffee, Univ of Iowa (panel)

Through the Eyes of the Next Generation–MBA Student Perspectives on XR in Industry:

Hear from current & past MBA students who have explored XR as they share their perspectives on the relevance, effectiveness, & future.

Rubén Durán, Houston Community College

HCC Reality Collab: A Collaborative Incubator for Immersive Tech & Edu Innovation:

How the incubator is pioneering the future of edu through collaboration that brings together students, faculty, departments & fosters creativity, innovation, empowering participants to transform edu practices & develop new solutions.

Elisabetta Porta, Hevolus

Inclusion, Multilingualism & Immersive Learning–Innovating Edu with Gen AI & Mixed Reality:

How gen AI offers on-demand access to edu content, eliminating language barriers, making edu resources accessible to a global audience. How MR can convert any environment into an iimmersive edu experiences, using common devices like smartphones & tablets.

Carly Brady, Madison College

XR Across the Curriculum: A Two-Year Technical College's Innovative Approach:

Institution's XR Center and their strategic adoption of XR across a wide range of academic programs. Challenges & opportunities encountered in developing & implementing XR experiences, focusing on real-world apps with the potential to impact student learning & outcomes.

Wallace Judd, Authentic Testing

Translating VR Learning Games into VR Certifications:

A 2-hour VR course turned into the first ANAB-Accredited VR Certification, which satisfied OSHA requirements.

Rob Theriault, Dr. Paula MacDowell, others (panel)

When XR meets AI in Edu: 

Schools are faced with the threat to academic integrity & the potentially transformative nature of GenAI impact on how students might learn & how learning will be assessed in the near future. Is this a Wesley Crusher moment in edu?

Lucky Gobindram & Ohio State Univ (panel)

AI as a Beachhead for XR: Transforming Edu through Predictive & Adaptive Learning:

How AI serves as a critical entry point for the adoption of XR in edu, emphasizing AI's role in enabling personalized learning experiences, predictive analytics, & adaptive content delivery.

​​Max Rakov, Yorkville Univ

Demystifying XR & Metaverse: Bridging the Gap for Non-Tech Background Students:

How to effectively introduce & integrate tech programs for students from non-technical backgrounds. Strategies for making complex concepts accessible & engaging.

See program details here

CALL FOR SPONSORS & SPEAKERS:
Sponsors get the best speaking spot, registration list of 2000+ attendees, and promotion to our 60k emails global mailing list. Plus, promotion by LinkedIn. LinkedIn has 1 Billion users and 57M orgs are listed on LinkedIn, and our event will help elevate your brand and get you established as an authority in the industry!

Our past LinkedIn Live summits had up to 3260+ registrations - Europe (3260+ registrations) and Enterprise (2500+ registrations) and generated 1000+ LIVE audience during prime time speaking spots - see examples below)

If interested to speak or sponsor, email kris@thevrara.com