Winston-Salem State University is giving potential nurses real-life scenarios to learn from.WSSU is the first HBCU in the state of North Carolina to launch a virtual reality training program for nursing students. The university collaborated with the School of Filmmaking at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts to make it all possible.Top StoriesBody found floating down river in North CarolinaNorth Carolina murder suspect wanted for nearly a year arrested in South CarolinaUp to $70k Reward in finding jail escapee accused of killing North Carolina deputyGet the latest news stories of interest by clicking here"I think it's a great experience to enhance our education and try something new," one WSSU nursing student said.The virtual reality training gives nursing students a way to experience real-life scenarios they may encounter in the real world. "They are actually giving care," WSSU Nursing Professor Dr. Tori Brown said. "They can administer medications, insert an IV, talk to a doctor. So, they can do everything in the virtual reality training that they can do in the hospital."The new training allows WSSU nursing students to learn firsthand about what they may encounter in a hospital or doctor's office setting."In the virtual reality, we have created scenarios that have a patient," Brown said. "And there are different disease processes and medical diagnoses-- so they can take care of the patient from beginning to end.""It's more hands-on, and we can do a lot more," one WSSU nursing student said. The new program, which officially launched on April 25, gives nursing students the opportunity to actually experience the reality of what being a nurse is like while prioritizing the human element."Technology is skyrocketing," Brown said. "So there are so many things we can do with it. It's very innovative, and with VR, it can be used in many different settings-- but with health care, we can mimic that real clinical setting to give students that real-life safe environment."Students can be in their own, virtual, world caring for patients and learning from mistakes now before they deal with these situations in the real world."For example, in the scenarios, you can have a student make an incorrect choice, and they'll see the result of that in the scenario," Brown said. "So I think it's very beneficial to their learning. So, we're able to create critical thinking with these scenarios so they can mimic real-life situations when they get into the hospital or clinical setting."Funding for the program was provided by the North Carolina Collaboratory through an appropriation from the North Carolina General Assembly.Nearly $800,000 was awarded to the two schools for digital design and program implementation. Watch: NOWCAST streaming newscastsNAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Watch NOWCAST TV | Local News | National | News We LoveKeep up with local news, weather, and current events with the WXII app here

Winston-Salem State University is giving potential nurses real-life scenarios to learn from.

WSSU is the first HBCU in the state of North Carolina to launch a virtual reality training program for nursing students. The university collaborated with the School of Filmmaking at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts to make it all possible.

Top Stories

Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here

"I think it's a great experience to enhance our education and try something new," one WSSU nursing student said.

The virtual reality training gives nursing students a way to experience real-life scenarios they may encounter in the real world.

"They are actually giving care," WSSU Nursing Professor Dr. Tori Brown said. "They can administer medications, insert an IV, talk to a doctor. So, they can do everything in the virtual reality training that they can do in the hospital."

The new training allows WSSU nursing students to learn firsthand about what they may encounter in a hospital or doctor's office setting.

"In the virtual reality, we have created scenarios that have a patient," Brown said. "And there are different disease processes and medical diagnoses-- so they can take care of the patient from beginning to end."

"It's more hands-on, and we can do a lot more," one WSSU nursing student said.

The new program, which officially launched on April 25, gives nursing students the opportunity to actually experience the reality of what being a nurse is like while prioritizing the human element.

"Technology is skyrocketing," Brown said. "So there are so many things we can do with it. It's very innovative, and with VR, it can be used in many different settings-- but with health care, we can mimic that real clinical setting to give students that real-life safe environment."

Students can be in their own, virtual, world caring for patients and learning from mistakes now before they deal with these situations in the real world.

"For example, in the scenarios, you can have a student make an incorrect choice, and they'll see the result of that in the scenario," Brown said. "So I think it's very beneficial to their learning. So, we're able to create critical thinking with these scenarios so they can mimic real-life situations when they get into the hospital or clinical setting."

Funding for the program was provided by the North Carolina Collaboratory through an appropriation from the North Carolina General Assembly.

Nearly $800,000 was awarded to the two schools for digital design and program implementation.

Watch: NOWCAST streaming newscasts

NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Watch NOWCAST TV | Local News | National | News We Love

Keep up with local news, weather, and current events with the WXII app here

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WSSU becomes first HBCU in North Carolina to provide virtual reality training to nursing students - WXII12 Winston-Salem

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Andriy Onufriyenko/Getty Images

Another week comes by, and luckily so does our roundup of science news. This time, we've got some questions about better understanding our health: Why do only some people get motion sickness from virtual reality (VR) content? Do we really need to walk 10,000 steps a day? And is there real science behind ice baths?

This week, Sacha Pfeiffer, legendary reporter and occasional host of NPR's All Things Considered, who joins our hosts Emily Kwong and Regina G. Barber to demystify and (in some cases) debunk the science of this week's health headlines.

We love hearing what you're reading and what science catches your eye! Reach the show by emailing shortwave@npr.org.

Listen to Short Wave on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts.

This episode was produced by Liz Metzger with Kai McNamee. It was edited by Brent Baughman, Christopher Intagliata and managing producer Rebecca Ramirez.

Go here to read the rest:

VR motion sickness, 10,000 step goals, benefits of ice baths : Short Wave - NPR

A mechanical backpack can enhance the sensation of jumping or falling in virtual reality by sliding a weight up or down.

Simulating forces on the body while in virtual reality (VR), like those you might feel in a roller coaster or a racing car, often requires bulky and expensive hardware that is unsuitable for home use.

Instead, Pedro Lopes at the University of Chicago and his colleagues have developed a backpack, called JumpMod, that can create the sensation of being pulled up or down by modifying the users sense of vertical momentum. You can play lots of tricks just by playing with perception, rather than physically having these massive infrastructures, says Lopes.

To trick the brain, JumpMod senses within milliseconds the need to give a sense of jumping or falling and then quickly moves a 2-kilogram weight up or down to achieve this.

Lopes and his colleagues used the device to create a variety of effects in a VR simulation. In one part of the game, players collected a token that enabled them to jump higher, helping them to leap over a cow. By moving the weight up as the player was lifting off the ground, JumpMod made it feel as if they were jumping higher.

In another scenario, players had to smash a pumpkin by jumping on it. By moving the weight down as the player was descending, JumpMod made it feel as if they were landing harder.

At the end of the game, the player is lifted off the ground by a bird. The weight in the backpack moved downwards to give a sense of being lifted upwards.

Lopes presented the work at the Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems in Hamburg, Germany, on 24 April. He says the system could also be used for training people to jump more effectively through physical feedback.

It is a novel VR accessory, but it would be good to see longer-term data on its use to rule out the effect of novelty in the initial studies, says Brendan Walker at the University of Middlesex in London. It could also be more ergonomically designed to avoid putting all of the force through the rucksack straps, he says.

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Originally posted here:

Mechanical backpack boosts the sensation of jumping in virtual reality - New Scientist

A partnership with the Spanish firm Virtualware has created what is believed to be the worlds first multi-user, globally connected platform allowing users to connect to Invest WindsorEssexs virtual reality cave from anywhere in the world.

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The VIROO software, which also upgrades the technical capabilities of the Automobility and Innovation Centres virtual reality cave, means users no longer must be physically in Windsor as long as they have access to a PC, laptop or virtual reality headset.

The most important thing of this is accessibility, said Invest WindsorEssex CEO Stephen MacKenzie.

You can be on the other side of the world and be able to access our VR cave. This enhances the assets this region has to offer in trying to attract new companies.

But it is also important for existing companies already here. A number of companies can use this for digital twinning, training and product development and not have to come here.

Virtualware is a global virtual reality company with offices in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom and is headquartered just outside of Bilbao, Spain.

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Among its clients are electronics giant Hitachi, Michigan-based Guardian Glass, French automotive supplier Faurecia and the international energy company Petronas.

Michael Rosas, VP General Manager at Virtualware, speaks in front of the Virtual Reality Cave during a press announcement at the Automobility and Innovation Centre, on Thursday, April 27, 2023. Photo by Dax Melmer /Windsor Star

Michael Rosas, Virtualwares director/vice president North America, said the other barrier the company has removed is being forced to create content for specific devices in order to use the VR cave.

VR caves have existed for many years, Rosas said. What we havent seen is these great pieces of infrastructure being able to connect remotely and at a multiple-user level.

To be able to sync it all is something weve not seen in the marketplace.

Rosas added theres also no limit to the number of users of the platform at any given time, and it can be accessed using a variety of devices.

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You could be having hundreds of people on at the same time, Rosas said. We havent seen something like this.

Companies will be able to create their factories and assembly lines digitally and begin training their staff before a shovel goes in the ground.

As part of last weeks announcement, Invest WindsorEssex showed an assembly line process for a battery factory theyd created.

Weve created something interactive, said Invest WindsorEssexs lead software developer Bryan Holmes.

Theyre (students) actually assembling cells for a battery and putting them in cases.

Now that the Virtualware program is live, Invest WindsorEssex officials plan to present the possibilities to LG Energy Solutions for training of the workers theyll be hiring for the NextStar battery plant.

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MacKenzie said St. Clair College and the University of Windsor can now also incorporate the capabilities of Canadas largest, publicly accessible VR cave into the classroom.

Itll help develop more qualified and experienced graduates, MacKenzie said.

Rosas said the capabilities of Windsors VR cave gives the area something unique to attract companies. It also sends the message of a community investing in its future.

Just as a piece of infrastructure, it attracts people from other countries to invest in the region because they see an investment happening in innovation here, Rosas said.

That there are tools and an ability to train their workforces using this that potentially wouldnt be in other locations theyre looking at.

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The whole idea of this is for everyone to start participating in this.

Rosas said the VR cave will also be useful for existing businesses adding new machinery, assembly lines or for finding efficiencies in production.

It saves companies time and money, Rosas said. It saves on training and recertification.

Assembly lines dont have to be down for training. It also captures data that helps with proficiency and to see if people are doing something well and correctly.

Twitter.com/windstarwaddell

Link:

Windsors virtual reality cave now accessible from anywhere in the world - Windsor Star

Bild: Meta

Oculus Quest originally had no gaming focus and was partially redesigned at the last minute for that purpose.

This fascinating insight was revealed by Director of Content Ecosystem Chris Pruett in a talk titled Meta Quest Today and Where Its Going Tomorrow at GDC 2023. Recently, all of Metas GDC sessions have been made available on YouTube (see sources at the bottom of this article).

In the nearly 50-minute talk, Pruett discusses, among other things, the development history of the Oculus Quest, which was released in May 2019. This product was preceded by the Oculus Rift PC VR headset (2016) and the Oculus Go standalone device (2018).

Pruett says there have been two camps within Meta: One advocated for fidelity and a high-end experience, while the other pushed for reach and use of ease. The Rift product line, discontinued in 2021, was in a sense the baby of the first camp; Oculus Go was that of the second. But neither device had the mainstream success Meta had hoped for. Rift required a PC and was cumbersome to use, while Oculus Go was too technically limited by its 3-DoF tracking.

We put a bunch of effort into both of them. We made content for both of these things. We marketed the crap out of them, we sold them at retail, we put them in different countries. Like we just did it properly. And we learned a ton about this. And then we used the things that we learn to design Oculus Quest, Pruett says.

Oculus Quest, he says, is the merger of those two things (fidelity vs. reach), and was in development for a very long time.

The first Quest device was actually in development before Go even went into development. And we, very late in the program based on these learnings from Rift and Go, pivoted the Quest device to be much more games focused.

Two of the most important lessons Meta learned during this time were that content is king and that virtual reality (in this early stage) is all about video games. Quality VR games were what drove people to buy a VR headset.

One of the ways this late pivot to gaming found expression was in the controllers, which were redesigned at the last minute. Instead of trackpads similar to Oculus Gos, Quests input devices received analog sticks and buttons. Changing a set up hardware pipeline is extremely expensive and extremely difficult, Pruett says, but it was necessary to make Oculus Quest a success.

Who knows what would have happened to Oculus Quest if it had launched with trackpad controllers!

You can read all about the Meta Quest 2 and Meta Quest Pro in the linked reviews.

Prescription lenses from VR Optician make your glasses obsolete. You can get them with a 5% discount using the link below.

Note: Links to online stores in articles can be so-called affiliate links. If you buy through this link, MIXED receives a commission from the provider. For you the price does not change.

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Oculus Quest wasnt meant to be a gaming console - MIXED Reality News

As technology evolves, businesses constantly seek innovative ways to integrate emerging trends to improve their operations and gain a competitive edge. Two of the most exciting areas in this regard are blockchain and virtual reality (VR). While these technologies are often seen as disparate, there is a fascinating intersection between them that has the potential to revolutionise digital advertising.

This press release will explore the potential of combining blockchain and VR to create immersive and secure advertising experiences.

On the surface, blockchain and VR may seem like an unlikely pairing. However, both technologies share some key characteristics, making them a perfect match for digital advertising.

Firstly, blockchain is known for its security and transparency. Blockchain makes assurance that data cannot be interfered with or altered by utilising a decentralised ledger. This makes it ideal for protecting user data, which is crucial in digital advertising.

Similarly, VR is all about creating immersive experiences for users. Again, this creates a unique opportunity for advertisers to engage with their audience in a way that is impossible through traditional advertising methods.

So, how can businesses combine these technologies to create a new and exciting advertising experience? The answer lies in the concept of virtual real estate.

Virtual real estate refers to the virtual spaces that can be created using VR technology. Businesses can offer their audience a truly immersive experience by creating virtual spaces. For example, users can interact with products, try clothes, attend events and more from home. Furthermore, by using NFTs to represent virtual real estate, businesses can ensure their virtual spaces are secure, transparent and tradable.

For example, a business could create a virtual store using VR technology and then sell that store as an NFT on a blockchain. This would allow the buyer to own and manage the virtual store like a real-world one. In addition, they could use the virtual store to sell products, host events or engage with their audience in a new and exciting way.

The potential of combining blockchain and VR in digital advertising is enormous. By creating virtual real estate secured by blockchain technology, businesses can offer their audience a new level of engagement and interaction. This creates a unique opportunity for advertisers to build brand awareness, generate leads and drive sales in a way that is impossible through traditional advertising. In addition, by creating virtual real estate secured by blockchain technology, businesses can offer their audience a new level of privacy and security. Users can be confident that their data is safe and that they control their virtual environment.

Blockchain and VR intersect in crypto trading on platforms like oil profit. In addition, virtual reality trading platforms have also emerged, allowing traders to monitor and execute trades in 3D environments. As the crypto market grows, we expect to see more innovative uses of blockchain and VR technology in finance.

Of course, modern technology comes with both potential and difficulties. Costs associated with building virtual real estate are among the main obstacles. VR technology can be expensive to develop and maintain, and creating a virtual space that is both engaging and secure can be a significant investment.

However, the potential rewards of this investment are significant. Businesses that successfully create virtual real estate that engages their audience and drives sales could see a substantial return on investment. To address these concerns, it will be necessary for businesses to work with regulatory bodies to establish clear guidelines and standards for using blockchain and VR in advertising.

As the technology evolves and becomes more accessible, the cost of developing and maintaining virtual real estate using VR technology will likely decrease. Buyers can own and trade virtual real estate just like physical real estate, creating a new avenue for investment and revenue.

The intersection of blockchain, VR and digital advertising is a fascinating area with enormous potential. By creating a virtual real estate that engages its audience and protects user data, businesses can offer a unique and personalised experience that sets them apart from their competitors.

As with any emerging technology, businesses must stay updated on the latest developments and trends in blockchain, VR and digital advertising. By being informed and investing in these technologies, companies can position themselves for success in the rapidly changing digital landscape.

One trend likely to emerge shortly is augmented reality (AR) in digital advertising. By superimposing virtual things over the natural environment, businesses may provide customers with a distinctive and exciting experience. In addition, with blockchain technology, companies can secure and track user data in real-time, further enhancing the user experience.

It is essential to note that the intersection of blockchain, VR and digital advertising also has the potential to drive social impact. By creating virtual experiences that promote social good, businesses can align their brand with a larger purpose and positively impact society.

For example, virtual experiences can be created to promote social causes such as environmental sustainability, gender equality and social justice. Using blockchain technology to secure user data and track engagement, businesses can demonstrate their commitment to social impact and hold themselves accountable to their stakeholders.

The intersection of blockchain, VR and digital advertising presents an exciting business opportunity. By creating virtual real estate secured by blockchain technology, companies can offer their audience a new level of engagement and interaction. This opportunity allows advertisers to build brand awareness, generate leads and drive sales in a way that is impossible through traditional advertising. It will be necessary for companies to work with regulatory bodies to establish clear guidelines and standards for using blockchain and VR in advertising.

Overall, the potential rewards of this technology are significant and businesses that are early adopters will have a considerable advantage over their competitors. The future of digital advertising is exciting and the intersection of blockchain, VR and digital advertising is just the beginning.

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Unexplored synergy of blockchain, virtual reality, digital advertising - ITWeb

Publisher Microids and developer Virtuallyz Gaming have announced rail shooter comeback Operation Wolf Returns: First Mission VR for PlayStation VR2, Quest 2, and PICO 4. It will launch on June 22.

As previously announced, the revival of the 1987 arcade game from TAITO is also coming to non-virtual reality platforms as Operation Wolf Returns: First Mission this fall. It will be available both physically and digitally for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and Switch, and digitally for Xbox Series, Xbox One, and PC via Steam.

Here is an overview of the virtual reality version, via Microids:

About

Developed and published by TAITO in 1987, the arcade game Operation Wolf left a mark for a whole generation of gamers, being one of the first games to offer side scrolling rail shooting action. Operation Wolf Returns: First Mission VR will remain faithful to the spirit of the original game, while premiering a new artistic direction.

In its solo virtual reality campaign, play as a special agent fighting a new criminal organization. In addition to arms and drug trafficking, the organization, led by the mysterious General Viper, has developed a powerful new weapon. After discovering several of its bases, you will be sent to dismantle the organization, destroy the weapon and free the hostages held captive in surrounding camps.

Key Features

View a new set of screenshots at the gallery.

Link:

Operation Wolf Returns: First Mission VR announced for PS VR2, Quest 2, and PICO 4 - Gematsu

Winston-Salem State University is partnering with the University of North Carolina School of the Arts to include virtual reality training in its curriculum for nursing students.

The nearly $800,000 project is funded by the North Carolina Collaboratory, which was created by the General Assembly to conduct research across the UNC System to inform policymaking on the state and local levels.

Under the program, nursing students will start using virtual reality during their junior year to train in clinical environments like hospitals, simulating real-world experiences. Through virtual reality, Leslee Battle the dean of WSSUs Health and Sciences School said the programs faculty can control what happens to make sure that the students get the most experience and more practice.

We all know the more that you are repeating certain activities, the better it is retained, Battle said.

Battle added that the training begins with knowing the fundamentals, like hand washing, and progresses as the student goes through the nursing program.

We're able to both use it as a learning tool for the students to go through as well as an assessment, Battle said. For example, faculty can add a reminder in a session for the student to wash their hands when they enter a patients room; then add an assessment to see if the student remembers to wash their hand during another session.

According to Battle, Winston-Salem State is the first historically Black college or university in North Carolina to use virtual reality training in its nursing program.

Read more:

Winston-Salem State University adds virtual reality training to its ... - WUNC

On a recent tour of the cutting-edge St. Marys Medical Education Center, a group of high school students from Grand Junction High School and Central High School were able to get hands-on experience in the virtual reality (VR) anatomical learning lab. These students are part of the inaugural TRIO Upward Bound (UB) program that works to prepare local first-generation, income-eligible students for success in college.

Anatomy Lab Coordinator Michael Williams, PhD, led the tour and explained, we house three graduate programs at the St. Marys Medical Education Center. We offer an occupational therapy program, physician assistant studies and in the fall, we will be starting a physical therapy program. After touring the new classrooms and study spaces, Williams brought the students to the main attraction of their visit, the VR anatomical learning lab.

The lab consists of eight VR headsets and Williams explained to students that VR gives us a very different perspective that you cant get on a model. Students were given instructions on how to load an anatomy model into the VR environment, toggle the muscle, bone and viscera layers off and on and how to click on individual components to study them in more detail or to remove them from the model. One thing thats neat about the VR is that you can walk around the model, and you can move inside the model to get a different viewpoint. Its hard sometimes to make sense of what something looks like just from a piece of paper in a textbook. This gives students a hands-on, three-dimensional experience, explained Williams.

One thing thats neat about the VR learning lab is that you can walk around the model, and you can move inside the model to get a different viewpoint. Its hard sometimes to make sense of what something looks like just from a piece of paper in a textbook. This gives students a hands-on, three-dimensional experience. - Anatomy Lab Coordinator Michael Williams, PhD

When it was time for the UB students to put on the VR headsets, they expressed wonder and amazement as they explored the virtual environment. The UB program is funded through a federal grant along with contributions from Colorado Mesa University and is targeted at helping ninth and tenth grade students with academic tutoring, program and course selection advising, college exam and applications assistance and financial literacy training. UB participants also get to attend college exploration trips to find a school that fits their unique needs. One of the biggest attractions of the program is the Summer Academy when students spend six-weeks on the CMU campus and experience on-campus living, go on a week-long college campus bus tour, engage in various mental health, wellness and social activities and receive rigorous academic instruction to make sure they are ready to succeed at the college level.

When students are not attending UB activities and events they have access to UB Advisors that are assigned to their high school for additional support. Advisors also engage families to connect them with additional resources to support their students and navigate the financial aid resources available to them.

Upward Bound Advisor and CMU alumnus Aaron Reed, mass communication, 22, currently works with students at Central High School and explained, I wanted to be part of the Upward Bound program because it is so hands-on, and you can really connect with students in their schools. You get to talk to them day-to-day, help them get to the next level and get them excited about college. I didnt have a program like this when I was in high school, and I wanted to make a change and be the difference for first-generation students in our community.

I didnt have a program like this when I was in high school, and I wanted to make a change and be the difference for first-generation students in our community. Upward Bound Advisor Aaron Reed

Reed continued, so many first-generation students dont see students that look like them, come from where they come from or have their background go on to college and succeed. I think the misconception is that if I dont look like that, or if my parents didnt go to college, I cant do it. The biggest thing I want to instill in our D51 students is that just because you may be a first-generation student you can still go to college and do great things.

To be considered for the 2023-2024 program students must be going into either ninth or tenth grade next year, study at Central High School or Grand Junction High School, identify as a first-generation student (meaning neither parent/guardian has a four-year degree) and demonstrate financial need.

If you know a student that could benefit from this program, they can learn more and apply for the 2023-2024 program on the Upward Bound website.

Anatomy Lab Coordinator Michael Williams got things set up for everyone.

The students were all smiles when it was their turn.

And the students' curiosity led to some great discussions.

Read more from the original source:

Upward Bound Students Explore CMU's New Virtual Reality ... - CMUnow

Published May 5, 2023 6:17 p.m. ET

Updated May 5, 2023 7:20 p.m. ET

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Just like the motion sickness someone might feel while in a plane, car or boat cybersickness can occur while people are playing virtual reality (VR) games.

When someone is plugged into a VR game, it can be hard for certain gamers to process being in two places at once both physically and virtually.

Conflicts between information between the real world and the virtual world can sometimes make people feel sick, said Michael Barnett-Cowan, an associate professor in the department of kinesiology and health sciences at the University of Waterloo (UW).

Researchers at UW completed a new study to explore why some feel cybersickness more than other. Researchers believe its all about something called subjective visual vertical a measure of how individuals perceive the orientation of vertical lines.

And the degree which that line moves closer to your body then to gravity gives a symmetric about how youre using multi-sensory cues for upright perception, said Barnett-Cowan.

The researchers collected data from 31 participants and assessed their perceptions of the vertical before and after playing two VR games one was high-intensity, and the other was low-intensity.

They found that there are often two types of people.

Some people would rely more on their body as a frame of reference, and others would rely on gravity as a frame of reference, Barnett-Cowan said.

Those who were able to offset their perception of the vertical more, were less likely to get sick especially in a high intensity VR setting.

Their brains adopted, and that adaptation carried over into their subjective visual vertical settings. Those that were kind of stubborn and set the line just like they did initially were the same individuals who reported higher levels of sickness, he said.

Staff Ctrl V, a VR arcade in Waterloo, said they are aware of cybersickness and what can often trigger it.

A piece of content that requires you to move forward, and you arent actually moving. Maybe youre just sort of floating through space. Thats an instance that might induce sickness, said CEO and Co-founder of Ctrl V, Robert Bruski.

Staff said they work with customers to customize their experience, if theyre prone to experiencing motion sickness.

If you dont feel well, change the content. If youre too close to something, move away from it. Youre the master of your domain, and youre going to know whats feeling right, Bruski said.

Experts suggest keeping VR users educated and aware of their surroundings in reality or virtually is the most important step towards a positive user experience.

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Researchers at UW analyze cybersickness while playing virtual ... - CTV News Kitchener

Virtual reality (VR) has been one of those technologies that always seems close to going mainstream, but has never quite reached the tipping point to make it so. But with Apple (AAPL 4.69%) likely on the verge of releasing its VR headset in the next few months, this once-niche segment may finally have its day in the Sun.

Investors looking for a couple of stocks to bet on in this estimated $250 billion-sized VR market of the future should take a closer look at what Apple as well as key chipmaker Nvidia (NVDA 4.06%) are doing right now.

Image source: Getty Images.

For years, rumors have swirled about Apple working on a virtual reality headset, but to date the device hasn't materialized. This time, it really looks like Apple is on the verge of releasing an AR/VR mixed-reality headset.

Bloomberg has published multiple reports about the device over the past several months and has said that Apple has even shown it off to its board of directors. More recently, the publication said that the device will debut at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June and that it will be able to run hundreds of thousands of iPad apps.

The device, which is dubbed the Reality Pro or Reality One, will reportedly cost $3,000. Apple may focus its capabilities around gaming and fitness, as well as being able to be used as an e-reader or to watch live sports.

Apple entering into an entirely new device category would be a huge step for the company and, of course, there's no guarantee of success. Noted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo thinks the initial rollout of the devices could be slow, with a maximum estimated 300,000 sold in the first year.

But the tech titan also has a long track record of slowly moving into new markets, then dominating them. And if it repeats that success in VR, then Apple could soon become the top VR company that rivals are trying to emulate.

Nvidia's VR opportunity comes from its high-powered graphics processing units (GPUs) that are often the go-to choice for many gamers. The company's gaming segment is one of its largest, accounting for 30% of sales in the most recent quarter.

Nvidia's gaming sales have admittedly slowed lately, but it understands that VR could be a catalyst for new growth from its gaming business, and has made moves to tap into it. That's why the company has developed tools for developers to create and launch virtual worlds through Nvidia's Omniverse Cloud. The company has also worked directly with large companies, including Volvo, to show how VR tools can be used to develop products.

Just as companies look to Nvidia to help them power their servers for cloud computing and artificial intelligence services, the growing need for high-end graphics for VR could boost demand for Nvidia's chips. Some estimates put the market size for AR/VR chips at $9.5 billion by 2027, and with Nvidia's early moves, the company is likely to be a key beneficiary in this space.

It's still unclear how quickly consumers will adopt new VR technologies. I think Apple launching a mixed reality device could help spread more widespread adoption, but it'll take some time before we see that theory pan out or not. For investors looking to snatch up shares of these two companies based on their virtual reality prospects, you'll probably have to remain patient as this market starts to grow.

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2 Stocks to Invest in Virtual Reality - The Motley Fool

30 April 2023

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A Belfast tech firm is helping victims prepare for court with the help of virtual reality software

Virtual reality is being used to help victims of crime prepare for giving evidence in court.

Belfast-based tech company Immersonal designed the software that is being rolled out across 52 Scottish courts in the next year.

It is also being piloted in The Hague as part of the International Criminal Court.

The technology allows victims to interact with key members of the judicial process in a virtual world.

Immersonal CEO Tom Houston said the primary aim was to make the court experience less traumatic by giving victims more information about what to expect.

He said: "Going to court can be intimidating but this technology allows you to walk through a three-dimensional world which recreates the actual court building where the case is to be held.

"You can interact in a virtual environment that includes the people and objects you will encounter during your case."

The technology allows victims to interact with key members of the judicial process in a virtual world

Through a headset, users are able to navigate their way through the virtual court and click on individuals such as the court clerk who will explain their role.

The team of virtual reality experts set up the company Immersonal in 2021.

Their main aim was developing affordable ways for organisations and individuals who are not tech-savvy to create their own virtual-reality experiences and training simulations.

The company has since secured a 500,000 contract with the Scottish Government to deliver the virtual-reality service in courts over the course of the next 12 months.

'Victims need support'

The virtual-reality court scheme is not currently operating in Northern Ireland.

A 360-degree view of courtrooms across Northern Ireland is available online through the Victims Support NI website.

Former Victim Support CEO Geraldine Hanna was appointed as Northern Ireland's first victims of crime commissioner last year.

Ms Hanna said that while 360 views of courts had offered a valuable insight into court buildings, she believes there is huge potential for virtual reality to help enhance and improve the experience of victims.

Geraldine Hanna was appointed as Northern Ireland's first victims of crime commissioner last year

She added: "It's really important that victims get as much information and support as possible in the run up to their trial.

"The developments in using virtual reality in the criminal justice system feels like the next step in the journey to help improve a victims experience."

A Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service (NICTS) spokesperson said: "NICTS are committed to working closely with our partners to provide appropriate support to victims and witnesses when they are required to attend court at what is a challenging time in their lives."

In some circumstances the Department of Justice also offers initiatives which allow vulnerable victims and witnesses to provide their evidence away from the court environment, for example at remote evidence centres.

'A traumatic experience'

Charles Little was the first person on the scene when his parents-in-law were murdered in their home by a mental-health patient.

Michael and Marjorie Cawdery, both 83, died in a frenzied knife attack in Portadown, County Armagh, in May 2017.

Mr Little said: "When I arrived the perpetrator nearly ran me down as he escaped in the family car, so it was clearly a very traumatic experience.

"But while the trauma starts with the incident, dealing with the criminal justice system - the trauma can continue."

Charles Little was the first person on the scene when his parents-in-law were murdered

In June 2018 Thomas Scott McEntee, who suffers from paranoid schizophrenia, was sentenced to a minimum of 10 years in prison.

Mr Little said: "During that court case it was the first time I'd ever been in a courtroom and it was very overwhelming.

"It felt like everyone knew what they were doing except for my family and I."

Mr Little believes the potential of virtual reality to improve the experience of victims in the justice system should be explored further.

He said: "Certainly from what I've heard about this technology, where you can interact and have people explain their roles, I think this would be hugely helpful.

"It's about ensuring the victim's ability to act as a witness at the trial and we should embrace anything that can help with that."

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Virtual reality used to address victim court trauma - BBC

Katrina Regan, reflections and engagement specialist for LCB Senior Living, administers a REACT Neuro virtual reality cognition test to The Residence at Vinnin Square resident Mickey Mizner. (Spenser Hasak)

SWAMPSCOTT Staff at the Residence at Vinnin Square, an assisted-living facility for seniors on Salem Street, are using virtual reality headsets to detect early signs of memory loss and other declines in cognitive function.

In 2020, the Residences parent company LCB Senior Living became the first assisted-living company in the country to partner with REACT Neuro, a virtual reality technology company. REACT Neuro was created by a team led by Dr. Rudy Tanzi, the team neuroscientist for the New England Patriots.

Tanzi, who is credited with discovering the Alzheimers gene and currently serves as the director of the genetics and aging research unit at Massachusetts General Hospital, developed REACT Neuro to create a reliable way to track and measure cognitive health.

Roughly once every two weeks, residents at the facility use REACT Neuro virtual reality headsets and remote controls to take puzzle-like tests, which assess aspects of their cognitive health like short and long-term memory, reflexes, hand-eye coordination, and motor function.

Katrina Regan works as the reflections and engagements specialist for the Residences memory care department. She said that while doctors can regularly track patients blood pressure to test for early signs of heart disease, conditions such as Alzheimers or dementia can not always be detected as early.

This is really a checkup from the neck up, Regan said. You dont get the opportunity to check on your brain unless theres a problem, so this gives our residents a chance to look at their brain trends over time.

Using results from the REACT Neuro tests, staff can spot dips in their residents cognitive ability and work with them to assess potential causes of brain health fluctuation. Regan said staff at The Residence use Tanzis SHIELD program to ensure residents sleep seven to eight hours a night, manage their stress in a healthy way, interact with others, exercise, and continue to learn new things.

If our resident takes a test today and they score great, and then they take that same test in three or four weeks and they dont score so great, we look at those results and say, Well, what are the factors that might come into play here? Are you not sleeping well lately? Have you been extra stressed lately? Are you feeling depressed? Are you not as socially active? Regan said. Its really lifestyle changes that will help our residents improve their scores.

Although the Residence at Vinnin Square has only used the program for a couple of months, Regan said many of her residents use the tests themselves as mental workouts and actively try to improve their scores.

Resident Engagement Director Alicia Malley organizes regular social and educational programs at the facility to engage seniors. She said since she began administering the REACT Neuro tests, shes noticed more residents attending her Tai Chi and meditation classes.

I do see them coming to more stuff each time, Malley said. My Tai Chi is growing because I do meditation at the end and it helps with the stress. They love it. Its bringing more engagement.

Anne Khatchadurian moved into the facility two months ago after she fell and fractured her kneecap. On Wednesday, she put on the VR glasses to take a long-term memory test.

I think its wonderful, Khatchadurian said. Im having difficulty with my memory and other things, and its helping me.

Mickey Mizner, who has lived at the Residence for more than four years, said he enjoys the tests because he takes comfort in knowing he can improve his cognitive abilities.

They have some great activities. Those activities are a real plus. The more you do, the more you can do, Mizner said. Anything you can do to improve your mind is a plus.

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Virtual reality improving seniors' reality in Swampscott - Itemlive - Daily Item

Virtual Reality (VR) Motion Capture System Market

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Major & Emerging Players in Virtual Reality (VR) Motion Capture System Market:-Google (United States), Sony (Japan), Meta (United States), Apple (United States), Oculus (United States), NVidia (United States), HP (United States), HTC (Taiwan), Microsoft (United States) and Motion Reality (United States)

The Virtual Reality (VR) Motion Capture System Market Study by AMA Research gives an essential tool and source to Industry stakeholders to figure out the market and other fundamental technicalities, covering growth, opportunities, competitive scenarios, and key trends in the Virtual Reality (VR) Motion Capture System market.

Virtual Reality (VR) Motion Capture System gives a simulated experience that can be similar to or completely different from the real world. Virtual Reality is a term uses for a computer generated 3D Environments which allow peoples to enter and interacts with alternate realities. Virtual Reality (VR) Motion Capture System which allows a user to interact with a computer-simulated environment, whether that environment is a simulation of the real world or an imaginary world. It is the key to experiencing, feeling and touching the past, present and the future. It is the medium of creating our own world, our own customized reality. Virtual Reality (VR) is popular name for an absorbing, interactive, Computer mediated experience in which person perceives a synthetic (simulated) environment by means of special human-computer interface Equipment. It interacts with simulated objects in that environment as If they were real. Several persons can see one another and interact in shared Synthetic environment such as battlefield.

The titled segments and sub-section of the market are illuminated below:by Type (Non-Immersive, Semi-Immersive, Fully Immersive), Application (Video Gaming, Business, Educations, Cinema, Architecture, Other), Distribution Channel (Online, Offline), Tools (Unity 3D, Unreal Engine (UE4), 3DS Max & Maya, Blender, A-Frame, Other), Connectivity (PC, Smartphone) Players and Region - Global Market Outlook to 2027

Market Trends:Rapid Uses of Artificial Intelligence in Virtual Reality, Innovation of Fifth Generation (5G) Technology and Innovation of New IoT Based Devices

Opportunities:Rapid Growth in Information and Technology, Rapid Adoption of Artificial Intelligence Across the World, Continuous Growth Digitalization and Technological Advancement and Virtually Growing Business and Corporate Sector

Market Drivers:Rising Demand in Online Streaming Video Platform, Rising Demand in Video Gaming Platform, Surge in Demand in Space and Military Training and Rising Demand in Healthcare Practices and Training

Challenges:High Maintenance and Installation Cost Associated with Virtual Reality (VR) Motion Capture System, Low Penetration in Emerging Regions, Lack of Knowledge about Virtual Reality (VR) Motion Capture System and Among People

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Some Point of Table of Content:Chapter One: Report OverviewChapter Two: Global Market Growth TrendsChapter Three: Value Chain of Virtual Reality (VR) Motion Capture System MarketChapter Four: Players ProfilesChapter Five: Global Virtual Reality (VR) Motion Capture System Market Analysis by RegionsChapter Six: North America Virtual Reality (VR) Motion Capture System Market Analysis by CountriesChapter Seven: Europe Virtual Reality (VR) Motion Capture System Market Analysis by CountriesChapter Eight: Asia-Pacific Virtual Reality (VR) Motion Capture System Market Analysis by CountriesChapter Nine: Middle East and Africa Virtual Reality (VR) Motion Capture System Market Analysis by CountriesChapter Ten: South America Virtual Reality (VR) Motion Capture System Market Analysis by CountriesChapter Eleven: Global Virtual Reality (VR) Motion Capture System Market Segment by TypesChapter Twelve: Global Virtual Reality (VR) Motion Capture System Market Segment by Applications

What are the market factors that are explained in the Virtual Reality (VR) Motion Capture System Market report?- Key Strategic Developments: Strategic developments of the market, comprising R&D, new product launch, M&A, agreements, collaborations, partnerships, joint ventures, and regional growth of the leading competitors.- Key Market Features: Including revenue, price, capacity, capacity utilization rate, gross, production, production rate, consumption, import/export, supply/demand, cost, market share, CAGR, and gross margin.- Analytical Tools: The analytical tools such as Porter's five forces analysis, SWOT analysis, feasibility study, and investment return analysis have been used to analyze the growth of the key players operating in the market.

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Advance Market Analytics is Global leaders of Market Research Industry provides the quantified B2B research to Fortune 500 companies on high growth emerging opportunities which will impact more than 80% of worldwide companies' revenues.Our Analyst is tracking high growth study with detailed statistical and in-depth analysis of market trends & dynamics that provide a complete overview of the industry. We follow an extensive research methodology coupled with critical insights related industry factors and market forces to generate the best value for our clients. We Provides reliable primary and secondary data sources, our analysts and consultants derive informative and usable data suited for our clients business needs. The research study enable clients to meet varied market objectives a from global footprint expansion to supply chain optimization and from competitor profiling to M&As.

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Virtual Reality (VR) Motion Capture System Market Next Big Thing | Major Giants Google, Sony, Apple - openPR

A recent research conference at Argentinas National University of Comahue (UNCo) featured a new virtual reality (VR) experience that allows users to explore how local unconventional hydrocarbon production, known as fracking, affect the water supply in the Comahue river basin.

SEI scientists Laura Forni, Romina Daz Gmez and Marina Mautner are working together with UNCo on the research, which was featured in a news article about the virtual reality project in Ro Negro .

Argentinas Vaca Muerta region, located in the Patagonian south, is home to the worlds second-largest shale gas reserves and the fourth-largest shale oil deposits , where gas production is outpacing the growth of infrastructure to accommodate it.

SEI and UNCo are investigating how this gas production might pose risks to the water supply, agricultural production, and the population that depends on them. The researchers use remote sensing , or scanning performed by satellites and high-flying aircraft, to map the fracking wells proximity to rivers, farms, neighborhoods and cities. That data informed the interactive VR exhibit, accessible by VR goggles, at UNCos conference.

For the first time we are going to have all the information centralized and we are going to be able to visualize all the components at the level of the Comahue Basin, Daz Gmez told Ro Negro.

As climate change progresses, the regions water supply is expected to decline, while fracking increases the wastewater generated. The teams research on this topic indicates that shale operations increase pressure on the water supply and pose a risk to water quality.

The researchers hope the VR project will help educate the public about frackings impact on local populations and ecosystems, as well as promote the use of remote sensing to produce such data.

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Virtual reality shows how fracking affects Argentinian river basin - Stockholm Environment Institute

The concept of virtual reality (VR) has come a long way since its inception. With the advancements in technology, it has become possible to create virtual environments that are almost indistinguishable from the real world. Two recent concepts that are gaining traction in the world of VR are digital twin and metaverse. In this article, we will explore what these terms mean, how they are related to each other, and what the future of VR might look like with their implementation.

Table of Contents

Introduction

What is Virtual Reality?

Digital Twin: The Concept and Its Applications

The Rise of Metaverse

The Relation between Digital Twin and Metaverse

How Digital Twin and Metaverse will Change the Future of VR

Advantages of Digital Twin and Metaverse

Challenges and Risks Associated with Digital Twin and Metaverse

The Future of Virtual Reality

Conclusion

Introduction

Virtual reality has come a long way since the first crude head-mounted display was developed in the 1960s. With the advancements in technology, it is now possible to create fully immersive virtual environments that are almost indistinguishable from the real world. Two recent concepts that are gaining popularity in the world of VR are digital twin and metaverse. In this article, we will explore what these concepts are, how they are related to each other, and how they will shape the future of VR.

What is Virtual Reality?

Virtual reality is a computer-generated simulation of a three-dimensional environment that can be interacted with in a seemingly real way by a person using special electronic equipment, such as a head-mounted display, gloves, or a bodysuit. VR can be used for various purposes, such as entertainment, education, and training.

Digital Twin: The Concept and Its Applications

A digital twin is a virtual representation of a physical object, process, or system. It is created by collecting data from sensors, cameras, and other sources in real-time and using it to create a 3D model of the object, process, or system. Digital twins can be used in various industries, such as manufacturing, healthcare, and transportation. For example, in manufacturing, a digital twin can be used to simulate the production process and optimise it for efficiency.

The Rise of Metaverse

Metaverse is a term that was first coined by science fiction author Neal Stephenson in his 1992 novel Snow Crash. It refers to a virtual universe that is created by the convergence of multiple virtual worlds. The concept of metaverse has gained popularity in recent years, especially after the success of virtual worlds such as Second Life and Minecraft. Companies such as Facebook and Epic Games are also working on creating their own versions of metaverse.

The Relation between Digital Twin and Metaverse

Digital twin and metaverse are related concepts in the sense that both involve the creation of virtual environments. However, while digital twin is focused on creating a virtual representation of a physical object or system, metaverse is focused on creating a virtual universe that is inhabited by virtual beings.

How Digital Twin and Metaverse will Change the Future of VR

The implementation of digital twin and metaverse will bring about significant changes in the future of VR. Digital twins will enable us to create virtual replicas of physical objects and systems, which can be used for various purposes, such as training and maintenance. Metaverse, on the other hand, will create a virtual universe that is inhabited by virtual beings, opening up new possibilities for entertainment, education, and social interaction.

Advantages of Digital Twin and Metaverse

The implementation of digital twin and metaverse will bring several advantages to the field of VR. Digital twin will allow us to test and optimise physical systems in a virtual environment before implementing them in the real world, reducing the cost and risk of errors. It can also help in remote monitoring and maintenance of physical systems, leading to increased efficiency and reduced downtime.

Metaverse will create new opportunities for entertainment, social interaction, and education. It will allow people from different parts of the world to come together in a virtual environment and experience things that are not possible in the real world. It can also be used for educational purposes, such as simulating historical events or scientific experiments.

The Future of Virtual Reality

The implementation of digital twin and metaverse is just the beginning of the future of VR. With the advancements in technology, it is possible that we may one day be able to fully immerse ourselves in a virtual environment that is indistinguishable from the real world. This could revolutionise the way we work, play, and interact with each other.

Conclusion

Digital twin and metaverse are two concepts that are gaining popularity in the world of virtual reality. Digital twin involves creating a virtual representation of a physical object or system, while metaverse involves creating a virtual universe that is inhabited by virtual beings. The implementation of these concepts will bring several advantages to the field of VR, such as increased efficiency, new opportunities for entertainment and education, and the ability to test and optimise physical systems in a virtual environment.

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Digital Twin and Metaverse: The Future of Virtual Reality - NASSCOM Community

Economic uncertainties are pushing manufacturers to embrace emerging technologies as a means of staying competitive in a constantly evolving market. One example is augmented reality (AR). Deloittes 2023 manufacturing industry outlook reports that 12 percent of surveyed manufacturers plan to focus on AR in the coming year to improve operational efficiencies.

AR technologies enhance the physical world by superimposing digital information onto real-world objects and environments. Often AR displays are paired with gesture recognition to enable interaction with the AR environment. This creates an immersive experience that enhances the perception of and engagement with the real world.

AR can equip facility managers with real-time feeds indicating operating status and delivering production statistics. AR can assist industrial engineers by providing real-time notifications and alerts of potential maintenance issues, allowing for prompt and proactive resolution before they escalate into larger problems. Maintenance personnel can use AR to receive real-time guidance and step-by-step workflows during upkeep and repair operations, improving accuracy and minimizing downtime. Likewise, operators can use AR for training and ongoing guidance while operating equipment and machinery, reducing the risk of error and enhancing efficiency.

Over the last decade, patent applications that mention AR in either their title or abstract have grown from a few hundred applications per year to over a thousand. By examining patent filings, we can gain insight into how industrial manufacturers are utilizing AR technologies in their operations and achieving potential competitive advantages.

Obtaining a patent, however, can involve a significant investment and requires full disclosure of the invention. There is also no guarantee of securing meaningful patent protection, as the final outcome may be either no or limited protection. It is crucial to weigh the costs and benefits of revealing the details of an invention against the potential commercial value of any patent that might result, and the feasibility of enforcing patent rights against an infringer.

AR technologies are being used to enhance operations across entire manufacturing facilities. For instance, U.S. Patent No. 11,265,513, titled Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality for Industrial Automation, provides examples of AR systems that generate and deliver AR presentations to a user via a wearable device. These presentations include 3D holographic views of a plant facility or a location within a plant facility, which can be rendered based on the users current location or orientation on a facility floor.

The AR system can provide automation system data, notification, and proactive guidance by modifying the users view of the immediate surroundings. Additionally, the AR system can superimpose indicators near their corresponding machines, which can relate to critical operating parameters such as temperatures, pressures, speeds, and voltage levels, as well as statistics or key performance indicators such as overall equipment effectiveness, performance or production efficiency, percentage of machine availability over time, product quality statistics, cycle times, overall downtime or runtime durations, and more.

AR technologies are also being used to enhance maintenance operations. U.S. Patent No. 11,270,473, titled Mechanical Fastening Unit Management Method Using Augmented Reality, uses AR to aid operators in the proper tightening of fasteners. The AR-based system superimposes a virtual space on a real space to create an an augmented reality space. Within this AR space, virtual counterparts of a real-world fastening device, such as a torque wrench, and the real-world fasteners are presented. The AR system uses various visual cues such as colors, flashes, text, and graphics to indicate a proper tightening sequence, whether each fastener has received an appropriate amount of torque, and which fasteners still require tightening.

AR technologies have emerged as powerful tools for streamlining the handling of end products generated by this equipment. U.S. Patent No. 11,358,180, titled Workpiece Collecting Point Units and Methods for Supporting the Processing of Workpieces, describes using AR to improve the time-consuming and error-prone process of collecting, sorting, and arranging workpieces. With this system, an AR-equipped operator receives information indicating the appropriate sorting bins for the workpieces during a sorting process. During a collection process, the AR system can augment the display of a collection table to indicate the location of workpiece stacks of the same type and alert the operator when a stack of workpieces is complete.

U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2022/0221845, titled System and Method for Augmented Reality (AR) Assisted Manufacture of Composite Structures and Bonded Assemblies, describes an AR-assisted system specifically designed for assembling the various layers of such structures and assemblies. These structures, which can include aircraft and vehicle panels, often possess complex geometries that necessitate precise placement during assembly. The AR system provides virtual representations of each layer of the structure and provides visual indicators that ensure accurate placement, position, and orientation of new layers relative to previously assembled layers.

Patents are not the only way to protect competitive advantages. Given the unique nature of manufacturing, innovators should carefully consider whether patents or alternative forms of intellectual property, such as trade secrets, are the most appropriate means of protecting their innovations. AR technologies often are employed in private within the confines of a manufacturing floor. The lack of visibility into whether a competitor is violating a patented invention can limit the effectiveness of the patent. The ability to detect infringement, therefore, is a key factor to consider when deciding whether to seek patent protection.

Potential commercial value is another important factor to consider. The examples above demonstrate that AR technologies may be tailored to suit the specific needs of a given facility, process, or end product. Understanding whether other manufacturers have similar needs can provide valuable insight into the potential market for the AR invention and help to assess the likelihood of competitors copying or licensing the invention. The expected commercial value of a patent, however, should be balanced against the potential costs to enforce it.

Defending ones own innovations, however, is not the only motivation for applying for a patent. Other motivations include potential revenue streams via licensing, access to other technologies through cross-licensing opportunities or joint ventures, obtaining leverage in litigation, attracting investment through increased valuation, and providing access to funding by using patent assets as collateral. Ultimately, a combination of factors and motivations typically guide the decision to seek patent protection.

Manufacturers contemplating patenting their AR innovations should consult with an intellectual property attorney who can provide guidance on available options to safeguard those innovations and assist in crafting a strategy that aligns with specific business objectives.

Brian Emfinger is an IP attorney in Banner Witcoffs Chicago office. His email is bemfinger@bannerwitcoff.com.

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Trends and Opportunities in Augmented Reality - Manufacturing.net

In this augmented reality gas metal arc welding setup, a student lays down a virtual bead.

Its a black art. I used to hear that a lot on fab shop tourscode for something that took years to learn and only the talented few truly mastered. Why, exactly? Sometimes it had to do with the nature of the skill and the workers tactile and visual experience welding a workpiece. If something went awry, theyd try again. And again. And again. For years.

Thing is, considering the acute worker shortage, the industry just doesnt have that kind of time. It needs some way to shorten that training cycle while not skimping on process fundamentals, so that students know what works in what situation and why. They dont just show up to the shop, learn a narrow set of skills (push this button, weld this joint), and get to work. They follow procedures, but they also know why those procedures work so well.

Here, augmented reality (AR) might fill a need, especially for one of the most hands-on processes on the fab shop floor: welding.

Weve been in the augmented reality space for the past eight years, and it continues to get better and better. Were trying to get as close to reality as possible, including visual, audio, and tactile elements. Our ability to create an accurate weld puddle in software has come a long way in just the past few years.

That was Steve Hidden, national account manager, welding education and workforce development, at Miller Electric Mfg. LLC in Appleton, Wis. The company offers its AugmentedArc augmented reality welding system, a technology that merges the visual, aural, and tactile welding experiencethe gun, the workpiece, the buzzing, the visual cueswith software that simulates how a bead flows given how the weld is performed.

Students can wield a gas metal arc welding (GMAW) gun, a stinger for shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), or a gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) torch. The experience isnt a video game. Using a combination of sensors that read the position of strategically placed QR-codes on the weld gun or torch and workpiece, the AR approach to weld training tracks students movements throughout the process.

Imagine the first time a student grasps the welding gun and lays a bead on plate. He strikes the arc, hesitates, then moves too fast. He tries again and burns through. Spatter goes everywhere, and coupon after coupon after coupon goes into the recycling bin. The student continues to practice, using up shielding gas and welding wire, and putting the gun nozzle and other consumable components through all sorts of abuse. Its not a pretty site, andas anyone working at a technical school or fab shop with in-house training knowsit can get quite expensive.

Now imagine that same student donning a welding helmet, only this time hes manipulating an odd-looking GTAW torch and filler rod, each with QR codes. Instead, sensors in the students helmet read those codes to determine how exactly the student manipulates the tungsten tip along a lap joint, creating a virtual fillet on a workpiece that, again, is covered with strategically placed codes, all of which become invisible when the student dons the welding helmet. With the helmet on, he sees a metallic workpiece ready to be joined. He depresses the foot pedal throughout the process, but there are no arcs, no spatter, no metal at all.

A student next to him wields another odd-looking device, this time a stinger for the SMAW process with a code-covered cube near the endagain, all invisible through the weld helmet. She manipulates the stinger carefully down a vertical groove joint. Next to her sits another student, this one manipulating the nozzle of a GMAW gun around a pipe to create a flange weld.

All three are welding in AR. They see the arc, filler metal, and weld being laid down, and they even hear the weld buzz, just as a welder would in a real-world application. When the student practicing GTAW dips too much of the filler rod at once, the weld pool reacts. When the student practicing GMAW travels too quickly, again, the weld pool reacts. After completing the practice joint, all three students keep their welding helmets on to view their completed, virtual weld, defects and all.

Through the welding helmet, the student can see a virtual representation of the welding arc, plus certain markers showing ideal work position, travel, and standoff for a particular lesson.

The software points out exactly where and how those errors occurred. The arc length was too long here. The filler rod angle was off here. Your work and travel angles were off. Not only this, the software shows what those angles should have been and exactly how to correct it.

On the next try, the students teacher turns on visual aids that they see through the welding helmet, showing what elements should be where. I call them training wheels, Hidden said. Are they too close? Are they too far way?

The visual aids are dynamic, changing as needed to direct the student. For instance, a visual cue might show the student where the welding gun should be at a certain point during the weld program; as the student catches up, the cue changes.

We also give the instructor the ability to let students make their own mistakes, Hidden said, adding that the software neednt tell them that, say, their gas setting is wrong, that the voltage is set too high, or anything else. The software might not simulate exactly what happens when something goes awry, like an actual burn-through of the material. But it can graphically show somethings amiss and leave students to figure out what the problem is on their own. Alternatively, teachers can set the system up to notify exactly whats wrong.

Teachers can create their own assignments, Hidden said, adding that they can establish what training wheel symbols to display and when. The key is knowing when to stop giving assistance and let students fly solo. It all depends on students needs and where they are on their training journey.

[AR] serves as an interim phase between theory and hands-on applications, said Patricia Carr, national manager of education and workforce development at Miller, adding that the technology has helped students uncomfortable with the arcs and sparks, including those with disabilities, gain confidence before practicing the real thing, effectively broadening the recruiting net.

The AR system has been designed around the needs of educators. Over the years, experienced welders and welding engineers within and outside Miller have collaborated with software engineers to make the experience ever more realistic. Students now can see all the puddle dynamics, with molten metal wetting against the joint sidewalls. They see weld pool disturbances that could indicate undercut or porosity, incomplete penetration, as well as over-welding practices that could lead to excessive and costly grinding.

All this begs the question, could AR be used to certify welders? Hidden chuckled a bit. Not today, he said. This tool is all about preparation. AR could allow welders to refine their technique and gain muscle memory before practicing in the lab and taking the certification test.

Gaining that muscle memory can be an extraordinary challenge, especially when improper technique can lead to a messy situationlike stick welding overhead, holding an exceedingly long arc, and being caught in a rainstorm of hot sparks.

Using AR, a student can place the workpiece wherever needed to start practicing those challenging weld positions. We have seven coupons for all positions, Hidden said, including flat and overhead. And the beauty with AR, I can take my part [coupon], put double sticky tape on it, and put it underneath the table. Students can crawl underneath the table and weld it.

Looking through the welding helmet, a student can inspect his weld and receive specific feedback.

Repetition builds muscle memory and confidence, preparing students for the real world of overhead welding. Once they strike an arc for real, theyre more likely to maintain the right welding technique and produce a clean bead without a plethora of sparks raining down.

Students and professionals using the AR system can practice any technique they wish, but as Hidden explained, software does need to be built around a specific technique to score itthat is, building the ability to track the position of the weld and consumables, compare it to an ideal, score it based on that comparison, and pinpoint areas for improvement. For instance, students practicing GTAW might want to walk the cup over a certain joint geometry. They can run through the motions to gain the muscle memory, but the system wont be able to give comprehensive feedback, at least not yet.

Though, of course, new software is being written and improved upon all the time. As Carr explained, Miller has been following the voice-of-the-customer methodology, developing software requested by the majority of current and potential users of the technology.

Even in its current state, AR helps demystify a misunderstood, opaque process by identifying exactly what makes a good weld and what doesnt. Skilled people take many paths to achieve a quality weld, so not following exactly what the AR system prescribes doesnt guarantee failure. Still, in the future, those learning and perfecting their skillsand perhaps even experienced welding professionalsmight look more and more to AR as a kind of compass, something to reference to make sure their fundamentals are there and that theyre headed in the right direction. And theres an added bonus: They neednt waste consumables and test coupons in the process.

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How augmented reality is being used to train the next generation of ... - TheFabricator.com

Virtual reality (VR) training continues to lead as one of the top verticals for the extended reality (XR) umbrella of technologies. Along with augmented and mixed reality (AR/MR), VRs fully-immersive training capabilities remain a vital tool in boosting learner engagement. Talespin, a major supplier of XR training solutions, recently debuted a web-based version of its CoPilot Designer platform to increase adoption rates for enterprises.

Numerous studies and end users have documented a significant increase in information and employee retention rates due to XRs appealing, interactive instructional designs. Additional emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) are also expediting the democratisation of XR for enterprises tapping the tools needed to empower workforces.

XR Today interviewed Kyle Jackson, CEO and Co-Founder, Talespin to discuss the latest updates on the companys CoPilot Designer solution. He discussed how his companys latest update provides employers with impressive platforms to upskill workers on-the-fly and with promising results.

Kyle Jackson: We are excited to announce the launch of a web-based version of our no-code, AI-enabled XR content creation tool, CoPilot Designer, which is now available for our customers and partners.

This update creates a version of our design tool that is easier to use and adopt than ever. In the near term, this will help our current customers save time and money, allow us to welcome more customers to our platform, and ultimately lead to more immersive learning content production across our ecosystem empowering companies to scale content across teams, offices, and geographies faster and more efficiently than ever.

However, we think its important to note the broader context. If we take a step back, theres an even bigger picture that CoPilot Designer plays its part in as our industry adapts to generative AI content creation tools and prepares for a new wave of XR headsets. We know this combination will usher in a new paradigm of immersive content creation and distribution.

We see our platform, and specifically CoPilot Designer, as a critical layer in this equation. CoPilot Designer harnesses AIs speed and scale and applies both to creating and publishing the next generation of highly engaging XR learning content.

Kyle Jackson: When we first released CoPilot Designer to the market in 2021, it was a key piece of our vision to help people become better humans. Weve always believed that AI-powered virtual humans could help real humans get better at skills such as critical thinking, empathy, and navigating difficult workplace conversations.

Ironically, we realized that as AI emerged, our human skills soft skills would be more in demand than ever. Since then, weve spent more than four years using our platform to help dozens of enterprises train their workforce in human skills in VR.

VR is a perfect channel for workers to practice difficult conversations in a safe, non-judgmental environment. It allows learners to practice delicate scenarios requiring mindfulness and tact and reinforces key interactions no college or business school trains for.

Going forward, we believe that as AI continues to automate many tasks, a spotlight will be further shined on workers human intelligence, soft skills, and people skills and become what truly differentiates them in the future workplace.

Kyle Jackson: Currently, customers can use CoPilot Designer for content creation workflows with complementary generative AI text and image tools, such as ChatGPT and Midjourney. XR content created with CoPilot Designer also uses text-to-speech and natural language processing to deliver realistic conversational simulations for learners.

We are also thoughtfully exploring more AI integrations on our roadmap. For example, the ability to create immersive learning simulations where the speech from virtual human characters can be driven by a large language model (LLM) that is guided by the constraints provided by the business.

This can also be mixed with more prescriptive immersive branched narratives for enterprise use cases ranging from onboarding to customer experience training simulations. With integrations like this, CoPilot Designer can be used to author open-ended AI-powered immersive learning experiences and learning modules with a very specific scenario or script for use cases that require that.

Kyle Jackson: Absolutely! Our customers have seen impressive results across different industries. For example, a PwC study proved the efficacy of immersive learning with results like fourfold increase in learning speed and learners saying they were 275 times more confident after immersive learning training. Learners ranging from Fortune 500 employees to high school-age students benefit from engaging learning experiences.

The industry applied these results to corporate training use cases ranging from practising customer conversations in the insurance industry to helping managers simulate giving performance feedback.

Were on a mission to help people develop the human skills that set us apart as AI and other technologies continue to permeate further into our work lives. We see great opportunities for these very tools to advance that mission.

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CoPilot to Harness AI Speed, Scale, Talespin CEO Says - XR Today

Newswise A method using augmented reality to create accurate visual representations of ionizing radiation, developed at the Department of Energys Oak Ridge National Laboratory, has been licensed byTeletrix, a firm that creates advanced simulation tools to train the nations radiation control workforce.

Ionizing radiation which is linked to cancer and other health problems has enough energy to knock electrons off of atoms or molecules, creating ions. Occupational exposure is a common occurrence for many radiological workers, so any method of decreasing exposure helps to limit overall negative effects and increase worker safety.

In the 1940s, ORNL made pioneering contributions across numerous scientific fields, including radiation protection, said Susan Hubbard, ORNL deputy for science and technology. In our 80th year as an institution, we continue to provide leadership in this area. This technology will allow radiological workers to better understand the environments they work in, enabling a safer and more informed workforce.

At ORNL, the licensed methods were originally used to create thevirtual interaction with physics-enhanced reality, or VIPER, application. Using simulated radiation dataimplemented in a gaming platform, the technology divides a physical space into cubes, each representing a volumetric value of ionizing radiation by dose. A 3D interpolation of these values is then used to create an image of gradient contours that are overlaid on a real-world view through an augmented reality, or AR, headset. As a trainee moves through the space, navigating around the contours, the device calculates real-time, yet simulated, exposure based on the users behavior.

We combined physics-based data with a gaming interface that provides a visual platform to make something invisible look and feel real we took science and cinematography and brought them together, said ORNLs Michael Smith.

In addition to Smith, the development team includes ORNLs Noel Nelson and Douglas Peplow, all of the Nuclear Energy and Fuel Cycle Division; and former ORNL researchers M. Scott Greenwood and Nicholas Thompson. Significant support came from the Nuclear and Radiological Protection Division. The technology began as an exploratory, one-year seed project funded under ORNLs Lab Directed Research and Development program.

When it comes to training with ionizing radiation, augmented reality is a superior and safer solution, Smith said. Our team was at the right place at the right time to develop this technology. There was a synergy of hardware and software maturity coupled with an idea thats been around a long time the need to see ionizing radiation.

Teletrixs simulators for radiological and gas detection training are widely used by utilities, emergency response organizations and government agencies. ORNL has been a longtime customer of the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based small business, which also manufactures its own products.

Our company is solely dedicated to improving radiation training our tagline is Prepare Through Simulation and making that training more realistic, said Jason OConnell, sales and business development manager for Teletrix. We're always looking to innovate training, so we make a lot of new products.

One of Teletrixs products is VIZRAD, a virtual reality software system that simulates contamination on individuals and workspaces. VIZRAD trains a user to properly scan someone with a detector and provides objective feedback on technique.

When I put the AR glasses on, it was obvious that ORNLs technology and Teletrixs tools were a great fit, OConnell said. Through the headset and the AR technology, we have the ability to track a persons exact location within a room and inject source information into the room. It really raises the bar on the precision of the training we can deliver.

Having much more realistic readings on your instruments leads to better-prepared employees, better prepared trainees, fewer incidents this technology will help make people in this industry safer.

Additionally, lowering exposure to ionizing radiation also provides cost benefits to companies, he said.

Smith said the development team envisioned three applications for the ORNL technology, including:

Just by having a general impression of the spatial relationship of your body in a given radiation environment, you can decrease your overall dose based on really fundamental behavioral changes, Smith said. We can't see ionizing radiation, so you just walk right through it. But once you have seen what the radiation in your working environment looks like, you can't unsee it. AR provides a means to train people to have a better visceral understanding of how ionizing radiation behaves.

Performance data collected from about 40 participants supports this hypothesis by showing statistically significant behavioral changes after minimal training with AR representations of radiation fields.

Additionally, the method of coupling AR technologies with accurate radiation measurements has been demonstrated and experimentally validated in a study using cesium-137 in ORNLs Nuclear Radiation Protection Division demonstration facility.

ORNL senior commercialization manager Eugene Cochran negotiated the terms of the license. For more information about ORNLs intellectual property in analytical instrumentation,email ORNL Partnerships, call 865.574.1051 orsubscribe to ORNL invention alerts. To connect with the Teletrix team,email [emailprotected]or call 412.798.3636.

UT-Battelle manages ORNL for the Department of Energys Office of Science, the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States. The Office of Science is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visitenergy.gov/science.

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Teletrix licenses methods for ionizing radiation training using augmented reality - Newswise