Global Initiative to Open 50 Virtual and Augmented Reality Labs

Image Credit: VR First.

VR First, a global initiative to democratize virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) hardware and software for academic institutions, is planning to open 50 VR/AR labs at colleges and universities by the end of this year, in an effort to meet future workforce demands.

VR First believes these immersive technologies will drive the future job market and therefore students should be trained using such technologies and tools. To date, there are 26 “VR First Labs” operating around the United States, Europe, Asia and Oceania, and 14 more will “open soon,” according to a news release. VR First has worked with universities and science parks worldwide, from Purdue University to Aalborg University Copenhagen in Denmark, helping institutions to set up or renovate current PC labs into VR/AR-reading facilities.

Applications for content created in the labs range from “gaming, education and architecture to cinematics, psychology and other sectors,” the news release said. Of the 50-plus projects currently in development at VR First Labs, games account for the majority of projects under way (35 percent), followed by psychology and neuroscience (12 percent); education (7 percent); tourism (7 percent); and architecture and real estate (6 percent). For example, Oklahoma State University’s Mixed Reality Lab, a VR First partner, is creating an AR-based mobile app that functions as a mapping device for individuals with physical disabilities or mild memory loss. (Watch the video footage of a few projects below.)

In addition to providing workforce training, the initiative will establish new standards for creation and consumption environments in VR, AR and mixed reality. For instance, VR First is working with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and industry stakeholders to develop IEEE P2058.5, which is one of eight standards being developed for the Digital Senses Initiative.

Video game and software developer Crytek initially backed the initiative, but the project is now fully independent. VR First has 581 academic networks and more than 3,700 developers worldwide, according to its site.

Further information is available on the VR First site.

About the Author

Sri Ravipati is Web producer for THE Journal and Campus Technology. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • a glowing gaming controller, a digital tree structure, and an open book

    Report: Use of Game Engines Expands Beyond Gaming

    Game development technology is increasingly being utilized beyond its traditional gaming roots, according to the recently released annual "State of Game Development" report from development and DevOps solutions provider Perforce Software.

  • abstract representation of equity at the core of AI

    Why Equity Must Be a Core Part of the Conversation About AI

    AI is an immensely powerful tool that can provide customized support for students with diverse learning needs, tailoring educational experiences to meet student’s individual needs more effectively. However, significant disparities in AI access and digital literacy skills prevent many of these same students from fully leveraging its benefits.

  • Man wearing headset working on a computer

    Internet2: Network Routing Security and RPKI Adoption in Research and Education

    We ask James Deaton, vice president of network services, about Internet2's initiatives and leadership efforts to promote routing security and RPKI adoption in research and higher education networks.

  • network of transparent cloud icons, each containing a security symbol like a lock or shield

    Okta, OpenID Foundation Propose New Identity Security Standard

    Okta and the OpenID Foundation have announced the formation of the IPSIE Working Group — with the acronym standing for Interoperability Profiling for Secure Identity in the Enterprise — dedicated to a new identity security standard for Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) applications.