Extended reality showcase in Waterford opens up tech world of possiblities
Stephen Barnes, Mixed Reality Lab Manager, Walton Institute; Dr Frances Cleary Head of the Mobile Ecosystem and Pervasive Sensing Division Walton Institute; Liam Fitzgerald ICS Technology Gateway Manager at Walton Institute; Dr Zeta Dooly, Lecturer, Researcher (Seerlab) School of Education and Lifelong learning SETU; Dr David Culliton Lecturer/Researcher engCORE, SETU; Ian Mills Extended Reality Technical Lead, Walton Institute; Daniel Hickey Junior Software Researcher, Walton Institute
Walton Institute at South East Technological University (SETU), was delighted to host the inaugural SETU Extended Reality (XR) Industry Showcase recently at ArcLabs Research and Innovation Centre in Carriganore, Waterford.
Industry representatives from across the South East attended the event which offered a unique opportunity to explore the future of technology and its potential for business with SETU’s XR experts.
This cutting-edge interactive event showcased the limitless possibilities of Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR) and Mixed Reality (MR) in a merging of ‘real’ and virtual worlds.
Researchers and innovators from SETU, Walton Institute, Design+, engCORE, AMASE, IMI4, SABRE, SeerLab and compuCORE, were on hand throughout the morning providing live hands-on, technical demonstrations including: immersive tourism experiences; VR and forest bathing; gamification and MR; virtual digital twins and more.
Workshops also provided an understanding of the practical applications of XR across a variety of industries.
Commenting on the initiative, Head of the Mobile Ecosystem and Pervasive Sensing Division at Walton Institute, Dr Frances Cleary said: “Extended Reality is driving technological innovations that are empowering industries to revolutionise the way they visualize, design, and interact with environments for improved productivity and innovation.”
“This showcase brought businesses in the South East together with a selection of SETU’s XR specialists to see just how this technology can be utilised and the substantial benefits it can bring,” she said.
As part of the event, attendees were provided with a special tour of Walton Institute’s MR and Digital Photogrammetry Labs. Funded by the Enterprise Ireland Capital Call, the lab features state-of-the-art Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) technology. The Digital Photogrammetry Unit consists of a Botscan NEO 3D, a 3D scanner, for high volume full body scans, and a Teslasuit, which is a full body haptic feedback and motion-capture tracking VR suit.
The ICS Technology Gateway team at Walton Institute were also available to discuss funding opportunities for businesses interested in investigating this technology further.
“We have an extensive and unique range of state of the art XR equipment here in Walton Institute, with new Holographic technology arriving later this year,” said Liam Fitzgerald, ICS Technology Gateway Manager.
“The ICS Technology Gateway can help businesses, large and small, to access funding through support agencies like Enterprise Ireland, IDA and others, allowing you to explore what advantages XR technologies could bring to your business,” he added.
That funding can typically range from €5,000 to €200,000 depending on the company profile.
According to industry sources, the global XR market was valued at $131.54 billion in 2023.
It's projected be worth $183.96 billion in 2024, and is expected to grow to $1,706.96 billion, by 2032.
