Immersive Tech Week 2023
A recap of Immersive Tech Week 2023 - Rotterdam
Picking up on @Bas' post above, @sander and I are happy to share our experiences and findings at Immersive Tech Week 2023, which took place at the end of November last year.
A significant part of the event, led by the VRDays Foundation, delved into the latest technologies. The Quest 3 was praised for its impressive passthrough and sharp image quality, while the Meta Pro faced disappointment due to limited field of view and poor passthrough. The Rayban glasses were deemed less ‘smart’ than promised, primarily functioning as a camera and audio player. Nonetheless, the slim, modern design does hold much promise for the future of VR headsets. The event also showcased technologies such as the Senseglove, Augmented Reality Tours of Wintor and the Vive trackers.
During the event, there was a strong emphasis on human-centric XR technology. The focus was on integration, connectivity, and creativity, and we were impressed by the variety of innovative XR technologies applied in different fields such as healthcare, education, and corporate. One such example is Bodyswaps, a company that employs XR to enhance individuals' soft skills. Using XR technology, such as BodySwaps, offers a realistic, immersive, and safe environment that provides instant feedback, increased engagement, adaptability to various learning styles, scalability, and data analytics for effective skill retention and transfer. Professionals can train their soft skills in an immersive environment, enabling them to navigate the workplace more effectively.
The event also covered a wide range of other topics, including critical thinking, the integration of AI in education, and the impact of AI on the metaverse. Other notable insights included the transformative potential of XR in education and art, as well as the Women In Immersive Technologies Europe community initiative, which aims to support young female XR creators and promote diversity and entrepreneurship. Additionally, Professor Mel Slater delved into the concept of ‘presence’ in virtual worlds, and what it will take to feel ‘real’ in a virtual environment. I found this particularly fun as it was a topic I explored in my thesis 😊.
Overall, Immersive Tech Week 2023 showcased the potential of XR technologies in diverse fields. The focus on responsible design and ethical, inclusive integration of these technologies resonated throughout the discussions. If you have any questions about the topics or the event itself, shoot us a message.
