Waterford’s Extended Reality Showcase Unveils a World of Technological Possibilities

The Brendan Keane Walton Institute at South East Technological University (SETU) recently hosted the inaugural SETU Extended Reality (XR) Industry Showcase at the ArcLabs Research and Innovation Centre in Carriganore, Waterford. The event brought together industry representatives from across the South East to explore the future of technology and its potential for business with SETU’s XR experts.

The interactive showcase highlighted 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 various institutes were on hand to provide live hands-on demonstrations, showcasing immersive tourism experiences, VR forest bathing, gamification, virtual digital twins, and more.

Dr. Frances Cleary, Head of the Mobile Ecosystem and Pervasive Sensing Division at Walton Institute, emphasized the impact of Extended Reality on industries, stating that it empowers businesses to revolutionize the way they visualize, design, and interact with environments for improved productivity and innovation.

Attendees were also given a special tour of Walton Institute’s MR and Digital Photogrammetry Labs, featuring state-of-the-art AR and VR technology. The ICS Technology Gateway team at Walton Institute discussed funding opportunities for businesses interested in exploring XR technologies further.

With the global XR market projected to reach $1,706.96 billion by 2032, the showcase highlighted the significant growth potential for businesses embracing XR technologies. The event provided a valuable platform for businesses to connect with XR specialists and explore the benefits of integrating XR into their operations.