Watch the video recordings from our Best of Europe 2025: XR + AI. We had 1200+ attendees, and 20+ speakers.

WATCH HERE

We had over 1200+ attendees with lots of engagement and networking with 20+ speakers, including:

Ben Widdowson, Head of Marketing Immersive Engineering, Siemens - How XR will Enable the Future of Design and Manufacturing through Immersive Engineering. Discover how XR technologies are finally ready to revolutionize how we design and manufacture the products of the future. We'll explore real-world use cases across the automotive, aerospace, and consumer products industries, showcasing how XR is enhancing the design process and driving efficiency, innovation and collaboration. Join us to see how XR is reshaping these sectors and enabling the future through Immersive Engineering.

European Space Agency (ESA) - Space for XR: Learn how the European Space Agency is supporting XR technology in the domain of 5G/6G and non-terrestrial networks for a variety of use cases—from the energy sector, to medical, Industrial metaverse. Find out how your company could also benefit from ESA funding opportunities in the XR domain!

Silvio Ballerini, CEO, S-iBA Vision - Learn about the VIRTRACON, an interactive VR/AI learning platform that provides innovative, efficient and sustainable skill-building.

Olga Resnik , JOYA Team - Learn about is their optical systems development and engineering specializing in tailored XR solutions for smart glasses and experience in the development of more than 20 AR/VR headsets.

Matthew Connors, Volvo - No Truck, No Problem: Overcoming Distance with VR in the Volvo FH Aero New Product Launch.

Gabriele Zocchi, Hololight - Harnessing XR to Enhance Digital Twins for Greater Efficiency and Performance.

Sara Boss, VRdirect, and Johannes Buchmann, Siemens EHS - Innovate, Collaborate, Learn: Combining the Real and Digital Worlds with VR (360°)

Thijs de Vries, CEO, WarpVR - How agencies can benefit from an VR authoring platform.

Daniel Landau, CEO, AVRIS - Transforming Management Education with Immersive AI

Alberto Carlier, Virtualware - Scaling XR: Why Companies Need an Enterprise Software Platform

Carlos Ochoa, ONE Digital - Reimagining Immersive Edu: The Symphony of Senses, an innovative educational initiative launching in 2025 in Spanish schools. -

LUIS MANUEL FERNANDEZ POLA, Alvearium - Tourism 4.0: Technological Innovation at the Service of the Traveler

Tomas Sluka, CREAL -- It’s all about vision: Vision Care in the core of AR AR glasses are the next evolutionary stage of traditional eyewear.

WATCH HERE

Siemens to speak at our Best of Europe 2025: How XR will Enable the Future of Design and Manufacturing through Immersive Engineering

Ben Widdowson, Head of Marketing Immersive Engineering at Siemens will present at our Best of Europe: How XR will Enable the Future of Design and Manufacturing through Immersive Engineering.

Session Description: Discover how XR technologies are finally ready to revolutionize how we design and manufacture the products of the future. We'll explore real-world use cases across the automotive, aerospace, and consumer products industries, showcasing how XR is enhancing the design process and driving efficiency, innovation and collaboration. Join us to see how XR is reshaping these sectors and enabling the future through Immersive Engineering.

Register here

JOYA Team will speak at our Best of Europe 2025

Please join our Best of Europe 2025 and hear from the JOYA Team. This is a LinkedIn Live event with 30+ speakers and we expect 1000s of attendees, lot of engagement and networking! 

Joya Team: End-to-End XR Solutions for Smart Glasses and Beyond

Founded in 2019, Joya Team is a leading optical systems development and engineering company specializing in tailored XR solutions for smart glasses and immersive technologies. With over 100 years of combined expertise and experience in the development of more than 20 AR/VR headsets across diverse applications and use cases, we deliver cutting-edge projects for industries including consumer electronics, medical, defense, and enterprise.

Our Full-Service Capabilities

We provide comprehensive development services for XR systems, offering a seamless blend of hardware and software expertise to bring concepts to life. 

—Our capabilities include:

• System Engineering: Defining and optimizing system architecture based on specific use cases

• Optical Design: Developing advanced optical layouts and selecting the best microdisplays (MicroLED, OLED, etc.)

• UX/UI Design: Crafting intuitive and immersive user experiences tailored to smart glasses applications

• Software Development: Custom XR application development, including real-time processing and robust system integration

• AI Solutions for Smart Glasses: Implementing AI-driven features such as computer vision, user analytics, and real-time decision-making

• Prototyping and Testing: Rapid development cycles and comprehensive performance validation

• Optics and Hardware Integration: Seamless assembly and integration for high-performance XR systems

Why Partner with Joya Team

• Tailored End-to-End Solutions: From concept to deployment, we handle every stage of XR system development, customized to meet your needs

• Cross-Disciplinary Expertise: Deep knowledge in XR Systems, optics, software, and AI-driven applications

• Proven Industry Success: Successful implementations in mission-critical industries where precision and reliability are essential
  
  

Powering the Next Generation of XR Experiences

Whether you're creating consumer AR glasses, enterprise XR applications, or advanced AI-driven medical devices, Joya Team is your trusted partner for delivering innovative, market-ready solutions.

Let’s build the future of XR together!

Contact Joya Team:

• Website: joyateam.com

Connect with Us:

• LinkedIn: Joya Team on LinkedIn

Email: assaf@joyateam.com

Silvio Ballerini, CEO S-iBA Vision, will speak at our Best of Europe 2025: VR/AI based Sales and Leadership Training - Client case study

Silvio Ballerini of S-iBA Vision will present at ​our Best of Europe 2025: XR & AI, a virtual LinkedIn Live event on March 27 with 1000s of attendees. 

S-iBA’s purpose is to provide innovative, efficient and sustainable skill-building solutions. S-iBA Vision has established itself as a leading provider of innovative, customizable and easy-to-integrate training solutions for B2B enterprises, particularly in the development and training of sales and leadership professionals. The concept builds on a combination of VIRTRACON™ and the involvement of very experienced trainers. VIRTRACON™ is an interactive VR/AI learning solution. It is a classroom-simulating, highly engaging Learning Experience Concept for lasting soft skill improvement.  

Why to attend the S-iBA Vision pitch at our Best of Europe 2025 event?

In this session, we will dive into a concrete client case with a customized learning journey, designed and delivered by S-iBA Vision. We will show, how professionals learn best by applying VR/AI technology as a key part of comprehensive learning journeys, thus maximizing the Return on Learning.   

Join S-iBA Vision at the VR/AR Best of Europe 2025 virtual LinkedIn Live event !

This is an essential session for L&D experts, Academy Leaders, People & Commercial Excellence Leaders, CEOs, CHROs and CSOs who are looking for new solutions to upskill their professionals in a very efficient way.

Josh Meah appointed as Co-Chair for VR/AR Association Training Committee

We are thrilled to have Josh Meah help us lead our Training committee by hosting our weekly online sessions.

Josh is founder and CEO of JM&Co., a growth consultancy with a diverse background in commercializing disruptive ventures across two dozen industries in the private and public sector. Over the past 10 years, Josh’s efforts in workforce development have helped train thousands of truck drivers, broadband technicians, nurses, and clinicians on behalf of governments, colleges, private training centers, hospitals, and companies. Josh also leads technology integration programs for VR and AI in the defense sector and has helped introduce STEM training to children nationwide across hundreds of thousands of hours in digital learning environments.

““Training and leadership are among the best known ways to develop potential, enhance incomes, and improve outcomes. VR training revolutionizes and democratizes skill development, empowering everyone everywhere to be their best, most creative, and most successful versions of themselves. I look forward to sharing insights and facilitating discussions with partners active in the field VR / AR training discipline.””

— Josh Meah

Thomas Merrick appointed Co-Chair for VRARA Universities & Colleges Committee

We are thrilled to have Thomas Merrick help lead our community by hosting online sessions for the Universities & Colleges Committee.

Thomas is a visionary educator and technology pioneer with a passion for transforming learning through immersive experiences. Holding a BS in Information Engineering from Cornell and an MA in Independent School Leadership from Columbia, he has over 25 years of experience in education as a Math Director, School Administrator, and technologist.

At Stanford University’s Distinguished Career Institute, Tom discovered the potential of Virtual Reality to revolutionize education. He taught VR courses at Stanford’s Virtual Human Interaction Lab and later continued with Stanford Continuing Education. Now at the University of Miami, he serves as Senior Project Manager of XR Initiatives and adjunct lecturer, spearheading projects like UMverse, a groundbreaking virtual reality education platform, and Miami XR 2025 Conference.

Thomas’s innovative work empowers students and faculty to harness XR technologies for creative, interdisciplinary learning, solidifying his role in shaping the future of education.

“I’m incredibly excited to take on the role of Co-Chair as it represents a unique opportunity to foster collaboration and innovation in education through immersive technologies. We have a chance to create a dynamic forum where educators, researchers, and technologists can come together to share ideas, showcase projects, and push the boundaries of what’s possible in education utilizing AI and XR — a collaborative ecosystem that redefines how students experience and interact with the world.
”

— Thomas Merrick

1,300+ attendees at our event, Best in Medical, XR, AI. Watch the recordings here.

Our event, Best in Medical, XR, AI , was a success, we had 1,300+ attendees throughout the event, and had a very highly engaged audience.    

You can watch the recordings here and review the speakers/program here.

If you would like to participate in our future events, please email kris@thevrara.com

Recap of our HoloLens is dead, long live Orion

Thomas Hoger hosted our online session with 20+ executives to discuss the discontinuation of Microsoft's HoloLens and Meta’s smartglasses Orion.

The meeting focused on the discontinuation of Microsoft's HoloLens and the implications for companies that invested in it, alongside discussions about Meta's upcoming Orion headset and its potential in the augmented reality (AR) space. Participants expressed concerns regarding the viability of mixed reality devices, particularly HoloLens and Magic Leap, while highlighting the rapid development of Meta's products. Significant concerns were raised about Meta's data security practices, especially in sensitive environments, and skepticism about the integration of Microsoft services in enterprise solutions. Challenges in obtaining clear policy answers and frequent software updates were also discussed. The conversation included trends in AR/VR, emphasizing the need for affordable headsets in the defense sector, and the potential of gamification in training. Insights on XR4 technology were shared, noting its tethered nature and cost-effectiveness for training applications.

Topics & Highlights

1. Discussion on HoloLens Discontinuation and Meta's Orion Headset

• Participants expressed concern over the discontinuation of HoloLens and the impact on investments made by companies in this technology.

• The HoloLens from Microsoft has been discontinued, and there will not be a HoloLens 3, with services set to be discontinued at some point.

• Meta has announced the Orion headset, which is not yet on the market, but there is optimism about its potential in the AR space.

2. Current State of Mixed Reality and Augmented Reality

• Participants express concerns about the future of mixed reality devices, particularly mentioning the uncertain status of Magic Leap and the challenges faced by HoloLens.

• rapid development of Meta's products, noting the transition from Quest to Quest 3 and Quest 3S, indicating a positive trend in consumer product development.

• enterprises will invest in the development of AR glasses, which will subsequently influence consumer products in the next three to five years.

3. Concerns Regarding Meta's Data Security

• concerns about Meta's data security, stating that their history of surveillance makes him unwilling to use their devices, especially in sensitive environments like defense.

• Meta's devices are designed to collect data for advertising purposes, which he finds unacceptable for business use, particularly in defense.

• frustration over the lack of engagement from Meta regarding his concerns about their Oculus for Business setup, indicating a disconnect between Meta and enterprise users.

4. Concerns Regarding Microsoft and Meta in Enterprise Solutions

• concerns about the need to integrate into Microsoft's environment, specifically mentioning the challenges with Azure and HoloLens, indicating a preference for offline operations.

• concerns about the trustworthiness of Meta and Mark Zuckerberg, suggesting that enterprises would avoid deploying their products due to security breaches and poor optics.

5. Challenges in Policy and Software Development

• frustration over the lack of clear answers regarding policy, indicating that the need to attend multiple meetings to get information is problematic. He also raises concerns about the frequent updates required for development software, suggesting it feels intrusive as if the company is 'spying' on his business.

6. Trends in Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR)

• trend where location-based entertainment is becoming expensive, hinting at a future where XR experiences could be rented at locations like taco trucks in parks.

• challenges of using current technology outdoors, particularly regarding tracking and operation in daylight, but expresses optimism that these issues are solvable, similar to past advancements with cell phones.

• strategy of leveraging commercial off-the-shelf headsets for defense applications instead of relying on expensive custom solutions, indicating a shift towards more practical and cost-effective options.

7. Gamification and Certification in Training

• many organizations invest significantly in training but fail to convert that training into certification, indicating a missed financial opportunity.

8. Discussion on XR4 Technology

• XR4 is a tethered experience requiring a direct GPU connection, which limits its mobility but enhances its performance for specific applications like medical training and observation posts.

• compare the cost of the XR4 headset at $10,000 to a quarter million dollar projection dome, highlighting the cost-effectiveness of the XR4 for training purposes.

Recap of our New Trends in VR Mental Health & Practical Apps

We had a fantastic online session with 40+ medical professionals on New Trends in VR Mental Health & Practical Apps hosted by Peter Oykhman with thought-leaders in VR mental health, featuring Dr Gwylim Roddick (CBT of Central & South Florida is a psychotherapy clinic), Dr. Lynn Panatonni (Turnpaugh Health), and PsyTechVR's co-founder Daniil Andreev . We explored cutting-edge developments in VR for mental health, discussing the latest research, practical applications, and future implications for therapy, wellness, and beyond. Learn more VR’s transformative potential for mental health, gain insights into innovative solutions at our Best in Medical, XR, AI (VRARA Healthcare Summit 2024) https://www.linkedin.com/events/7243305524149014528/comments

The meeting focused on the intersection of mental health and VR, highlighting its therapeutic applications. Peter Oykhman emphasized the critical role of mental health in healthcare and the potential of AI to enhance mental health solutions, while also addressing concerns about AI's effectiveness and safety. Dr. Lynn Panattoni discussed integrative approaches to treating anxiety and mood disorders, and Dr. Gwilym Roddick introduced cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques for anxiety and PTSD. The use of SciTechVR in therapy was highlighted, showcasing its benefits for patients with anxiety and trauma, and the customization of VR experiences for phobia treatment was discussed. The integration of AI in creating personalized VR scenarios was noted, along with advancements in technology, including the introduction of lifelike avatars and augmented reality applications. Ethical considerations regarding AI representation and the role of technology in clinical observations were also addressed. The meeting concluded with discussions on product development insights and the value of networking within professional organizations.

Topics & Highlights

1. Mental Health and Virtual Reality

• Peter Oykhman highlights the importance of mental health in today's world, indicating that it is a significant part of healthcare. He also mentions that there is a need for more presentations on this topic, particularly in relation to virtual reality.

• There are concerns regarding the use of AI in mental health, with some individuals being apprehensive about its effectiveness and safety. Peter Oykhman notes that Danielle will address these concerns during the presentation.

2. Use of Virtual Reality in Therapy

• designed for mental health and wellness, incorporating modalities like EMDR and CBT, and addressing issues such as fears, phobias, and PTSD exposure therapy.

• most of her patients are dealing with anxiety disorders or trauma, and she has started offering SciTech VR to everyone, observing positive responses within three sessions.

3. Virtual Reality Therapy for Phobias

• clients who have never flown but have driven their families around the country, highlighting the extent of avoidance behaviors related to phobias.

• expressed that some clients perceive CBT therapists as sadists due to the discomfort involved in confronting their fears, indicating a potential concern about client perceptions of therapy.

4. AI in Virtual Reality

• Peter expresses concerns about the unpredictability of AI, especially in emotional support contexts, emphasizing the potential for harm if AI provides incorrect recommendations.

• one company from has developed about 500 scenarios for VR, while another has around 200 scenarios, indicating the competitive landscape in VR content creation.

• development of an AI that can customize exposure scenarios within 30 seconds, indicating a significant advancement in VR therapy applications.

5. AI in Therapeutic Settings

• The AI technology discussed allows therapists to create personalized VR exposures in a matter of seconds, enhancing the therapeutic experience for clients with specific fears, such as phobias of dogs.

• The next versions are planned to be released within the year, which will include options for therapists to create gradual exposures tailored to individual client needs.

6. Advancements in AI and VR Technology for Clinical Use

• The time to create a new scenario has decreased from six months to just a couple of weeks, and with AI, it can now be done in 30 seconds.

• The team is planning to release an update that includes a new 'Bully Avatar' backed by ChatGPT, which will allow for live conversations, expected in late November.

7. Introduction of Metahumans in VR Therapy

• The team plans to start enabling the metahumans feature for all free trial users and subscribers beginning in December, enhancing the VR therapy experience with lifelike avatars.

• The introduction of metahumans is set to begin in December, marking a significant development in the VR therapy field.

• The initial idea was to use AI to create safe places for clients, allowing them to define their personal safe environments, which is a departure from predefined scenarios used by other systems.

8. Integration of Mindfulness in Patient Engagement

• emphasizes that integrating mindfulness activities into therapy can significantly improve patient engagement and emotional processing, which is crucial for skill retention outside of sessions.

9. Augmented Reality in Therapy

• Meta Quest 3 headset, priced at $299, which features advanced cameras for augmented reality, set to release mixed reality content in early 2025.

• The team is planning to develop mixed reality content for various phobias and social anxieties, with a focus on practical applications in therapy settings, expected to be available in early 2025.

10. Addressing Social Anxieties Post-COVID

• social anxieties have become increasingly common post-COVID, highlighting the need for effective training solutions.

• The discussion includes exploring the use of AI to create personalized scenarios for training in public speaking and other social situations, indicating a proactive approach to addressing these anxieties.

11. Customization in PsyTechVR

• emphasized that users like it allows for full customization in experiences, particularly in mindfulness and exposure scenarios.

12. Ethical Considerations in AI Representation

• concerns about the ethical implications of making AI avatars more lifelike, stressing the importance of ensuring users understand these are not real people.

• clarified that the responsibility lies with clinicians to decide how realistic they want their AI tools to be.

13. Use of Technology in Clinical Observations

• The speakers discussed the importance of technology as an additional tool for doctors, highlighting its potential to enhance clinical observations without replacing the human element in healthcare.

Mariam Brian appointed as VR/AR Association Co-Chair for Aerospace

We are thrilled to have Mariam Brian help lead our global community with regards to the Aerospace industry vertical and host our weekly online sessions with guest speakers, presentations, live discussions, and networking to help our Members grow your knowledge and connections.

Mariam is the Founder and CEO of Holo Art at the intersection of art, space, science, and technology, shaping cultural consciousness. She is also the president of the Montreal vrara chapter, member of “we work in space”, “metashapers” community, an executive advisor at Levio, a multimedia artist, quantum philosopher, author, and mother. 

As a global keynote speaker and subject matter expect on changing human behavior at scale with digital transformation, she has given talks in Paris, London, New York, Hong Kong, Brazil, Australia, Capetown, and Dubai on topics such as the future of education, quantum security, IP, human habits and cultural formation. Her work is focused on collective intelligence, exponential innovation, and designing better futures for humanity. She is excited to join the vrara as co chair of the aerospace committee. 

Oculum® Partners with DigiLens to Launch DigiSaaS

Atlanta, GA — October 14, 2024 — Oculum, a leading innovator in platform-as-a-service (PaaS) solutions for video conferencing and unified communications (UC), has announced a groundbreaking partnership with DigiLens Inc., a pioneer in waveguide display technologies. The collaboration will launch DigiSaaS, a new subscription-based service that empowers the independent software vendor (ISV) ecosystem by enabling seamless integration with DigiLens' ARGO™ smartglasses.

The Oculum platform, which is 100% encrypted and both HIPAA and GDPR-compliant, is designed to provide carrier-grade, voice-activated software solutions that will integrate directly with DigiLens’ ARGO smartglasses. This partnership marks a significant step forward in delivering immersive, remote collaboration experiences across various industries, from healthcare and manufacturing to education and beyond.

"Oculum is excited to partner with DigiLens in transforming how businesses and industries engage with remote, immersive environments. Together, we are setting a new standard for AR-based communication and collaboration," said Dan Anderson, CEO of Oculum. "Our integration with DigiLens' ARGO platform allows us to deliver shared immersive experiences to a global audience."

The partnership will also launch DigiSaaS, an industrial app store offering subscription-based services designed to meet the needs of modern industries. Powered by Oculum’s multi-tenant, white-label video conferencing and UC platform, DigiSaaS will allow users to securely participate in multi-party meetings from any device, ensuring a seamless, scalable experience.

"Oculum’s carrier-grade platform is ideal for our ARGO smartglasses and the DigiSaaS service," said Nima Shams, VP and GM of the Product Business Unit at DigiLens. "With Oculum, we can provide secure and scalable remote collaboration, elevating how users experience our smartglasses."

This partnership represents a significant milestone for Oculum as it brings its secure, high-quality communication solutions to the forefront of AR technology, further advancing the future of remote, virtual collaboration.

About Oculum®
Oculum is a leading provider of encrypted, carrier-grade video conferencing and unified communications solutions. With the support of 20 years of proven UC platform development, 110+ patents, and millions of subscribers, the Oculum platform offers secure, scalable, and immersive experiences for businesses across industries. www.oculumvc.com

Media Contact:

Terry Sullivan

terry.sullivan@oculumvc.com

About DigiLens Inc.
DigiLens is a leader in holographic waveguides used for XR displays. The company has developed a patented optical platform and photopolymer technology that deliver best-in-class solutions using a unique, low-cost contact-copy manufacturing process. DigiLens enables OEM partners to design and build XR-enabled devices for the global automobile, enterprise, consumer, avionics, and defense industries. Based in Sunnyvale, CA, DigiLens’ investors include industry leaders like Samsung Electronics, Samsung Electro-Mechanics, Diamond Edge Ventures, the strategic investment arm of Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporation, Alsop Louie Partners, Optimas Capital Management, 37 Interactive Entertainment, UDC Ventures, the corporate venture arm of Universal Display Corporation, Niantic, Inc., Sony Innovation Fund, Dolby Family Ventures, Continental AG, and more. www.digilens.com

Media Contact:

Brian Hamilton

Brian.Hamilton@DigiLens.com

Edstutia Launches Immersive Learning Foundations for a Better Way to Learn and Train

New York, NY – October 7, 2024: Edstutia, a pioneer of immersive learning, is proud to announce the launch of Immersive Learning Foundations, a hybrid professional development course aimed at empowering individuals to master Virtual Reality (VR) and other immersive technologies. The course is designed for professionals across industries who want to learn, apply, and implement immersive technology solutions in their work environments.

Edstutia’s Immersive Learning Foundations course provides a blend of self-paced learning modules alongside live VR lab sessions to ensure a flexible, interactive, and robust learning experience for participants. This hybrid format solves key challenges many professionals face in adopting VR technology, including the underutilization of headsets and the lack of structured pathways for learning immersive technologies. 

Learners will acquire hands-on experience in VR environments while building a personalized blueprint to integrate immersive technology into their respective professional fields. Live lab sessions allow participants to practice and apply what they’ve learned while simultaneously building a community of learners in the Edstutia VR campus. 

"The Immersive Learning Foundations course was designed to address the growing need for structured, hands-on experience with VR technology," said Christine Janssen, PhD., Founder and CEO of Edstutia. "We’re excited to provide learning leaders with a convenient, cost-effective way to learn about the tools and resources available through Edstutia to confidently apply VR in their professional environments. We believe this approach can help industries truly unlock the potential of immersive learning and technology — sooner than later."

Learners can register for the Edstutia Immersive Learning Foundations course now. Participants will gain instant access to the self-paced modules and can schedule their VR lab sessions through the course learning platform. To register or learn more about the program, visit the Immersive Learning Foundations page at https://marketing.edstutia.com/ilf-register.

About Edstutia:

Edstutia is an award-winning immersive learning platform and content creator for VR-enhanced learning experiences. Edstutia’s goal is to help organizations integrate data-driven immersive technology to optimize learner engagement and retention. Their expertise lies in people-centric skills that are in high demand in the workplace today. 

VRARA Members get 50% off the course, email info@thevrara.com for your code!

For media inquiries, please contact:

Jose Gonzalez

Edstutia Marketing  

jgonzalez@edstutia.com

VRARA Seattle Participates in OpenXR LIVE meetup with Khronos Group

Roberto Haza,, VRARA Seattle Chapter President and XR/Spatial Computing Consultant introduced VRARA, the global organization where XR meets reality, fostering collaboration between innovative organizations and creators in the VR and AR ecosystem at OpenXR LIVE : Seattle Meetup and Mixer. Watch the replay!

This meetup included the latest updates on the OpenXR specification, implementations, applications and the wider ecosystem as well as talks from developers who will shared their experiences using the API, plus presentations from local XR community leaders. Slides can be found at https://www.khronos.org/events/openxr..

Gene Feldman of Nestle appointed as co-chair of VR/AR Association Metaverse Committee

We are thrilled to have Gene Feldman help lead our community by hosting our weekly online sessions about XR & Metaverse.

Feldman is a member of the Center for Functional Excellence within Nestle Purina Pet Care supporting training innovation through the use of technology. Gene currently holds a Master's in Education and has been is in field of education/training and development for the past 25+ years. Over the past 8 years, Gene has been identified as a leading VR/AR integration expert for immersive training solutions and functional use case implementation.

“I am really excited to co-chair the committee to pass along learnings and solutions to empower those working within XR.”

— Gene Feldman

Develop Your Immersive Learning with XR Certifications from VRARA Member Edsutia

Are you ready to get a head start in the world of immersive learning?

VRARA Member Edstutia is offering an exclusive 50% discount to VRARA members for their Certification in XR (ICXR)!

Learn how to harness the power of XR technology to revolutionize the way you teach, train, and engage in your professional context. Whether you're in education, corporate training, or professional development, ICXR will equip you with the cutting-edge skills you need to lead the way.

What’s included:
- Deep knowledge of emerging XR technologies
- Hands-on VR lab sessions to gain real-world experience
- A personalized blueprint for integrating XR into your field

Take advantage of this limited-time offer and email info@thevrara.com to obtain your 50% discount!

Sign up here and be part of the immersive learning revolution!

VRARA Bytes Podcast: Power of Immersion Issue 2

In the VR/AR Bytes Podcast, Orlando Chapter President and VRARA COO John Cunningham provides short interviews with the movers and shakers in the VRARA industry who share their insights into how VR & AR is impacting their businesses.

This week, John sat down with three of the authors of the recent VRARA Enterprise Committee Whitepaper titled "The Power of Immersion Issue 2 - Transforming Manufacturing with XR".

Watch the entire series here, and subscribe to receive the weekly podcast!

Enrollment for November VRARA Executive Forum Cohort Now Open

Enrollment for the November Cohort of the VRARA Executive Forum is now open. This exclusive program is for business and innovation team executives who want to learn how to leverage XR and AI in their businesses and collaborate/learn from the experts in the industry and their peers from "non-competitive" organizations.

Led by COO John Cunningham, this dedicated program is for "end user" business and innovation leaders. It is not a technology program but rather a 12 month "Executive MasterClass in XR/AI" program with cohorts of up to 10 individuals with curated programming.

The best thing about the program is that it is FREE for our Corporate Innovation Team and Corporate level members. What a benefit!

There is nothing like this out there today, and the VRARA is launching this much needed program to help executives figure out how to scale XR and AI!

The cohort duration will be November 1-30th, with a new cohort beginning November 1st.

If you are interested, please email john@thevrara.com for more information.

HTC VIVE and Virtualware Partner to Accelerate Adoption of Enterprise XR

Orlando, Florida, October 7, 2024 - Global leader in premium XR solutions HTC VIVE and European XR enterprise software and solutions provider Virtualware have established a strategic partnership to accelerate adoption of enterprise XR solutions within the Americas market.

This partnership establishes HTC VIVE as an official distributor of the VIROO Enterprise XR Software Platform and applications in North America. Under the agreement, HTC VIVE will sell VIROO directly as well as through its value-added reseller network in the Americas.  

VIROO is a global award-winning enterprise XR platform that enables companies and institutions worldwide access to immersive technology securely through public or private cloud services or through an on-premises server architecture. The robust enterprise XR platform provides multiple ready-to-use applications for users, as well as tools for developers to create and distribute their own custom multi-user XR, simulation and digital twin applications.

Adoption of XR devices is on the rise, with 17 of 23 federal civilian agencies having used immersive technology in fiscal year 2023 per a survey conducted by the United States Government Accountability Office. Strong security is paramount to support the growing use of XR, including for use cases like engineering design, digital twins of restricted sites, and training simulations.

Both Virtualware and HTC VIVE place the highest priority on ensuring the privacy and security of their users. Virtualware holds certification in ISO27001, the globally recognized standard for information security, as well as ISO9001:2015, the standard for quality management systems. HTC VIVE's robust global privacy compliance program is continuously monitored, reviewed, and updated to meet certification requirements in standards like ISO27001, ISO27701, SOC, and open standards like BSIMM.

“Our partnership with Virtualware allows us to offer enterprise customers a broader portfolio of solutions that are integrated with HTC VIVE’s products and technologies. The VIROO platform is a proven enterprise XR software platform that enables large organizations to scale multi-user collaboration, training and digital twin capabilities securely and cost effectively through public cloud and private corporate infrastructure,” said Dan O’Brien, President Americas at HTC VIVE.

John A. Cunningham, President of Virtualware USA stated “HTC VIVE and VIrtualware are already providing the underlying technology platforms for large organizations who are scaling XR.  For example, GE Vernova has deployed our platforms to enable training for nuclear power plant operations across the US and Canada. This new partnership opens up our products to the entire XR ecosystem who want to develop end user solutions using proven technologies that have been designed from the ground up for enterprise use.”   

More information about Virtualware and VIROO can be found in the VIVE business directory and on Virtualware's website. Learn more about HTC VIVE's latest XR headset, VIVE Focus Vision, and get a 1-year VIVE Business+ Pro tier license when you pre-order the Business Edition headset here. This is a limited-time offer. Terms and conditions can be found on the product page.