Siu-Li Khoe is executive director of Rhode Island Virtual Reality, a group working to spread the word about virtual reality, connect resources and serve as a support for local businesses. The technology, she said, is young, with great possibility ahead.
PBN: I am not sure many people know that there may be market uses for VR beyond gaming. What other ways might it be used?
KHOE: Virtual reality is a computer-generated simulation which replaces reality. Augmented reality lets you overlay digital experiences over reality. Virtual reality has the ability to put a person in another person’s shoes, in another place or time, and in an experience that is difficult to re-create.
There are uses for virtual reality, augmented reality and mixed reality in manufacturing, health care, scientific discovery, storytelling, social enterprise, security, education, retail, etc. Companies [such as] Google, IBM, Apple, Facebook and Microsoft have all made big bets on virtual reality, augmented reality and the technologies that support and integrate with it. The industry is projected to become a $210 billion market by 2022.
PBN: How did the five team members of RIVR get together and start the group?
KHOE: Lorne Adrain is a well-respected community leader in Rhode Island and knew the three Brown University practitioners, Ted Bogosian, Tom Sgouros and Adam Blumenthal. We have found virtual reality work at all the major institutions in Rhode Island and collaborate with them, commercial endeavors and freelancers to stimulate the development of projects. Nick Napp of XMark Labs and DJ Johnson of New England Institute of Technology have joined the leadership team.
PBN: What’s the difference between VR and augmented reality?
KHOE: Virtual reality replaces the reality one experiences. As an example, what you see and hear is replaced completely with another experience – [such as] putting on [an] HTC Vive headset and headphones to experience life underwater or stepping into a room that projects a completely different environment, [such as] at Brown University’s YURT [Yurt Ultimate Reality Theatre].
Augmented reality overlay is an experience on reality. As an example, we see reality augmented when we watch sports on television, when we add a beard to our selfie on our mobile phones or when we wear [an] MS Hololens to identify objects to pick in a warehouse operation.
PBN: One of the goals of the group, according to the RIVR website, is to build a VR ecosystem in Rhode Island. What kind of strengths and challenges are associated with that?
KHOE: There is a real strength in Rhode Island in regard to engineering, development and design talent. These are critical perspectives and skills required to make a great VR/AR experience. These communities and the industries [that] would benefit from their work have limited connection, creating a perceived barrier to entry. The challenge is understanding, finding and connecting the organizations and individuals to form and fund the teams that turn ideas into reality, virtual or otherwise, pun intended. Rhode Island is small and highly connected, therefore a perfect place in which to conduct this lively experiment.
PBN: How can businesses take advantage of RIVR?
KHOE: Rhode Island Virtual Reality’s events and resources show the possibilities, connect resources and provide opportunities to develop ideas. Start by signing up for our email list and/or following us on Facebook. Come be inspired at monthly meetups, field trips and workshops, or contact us if you’d like us to come to you.
RIVR also catalyzes an organization’s ability to do VR/AR projects by supporting project planning, execution and business development. We have helped businesses build teams, develop ideas and educate their organizations. We believe being the nexus point for celebrating and communicating success allows us to attract additional projects, collaboration and talent to the Ocean State and the region. If you have a VR/AR product, service or want to explore using VR/AR to run your business, do contact us.
These are the early days. Like the early days of the internet, RIVR celebrates businesses already investing in learning, using and delivering using VR and AR. Like Amazon and Facebook were killer applications of the internet, the killer applications for VR/AR have not been thought of yet.
Susan Shalhoub is a PBN contributing writer.
