Monthly Archives: July 2017

A lab that opened last month in Fife, Scotland shows how the energy industry is embracing virtual reality systems considered futuristic justtwo years ago.

The Fife College Immersive Hybrid Reality lab is designed to enhance the training and development of the next generation of offshore wind turbine technicians, according to a press release.

It simulates the top of a nacelle on a 7-megawatt offshore wind turbine, allowing students to carry out fault-finding inspections without having to leave shore.

The virtual environment is modeled on a real-life demonstration turbine off the East Fife coast, used by the U.K.s Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult scheme for research and training.

Students can view the virtual environment through special goggles, but at the same time see their own hands and feet as well as being able to pick up and use real tools and manuals.

The virtual environment, created by the ORE Catapult along with Scottish public-private initiative the Energy Skills Partnership and animation studio Animmersion U.K., includes audio effects, such as wind noise, and can even simulate changing weather conditions.

A second virtual environment, currently being worked on, will simulate the interior of the turbine.

At the lab opening last month, the Scottish Government Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science, Shirley-Anne Somerville, pledged further funding of GBP 50,000 (around $65,000) for the Energy Skills Partnership.

The money follows 300,000 ($389,000) already invested by the Scottish government in the virtual reality (VR) project.

Bill Hutchison, Fife College curriculum manager for electrical, electronic and petroleum engineering, predicted a rapid uptake of VR and augmented reality (AR) in the energy sector.

The renewable energy sector is already a primary user of VR for training, along with the aerospace, nuclear, construction and oil and gas industries, he said.

For offshore wind, in particular, VR and AR could provide very direct cost benefits compared to on-site training by avoiding the need to waste expensive components and spend money on travel to remote locations.

Students can use VR to "fly" through a virtual model of a turbine and become familiar with the work environment before visiting a site, which can help with logistics and job sequencing while reducing the likelihood of errors.

AR, meanwhile, allows engineers to complete work on site while benefiting from a VR overlay that provides information on assembly sequencing, tolerance measurement, tightening torque values and so on.

These are not the only areas where the offshore wind industry is beginning to use VR, though. The turbine maker MHI Vestas, for example, employs virtual environments as a sales tool at its exhibition stands.

One of the challenges in the offshore wind industry is that turbines are not accessible, said Michael Morris, external communication consultant at MHI Vestas Offshore Wind.

Located in remote areas of the North Sea and standing over 100 meters high, not many people get a chance to see these mammoth turbines, let alone actually see inside one of them. VR actually is the only cost-effective way to show people an offshore wind turbine.

MHI Vestas, which also uses VR for training, has conference stations where stand visitors don harnesses, protective vests and headsets before getting a guided tour around a virtual nacelle.

Thousands of people have experienced the film over the past few years, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, Morris said. When we need to show people what the turbines look like and how they operate, VR is undoubtedly the best way.

Today the main thing holding back greater adoption of VR is the number of systems there are to choose from, Hutchison said.

Certain systems may be better suited to given applications and it is still hard to pick market winners that stand a good chance of remaining in business in a few years time, he said.

However, there does appear to be a refinement process going on quite rapidly, with a number of systems moving out in front as preferred choices, he noted.

It would be reasonable to see all advanced engineering industries to be routinely using VR and AR within the next five to 10 years, he said.

Read more:

Renewables Sector Embraces the Promise of Virtual Reality - Greentech Media

Facebook's (NASDAQ:FB) Oculus is reportedly planning to release a stand-alone virtual reality device next year to retail for just $200. The goal is to push VR into the mainstream.

Virtual reality has been a niche product for the better part of 30 years, but Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg made a big bet that VR is going to be the next big computing platform when his company bought Oculus for $2 billion in 2014.

Oculus released its first consumer product, the Rift, last year. While the device is relatively affordable, it requires users to hook it up to an expensive PC to run software. Meanwhile, low-cost devices that license Oculus technology, like Samsung's (NASDAQOTH:SSNLF) Gear VR, require a high-end smartphone. The new device will find a happy middle ground in terms of both capabilities and price. That may be just what the market needsfor mass consumer adoption.

Facebook Spaces. Images source: Facebook

Earlier this year, Mark Zuckerberg stated, "It's going to take five or 10 more years of development before we get to where we all want to go." Considering, the new Oculus device will have limited capabilities -- for example, no positional tracking -- it's just another step for the company in its push toward making VR the next big computing platform.

Other consumer electronic companies are following suit. Samsung is reportedly planning its own stand-alone headset as well, which will rely on Oculus technology. Other players like HTC and Lenovo are working on similar devices using Google's Daydream platform.

But Zuckerberg would compare these upcoming devices to early smartphones like those from Blackberry or Palm circa 2003. In other words, it's still very early and it could be another five years or more before we see a device that sparks mass interest in the platform. Zuckerberg points out it took 10 years for the smartphone market to sell 1 billion devices.

"I don't know [if] there was something that folks could have done to make that happen fast, but I think that was pretty good. And if we can be on a similar trajectory of anywhere near 10 years for VR and AR, then I would feel very good about that," Zuckerberg said during Facebook's fourth quarter earnings call earlier this year. "We're going to invest a lot in this and it's not going to return or be really profitable for us for quite a while," he added.

One big hurdle for virtual reality to overcome is a lack of content. That could be anything from immersive video content to video games. The problem is it's hard for top video game studios to create games for the platform before a mass audience exists.

To that end, Facebook has committed $250 million to new VR content. Most of that money will go toward software -- like the Facebook Spaces app the company unveiled during its F8 developers conference this spring -- and video games.

The new stand-alone device could help build a sizable enough audience that Facebook would no longer have to seed the content ecosystem. VR projects would be viable of their own accord, and game studios and software developers could start investing their time and money in projects for both high-end and low-end devices.

There's a ton of interest in virtual reality right now from a development side, but consumer demand hasn't quite taken off. We may still be a few years away from that, and Facebook will likely continue to lose money on its VR investments, but a stand-alone device with a broader reach than current devices have may be a key step to getting to where Facebook wants to go.

Adam Levy has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Facebook. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Is 2018 the Year Virtual Reality Goes Mainstream? -- The Motley Fool - Motley Fool

For years now, I have been involved with Nothing But Nets, an amazing organization devoted to fighting malaria. I have always felt called to support them and their mission in any way I can, so for my 15th birthday this year, I decided to request something unique.

I invited some friends and family to come over and experience for themselves something that has been eye-opening for me. I had each of my guests put on a pair of virtual reality (VR) goggles which showed firsthand what life can be like for those who live in places overrun by malaria-infected mosquitoes. I showed them Nothing But Nets new virtual reality film, Under the Net. VR can be a moving experience, and can demonstrate just how much of a difference even a simple $10 protective bed net could make in someones world. (These nets can protect entire families from mosquitoes at night while they are sleeping!) Also, thanks to VR, my family and friends were able to learn more about how people deal with malaria, and how common (and scary) it can be. VR really can capture the effects malaria can have on the body in a powerful way. Having the chance to take a first-hand look into another human beings entirely different world is an opportunity that is both eye-opening and humbling. In seeing this different world, my family, friends, and I have become more grateful of what we have, and also have been reminded of the importance of philanthropy and giving to others.

While reading or hearing about something is one thing, actually seeing peoples lives and how they live, and seeing the effects of the nets you are buying for them via VR is so much more significant. It has the power to spark something within: whether that spark inspires you to to donate more energy, more time, or more funds into helping those dealing with the effects of malaria, I believe it is important to act on our feelings of empathy, and reach out to those in need. VR as a whole gives us an empowering experience that opens our eyes to others experiences; it lets us visualize moments in others shoes. We can read articles all we want, but nothing is as effective as actually seeing these issues, feeling empathy, and then, most importantly, acting on those feelings. VR can give us a sense of empathy for all those affected by this disease, inspiring us to go and actually create change.

What you all (hopefully) may be thinking now that youve read this post is how do I actually get involved? There are so many ways to bring awareness and bring about change. Whether its by supporting and spreading the word about great organizations such as Nothing But Nets, by fundraising, or even by scheduling meetings with your local members of Congress to ask for funding for key U.S. Government programs such as The Presidents Malaria Initiative and Global Fund, there are countless ways to help support the cause.

In fact, to learn more about malaria and fighting it, please go check out the Nothing But Nets official website here: https://www.nothingbutnets.net/

Of course, reading a website cant be as interactive as a virtual reality experience-- but, it can be the start of something bigger. Check out the website, and then, if you have access to VR goggles, check out the VR malaria experience for yourself. And if you dont, just come over anytime and borrow mine. Virtual reality might be just the thing we need to bring awareness to our actual reality.

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The Reality (and Virtual Reality) of Malaria - HuffPost

The National Behavioral Health Innovation Center announced today that Rick Rekedal, a former senior executive with DreamWorks Animation, and Dr. Walter Greenleaf, a pioneer and leading authority on virtual reality for medical use, have joined its staff.

Walter and Rick are recognized internationally as leaders in their fields, said Matt Vogl, executive director of NBHIC at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Their knowledge and insight are powerful assets to our mission of finding bold new solutions to the countrys mental health crisis.

In 2016, Rekedal completed over 20 years with DreamWorks as Chief Creative of franchise development and the global franchise director of the hit movie Trolls. Rekedal has also worked on properties such as How To Train Your Dragon, Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, and The Lost World: Jurassic Park, developing merchandising, interactive and licensing programs. Rekedals work has been recognized with two Annie Awards, two Kids Choice Awards and Toy of the Year. He is a frequent speaker and serves on advisory boards for The Wedgwood Circle; Michael W. Smith Group and Seabourne Pictures; and Belmont Universitys film school.

Rekedal joins NBHIC as Senior Creative Advisor, consulting on how to elevate an open and urgent national conversation on mental health.

Greenleaf is a behavioral neuroscientist and a medical product developer who has been on the cutting edge of virtual reality and augmented reality applications in healthcare for more than 30 years.

In his role as NBHICs Director of Technology Strategy, Greenleaf brings his considerable knowledge to the Centers approach to digital initiatives. He continues to work as a Visiting Scholar at the Stanford University Virtual Human Interaction Lab.

He has developed several clinical product streams, founded medical companies, and served as a scientific advisor and reviewer for the U.S. Public Health Service, National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, NASA and the U.S. Department of Education. He holds a PhD in Neuro and Bio-behavioral Sciences from Stanford University.

Our approach is to seek out unexpected partners as we look beyond the current mental health system for new solutions, said Vogl. Walter and Rick fit that approach. Walters depth of knowledge in virtual reality and Silicon Valley are leading us to work with new technology partners in developing cutting edge tools for mental health treatments. Ricks extraordinary creative abilities can help steer powerful human connections to combat the awful stigma that is so harmful to many people in need.

Guest contributor: Lauren Baker, marketing and communications strategist for the National Behavioral Health Innovation Center at CU Anschutz.

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Senior Executives from Film and Virtual Reality Industries Join NBHIC - CU Anschutz Today (press release)