Immersive Technologies Take Hold in Our Working, Learning and Living Environments

From geo-information systems, virtual learning and collaboration tools to surround sound telephone conferencing equipment, immersive technologies have a huge range of potential applications. Researchers and developers presented some particularly promising business ideas to key decision-makers from business and finance at the 10th Heidelberg Innovation Forum on 12 April 2011 in the Studio at Heidelberg’s Villa Bosch.

Panolife’s dark blue VW van is parked in front of the Studio at the Villa Bosch. A panoramic camera and 360° laser scanner are mounted on a frame on its roof. “Our system enables us to scan whole towns in a similar way to Google Streetview, but the geometric data we obtain is much more precise”, says CEO Milad Dana. Software developed by Panolife GmbH automatically converts the collected data into 3D and provides it via a web-based application which has various uses, such as virtual surveying. The geo-information system is thus an important tool for municipal and local authorities, architects and urban planners.

Making contacts that turn new ideas into reality

In addition to Panolife, 19 other entrepreneurs and company founders presented their product concepts and business ideas at the Heidelberg Innovation Forum. This was the tenth time that the event – organised by MFG Baden-Württemberg and the European Media Laboratory – has been held. Many international visitors were among the 120 attendees, including delegations from Canada and Taiwan. The event gives researchers and developers the opportunity to establish contacts with partners from research and industry, which is just as vital for ensuring the success of a business as the actual product itself.

“Networking always pays off, even if it’s not always in the most direct way”, stressed Sarik Weber, CEO of business incubator Hanse Ventures, in his keynote speech. And he should know: as the first employee of business network XING – then still called openBC – he played a major role in building the high-revenue company and in its subsequent IPO. The company’s success is directly related to nurturing relationships. Networking as an essential key to business success is especially important for immersive technologies, which are located at the interface between creative and traditional industries. They can be used in a wide range of scenarios, from virtual prototype development to visualisation in advertising and marketing and even immersive learning.

Games industry as technology driver

The games industry is an important driver of immersive technologies. Jason Della Rocca, former executive director of the International Game Developers Association (IGDA) and founder of Canadian consulting firm Perimeter Partners, outlined the diverse and fast-paced nature of the games industry in his presentation as second keynote speaker. He advised the audience to test out new product concepts in the market as early as possible. In doing so, firms can avoid investing a large amount of time and money developing and producing a high-end product that ultimately no one wants to buy.

Virtual environments for learning and collaboration

The Heidelberg Innovation Forum proved to be a good first test for the participants who put their product concepts and business ideas forward for scrutiny in two parallel panel sessions. Speakers were required to get straight to the point as every presentation was limited to eight minutes. A new feature of the 10th Innovation Forum were sessions called “showcases” in which representatives from user industries outlined their needs or presented their vision of the future.

These included seeking new formats for communication, both internally within firms and across corporate groups. Ulm-based firm TriCAT GmbH presented a possible solution with a comprehensive and flexibly adaptable virtual environment for learning and collaboration. Its unique feature is a real-time connection between the virtual world and processes and data in the real-life working world. This means companies can set up their own 3D corporate environments, incorporate their data and objects and work together virtually with a group of people.

Stuttgart-based firm Visenso GmbH is also developing a virtual learning environment, in this case specifically for schools. In a “cyber classroom”, content is visualised in 3D using an immersion wall, 3D stereo television or special video glasses, all of which allow pupils to engage interactively with the visualisation. “The pupils grasp complex issues much better this way than with traditional learning materials”, says Visenso CEO Andreas Wierse.

Smart pen helps with diagnosis and therapy of graphomotor disorders

Karlsruhe-based company Iuvaris, established in January 2011, likewise aims to assist school pupils, but also includes children of pre-school age. The firm’s founders are currently developing a pen that helps in the diagnosis and therapy of graphomotor disorders. A child’s motor skills are dependent on the ability to move the hands and fingers, but this ability is impaired in 5 to 20 percent of children in Germany. Iuvaris’ smart pen registers writing movements; specially developed software then analyses the data. The company is now working with Heilbronn Children’s Centre to compile statistical data for a valid medical analysis.

Award for surround sound telephone conferencing system

At the close of the 10th Heidelberg Innovation Forum, the most compelling business idea received the Best Business Idea Award from the “Baden-Württemberg: Connected – bwcon” business initiative. The winner was Dr. Christian Hoene from the University of Tübingen. His innovation is an intelligent surround sound teleconferencing system that simulates the spatial arrangement of the speakers, making it easier for each of the voices to be identified.

The ideas and applications at the Heidelberg Innovation Forum demonstrated that immersive technologies are taking hold in our learning, working and living environments, leading to a blurring of boundaries between the real and digital worlds.