Excerpt from the Dayton Business Journal
A global tech firm that oversees its U.S. operations from a Dayton suburb has entered a partnership with one of the region's largest universities. The project will further enhance workforce training for the Miami Valley.
Virtalis, a U.K.-based software provider that operates locally in Kettering, has partnered with Wright State University to provide the school with a next-generation virtual reality (VR) system that will enable the university to expand its high-tech workforce training initiatives.
The system — a full-scale, walkable display enclosure — combines two Virtalis products: ActiveCube and Visionary Render VR software. ActiveCube is a multi-sided VR cave with enabled floor projection, which will allow students to visualize complex assemblies that would not be possible in alternative virtual environments.
"This technology is the best-priced performance solution available," said Paul Ewing, vice president of North American operations for Virtalis. "In addition, our Visionary Render VR software will be used to support job training and drive future technologies at Wright State."
The system will be housed in the university's Appenzeller Visualization Laboratory, which is operated and supported by the Advanced Visual Data Analysts (AViDA) group at Joshi Research Center.
Launched in 2007, the $2 million lab enables businesses to outsource VR work without having to buy the technology themselves. Historically, the lab has partnered with several local companies — including Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and Tipp City-based Sloan Gear International, Inc. — to provide design work and display it in a VR environment.
The new equipment should be installed by early 2020 and will be available for student and faculty use. Dr. Thomas Wischgoll, professor of computer science and engineering and director of the AViDA group, said the university is aiming for a January installation date.
