We build research-grade VR/AR/MR labs for universities, schools and businesses. Hardware, software, installations, onboarding, maintenance, professional development - the works.
VR labs are our passion! VR/AR/MR are already major tech platforms. Whether for research, workforce development, or curriculum: get your own VR lab, don't play catch up.
WorldViz has 20 years of experience doing world-class installations, starting with the groundbreaking Virtual Human Interaction Lab at Stanford University, a signature virtual reality research lab.
We're thrilled to have set up this installation, one which has produced some of the leading research in the field. The mission of the Virtual Human Interaction Lab (VHIL) is to understand the dynamics and implications of interactions among people in immersive virtual reality simulations (VR) and other forms of media (eg digital communication systems, video games, etc). Researchers in the lab are most concerned with understanding the social interaction that occurs within the confines of VR, and the majority of their work is centered on using empirical behavioral science methodologies to observe people as they interact in these digital worlds. It is sometimes necessary to develop new gesture tracking systems, three-dimensional modeling techniques, or agent-behavior algorithms in order to answer these basic social questions. Read the full case study here.
With well over 1,000 square meters of space to freely walk around in, the HIVE (Huge Immersive Virtual Environment) of Miami University at Ohio may currently be the largest VR space in the world: Powered by WorldViz PPT warehouse-scale motion tracking, this VR installation leverages the university‘s research work across several disciplines: From developing medical training simulations for their nursing program to building a 3D mandala for the Daila Lama, virtual reality has not only become a standard tool for the university’s students and faculty, but for their regional, national, and international industry partners alike. Read the full case study here.
In 2013, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion at ERAU, created a virtual reality simulation lab called Pre-Board. Dr. Robin Roberts put forth an innovative initiative to build a virtual reality lab after realizing that many of the University’s Global Engagement Students (Study Abroad) were experiencing severe culture shock. ERAU immersed students in simulated, foreign environments, thereby reducing their fears resulting in increased confidence. Over the past two years, Pre-Board’s applications have evolved and expanded under the direction of Kenneth Hunt, Director the Office of Diversity and Inclusion at ERAU. Embry-Riddle students and faculty are now able to practice and implement core skills in preparation for becoming professionals after graduation. According to Mr. Hunt, “I have been fortunate enough to be involved in the creation and expansion of the VR lab and its effect campus wide. Participation has resulted in a stronger bond between students, faculty and staff who have shared the experience together”.
A key theme in the greater architectural narrative has been effectively envisioning and exploring what has not yet been built. Over the years, the story has been driven by innovations in display and representational tools - whether through blueprints, models, drawings, computer animations, or other tools. A leading Midwest school in architecture has taken the story’s next big step by implementing immersive virtual reality (VR) in its classrooms and labs to research its use in iterative design and enhanced presentation tools. With a WorldViz VR lab and VR software, Ball State’s College of Architecture and Planning (CAP) achieved a significant reputation as a leader in new methodologies and procedures for architecture and design. Ball State experimented with visualization solutions related to virtual reality, including early forms of augmented reality and stereoscopic rear-projection visualization systems. These tools were used for disciplines and departments as diverse as Building Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning.
WorldViz and Florida Gulf Coast University teamed up to build VIPER (Virtual Interactive Portal for Engineering Research) to drive virtual reality research and adoption across a range of disciplines at the university. The facility is equipped with an array of WorldViz PPT motion-sensing cameras, a wide-area WorldViz Walking VR system, and a Projection VR system. Sound is a huge component of immersion, and this facility has a powerful Dolby Atmos surround sound system. The use cases for the University are vast.
“It has widespread applicability in all engineering disciplines,” Richard Behr (Dean of the Engineering School) said. “It can be used to simulate construction sites; you walk through the site in a virtual environment, and you can mitigate problems on the site during real construction. But you can also apply VR to civil engineering and environmental engineering." They are also excited about using the facility for medical education (e.g. inspecting 3D models of organs), training their students on VR development and 3D modeling, and creating immersive Math learning games. Read more about the VIPER lab here.
Client: University of Dayton School of Engineering
Use Case: Previsualizations of Critical Construction Project
WorldViz is pleased to announce the installation of a cutting edge virtual and mixed reality lab at the University of Dayton School of Engineering. The new wrap-around VizMove ProjectionVR system will provide researchers, students and local stakeholders within the larger Dayton community an advanced visualization system and toolset to take on the engineering challenges of today and tomorrow.
Client: Stanford University, Virtual Human Interaction Lab
Use Case: Psychology, Human Interaction Research
The mission of the Virtual Human Interaction Lab (VHIL) is to understand the dynamics and implications of interactions among people in immersive virtual reality simulations (VR) and other forms of media (eg digital communication systems, video games, etc). Researchers in the lab are most concerned with understanding the social interaction that occurs within the confines of VR, and the majority of their work is centered on using empirical behavioral science methodologies to observe people as they interact in these digital worlds. It is sometimes necessary to develop new gesture tracking systems, three-dimensional modeling techniques, or agent-behavior algorithms in order to answer these basic social questions. Consequently, VHIL researchers also engage in research geared towards developing new ways to produce these VR simulations.
Client: Massachusetts General Hospital and the Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging
Use Case: Medical Diagnostics and Therapies for Brain Disorders
WorldViz is pleased to announce its partnership with Massachusetts General Hospital and the Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging for cutting edge research applications in the new Clinical and Translational Research Unit (CTRU). The Center will use multiple WorldViz VizMove Projection VR and multi-user VR headset systems with eye tracking for developing innovative techniques in biomedical imaging and research targeting the discovery of emerging medical diagnostics and therapies for preventing, managing and curing complex brain disorders.
Client: University Of Central Florida
Use Case: Interdisciplinary Psychology Research
WorldViz is excited to announce the delivery and installation of a new, state of the art virtual reality research lab at University of Central Florida. The research lab, designed in collaboration between WorldViz and the Department of Psychology at UCF, will give researchers and students access to the latest virtual and augmented reality systems with integrated physiological data collection, eye tracking, and an emphasis on multi-user and social collaborative capabilities, resulting in a “lab without limits.”
Client: University of Oklahoma
Use Case: Immersive Smart Learning
Built from using Vizard API functions, Professor Ziho Kang at the Univsersity of Oklahoma is currently developing a smart learning application leveraging neuroimaging, eye tracking, and haptic interactions.
The initiative aims to revolutionize educational environments by integrating advanced biometric measures to enhance learning experiences in a fully immersive virtual reality setting. This research delves into innovative methodologies to facilitate non-text-based smart learning, tailored to individual needs, and enabled through MVR technology.
This emerging approach focuses on the real-time analysis of physiological measures such as eye movement characteristics, brain activity, and haptic feedback to understand and improve learning outcomes. The MVR environment creates an interactive space where users can form and manipulate semantic networks, promoting active and collaborative learning.
Our team includes not just VR/AR/MR experts, but also researchers, instructional designers, trainers, teachers, and more. We have experience working with universities, businesses, and faculty, and we can lead workshops and trainings on everything we install.
While we make software and hardware here at WorldViz, we're not interested in locking you in to them if it doesn't make sense. We have partnerships and expertise with a wide range of hardware and software providers and we work with you to choose the best solutions.
We've been doing this for over 20 years for some of the most prestigious institutions around the world. This isn't just about flashy press releases: we're committed to helping institutions leverage VR/AR/MR technology to drive innovation, impact, and results.
