IMMERSIVE TOOLS
51
The company developed its own in-house software platform – Igloo Core Engine – to “work with the widest amount of content possible,” explains Brown. Igloo’s immersive spaces can integrate with YouTube 360°, Google Earth and Metaverse Learning, for instance, as well as Unreal Engine, ‘allowing for a theoretically unlimited number of environments and scenarios to be created within an Igloo’. Commonly used for training purposes across multiple industries, Igloo spaces are ideal for staff onboarding, particularly in cases which require real-world validity. Training can be costly, time-consuming and involve safety risks; Igloo minimises these variables while still providing a true-to-life simulation. When Med Learning Group used one of Igloo’s 360° cylinders in an educational programme, for example, 98% of its participants said that the VR content enhanced their learning experience. Igloo’s immersive spaces couple the Core Engine – which has a ‘stripped- down interface’, according to Brown
– and Control Panel app, simplifying operation, while Igloo’s True Perspective software removes distortion and automatically formats content to a given space. “True Perspective and Igloo Core Engine combine to make immersive spaces easy to use and highly functional, making the widest range of content compatible with the space,” points out Brown. This seamless integration maximises user efficiency. Besides the traditional LED wall, Igloo adds floor and ceiling projection – ‘built in collaboration with Panasonic and Falkbuilt’ – to its immersive spaces. “It’s particularly useful for viewing any content at height, like a building site, as you really do feel like you’re up in the air. This is great for immersive training to give potential workers the feeling of what it’s like to be on-site before travelling there,” describes Brown. NEW SENSATION Immersive technology is clearly here to stay, with cross-disciplinary applications throughout the audio-visual industry.
Whether it’s an activity or live attraction, in the education or entertainment field, engagement is the name of the game. Immersive environments not only offer a better user experience, but also drive up commercial revenue thanks to their inherent appeal. As technology continues to improve, we can only expect further immersion, with the metaverse serving as a solid example of where VR is headed. We will likely see more wearables – such as headsets, haptic gloves and suits – hitting the market, while Disney’s Holotile Floor is primed to make waves in gaming, live performance and theme park displays. As hybrid education and employment are seemingly the future, we can anticipate more immersive methods of instruction and assessment. The era of the immersive experience is only beginning, and there’s so much left in store that we have yet to imagine. Leave it to science-fiction writers and technology experts to make any firm predictions; a treat for the senses is all we’re searching for.
Powered by FlippingBook