The Humber’s technological might has taken a huge physical step forward in a virtual world set to become a reality for many.
VISR’s Digital Realities Centre has been launched on the University of Hull Science Park, giving further bandwidth to develop cutting edge skills and capability in the region.
Technology developed will be united with industrial opportunity, further underlining the pioneering role the area is playing in engineering a strong future.
Co-founded by Louis Deane and Lindsay West, it has partnered with hosting academia, the Yorkshire and Humber Institute of Technology and Catch, the industry-supporting process sector organisation, embracing energy and chemicals.
From a campus start-up to a 30-strong team in an overhauled 9,000 sq ft base on Newlands Science Park, one of the keys to the success is the fact where it is doesn’t really matter.
Mr West said: “We work at a very senior level with Microsoft’s spacial concepting and mixed reality.
“It started with video games as the big thing, and we’re now talking about the technology and showing what it really means to the world.
“There’s a general feeling in many parts of the 海角视频 that we’re not engaged with the possibilities, even left behind. The fabulous thing about technology is that it is a great democratiser, you don’t have to be in London, you just have to prove you are at a level and then people will stay in this part of the country.”
Most Read
From avatar creation to advanced mechanical engineering, assessing risk to refinery lay-out the possibilities seem infinite.
“It takes education through to employment,” Mr West said. “When we start adopting new technology in business, we have got to work with business and to engage very strongly with education, There’s no point creating a workplace if you haven’t got a workforce.
“We’re looking for great support from 海角视频 Plc, we are very ambitious, and we are looking to establish this area as one of global expertise, and there’s no reason why we can’t get there.”
VISR is already working with BP, Centrica, PWC and Shell, with further opportunities emerging.
Welcoming guests, Louis Deane, Mr West’s co-founder and chief executive, said: “There is a level of market readiness around people understanding this. There was a time when it was dismissed as a gimmick, but for certain sectors the benefit this technology can bring are huge – and particularly for this region. The energy industry is an enormous opportunity. With Net Zero 2050 – or whatever the deadline changes to tomorrow – there is a need to re-skill thousands and thousands of roles over from traditional platforms.
“Luckily for us all you need is an internet connection. We get more space here, keep the best team, and that has helped us become a dynamic operation, and we are now one of the largest businesses in Europe in a non-established market.
“We are a real business, we don’t rely on investment funding.”
Don’t miss
From 100 sq ft to 2,000 sq ft, and now 9,0000 sq ft, VISR’s journey has been in one direction. “We wanted to stay on campus, and we’re very lucky to get this space,” Mr Deane said.
From a level of replacing paper-based recording systems to introducing augmented hazards, to real world actual environments, industry can see the potential.
Katie Hedges, head of membership and low carbon strategy at Catch, headquartered at Stallingborough on the South Humber Bank, where a state-of-the-art replication of an industrial plant is in-situ, sees the huge potential.
“The HoloLens technology (the headset) will allow the technician to have a set of instructions for tasks they don’t have to do often. It doesn’t replace the skills, as they are qualified, but it introduces efficiencies. As will data and information capture for those back in offices, it will be immediate when fixing and measuring. Industry 4.0 is all about how we use digital technology to manage data.
“My personal experience of VR was looking inside the system and you could be sat anywhere. This is taking the next step, augmented reality means it can be done on plant, using the equipment there. As industry learns to embrace it, everyone will us it, so to take the first steps here is going to be rewarding.”
Microsoft endorsement for Hull's proud team
VISR's special guest was Leila Martine, product marketing director for Microsoft in Europe, Middle East and Africa.
She said: “It has been a good four to five years we have been working with the VISR team, on what we believe is the platform of the future. You have them home-grown here doing some of the most exciting work and have been partnering very closely.”
Explaining how mixed reality technology can tackle “really distinct business challenges” faced every day, Mrs Martine used the construction industry as an example. It is one of several sectors, with others engineering, manufacturing and agri-tech, that the recently established Yorkshire and Humber Institute of Technology is supporting.
Mrs Martine told how productivity had improved by just 1 per cent in building projects in 20 years, with 90 per cent of ‘mega projects’ over budget, and a 67 per cent labour shortage.
“What I am excited about is training apprentices so we can meet the need of what business needs, to give them that level of confidence,” she said.
Oliver Nicoll, chief operating officer of VISR Dynamics, focused in on engineering.
“We are trying to challenge the perception of engineering in general,” he said. “Typically the view is hard-hats and overalls. Young people are used to the technology, they don’t want to feel disconnected from digital capability at home.”