Long Beach, CA – Back in June, the XR Association team attended the Augmented World Expo in Long Beach, CA from June 18 – 20, 2024. This annual event is a hub for industry leaders, innovators, and enthusiasts to gather and explore the latest advancements in augmented reality, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and spatial computing technologies.
On Tuesday, June 18, XRA’s Senior VP of Research and Best Practices, Stephanie Montgomery, hosted a fireside chat with Anne Lord Bailey, Executive Director of the Strategic Initiatives Lab at the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs. Montgomery and Bailey delved into how immersive technologies are employed at the VA as a solution to the challenges veterans are facing after leaving the military. They highlighted specific VR applications that assist in mental health treatment, physical rehabilitation, and skills training for veterans, demonstrating the transformative potential of XR in providing effective, personalized care.
Later that evening, XRA took part in sponsoring the Ethical Professionals Mixer, an event hosted by the XR Guild and the Virtual World Society. This mixer provided a platform for professionals to discuss the ethical implications of XR technologies and foster a community committed to developing and promoting ethical standards in the industry.
On Wednesday, June 19, XRA’s CEO, Elizabeth Hyman, moderated the panel discussion titled, “Industrial Metaverse: Building the Factories and Workforce of the Future.” Hyman was joined by Todd Boppell, COO of the National Association of Manufacturers, Guarav Sharma, General Manager of Interactive Learning at Transfr Inc., and Dan O’Brien, Global Head of Enterprise at HTC Vive. Panelists explored real world use cases of how AR and VR are used to increase manufacturing efficiency and solve complex problems with limited disruption to production.
During the discussion, Hyman announced the release of XRA’s newest infographic “Beyond the Factory Floor: XR’s critical role in manufacturing and workforce development”. The infographic summarizes survey’s results conducted by XRA in partnership with the RXN group and provides a snapshot of the manufacturing industry’s growing use and embrace of XR for scaling efficiencies, employee training, and quality control and inspection.
Later that evening, the XRA team attended the VRARA Mixer, the HaptX After Party at the Shark Lagoon, and the Auggies After-Party, each event offering a unique setting for forging connections and sharing insights with other industry professionals.
Throughout the expo, XRA maintained an engaging booth that showcased their latest resources and highlighted the association’s ongoing efforts to foster the responsible adoption of XR technologies. Attendees had the opportunity to explore XRA’s policy initiatives and goals, learn about upcoming events, and delve into the latest research on the application of XR in healthcare, manufacturing, and accessibility.
