By Laura Kobylecky

South by Southwest has pivoted to an online-only event this year. SXSW Online 2021, as it’s officially called, is occurring in a digital venue that includes the normal collection of sessions about a wide range of topics.

Speakers at #SXSW addressed the challenges of asteroid mining and space travel
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One of these sessions is “Space Gold Rush,” a discussion about the possibilities and methods for mining in space. The discussion was moderated by Loren Grush, Senior Science Reporter at The Verge, and included Joe Landon, VP, Advanced Programs Dev, Commercial Civil Space at Lockheed Martin, Alexander MacDonald – Chief Economist and ISS National Lab Program Executive at NASA – and Daniel Suarez, author of Delta-v. The speakers discussed some of the challenges of asteroid mining and space travel, as well as NASA’s future plans for space exploration and the political ramifications of a future in space.

Mining in Space

Alexander MacDonald explained that space mining entered the public imagination in the 19^th century with works of fiction. One of the first stories to address the topic was “Edison’s Conquest of Mars, it was a sequel written to the War of the Worlds where the world strikes back at Mars.” In the book, the characters pass “a Martian asteroid mining camp.” Another of the “first landmark descriptions” occurred in the early 1900s when Russian space physicist and theorist, Constantine Stokowski, brought up the idea that all civilizations have to mine basic resources from somewhere in order to create the products of civilization. Therefore, if we want to travel farther into the reaches of space, we will also need to figure out how to make mining work in space.

Daniel Suarez brought up some of the basic challenges of mining in space, mentioning that there are companies “transitioning from fiction into fact,” by addressing the difficulty of getting “things into orbit more cheaply and more reliably.” These companies, which he declined to name in order to avoid picking “winners or losers,” were focusing on “reusable rockets” to address this issue.

There are companies transitioning from fiction into fact by addressing the difficulty of getting things into orbit more cheaply and more reliably #SXSW 2021
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Another problem is the difficulty of taking “earth-based technologies” and moving them to space:

“Try to imagine mining a pile of gravel that’s in free fall, in a radiated vacuum,” MacDonald said, drawing subtle nods of agreement from Suarez and Landon.

Landon added that his former company – Planetary Resources – had dealt with some of these difficulties. He explained that they were developing technologies to address these issues, focusing on ways to “find resources that are valuable in space and characterize them.” This would involve some of the difficulties that Suarez brought up, as well as the issue that “before you can build a mine you have to know where to build it.”

Landon explained that “autonomy and tele-robotics” instead of traditional mining, will be key for making this happen: Terrestrial mining companies have expressed interest in using this sort of technology back on Earth, which could potentially lead to another wave of automation in that sector.

Before you can build a mine you have to know where to build it - Space Mining at #SXSW 2021
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Suarez mentioned that the target for these mining operations might be “near-earth asteroids.” This is because at “particular points in their orbit” they are very close to Earth. A ship should could hypothetically “pull up next to them” because they don’t have a “deep gravity well.” This means that you wouldn’t have to deal with the greater gravitational force you might get from something like the Moon when landing.

Moderator Loren Grush then asked what specific instances might warrant the use of space mining.

Landon answered that “Right now, anything sent to space must be launched at “enormous cost” as we pay the “gravity tax” to send anything away from this planet. Mining in space would reduce the materials that need to be sent on these missions. He also brought up the idea of making fuel from materials found in space, like the water that may be found in places on the Moon.

MacDonald pointed out that these ideas, like making fuel from water, might have a cost-saving element but many might well turn out to be much more expensive. While technology such as reasonable rocketry may drive down the launch cost, some other innovations might be halted. If launching fuel into space gets cheaper, then people lose the reason for doing complicated things like looking for water among the Moondust and making it into fuel.

The potential environmental cost of launching thousands of rockets into the atmosphere remains an unknown #SXSW 2021
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Suarez also brought up the associated issue of climate change, mentioning that the hundreds and thousands of rockets that might be launched into the atmosphere could produce “interesting damage at high levels in the atmosphere and that the “economic and environmental cost of that remains an unknown.

Innovation and Motivation

Grush asked the group “what are some of the struggles that asteroid mining presents?” and what these struggles may have done to delay the growth of the “asteroid mining market.”

According to Landon, Planetary Resources may have been a bit “ahead of their time” in ways that limited their chance to fully pursue their innovative ideas. He explains that a company needs “something to sell and someone to buy it.” The business of mining would require “two leaps of faith.” One is to “extract something useful” and the other is “someone to buy it.”

He is “excited about NASA’s Artemis program.” NASA’s website describes Artemis as “the first step in the next era of human exploration.” They will work with “commercial and international partners” and “establish a sustainable presence on the Moon to prepare for missions to Mars”. Landon sees NASA and their program as a “lighthouse customer” who will help create a new market.

MacDonald further addresseD the connection between NASA and the commercial market: “one thing that we’ve noticed certainly is that there is a high degree of correlation between the type of space resources that companies look to pursue and where NASA has most recently been directed to go explore.” The other speakers smile and nod in agreement.

NASA’s initial involvement in asteroid mining and exploration would be to “begin the process of learning how to manipulate the raw materials there, extract them, and figure out how you would do it.” The commercial companies involved in that would be “types of technologies that would feed into that program.” This sort of collaboration reinforces the concept of NASA as the “lighthouse customer,” leading the way to new industries.

MacDonald further explained that more recently “NASA was redirected to focus on the Moon,” so they are “developing technologies for lunar resource extraction.” He reiterates the significance of NASA’s work:

“NASA remains to this day by far, in our way, the largest funder of all R&D and missions in this area. While rocketry is a helpful purview for private investment, things like space exploration and probes to other worlds are still, very much, predominantly a government affair.”

This perspective is furthered by the “thinking behind the asteroid mission,” according to MacDonald. That mission, OSIRIS-REx will travel to an asteroid and bring back a sample. The mission, he explains, is intended to lay the groundwork for future missions to come. At NASA “it’s the scientific exploration that precedes” other goals” and “our first encounter with these optics is usually from a perspective of just trying to learn what’s there and trying to answer fundamental questions.” After that, they may begin finding “what parts of this might be useful for future human activities.”

MacDonald is optimistic about the future of NASA and the Artemis program. There has been “consistent congressional direction for about 15 years that a Moon to Mars program was what the nation demanded.” In early February, Biden made a statement fully supporting the program. MacDonald mentioned, with a slightly wry tone, that it is “encouraging to those of us at NASA that have been working on it for quite some time.” The statement drew a smile and nod from Suarez.

One of the next steps in this process is NASA’s VIPER, a robotic rover designed to assess the water to touch the volatiles. The ‘V’ in viper stands for “volatiles” and water is the principal volatile that they are interested in. The rover will be getting a closer view of the South Pole of the Moon to look for water ice. Because this is a government mission, there will be map data and new information available to the public, and the hope is that it will take NASA a step closer to the possibility of establishing habitation on the Moon.

The gateway and lunar habitation will be a great test run for the Mars mission in the future #SXSW 2021
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NASA’s other “next step” is “the gateway… a habitation vehicle that will be in orbit around the Moon. This gateway will help with further exploration of space in more ways than one. It will serve to test the operational paradigms that we’re going to use on Mars. For the first Mars mission, “a split crew operation” will be required, with some on the surface of Mars and some in orbit around the planet. The gateway and lunar habitation will be a great test run for the Mars mission in the future.

Geopolitics in Space

The conversation shifted finally to the more political side of things. Ultimately, it remains to be seen how countries will work together in the future of space. MacDonald describes this as an “increasingly contentious issue,” while Suarez mentioned that “space law is becoming a burgeoning field,” comparing it to maritime law. There remains the question of how space mining claims would work, and Landon draws a parallel with fishing rights, explaining that “I can’t own the fish when it’s in the water but when I catch it it’s mine.”

MacDonald asks the question “are we going to have a Star Trek future or a Dune future…exploring and learning from the cosmos in partnership and cooperation and in peace or are we going to be seeing clashes between the great houses for ownership of the galaxy.” He sees a “return to the kind of geopolitics that we had in the 60s and 70s because we’re returning to that level of engagement by world leaders on that issue.” Major leaders of partner countries like Canada and Japan have spoken directly about their interest and commitment to the space program.

MacDonald adds that partnerships with Russia are absolutely critical and that the USA and Russia are “still engaging in conversations,” while Landon observed that “this is really one of the underappreciated benefits of space and space exploration; it creates an opportunity for diplomacy and for international cooperation that has lasted beyond lots of other venues.”  The U.S. collaboration with Russia on the ISS is one of the “strongest areas our two countries work together on,” he points out.

At the moment, humans have only just begun to explore space. Exciting things are on the horizon for exploration and perhaps monetization and mining. The value of space exploration extends beyond immediate profit and into the possibility for collaboration and peace between nations. Keep your eyes to the sky, new things are coming.

The value of space exploration extends beyond immediate profit and into the possibility for collaboration and peace between nations #SXSW 2021
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Tech Trends’ Digital Consultancy services offer support for companies looking to enhance brand strategy with immersive technologies such as Virtual, Augmented, and Mixed Reality

Laura Kobylecky is a contributing writer to Tech Trends. She is particularly interested in new and emerging technology and culture. Connect with her on LinkedIn 

The post Space Gold Rush at #SXSW 2021 appeared first on Tech Trends.

Virtual Reality is perfect for creating beautiful space simulations, and there’s no reason why they shouldn’t educate as well as entertain us.

There is definitely a growing trend towards space-based VR experiences, From outlandish ideas involving sensory deprivation chambers housed inside a Burning Man art installation to the location-based VR experience launched as a partnership between NASA and Samsung in commemoration of the Apollo program’s 50th anniversary, to multiplayer moonwalks and actual astronaut training simulation tools. Part of the reason for this space-fever is that VR really is at its best when it allows you to experience something that would be impossible otherwise, and free-floating through the rings of Saturn certainly fits into that category.

There is definitely a growing trend towards space-based VR experiences
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I was doing that when trying out Overview this morning, an experience that takes you on a journey to the limits of our galaxy and beyond (in about 30 minutes) all narrated in a soothing and informative documentary style.

It was produced by Orbital Views, a Virtual Reality studio based in Paris, France, with a strong emphasis on research, science and education. In 2016, they became the first company to use Virtual Reality headsets in parabolic flights, for private passengers and professional astronauts.

Overview features several interactive activities, allowing viewers to scale all the way from planet Earth to the confines of the known Universe
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Overview features several interactive activities, allowing viewers to scale all the way from planet Earth to the confines of the known Universe. It includes a fully accurate model of our Solar System that viewers can fly through, with all planets, moons, asteroids and comets known today, made to scale with accurate orbits.

After demoing it myself, I also got my seven-year-old niece try it, and even though by now she’s a bit of a VR veteran (using your family members as guinea pigs is standard practice in my household), the experience still had her shouting out in excitement, and – most tellingly – incorporating space exploration themes into her play afterward. It is clear that such tools have an important role to play in sparking interest in STEM subjects, as it brings a sense of fun and a real connection to the science.

Written and directed by up-and-coming French VR Director Paul Mezier, Overview has been available since March on HTC Vive but now launched on Oculus Rift as well, Available on the Oculus Store, Viveport and Steam for $9,99. It has since been shown at festivals such as Cannes.

Such tools have an important role to play in sparking interest in STEM subjects, as it brings a sense of fun and a real connection to the science
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The content was created and produced by Amaury Solignac, who has a PhD in Submarine, Antarctic and Space Psychology. Solignac used to lecture at NASA and the European Space Agency and was on the selection board of the most recent group of European astronauts.

The content was created by Amaury Solignac, who has a PhD in Space Psychology and used to lecture at NASA
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“Featuring data and photorealistic images from NASA, ESA and other scientific agencies, Overview is the most accurate representation of space in Virtual Reality available today,” says Solignac.

“This unprecedented representation of cosmic scale is intended to create a sensation of awe in the mind and eye of each and every viewer,” adds Mezier.

It’s therefore not surprising that they were awarded “Best Education Experience” at this year’s GDC in San Francisco. Other VR applications developed by Orbital Views include lunar gravity simulators, professional training systems and VR-based physical rehabilitation tools.

Overview was awarded “Best Education Experience” at this year’s GDC
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Judging by my niece’s reaction, it’s also a way of getting kids inspired by connecting them with a sense of wonder for the universe we live in, which has to be a good thing.

This article was originally published on VRScout

Take A Virtual Tour Around The Solar System With ‘Overview’ via @alicebonasio https://t.co/mCqORy8T73 pic.twitter.com/TEefarIxWI

— VRScout (@VRScout) July 31, 2018

To find out how to leverage VR/AR/MR in your enterprise, Tech Trends offers bespoke Virtual Reality Consultancy support

Alice Bonasio is a VR Consultant and Tech Trends’ Editor in Chief. She also regularly writes for Fast Company, Ars Technica, Quartz, Wired and others. Connect with her on LinkedIn and follow @alicebonasio and @techtrends_tech on Twitter.

The post Spinning Around The Solar System in VR appeared first on Tech Trends.

Lockheed Martin’s space division has partnered with Scope AR to support the manufacturing of spacecraft, including NASA’s Orion.

Lockheed Martin’s space division is now using Mixed Reality headsets and software to speed up the time it takes for engineers to learn about and conduct manufacturing processes on spacecraft. The defence contractor is one of many major industry players to embrace Mixed Reality and incorporate immersive tech in their industrial processes.

Lockheed Martin is one of many major industry players to embrace Mixed Reality and incorporate immersive tech in their industrial processes
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What started as a pilot has been incorporated into the company’s manufacturing processes, including those involving the Orion space vehicle being built for NASA to travel to Mars
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They began experimenting and studying how to use augmented reality in production beginning five years ago, but what started as a pilot to explore what would be possible using the technology has increasingly been incorporated into the company’s manufacturing processes, including those involving the Orion space vehicle being built for NASA to eventually travel to Mars.

“In a complex field where errors simply cannot be made, Scope AR’s WorkLink Augmented Reality platform has tremendously helped our space division build high quality spacecraft by reducing the time it takes to interpret work instructions by more than 95 percent, as well as reducing training time and errors significantly,” says Shelley Peterson, emerging technologies lead, Lockheed Martin. “The ability to easily use the product across platforms means that anyone on our team, including our interns, can take advantage of AR to build and use manufacturing instructions quickly and accurately.”

Whereas technicians previously relied on paper instruction or computer 3D models viewed through a screen, they can now overlay data and schematics directly onto the relevant environment using the Microsoft HoloLens. Using AR, workers can now see the digital information and work instructions needed overlaid onto the actual components of the spacecraft. Giving technicians the tools to readily access information as and when they need it has resulted in extremely positive ROI.

Whereas technicians previously relied on paper instruction or computer 3D models viewed through a screen, they can now overlay data and schematics directly onto the relevant environment
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Using AR, workers can now see the digital information and work instructions needed overlaid onto the actual components of the spacecraft
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Over the course of their AR deployment, the team achieved an astonishing 95% reduction in the time it takes technicians to interpret drawings and text instructions and 85% reduction in overall time for training.

“Lockheed Martin’s use of WorkLink is a great example of how dramatically AR technology can improve understanding of complicated instructions and technician efficiency, while also reducing errors in manufacturing,” says Scott Montgomerie, co-founder and CEO of Scope AR.

And since Scope AR software doesn’t require complex coding, Lockheed Martin IT workers can quickly design 3-D representations of relevant objects and instructions to be overlaid onto real-world environments and pieces of equipment.

The team achieved 95% reduction in the time it takes technicians to interpret drawings and text instructions and 85% reduction in overall time for training.
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“The reduction in time to create AR work instructions is the key enabler for this new technology,” adds Peterson. “In the past, it could take an expert software engineer months to create a set of work instructions.  Using Scope AR’s WorkLink platform, an entry level engineer can build a more advanced work instruction within days. And, these are not simple, one step procedures – the instructions are enabling technicians to manufacture major components of a spacecraft. We have had teaching fellows and interns join us for a summer and after taking an online training course which lasts less than a day, they are able to start building basic AR work instructions in WorkLink.  Before the week is over, they are skillfully building more advanced work instruction sets.”

At this rate, it looks like Mixed Reality could make a very significant contribution to – as Buzz Aldrin puts it – getting our ass to Mars. To infinity and beyond indeed…

It looks like Mixed Reality could make a significant contribution to getting our ass to Mars
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The reduction in time to create AR work instructions is the key enabler for this new technology
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For companies looking to get into VR/AR/MR our Virtual Reality Consultancy services offer guidance on how these technologies can enhance and support your brand strategy.

Alice Bonasio is a VR Consultant and Tech Trends’ Editor in Chief. She also regularly writes for Fast Company, Ars Technica, Quartz, Wired and others. Connect with her on LinkedIn and follow @alicebonasio and @techtrends_tech on Twitter.

The post Building Spaceships with Mixed Reality appeared first on Tech Trends.

A father and son team plan to walk 600 miles in 60 days across the Antarctic, all in the name of green energy.

Robert Swan OBE is certainly no stranger to adventure. At 33, he was the first person to walk to both the North and South Poles. His 900-mile journey to the South Pole, ‘In the Footsteps of Scott,’ still stands as the longest unassisted walk ever made on earth.

Swan was the first person to walk to both the North and South Poles aged 33
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His eyes changed colour due to UV exposure under the hole in the ozone layer
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But the world has changed a lot since the 1980s, and nowhere is that more evident than in the extreme environments of the Antarctic, where he’s felt first-hand the impact man is having on the environment. His team survived near-death encounters as the oceanic ice melted prematurely due to climate change, and his eyes also permanently changed colour due to prolonged UV exposure under the hole in the ozone layer.

Robert Swan's 2041 Foundation promotes a broad range of global and local environmental missions
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It made him determined to try and make a difference, and he founded the 2041 Foundation to help spearhead a broad range of global and local environmental missions which have inspired youth around the world to become sustainable leaders and promote the use of renewable energy.

Swan's teams helped build the world’s first Antarctic renewable energy education station
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Their 60-day trek on foot to the South Pole started last week
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But his latest journey – a 60-day trek on foot to the South Pole which started last week – is rather more personal for Robert, as he’s taking his 23-year-old son Barney along with him. Although he’s still got some ground to make up before filling his dad’s snowshoes, Barney has led a rather colourful existence himself.

He was born in London and lived in Yorkshire before moving with his mother to Queensland in Australia, where they lived off-grid. He says that being brought up in such an unorthodox environment gave him a real appreciation for the importance of energy. Barney now lives in California and works as logistics & team manager at his father’s Foundation.

They hope this will help strengthen the case for transitioning into a lower-carbon future
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Their journey is also significant because it will be the first to be powered solely by renewables: “The greatest exploration left is our ability as humans to learn how to live on the earth sustainably,” says Robert.

The aim of the expedition is to demonstrate that if renewables can be used in such a remote and hostile environment, then they can be developed for use anywhere. They hope this will help strengthen the case for transitioning into a lower-carbon future.

“Our expedition is a small example of how we can all make choices to help us transition to a cleaner energy future,” adds Barney. “For people at home who are wondering what they can do, just making small changes like eating from sustainable sources, using less plastic cups and bags, and using solar-powered appliances to charge your phone will all help. My generation has too much information and we’re tired of the inconvenient truth but this expedition is about the convenient solutions that can address the current climate change challenges.”

Solar technology will be used to charge lithium batteries that will power cameras and communication devices, which will be used to send out video, audio and still images to social media and other channels. Robert and Barney will also take heart and pulse monitors that will send daily updates to the Swans manager.

Solar technology will be used to power cameras and communication devices
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By only using renewable sources of energy, Robert and Barney will be able to power their cooking stove and keep warm in temperatures as low as minus 40°C, as they trek through some of the most inhospitable terrain on Earth.

The pair are being supported by some of the world’s most technologically advanced companies, including NASA who are providing a state of the art solar-powered ice melter, biofuels provided by Shell and technical clothing for extreme conditions by Patagonia.

The pair are being supported by some of the world’s most technologically advanced companies
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The only other kind of fuel the explorers will carry is their meals, consisting mostly of dehydrated food, chocolate and nut bars. They’re expected to need around 5000 calories and some pretty sturdy trekking poles per day to get through the 600-mile trek.

They will need to consume around 5000 calories per day to get through the 600-mile trek
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Barney and Robert are joined in the expedition by guide Martin Barnett and documentary filmmaker Kyle O’Donoghue. Together, they will brave risks such as snow blindness, frostbite, altitude sickness and crevasse dehydration, to name but a few. It’s certainly not for the faint hearted, so we wish them luck!

Alice Bonasio is a VR Consultant and Tech Trends’ Editor in Chief. She also regularly writes for Fast Company, Ars Technica, Quartz, Wired and others. Connect with her on LinkedIn and follow @alicebonasio and @techtrends_tech on Twitter.

The post Polar Trekking Powered by Renewable Energy appeared first on Tech Trends.

Alice Space wants to take you on a moonwalk using Mixed Reality. Best buckle up!  

Noitom has been making some interesting strides in immersive technologies since it was first founded in 2011. It leverages motion capture technology in a variety of interesting ways, which have included producing haptic gloves – the Hi5 Vr Glove – that allow users to “bring” their hands into the virtual and the Project Alice VR B2B VR platform.

Noitom specializes in motion capture technology and previously created VR Haptic Gloves
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Noitom tech is used in animation, film, robotics and gaming
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The company, headquartered in Beijing, developes world-class motion capture technology for consumer and industrial markets through the integration of MEMS sensors, pattern recognition, human kinetics and wireless transmission. Noitom’s technology has been used in animation, film, medical applications, robotics and gaming.

With their latest project, however, they’re looking to go a bit further – quite literally. Noitom partnered with Australian Virtual Reality development studio Opaque Space and NASA to create a space exploration experience designed for places such as museums and science centers.

The space experience is designed for museums and science centers
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Alice Space wants to put VR into the hands of educators
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Alice Space aims to take VR “out-of-the home” and into the hands of educators and entertainment venues. “We have developed an affordable, long-term, turn-key solution that can be monetized while delivering stunning “edutainment” experiences in an outer space setting.

“Our goal in creating this mixed reality, multi-user platform was to bring fantastic, unattainable experiences to a mass audience. And what is more fantastic and unattainable than being able to walk on the moon?” says Roch Nakajima, President of Noitom International. “With Alice Space – theme parks, museums and edutainment facilities get an affordable, long-term, turn-key solution that can be monetized while delivering a unique experience anyone from 9 to 99 will never forget.”

Their full-service package includes all the hardware and software needed to transport users into (virtual space) from Noitom’s proprietary high fidelity hybrid optical inertial tracking, VR backpacks and goggles for up to six players.

The package includes content made in partnership with NASA
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The unique selling point according to Noitom is that the package includes content, which is updated twice a year in collaboration with NASA, which allows them to deliver experiences that are not only entertaining, but also accurate and educational.

Their Earthlight: Lunar Mission Experience was demoed at Tokyo Game Show 2017 and attracted the attention of none other than Oculus VR founder Palmer Luckey, who was spotted trying it out.

Earthlight: Lunar Mission Experience was demoed at the Tokyo Game Show 2017
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Oculus VR founder Palmer Luckey tried the Lunar walk experience
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Billed as humanity’s first step on the mission to explore and settle other worlds, Earthlight is the first of a planned six interactive Mixed Reality experiences that will take players from Earth’s own familiar moon to the far reaches of our solar system, exploring Europa, the icy moon orbiting Jupiter.

Earthlight is the first of a planned six interactive Mixed Reality experiences
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The experience accommodates up to six simultaneous players, conceived around a theme park centric operational model that allows for uninterrupted, continuous play with up to three sessions per hour. So there’s plenty of opportunity for users to have a taste of space exploration while the likes of Elon Musk and Richard Branson don’t quite crack the problem of making space exploration accessible to common folk. And of course, I personally can’t resist their excellent choice of name, so do beam me up, Scotty!

The experience accommodates up to six simultaneous players
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For companies looking to get into VR/AR/MR our Virtual Reality Consultancy services offer guidance on how these technologies can enhance and support your brand strategy.

Alice Bonasio is a VR Consultant and Tech Trends’ Editor in Chief. She also regularly writes for Fast Company, Ars Technica, Quartz, Wired and others. Connect with her on LinkedIn and follow @alicebonasio and @techtrends_tech on Twitter.

The post Creating an Edutainment Experience That’s Out of This World appeared first on Tech Trends.

Dutch company BlueTea has partnered with Boeing to build an advanced simulated spaceflight training environment.

The power of immersive technologies to enhance learning is something we’ve covered a lot here on Tech Trends in the past, and we only really started to scratch the surface of what is possible there. “Learning by doing” is a powerful concept, which essentially boils down to the fact we remember things we’ve experienced first-hand much better than those we’ve merely read, watched or were told about.

Learning by doing is a powerful concept embodied by Virtual Reality
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It of course takes extensive (and very intensive) training for astronauts to learn how to handle any situations and potential emergencies that could arise in space. This is why it makes sense to leverage VR tech to practice and imprint correct responses to a variety of high-pressure scenarios that that they might encounter – which is exactly what BlueTea, a Dutch developer of modular 3D training simulations is doing.

BlueTea will work with Boeing to build a simulated training environment for Astronauts
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The company was contracted by Boeing to build a Virtual Reality system based on advanced Simulated Training technology and BlueTea’s own VirtualStudio software, so they can prepare Astronauts for the unique challenges of their spaceflight while their feed are still safely planted on planet Earth.

Their solutions support hands-on training with simulations and gamification. Adding gaming elements to the training tools increases the fun factor, leading to more efficient knowledge transfer. The user experience is more intense and users learn the process or procedure faster as a result.

Their solutions support hands-on training with simulations and gamification
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BlueTea CEO Ruud Dullens

“As a small Dutch based company with smart innovation power we’re going to help astronauts train in the most effective way, using Virtual Reality,” says BlueTea CEO Ruud Dullens.

The Limburg-based company claims that its location in the southernmost region of the Netherlands gives them something of a strategic advantage, since they’re “sandwiched between Germany and Belgium and no more than 90 minutes away from at least 5 international airports and 6 universities.”

Dutch companies often punch above their weight in terms of innovation
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It is interesting how Dutch companies often punch well above their weight in such innovative areas. In fact, this culture of innovation in the Netherlands was something that Tech Trends recently experienced as guests of the #HollandMobility press tour we joined last month.

Boeing will now be integrating the BlueTea software into its systems, coordinating between its Virtual Reality Lab in Philadelphia and the Starliner training systems in Houston. Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner is under development in collaboration with NASA’s Commercial Crew Program to transport humans to low-Earth orbit destinations like the International Space Station.

Boeing's CST-100 Starliner is under development with NASA's Commercial Crew Program
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Photo credit: Fred Troilo/Boeing

The point of the system is to provide astronauts with safe and cost-effective training
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“Ultimately, the point of the system is to provide astronauts with a safe and cost-effective training environment in the form of a fully virtual 3D cockpit,” explains Dullens, adding that in order to do that, “each and every component of the Starliner’s virtual cockpit, right down to the tiniest switch, must be digitally connected to the spacecraft’s physical simulator located in Houston. That way, astronauts can prepare for every possible scenario, both virtually and in the real world.”

The first phase of the project involves creating a 3D simulation of part of the cockpit and linking it to the hardware simulator using their in-house software package VirtualStudio. This is unique because its intelligent 3D models and training scenarios are completely separate, meaning that a training manager can come up with endless combinations of controls, tools and events.  The second phase of the project involves developing a full 3D cockpit to communicate with the hardware simulator. From that point on, the astronauts in training can use the scenarios designed by their training manager in the VR lab to practice in a real-time and fully interactive environment, no matter where they are in the world or what medium they have available (PC, tablet, VR glasses or other devices).

Virtual training has proved to be an effective way of preparing for real-life practice. It is also an ideal training environment when a physical simulation would be too expensive or hazardous, concludes Dullens. And application such as these show how (particularly in this case) the sky really is the limit as far as applying immersive technologies to learning, training and simulation environments.

Tech Trends’  Virtual Reality Consultancy services offers support for companies looking to get a foothold in the growing Mixed Reality spectrum and enhance their brand strategy with these exciting new technologies. 

Every component of the virtual cockpit has to be connected to the physical simulator in Houston
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Alice Bonasio is a VR Consultant and Tech Trends’ Editor in Chief. She also regularly writes for Fast Company, Ars Technica, Quartz, Wired and others. Connect with her on LinkedIn and follow @alicebonasio and @techtrends_tech on Twitter.

The post Sending Astronauts into Orbit with Virtual Reality appeared first on Tech Trends.

Disney World and co. might be what most of us associate with Orlando, but what you don’t often realize is how the technology pioneered by all those theme parks – together with the region’s strong military and space exploration tradition – have turned this friendly town into the “simulation capital of the world.”

There's more to Orlando than the theme parks, including a booming tech scene
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Given the VR renaissance we’re experiencing at the moment, that accolade just became a whole lot more interesting, which is why when Tech Trends was invited by the Orlando Economic Development Commission (OEDC) to check out the city’s booming tech scene we were intrigued enough to pack our bags and head over to sunny Florida (the fact it was snowing in the UK was just a bonus).

A lot of Orlando companies are pushing the envelope in VR and AR
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But while the weather predictably lived up to its promise, the tech scene actually surpassed out expectations. We met with a huge range of companies pushing the envelope in VR, gaming and simulation from all possible directions. We were hosted by giant multinational companies such as EA games (which has its second largest office in the city) and AMD – who are developing the next generation of Graphics Processors that will enable the consumer VR revolution to scale – as well as start-ups building giant 3D theme park rides, or using Augmented Reality to enhance online retail or education experiences. We met some awesome entrepreneurs and had a blast at a space-themed Nerd Nite There was certainly a lot more to the Orlando tech scene than we had first expected to find.

.@alicebonasio loved meeting u! so glad to share an education about #sex in #space? @nerdniteorlando #ThisIsOrlando pic.twitter.com/GLB38IQ1ax

— CarlosCarbonell (@CarlosCarbonell) January 13, 2017

Orlando is also leveraging its gaming and simulation talent pool and ecosystem to carve out a niche for itself as one of the major centers for education in those emerging areas. Simulation technology is already being applied across the board in medical research, education and rehabilitation, as we’ve had the chance to see when visiting the Veteran’s Hospital and Anatomy school at UCF’s “Medical City.” But there are also a number of fast-growing universities and colleges such as Full Sail, Orange Technical College and UCF Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy (FIEA) which now have dedicated courses and impressive facilities to teach the skillsets required to develop Virtual Reality technology.

The Otronicon expo has grown steadily for the past decade
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One of the highlights of our visit, which showcased all this diversity under one roof was Otronicon an interactive technology expo that aims to get people excited about STEM by experiencing it hands-on. The family-friendly event started over a decade ago and grew steadily to the point where the 2017 edition boasted exhibitors such as Lockheed Martin, NASA, Microsoft and Disney alongside small start-ups using AR and VR technologies in health and education as well as the gaming and entertainment fields.

From surgeon robots to zombie boxing, military simulations to game jams, Orlando showed us a good time
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From surgeon robots to zombie boxing, military simulations to game jams, we had a fun time exploring some of the most exciting innovations that Orlando has to offer, and you can get a flavour of what we’ve been up to in the gallery below.

Do watch this space for more deep dives into the trends, companies and innovations emerging from the vibrant Orlando ecosystem, but in the meantime we will be doing some swimming with Manatees before eagerly returning to British January weather.

Orlando is leveraging its talent pool to become a VR education hub
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For companies looking to get into Immersive technologies such as VR/AR/MR/XR our Virtual Reality Consultancy services offer guidance and support on how best to incorporate these into your brand strategy.

Alice Bonasio is a VR Consultant and Tech Trends’ Editor in Chief. She also regularly writes for Fast Company, Ars Technica, Quartz, Wired and others. Connect with her on LinkedIn and follow @alicebonasio on Twitter.

The post Tech Trends Explores Orlando VR Scene and #OTRONICON appeared first on Tech Trends.

To mark what would have been Freddie Mercury’s 70^th birthday, his Queen bandmate Brian May announced that an asteroid has been named in the legendary singer’s honour.

Today would have been Freddie Mercury's 70th birthday. He gets an asteroid named after him #FFADAYO
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May appeared via video message at a party last night where over 1250 fans gathered to celebrate the occasion in aid of the Mercury Phoenix Trust which funds global initiatives to battle HIV/AIDS. Visibly moved, he said how the announcement recognised Freddie’s outstanding influence and gave some more particulars on the asteroid that will carry his name forever:

“Where is Freddie’s Asteroid ?  It’s in the main Asteroid Belt, out between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, and is about 3 and a half km across.  It has an albedo of about 0.3 – which means it only reflects about 30 per cent of the light that falls on it; like many asteroids, it’s a dark object – rather like a cinder in space.  Viewed from the Earth it is more than 10,000 times fainter than you can see by eye, so you need a fair-sized telescope to see it … and that’s why it wasn’t discovered until 1991” (the year of the singer’s death).

Asteroid 17473 Freddiemercury was discovered in 1991, the year of the singer's death #FFADAYO
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He also showed the ‘certificate of adoption’ issued by the International Astronomical Union and the Minor Planet Center, which reads:

Freddie Mercury (Farrokh Bulsara, 1946-1991) was a British songwriter, and the lead singer for the legendary rock group Queen.  His distinctive sound and large vocal range were hallmarks of his performance style, and he is regarded as one of the greatest rock singers of all time.

These two diagrams show the position of Asteroid 17473 Freddiemercury on the day Freddie was born and where it is today.

Joel Parker from the Southwest Research Institute, who May personally thanked for his part in “making this happen” and cited as a ground-breaking researcher active in the recent NASA Pluto mission and ESA’s Rosetta mission commented:

“Freddie Mercury sang, ‘I’m a shooting star leaping through the sky’ – and now that is even more true than ever before.

Although he’s still best know for his music, Dr. Brian May also has some seriously cool science and tech credentials. Apart from being an Astrophysicist, he’s also one of the world’s foremost experts in stereoscopic photography, which, as far as I’m concerned, makes him the Godfather of VR. He’s even invented his own viewer – called the OWL – to help people view the amazing kinds of 3D images which he assiduously collects.

Freddie Mercury will literally leap through the skies forever now #FFADAYO
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So we’re happy to join him in wishing Freddie a cosmically happy birthday. There really is no stopping him now…

There really is no stopping Freddie Mercury now... #FFADAYO
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For companies looking to get into Immersive technologies such as VR/AR/MR/XR our Virtual Reality Consultancy services offer guidance and support on how best to incorporate these into your brand strategy.

Alice Bonasio is a VR Consultant and Tech Trends’ Editor in Chief. She also regularly writes for Fast Company, Ars Technica, Quartz, Wired and others. Connect with her on LinkedIn and follow @alicebonasio on Twitter.

The post Freddie Mercury Will Leap Forever Through the Skies appeared first on Tech Trends.