DIGITAL Catapult Northern Ireland (DCNI) has opened the doors to a new immersive lab in Belfast’s Ormeau Baths.
Its aim is to help companies get hands-on experience with immersive technology and show them how technology such as virtual reality and mixed reality can help develop their business.
Along with the lab, an innovate programme of events is planned to encourage organisations to adopt emerging technologies exploiting commercial and research opportunities.
Jeremy Silver, Digital Catapult's chief executive, said: “Northern Ireland has many innovative start-ups and forward-thinking businesses in both the manufacturing and creative industries, and we've able to work with so many of them over the last two years.
"The opening of the new immersive lab, a bespoke facility to demonstrate the potential of immersive technologies, marks the beginning of an exciting new period for DCNI.”
Digital Catapult NI new director Adrian Johnston, said: “This is an exciting time for immersive technology here. Northern Ireland has a strong tradition of innovation and we aim to help business, both large and small, to take the next step in exploring digital solutions and how they can help them to work faster will help us compete on a global scale, promoting the region as a hub for new technology and ideas.
“As well as assisting business to develop their immersive capabilities we are also proud to be able to research and development in this field working with researchers and academics.”
Ciaran McGarrity, from the Department for the Economy, said: “Digital Catapult NI is playing an important role in helping local businesses realise the real potential of adopting new technologies to improve productivity, whether this is through machine learning or immersive tech.
"The wider business community should actively consider working with DCNI to explore how these new technologies can help them be more competitive in the global market place.”
