Both virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are cutting-edge technologies that have the potential to change the world. VR creates an immersive, digital environment that allows users to completely detach from the real world. AR adds elements of the digital world onto the real world, allowing users to interact with both at the same time.
Despite their differences, VR and AR share a number of similarities. They are both cutting-edge technologies that have the potential to change the way we live. They are also both very new, which means there is still a lot of room for growth and development. Finally, they are both complex and challenging to use, which means they have yet to be fully exploited by the general public.
All of this makes VR and AR two of the most exciting – and potentially game-changing – technologies in the world today.
Famous Augmented and Virtual Reality Developers and Developers from University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia has a long history of being at the forefront of new and upcoming technologies, especially in the field of augmented and virtual reality. Some of the most famous augmented and virtual reality developers and pioneers have come from UBC, including Inventor and CEO of Meta, Meron Gribetz. Other notable alumni include Co-founder and CEO of Iris VR, Ryan J. Peterson, as well as Chief Creative Officer at Lucasfilm Edwin Catmull. The University also boasts one of the top Virtual Reality labs in the world, which has helped to produce many innovative start-ups in the AR/VR space. A notable UBC graduate is also the founder of the world's first augmented reality golf game, Playground Golf.
UBC’s AR/VR Pioneers
Since the early days of virtual reality, University of British Columbia has been a pioneer in the field. The university’s Department of Computer Science was one of the first in the world to offer a course on VR in 1992. UBC has continued to be at the forefront of VR research, with professors like Steven Feiner.
Steven Feiner
Steven Feiner is a pioneer in the augmented reality and virtual reality industries. He has been working on developing these technologies since the early 1990s, when he created one of the first augmented reality systems. His work has helped to shape the way these technologies are used today, and he continues to be a driving force in their development.
One of Feiner's main goals is to make augmented and virtual reality more accessible to everyone. He believes that these technologies have the potential to change the way we interact with the world, and he is working to make them more available so that as many people as possible can benefit from them.
Feiner is also a strong advocate for using augmented and virtual reality for education. He believes that these technologies can be used to help students learn in new and innovative ways, and he is working to create educational applications that will make use of these technologies. Feiner has recently started his own company, "Reality Check", Inc. (https://realitycheck.io/), and is developing a project called "The Reality Check" that will bring augmented and virtual reality education to the masses.
One recent example is UBC’s work on “social VR”. This involves using VR technology to create simulated social environments, which can be used for training or education purposes. For example, UBC has developed a program that allows people to practice public speaking in a virtual environment. This can help them overcome their fear of speaking in front of a group.
When we think about virtual reality, or VR, pioneers, the University of British Columbia doesn’t usually come to mind. But a new study shows that UBC is one of the top schools in the world for VR development. The study was conducted by research company Greenlight Insights and looked at over 1,000 universities around the world.
UBC came in third place overall, with first place going to Stanford University and second place going to the University of California, Berkeley. UBC also ranked first in Canada and sixth in North America. The study looked at a variety of factors, including number of VR-related patents filed, number of VR-related companies founded, and number of VR-related papers published.
In 2021, University of British Columbia launched an AR/VR focused 10-week course in partnership with Circuit Stream. Students can choose between XR Development with Unity or Interaction Design and Prototyping for the XR course. New courses are being offered to students to teach them how to create virtual, augmented and mixed reality experiences from either the development or the user experience perspective.
