From the autumn semester, KTU students can study in Renovated Virtual Reality (VR). The working space which is located in the Faculty of Informatics is opened for students who are interested in deepening their knowledge of VR applications in various branches of science, improving their practical abilities and engaging in additional creative activities.
According to Andrius Paulauskas, the Head of the Department of Virtual and Augmented Reality Technology Laboratories of the Faculty of Informatics (KTU IF), the VR laboratory has been operating at the university for several years. However, the renovated space will not only give young researchers more opportunities to create various solutions but also will provide the ability to entertain themselves during their free time.
“The new laboratory will have everything needed for successful work in creating virtual reality, augmented reality or other interactive programmes including computers, and various virtual reality equipment. Students can develop their ideas or contribute to ongoing projects, gain experience, create their portfolio or even launch their programmes on the market,” says Paulauskas.
VR technologies – a glimpse into the future
The KTU VR laboratory installation was sponsored by a software development company, Coherent Solutions. According to Lina Šiumetė, Head of the Lithuanian branch of the company, talent development is an integral part of socially responsible business.
“Coherent Solutions is a part of the IT market – we create innovative products every day and contribute to the development of new technologies. This field is very dynamic, and one of the most important responsibilities of a progressive business is to share knowledge with students, and our future colleagues so that they become highly qualified professionals in the future. We do this both by sharing our experience and by investing in the technologies needed for their development and upgrading their qualifications,” says Šiumetė.
According to Šiumetė, this cooperation aims to provide space and tools for students, who are willing to experiment, create innovations and contribute to future technologies.
“The university is a space where the students’ potential takes shape and innovation is born. The KTU Faculty of Informatics community is already taking solid steps in the field of virtual reality, so our investments in new devices will only strengthen their positions and accelerate progress. We believe that more than one interesting project will be born in this space,” says the company’s representative.
KTU VR space was decorated by artist Martynas Auz. The character flying and creating in virtual reality illustrates the purpose of the renovated space. This work aims to inspire young talents and show that anyone who wants to can master VR technologies.
The application of VR is limitless
The artificial environment created by the software is implemented into various experiments and research in the university, and its application in education is limitless. Using VR technology, a person can acquire practical skills without leaving the university premises with the help of simulated scenarios, analyse situations and adjust their actions based on the conclusions reached.
The solutions developed at KTU, often respond to the educational use of VR equipment: during this year’s technology and innovation event Technorama 2022, a game invented by a Master’s student whose goal is to assemble a human skeleton from the abundance of surrounding bones, was awarded a prize of 500 euros established by the KTU Alumni Association.
“Before the pandemic, our projects often represented the university at various exhibitions, so we hope to be able to do it again soon. However, the programmes created by students in the laboratory are gaining national and global recognition: a little over a year ago, a game developed by students about the flight of the Lituanica plane across the Atlantic Ocean was awarded the World Summit Awards (WSA),” says Paulauskas.
