Reality is, I’m on to a winner!
A SALFORD graduate is helping to train Olympic athletes of the future through virtual reality.
Set up by Piotr Kotlarek, a former University of Salford student, the VR Den is fully immersive with technology which tracks feet movements, head and body position and arm movements. Currently, he hires the equipment out to events and gaming conferences across the country, but he has much grander plans.
Piotr, who graduated from a computer game design course, wants to use the kit and his skills to create experiences that will help to prepare athletes for the environments they will face when they are competing.
He said: “There is already research proving the potential value that VR has in education.
“It is another device that anyone can learn, it’s no different to using any other piece of kit, but it is just so much more immersive than using a controller or keyboard and mouse. This is the only kit of this type available in the UK at the moment.
“As I build the business my ultimate aim is to create experiences that professional athletes could use. For example, you could recreate a track or a course in the VR environment and then the athlete could practice in as a real a situation as possible to prepare themselves for what the environment will be like.”
The VR Den is being supported by a new incubator unit run through the university which opened earlier this year. Businesses in the incubator get access to office space as well as masterclasses and one to one sessions with experienced entrepreneurs to help focus and build their businesses.
The founder said: “The best advice I have had so far is to focus on one niche and make that work, rather than spread myself too thin in too many areas.
“Once that bit of the business is working and bringing in money then I can look at expanding my ideas but I’m ambitious and I really believe that VR has the potential to change the way we do a lot of things - it’s not just about gaming.”
Dave Spicer, Dean of the University of Salford Business School, added: “It is great to see these businesses start to develop as the incubator beds in.
This incubator is one way we show that commitment as we create the entrepreneurs of the future.”