UK first for university with 3D experience
EDGE Hill University is preparing to unveil the UK’s first super immersive 3D virtual environment as part of its new £13m Technology Hub.
The four screen Cave (cave automatic virtual environment) will offer students and businesses the chance to fully immerse themselves in a virtual room.
Using real data to replicate reality, users will be able to experience real life scenarios in 4k resolution, anything from emergency situations to complex surgery and lab reactions.
The Cave is part of the low-carbon building that has been built thanks to £3m of support from the Lancashire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).
Housing state-of-theart biotechnology laboratories, big data servers for research and a lecture theatre, the building will also house a programmable, child-sized robot and giant 3D interactive teaching screens.
The Technology Hub is planned as a key resource not only for more than 600 students, but also for employers in Lancashire and beyond, including those in the food manufacturing and digital creative industries.
A “Tech Sandpit” will bring together students and business to discuss challenges and ideas which can then be developed using expertise from computer science and biotechnology .
Budding entrepreneurs will also be able to tap into the skills and knowledge of the university and local industry in “The Hatchery”, a working space for new business ideas. Mark Allanson, pro vice-chancellor at Edge Hill University, said: “Having this dedicated facility for technology shows the university’s commitment to technological innovation, computing and bioscience and reflects our success in producing employable, highly skilled graduates who contribute to the regional economy and beyond.
“These cutting-edge facilities and systems are an asset for the whole community and will help strengthen our partnerships within business and increase our research capabilities.
“Our collaboration with Lancashire LEP will help us to focus on regional skills needs.”
As well as catering for growing numbers of undergraduates the Technology Hub will open its doors to schools in areas where pupils are unlikely to enter higher education and/or study science, technology, engineering or math subjects.
The LEPs growth deal management board chairman, Graham Cowley, said: “The LEP is investing around £30m in a network of new, modern training facilities which will enable thousands of local people to improve their employability and provide the skilled workforce needed to achieve our ambitious strategic plan for growth.
“We’ve prioritised investing in key areas of the economy such as the creative and digital sector, which already employs tens of thousands of people, is growing rapidly and is beginning to experience skills shortages.
“Supporting worldclass facilities such as Edge Hill’s Technology Hub will ensure we have a pipeline of graduates with the cutting-edge creative and digital skills needed to help transform Lancashire’s economy and drive growth for years to come.”
The Technology Hub will be officially opened on Wednesday, October 19 by entrepreneur and former chairman, president and CEO of worldleading technology company ARM Holdings Sir Robin Saxby.