XR Stories and XR Network+

Did you know that we're running the Virtual Reality (VR) and Immersive Experiences Lab at this year's Aesthetica Short Film Festival? Taking place in The Hospitium in York's Museum Gardens from 6 - 10 November 2024, the lab will present diverse new experiences, selected and curated by XR Stories in collaboration with the London College of Communication at University of the Arts London. Spanning four different streams (inner worlds, cultural tapestries, echoes of change, and dreamscapes and dimensions) the lab provides audiences with a chance to step into someone else's shoes and view the world from a different perspective. Visit the XR Stories website to find out more: https://hubs.li/Q02Vs8fC0 📸 Image courtesy of Aesthetica Short Film Festival. A still from ‘Missing 10 Hours’ VR experience directed by Fanni Fazakas.

Thank you to everyone who joined us at the XR Network+ roadshow at Abertay University in Dundee yesterday to hear about opportunities for Scotland-based artists and academics, and to connect with others working in virtual production and immersive technologies. Thanks also to our speakers from Royal Shakespeare Company, Immersive Arts UK, University of York, Abertay University and CoSTAR for sharing their insights, experiences and recommendations. Next up, from 25-27 November we'll be at BEYOND Conference in MediaCity, Salford and in 2025 we're heading to University of the Arts London for another roadshow event. More information coming soon!

Head over to the XR Stories and XR Network+ YouTube channel to catch up on last week's seminar about a collaboration between University of the Arts London's Fashion, Textiles and Technology Institute and Numerion Software that uses supercomputing to create real-time virtual garments. Hear from Professor Jane Harris (UAL) and Mike King (CEO, Numerion) about the research and development undertaken as part of the project, and the challenges and opportunities that come with using supercomputing to move us closer to real-time rendition. Access the video: https://hubs.li/Q02V5Jkc0

Congratulations to project teams from CAMERA at the University of Bath and The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama who have been selected to work with the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) on the XR Network+ RSC research and development challenge. Commencing in January 2025, the teams will explore the creative possibilities of Virtual Production (VP) technologies in live theatre performance. Visit the XR Network+ website to find out more: https://hubs.li/Q02Vg6st0 📸 Interior photo of the RSC auditorium with actors and audience at Builder's Opening Night. Photo by Peter Cook © the RSC.

Digital artist and academic researcher, Danny Bacchus is the latest creative to take up residence in the XR Stories immersive technology lab. With a professional background in animation, interactive design, music, and immersive technologies, Danny is also the drummer in a progressive instrumental quartet, Bovidae: Band Camp ( https://lnkd.in/eWYDeh_A). Danny used the residency to explore the potential for expanded use of extended reality (XR) technologies in live musical performance, demonstrating artistic possibilities for how real-time data (such as motion/volumetric performance capture and MIDI data from live music) could be creatively applied with XR technologies within distributed live music and related performance contexts. Danny will use the R&D outputs generated during the residency to identify opportunities for further professional and academic development. Find out more about Danny's work: Website: https://hubs.li/Q02TP7v20 Instagram:(https://hubs.li/Q02TP7Vm0

There's still time to grab a ticket for our XR Network+ roadshow at Abertay University on Tuesday 22 October 2024! If you're a Scotland-based researcher, business or creative working or interested in virtual production technologies, join us from 4:00pm to 6:00pm to find out about opportunities for collaboration, innovation and funding. With updates from experts at Abertay University, the Royal Shakespeare Company, University of York, Immersive Arts UK and the CoSTAR (Convergent screen technologies and performance in real-time) programme, the event provides a forum to share insights and connect with colleagues working in the field. More information and tickets 👉 https://hubs.li/Q02TGv3T0

What is it like to spend a week working on your own project in the XR Stories immersive technology lab, with access to state-of-the-art facilities and expert support? A new residency diary from the Real Time Stories team provides an insight into some of the behind-the-scenes details of five action-packed days with our team. From the challenges of facial capture and performing in mocap to exciting new opportunities, the diary records the team's journey developing a taster for their Virtual Reality experience, 'Tech Support'. https://hubs.li/Q02Tqzwd0

📢 Join us from 2:00pm to 3:15pm tomorrow, Wednesday 16 October, to learn about a collaboration between University of the Arts London's BFTT Business of Fashion, Textiles & Technology and Numerion Software that is exploring the power of supercomputing to create believable, interactive, real-time virtual garments for use on Virtual Production projects. More information and tickets: https://hubs.li/Q02Td-Yh0

XR Network+ has published a new white paper that presents a comprehensive outline of the current landscape, challenges and opportunities within Virtual Production (VP) and Extended Reality (XR) technologies. The paper, ‘Innovation in Future Convergent Media and Virtual Production Technologies’, reports on data and insights gathered during XR Network+ workshops held at partner universities across the UK throughout 2023 and 2024. The paper serves as a strategic blueprint for stakeholders across various creative and technological sectors to leverage the potential of XR technologies, driving research, development, policy, and practical applications. Visit the XR Network+ website to download the white paper: https://hubs.li/Q02Tdf3P0

There's still time to register for next week's online seminar about a research and development project supported by XR Network+ that uses supercomputing to create real-time virtual garments. The project addresses a key challenge for industry - creating digital renditions of textiles and garments that establish a sense of believability when in motion. Join us from 2:00pm to 3:15pm on Wednesday 16 October as we welcome Professor Jane Harris, University of the Arts London, and Mike King, Numerion Software, to discuss the challenges and opportunities that come with using supercomputing to move us closer to real-time rendition. More information and tickets: https://bit.ly/3NlhLId