Virtalis Launches VR Inspiration Day Series to Empower Businesses with Immersive Technology
In December 2022, the VR Inspiration Day event series kicked off with its inaugural session in Manchester, UK. The goal of the event is to inspire, educate, and provide invaluable insights to organisations looking to start or further develop their virtual reality (VR) projects. The event focuses on key considerations for VR adoption, including use cases, how to secure stakeholder buy-in, potential ROI, and the wide array of hardware technology solutions available.
This first event attracted attendees from a diverse range of industries—including Aerospace, Defence, Nuclear, and Construction—eager to learn about the benefits of VR adoption and hear how others are using immersive technologies. The day’s format featured a combination of presentations, demonstrations, and networking opportunities, allowing participants to engage with peers, discuss challenges, and share lessons learned from successful VR implementations.
Highlighting BAE Systems’ VR Adoption Journey
One of the most anticipated sessions of the day was a presentation by Rob Forrest from BAE Systems Air, who shared the company’s VR Adoption Journey. He explained how BAE Systems has integrated VR into their factory layout and product visualisations, enabling iterative reviews, workflow optimisation, and risk identification. The use of VR has allowed BAE Systems to design and refine logistics workflows, analyse human factor considerations, and even "walk the line" virtually to ensure the efficiency of their operations.
Forrest also discussed the challenges they encountered while implementing immersive technology and how they overcame them. Looking ahead, BAE Systems plans to expand their use of immersive technologies to further optimise their processes.
Exploring Virtalis’ Cutting-Edge VR Solutions
Following the presentations, attendees had the chance to try out Virtalis’ immersive technology solutions firsthand. Demonstrations included our ActiveWall, ActiveMove portable VR system, and a variety of head-mounted displays (HMDs), providing participants with a well-rounded experience of how VR can be applied across different use cases.
ActiveWall: Large-Scale Immersive Visualisation for Team Collaboration
The ActiveWall is a Powerwall designed for group reviews, enabling teams to gather around a large display and review the same data simultaneously. During the demonstration, attendees were shown a complete factory layout that illustrated how VR can handle large models and diverse data types—including CAD, PDF, video, and point cloud data—all within a single, immersive visualisation.
This powerful visualisation tool enhances collaboration, streamlines decision-making, and reduces the time needed to identify design flaws or areas for improvement.
ActiveMove: Portable VR for Smaller Group Collaboration
The ActiveMove portable VR system offers a more flexible option for smaller teams or organisations needing a mobile solution. Attendees saw the system in action, with demonstrations of tools like clash detection, dynamic sectioning, and animations as part of a design review. The ActiveMove brings all the benefits of the Powerwall into a portable format, making it ideal for environments where mobility and adaptability are key.
Head-Mounted Displays (HMDs): Immersive Individual and Remote Collaboration
Attendees were also invited to try a range of HMDs, including the HTC Vive Focus 3, Pico 4, and Meta Quest Pro. HMDs are ideal for individual reviews as well as remote collaboration sessions, offering flexibility and portability for businesses looking to adopt immersive technology. Participants experienced a training program set up for wind turbine manufacturing, where they used hand controllers to interact with the virtual data, providing a fully immersive experience.
Insightful Presentations on VR Use Cases and ROI
The day also included a presentation by John Maxfield, Virtalis’ Business Development Director, who explored the growing popularity of VR in the engineering and manufacturing sectors. He highlighted the typical use cases for VR, such as design reviews, training, factory layout planning, and digital twins. Maxfield also discussed how VR technology is already delivering measurable ROI for companies, improving productivity and reducing costs across industries.
Maxfield’s session was a key moment for attendees interested in the practical applications of VR, as he explained how Virtalis collaborates with clients to help them achieve their VR goals and unlock their full potential.
Planning a Successful VR Project: Insights from Nick Thomas
A discussion session led by Nick Thomas, Virtalis’ Customer Success Lead, focused on what it takes to plan a successful VR project. Thomas emphasised that jumping straight into the technology without proper planning is not the answer. Instead, businesses need to consider the back-end factors, such as infrastructure, scalability, and stakeholder alignment, that can make or break a VR implementation.
Attendees engaged in discussions on their own experiences with VR adoption, sharing their insights into overcoming potential barriers and highlighting the importance of having a structured plan before deploying VR technologies within their operations.
Looking Ahead to Future VR Inspiration Days
The first VR Inspiration Day was a resounding success, offering participants the chance to engage with immersive technology, learn from industry leaders, and network with peers across multiple sectors. Virtalis is excited to announce that the VR Inspiration Day series will continue throughout 2023, with events planned across the UK.
Keep an eye on the Events section of the Virtalis website and our LinkedIn page for more information and updates on upcoming VR Inspiration Days.