MELVILLE N.Y., July 15, 2015 - Canon U.S.A. Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, and the University of Central Florida (UCF) recently partnered in the Company's first collegiate mixed reality competition and mentorship program, in which students brought their virtual designs to life using the Canon MREAL Solution for Mixed Reality. Starting in February, Canon provided a mixed reality expert to mentor and work with the students bi-weekly throughout the competition, demonstrating the use of mixed reality solutions to advance and develop the future of education.
With the help of the MREAL Solution, the winning team demonstrated the proper emergency response procedures, applying simulated medical emergency response techniques to a physical mannequin with virtual wounds. Combining the use of physical objects - mannequin and medical tools, with the virtual wounds and patient conditions, the winning team proved how the solution could be used to bring the dynamic, chaotic conditions of a medical emergency for effectively training paramedics and emergency personnel. The demonstration also provided the mixed reality view of a patient's writhing face on the mannequin. When the correct treatment was applied to the mannequin, the face calmed with life-like reaction.
As part of the mentorship program, students worked at the E2i Creative Studio at UCF's Institute for Simulation and Training to design concepts for real-world applications, utilizing the MREAL Solution. This solution provided a combination of both the real world environment and computer-generated visualizations to help student contestants simulate a variety of case examples. Standing before a panel of judges, which included professionals from the aerospace and design industries, the students wore the MREAL Solution's head mounted display to demonstrate its use in various market categories, including design and manufacturing, architecture, training and simulation and fashion design.
"Education researchers have determined that individuals, especially adults, learn better with experience than reading or lectures," said Randall Shumaker, director of the University of Central Florida's Institute for Simulation and Training. "Particularly important in educating students focusing on game design and immersive technologies, the value of experience makes simulation tools, like the MREAL Solution, an incredibly valuable tool for preparing them for the real world."
"Canon is proud to join the University of Central Florida in supporting the future of education and Mixed Reality," said Junichi Yoshitake, senior vice president and general manager of Business Imaging Solutions, Canon U.S.A., Inc. "We are truly impressed by the concepts and ideas of the UCF students and excited to have the opportunity to bring forward-thinking technology to the leaders of tomorrow."
For more information about Canon, visit http://www.usa.canon.com.