High Tech Campus Eindhoven opens itself to the Metaverse with 3EALITY

By Mauro Mereu

High Tech Campus Eindhoven (HTCE) launched 3EALITY, its Metaverse and spatial computing physical innovation hub. The announcement came during yesterday’s Immersive Tech Day, where the campus outlined its vision for 3EALITY, and eleven demo partners showcased their technologies, such as haptic gloves and platforms for digital experiences.  

3ALITY aims to establish an ecosystem for spatial computing and Metaverse applications, which, from emerging tech, are set to grow and disrupt many industries. Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are indeed expected to exceed the one trillion market size mark before 2030.

Driving innovation by starting physical hubs 

The new technological space will have office spaces and collaboration facilities, with the HTCE facilitating new businesses to enter the ecosystem and collaborations. 3EALITY is the fifth innovation hub within the campus, including the 5G HUb and the AI Innovation Center. The underground and the ground floor of HTC 37, a former Philips Research building, will be the new hub’s home, officially opening in February 2024. 

“High Tech Campus Eindhoven has the ambition to be amongst the leading tech hubs worldwide in 2030. To realize this, we take a proactive role in driving innovation by starting physical hubs emerging from technology trends. This hub adds a software layer to the strong hardware layer of the Ccampus, a crucial step in achieving our ambition,” says Otto van den Boogaard, ceo of HTCE. 

VR’s grandfather’s take: “We need a new kind of vision to survive”

“As a society, we need a new kind of vision to survive,” states Tom Furness talking to the High Tech Campus Eindhoven’s (HTCE) conference center audience. Having devoted 57 years of his life to developing virtual reality (VR), he’s convinced this technology can give humankind a renewed vision to face the challenges of our times.

Connecting digital and physical 

In welcoming the guests, Philipp Werle, HTCE’s business developer of emerging tech, delved deeper into the campus initiative, outlining the necessity to embrace Metaverse and spatial computing tech. 3ALITY comes as a connection “between the digital and the physical world and signifies the 3D evolution of the internet,” he added. In addition, he also announced Epic Games as the first partner of 3ALITY. 

Applying VR tech 

Besides the announcement of 3EALITY, the Immersive Tech Day was also a chance to discuss and experience spatial web technology. Enversed’s co-founder, Sander Winters, spoke about the business applicability of immersive tech. His company is creating VR training experiences for companies. In his speech, he underlined the power of VR in enhancing learning with people experiencing first-hand real scenarios.

The metaverse is on its way to being as real as ever

Fiction or reality? A mere entertainment platform or a valuable tool for businesses? As with the rise of every other technology deemed disruptive, many dilemmas arise when thinking about the metaverse. 

The presented demos

• ANASAEA presented its art platform, which works as the digital extension of the physical realm. There, collectors, artists, and curators can engage virtually. 
• Enversed showcased its business-to-business market VR training experiences, including truck inspection practice and group training for healthcare professionals. 
• Epic Games and VERO illustrated the future of the Amsterdam Zuidas area, one of the largest real estate projects in the Netherlands. By the means of a digital twin, visitors could experience the future of the area. 
• Fectar displayed its AI-driven avatars for the digital realm, demonstrating their capability to enhance communication and engagement in virtual spaces.
• Leia Inc.’s booth was about its 3D display technology. The screens allow for immersive demonstrations, removing the need for wearables. 
• Manus showcased its Metagloves, which allow for accurate hand movement tracking, with 17 sensors replicating even the slightest hand gestures. 
• Movella presented its motion capture platform, a suit, and a headset that collects and replicates the body’s movement for animation and healthcare purposes. 
• NVIDIA, Cards PLM Solutions, and CSN Groep displayed an example of how to leverage the NVIDIA Omniverse for manufacturing operations and processes. 
• Philips offered a glimpse into the world of magnetic resonance scans in virtual reality. There, visitors could experience this new form of imaging.