The Spatial Computing Training and Research Lab (SPECTRAL) at the University of New Brunswick (UNB) is working with partner companies, such as Kognitiv Spark, to teach students how to advance augmented reality (AR) technology, while creating limitless potential for collaboration.
Under the direction of UNB professor Dr. Scott Bateman, SPECTRAL students work on projects that use AR tools to provide instruction in real time to share expert knowledge.
Since the commercialization of virtual reality (VR) technology, SPECTRAL has looked to deepen knowledge about both AR and VR tech applications. When Kognitiv Spark came onto the scene, folks at SPECTRAL were eager to collaborate with them.
“My own interests in applied research at SPECTRAL align naturally with the business objectives of Kognitiv Spark,” said Bateman. “Together, we make the output on both sides stronger.”
SPECTRAL has received comprehensive start-up funding from ACOA (the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency) providing access to resources they might not otherwise be able to acquire. Kognitiv Spark has further collaborated with SPECTRAL on research funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the New Brunswick Innovation Foundation (NBIF).
Students who participate in experiential learning opportunities through SPECTRAL become natural candidates for highly specialized AR and VR job positions.
UNB students work with competitive organizations like Kognitiv Spark to receive hand-on training that is required to work for tech giants like Google, Apple and Facebook. Because of partnerships like this, UNB graduates are offered job opportunities in a competitive marketplace.
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