Company: NAIT (Northern Alberta Institute of Technology)

About: With over two decades of experience in immersive technology, education, and content creation, Michael McCready is a VR/AR educator and researcher dedicated to developing and implementing immersive solutions for real-world problems.

As an instructor at Lethbridge College, he spearheaded the launch of one of Canada’s inaugural VR/AR certificate programs, educating professionals in the practical applications of VR/AR. McCready has actively coordinated and engaged in major VR/AR initiatives, including organizing Merging Realities, the pioneering full-day conference conducted entirely in VR, and developing Spell Bound, an award-winning VR application designed to aid children with dyslexia and dysgraphia.

Presentation:

Title: The Evolution of XR Research at Lethbridge College
Description: A holistic look at how and why XR research has grown to a $3.5 M+ initiative at Lethbridge College. Observations for repeatable success will be shared.

Title: Developing VR Training Applications
Description: This session will explore the development of three VR training applications including the rationale for these experiences being developed in VR, challenges, and key findings. A comparison between bespoke and off-the-shelf VR applications will be included.