Mario Matthys – ULiA
Mario Matthys has been a pioneer in digital design since the 1980s, with expertise in 3D design. In the 1990s, he initiated GIS projects and was an early explorer of interactive communication via VR glasses in 1997. He pioneered 3D city modelling and the use of 3D game engines in ‘Animated Spatial Time Machine’ projects.
His career has been recognised with dozens of awards for innovation and cocreation. Mario is currently at ULiA, where he is building on his wealth of experience and expertise.
In his keynote, he will take you through how to set up the public domain using XR.
Bram Van de Wege – Howest
Tbc – about ERGO
Bram Van de Wege is currently a half-time teacher/ pedagogical IT coordinator at Sint-Paulusschool Campus VTI Waregem, where he has been working for years on the integration of XR in education, mainly with mixed reality (Microsoft Hololens).
Since last school year, he has been working for the second half-time part within Howest Bachelor secondary education for the XR Action Plan of the Ministry of Education. There, he works together with other colleges to support Flanders-wide secondary schools to integrate XR into teaching practice. This through 1-on-1 guidance of schools, and workshops on XR in technical education. He also supports companies with training and lifelong learning with technological tools.
In his keynote ‘Ergo XR: Revolutionising Ergonomic Training through Extended Reality’, he will introduce an advanced approach to ergonomic training using the latest extended reality technologies. This presentation will highlight the development, functionalities and benefits of Ergo XR, as well as its impact on various sectors such as healthcare, industry and education.
XR
Jelle Demanet – XR Valley
Jelle Demanet is an experienced researcher, lecturer and laboratory manager with an extensive track record in the higher education sector. Proficient in research design, lecturing, data analysis, quantitative research and experimental design.
During his keynote ‘The Future of XR: Transforming Living, Learning and Working’, he will take you through the exciting world of Extended Reality (XR) technology, an amalgamation of Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR) and Mixed Reality (MR).
We explore the huge potential of XR in different domains, from education to healthcare, and from entertainment to industry. The presentation dives deep into the unique challenges, such as privacy issues, technological limitations and the need for digital literacy.
A crucial part of the discussion is the strong link between XR and Artificial Intelligence (AI), and how AI makes XR experiences more intelligent and intuitive. We also explore the role of measurement technology and data analytics in improving XR applications, which is essential for personalising user experiences and ensuring accuracy and effectiveness.
In particular, we focus on the impact of these challenges on the industry. XR technology has the potential to radically change the way we learn, providing more immersive and interactive learning experiences.
Finally, we look at the future impact of XR on our daily lives, learning and working. The keynote offers insights into how XR will change the way we interact with the world around us, increase the potential for immersive learning experiences, and open new horizons for remote working and collaboration. We conclude with a look at future trends and innovations in XR technology and their expected social and economic impact.
