Virtual reality facility opens in Nottingham

A virtual reality teaching facility has opened in Nottingham.

Situated within Nottingham University’s engineering science and learning centre, the classroom introduces a different approach to remote viewing and communication between instructors and students.

It features 40 VR headsets, with 35 for individual high-performance PCs and five desk-based systems with display screens, offering students a choice in their learning and VR experience.

Additionally, students have access to 90 wireless headsets for loan, allowing them to continue their studies outside the classroom.

Staff and students also benefit from access to several 3D scanners and 360-degree stereoscopic cameras to enhance their educational experience.

Professor Joe Segal, head of mechanical materials and manufacturing engineering (M3) in the faculty of engineering, said: “While many universities, including us, have existing VR labs, these are nowhere near the scale of our newly unveiled facilities, which will provide our students with access to cutting edge tools and technologies unlike anything else on offer across the globe.

“We have a desire to be at the forefront of technology in teaching and we’ve already been making strides in this area in recent years in our smaller VR labs. Now, however, we have the opportunity to take the lead in the UK and further build our reputation for producing engineers that are ready to shape the real world.”