Archbishop Desmond Tutu opens VR system at University of Western Cape
Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu and his wife, Leah Tutu, were captivated by the Highly Immersive Visualization Environment (HIVE) at the University of the Western Cape when they officially opened it during a ceremony last month.
“The Arch” was performing one of his last engagements as the University’s Chancellor prior to his retirement. They were joined by a host of VIPs for the first full demonstration of the power of the Virtalis 3D visualization system. The ceremony was introduced by Prof. Brian O’Connell, Rector of the University and hosted by Professor Paul Carey, Director of the HIVE. Experts from Virtalis, the company responsible for the design and installation of the system at the HIVE, delivered a demonstration of the system, known as an ActiveWall, which has been uniquely configured for UWC.
Carey explained: “We believe we now have the most advanced Virtual Reality (VR) system in South Africa. It allows us to take the real world and bring it into this room, making it interactive and almost touchable. People can benefit from virtual experiences because it is possible to explore, design and train virtually and bring that virtual knowledge to bear in real life.”
The HIVE at UWC was financed by a matched funding arrangement between the University and BP. Other sponsoring companies were also present, including SMT, Schlumberger, Midland Valley & Getech. These companies have donated their software and support to enable the next generation of geologists to emerge from the University. UWC is using its ActiveWall to visualise data from a wide range of industry-standard software packages.
Archbishop Emeritus Tutu let out a whoop and his trademark giggle when the team sent a virtual wasp to buzz near his head. He said, “This is an amazing, amazing contraption.” David Cockburn-Price, Virtalis managing director, echoed the room’s feelings when he commented: “The Archbishop is a vital bundle of energy. It was a privilege to meet him and observe his enthusiasm at close hand.”
Andrew Connell, Virtalis technical director, took guests at the opening on a Virtual Reality (VR) journey across Africa using Virtalis’ GeoVisionary software. This tool enables the viewing of geographical, geological and other geoscientific data for whole countries and continents in one real-time virtual environment. He also demonstrated the power of tracked, immersive VR, but then lightened the mood with some fun, 3D, short films.
The HIVE is sited in a brand new, secure and custom-built unit within the Department of Applied Geology. A central Dell server coupled with a dedicated optical fibre line links the 30, high-end, 3D modelling computers with the two-channel, tracked ActiveWall and the postgraduate research suite. This in turn, will connect to the University’s multi-terabyte data storage system via 10Gb network connectivity, enabling high speed data transfer and advanced modelling of very large data sets. The Virtalis ActiveWall is driven by a Dell workstation with NVIDIA graphics, with the display featuring high-end Christie Digital Mirage projectors and an Intersense IS-900 tracking system.
Richie Griffiths, the manager of the HIVE, commented: “Students using the HIVE initially will be reading for MScs and PhDs in the South African Petroleum Studies Program and MScs in Applied Geology, but this user body will expand as relationships with other disciplines grow.”
The HIVE staff see no limit to the range of disciplines that the HIVE technology can be applied to. It is expected that approximately 40% of HIVE’s time will be booked by commercial organisations, especially those with interests in petroleum, mining and land use. In this way, the technology will be kept fresh, and more advanced sub-systems added to expand even further the applications of the facility. In fact, demand is expected to be so heavy that UWC has already purchased a second “mini-HIVE” for small groups in a conference room in the main facility, as well as a further Optoma-projected ActiveMove, Virtalis’ mobile interactive 3D visualization system.
UWC Website: www.uwc.ac.za
