AvaCon leads new group for virtual reality interoperability

Press release: The Immersive Technology Alliance Announces Metaverse Working Group

AvaCon, Cloudhead Games, SiliconArts, Cubicle Ninjas and More Join Alliance

October 2, 2014 – The Immersive Technology Alliance (The ITA) is pleased to announce that AvaCon will be leading a working group pertaining to the development and interoperability of the metaverse in the virtual reality space.

Chris Collins
Chris Collins

“The Immersive Technology Alliance brings together expertise from across the field to foster and promote innovation in this space, and it couldn’t be happening at a more important time,” said Chris Collins, president of AvaCon. “As the mainstream media turns its attention back to virtual reality, it is critically important that we have a forum for immersive technology developers, content creators, and innovators to work together on issues and standards, and the ITA is providing that forum.”

ITA member AvaCon, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the growth, enhancement, and development of the metaverse, virtual worlds, augmented reality, and 3D immersive and virtual spaces.

AvaCon's virtual offices in OpenSim. (Image courtesy AvaCon.)
AvaCon’s virtual offices in OpenSim. (Image courtesy AvaCon.)

Other new ITA members include SiliconArts, Cubicle Ninjas, and Cloudhead Games.

Neil Schneider
Neil Schneider

“Whether it’s through our Board of Directors, advisory team, or general membership, the alliance works by attracting some of the industry’s brightest minds and providing a professional forum to openly discuss and solve real problems and drive the industry forward,” said Neil Schneider, Executive Director of The Immersive Technology Alliance. “As a non-profit organization, we are here for the industry and by the industry. It’s gratifying to see The ITA reaching that critical mass where working groups like this are now possible, and there is more to come. We have big plans for the near future.”

“Through ITA activities, SiliconArts hopes to deliver its distinguished virtual reality hardware platform (real-time ray-tracing) to the community and embrace the latest virtual reality technologies from other members,” said Hee Jin (Colin) Shin, Co-Founder. “We strongly believe that the ITA assets including its members, knowledge, technologies and network will be a great resource to SiliconArts in materializing its technology and, SiliconArts’ contribution to the ITA will allow the organization to be equipped with an optimal hardware platform for near-future virtual reality application.”

Josh Farkas
Josh Farkas

“Cubicle Ninjas’ mission is to craft creative and emotionally engaging brand experiences,” said Josh Farkas, Strategy Ninja. “The unexplored potential of virtual reality and augmented reality for brand storytelling is thrilling to us. In fact, this spirit of discovery is the reason we wake up each day. We’re honored to join the Immersive Technology Alliance (ITA), which leads the way in fostering cutting-edge creative collaboration and innovation.”

“Cloudhead Games is an indie studio with a diverse and accomplished crew that includes AAA blockbuster game development experience,” said Denny Unger, CEO of Cloudhead Games. “We are building The Gallery: Six Elements, a richly narrative adventure and exploration game from the ground up for virtual reality. The Gallery is fueled by intuitive physical interaction and puzzles, nestled within a deeply immersive environment. As long time virtual reality enthusiasts, we are eager to connect with other virtual reality pioneers through the Immersive Technology Alliance to learn and to contribute to shaping the future of Virtual Reality.”

Non-profit and non-proprietary, The Immersive Technology Alliance is the official voice and standards body for technologies like augmented and virtual reality, stereoscopic 3D, gesture technology, and more. The alliance’s history dates back to 2009 when it was founded as The Stereoscopic 3D Gaming Alliance. Over the years, the alliance has been regularly featured in the press, it has raised government funding for and partnered on academic research pertaining to immersive technology, and has had a worldwide presence through events and technology demonstrations.

Maria Korolov