Mainebiz

W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 13 A U G U S T 2 2 , 2 0 2 2 F O C U S G R E AT E R B A N G O R / N O R T H E R N M A I N E "e idea is that you have this digital twin of the restaurant," says Knupp. "en we can load that into a VR headset so students can experience it." VR headsets, also called goggles, cover the eyes for an immersive 3D experience that includes a stereoscopic display, stereo sound and head-motion- tracking sensors. "Imagine you're in a classroom and the teacher is discussing food service," Knupp continues. "e stu- dents have the ability to put on a headset and assess and feel what it's like to be at Geaghan's. You look at the bar and see how it's set up. What do customer traffic patterns look like? How many booths and tables are there? And so what does staffing need to be for a place that size?" Emerging uses It's an evolving process. "We got to the point where we have a working prototype," he says. "People have high expectations whenever you talk about things related to computers. e vision is there and we're working toward it. It's an emerging space and we're learning and growing with it." ese ideas are well known in gaming and enter- tainment. But its true power, says Knupp, is still emerging as it applies to nearly every industry that uses a computer. e school is talking with other longstanding corporate partners, such as Jackson Laboratory and Bangor Savings Bank, about the program's poten- tial usefulness for their needs. And it's interested in forging new partnerships with businesses of all sizes, says Hansen. "We certainly have the door open," she says. e use of augmented and virtual reality for career training is a growing trend, says Knupp. "A highly mature model would be something like training a physician who's performing a particular pro- cedure," he says. "ey might put on a VR headset and can see a simulated patient. ey have haptic gloves with tactile responses so they can feel pressures. In the simulated world, they can practice the procedure before actually administering it." Eventually, says Knupp, the XR model could be extended to provide training for a company's staff. "is is student-centric but it builds our corporate partnerships," he says. Immersive technology e XR degree officially opened last year and is welcom- ing its first class this fall. e goal over the next three to five years is to grow the program to 100 new students. Husson currently draws about 60 students to its infor- mation technology degrees and certificate programs. "An important part of this is recruitment," notes Knupp. e collaboration between Husson's hospi- tality program and Geaghan's is called "Project Cheers." Over the past year and a half, the School of Technology and Innovation has collaborated with the university's School of Legal Studies on "Project Magistrate" and "Project Sherlock," courtroom and crime scene simulations, respectively. "Project Stagecraft" is a collaboration with Husson's New England School of Communication on entertainment production, using virtual reality to design stage sets before physically building them. Husson is now evaluating potential projects with its school of pharmacy and its nursing program. Technology is a commonly accepted medium, notes Knupp, but its constant evolution means that professors and students must adapt and learn new types. "e boundaries between our physical lives and our technical existence are kind of merging," he says. "ese immersive technologies will continue to proliferate." L a u r i e S c h r e i b e r , M a i n e b i z s e n i o r w r i t e r , c a n b e r e a c h e d a t l s c h r e i b e r @ m a i n e b i z . b i z The Official Airport of Summer Vacations FlyBangor.com The idea is that you have this digital twin of the restaurant. — Michael Knupp Husson University

• Cover