Six pioneering projects have been awarded more than £330,000 in funding from the MediaCity Immersive Technologies Innovation Hub (MITIH) to lead the way in developing new technologies. These groundbreaking projects, led by visionaries across Greater Manchester, will explore the potential of emerging technologies to transform education, film, music experiences, advertising, and healthcare.
The innovative initiatives cover a wide range of areas, from enhancing brand and audience interaction to reshaping the landscape of education through cutting-edge immersive, real-time technologies, and Artificial Intelligence (AI). The recipients of this transformative funding include InSpatial, Immersify, FeedAR, Xpllorre, Corporation Pop, and Salsa Sound, all of which are set to use the investment to push the boundaries of their groundbreaking platforms.
The founders of MediaCity-based InSpatial, Mike Anderson and Ben Emma, are capitalising on the spatial boom sparked by the Apple Vision Pro Headset to develop a unique platform. This platform allows for the rapid development of 3D assets, pages, and user interfaces across web and mobile applications, providing unparalleled support to brands and creative professionals.
The Immersify Education team, consisting of education technology experts, is utilising the latest technologies to create lifelike simulations for emerging platforms. Their focus is on supporting the training of healthcare professionals across a range of clinical skills using platforms such as the Apple Vision Pro headset.
Feed:AR is pushing the boundaries of mobile immersive tech with its Porous WebXR Platform, where two prototypes of unique Augmented Reality (AR) games are being developed. These games allow for the personalisation and integration of consumers and businesses into the gaming experience.
Xpllore, led by CEO and founder Chris Guerin, is breaking new ground by merging Extended Reality (XR) and AI to create eXtended Intelligence. This innovative approach seeks to redefine the methods of learning, working, and collaborating. The Xi Create project inaugurates a platform where non-tech individuals can effortlessly produce 3D assets on PCs, mobile devices, and headsets, thereby facilitating the creation of an extensive library of models for immersive environments.
Corporation Pop’s Social Pop AR is an ambitious platform that integrates real-time AR with a 3D web engine, enabling users to seamlessly share the same AR content from their devices. This interactive platform has the potential to connect music artists and bands with their fans during festivals and live events, creating a deeply personal and immersive group experience.
Furthermore, Salsa Sound founder Rob Oldfield, a former University of Salford alumni, has developed AudioVerse, an AI-driven responsive audio mixing for live broadcasts. This suite of automated AI and audio production is already in use by the esteemed Manchester City FC.
Anthony Hatton, the director of the project, expressed his anticipation of working with the talented innovators and offering full support in breaking the boundaries of what has never been done before. The initial phase of investment is centred around providing support to the innovators, empowering them to build new platforms and offering them the tools to test and iterate these groundbreaking programs. Ultimately, these initiatives are poised to drive investment in the economy and usher in new opportunities for growth.
Stephen Wild, the Managing Director of MediaCity, underscored the significance of the recent project announcements. Through the partnership with MITIH, MediaCity aims to provide unwavering support to innovators, enabling them to bring their projects to fruition and be at the vanguard of future media technologies.
The remarkable development of this diverse array of projects is supported by the immersive hub, an integral component of the pilot Innovation Accelerators programme invested in Greater Manchester. Funded by Innovate UK on behalf of UK Research and Innovation, this pioneering model of Research and Development (R&D) decision-making is distinct to Greater Manchester. It seeks to harness innovation in driving regional economic growth, attract private R&D investment, and cultivate the development of new technologies.