US-based software provider PTC has been dabbling in virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality for awhile now, having previously acquired AR technology platform Vuforia back in 2015. Now PTC has announced the creation of Reality Lab, a test center led by researchers who will create immersive applications with the purpose of improving people’s interactions with their physical environments.
PTC’s Reality Lab will be overseen by MIT graduates Valentin Heun and Benjamin Reynolds, who will serve as the lab’s chief scientists. They aim to apply human-centered design and human-computer interaction to new technology, empowering people with more intuitive and practical computer user interfaces for managing the next generation of networked computer systems.
“PTC is known worldwide for its technological excellence – and a prowess for pushing the frontiers of technology to make the industrial world more efficient,” said Valentin Heun, vice president of technology, Office of the CTO, PTC. “We’re delighted to become members of the team.”
“AR connects the wealth of digital data generated by the IoT and digital transformation initiatives with the physical world in which we apply it,” said Jim Heppelmann, president and CEO, PTC in a statement. “Our new Reality Lab will enable enterprises to advance the way they serve customers, train employees, design and create products, manage their value chains, and how they compete.”
Reality Lab is located in PTC’s current headquarters in Needham, Mass. and will be a central feature at its new Boston-based headquarters expected to open in 2019.
Since the purchase of Vuforia, PTC has leveraged the platform to expand the capabilities of its ThingWorx Industrial Innovation Platform to support ARKit and ARCore, helping to bring the power of AR technology to traditional businesses like product design, manufacturing, and servicing.
VRFocus will continue its coverage of PTC, reporting back with its latest developments.