Miami University is gearing up for an exciting addition to its campus this fall with the unveiling of the Richard M. McVey Data Science Building. Located in the heart of the campus, this remarkable facility is set to provide students in the departments of Statistics, Computer Science, Software Engineering, and especially, Emerging Technology in Business + Designs (ETBD) Immersive and Reactive Classes with a groundbreaking space to promote innovation and creativity.

One of the standout features of the Richard M. McVey Building is the Immersive and Reactive Lab, where students from the Emerging Technology in Business and Design (ETBD) program come together in their capstone class to create capability demos for ongoing use on the XR (Extended Reality) stage. This cutting-edge XR stage will serve as a platform for students to develop and showcase their projects, which span a wide range of immersive experiences.

“The projects developed by ETBD students promise to be nothing short of extraordinary,” said ETBD student Laney Miller. “Groups of individuals are presently collaborating on projects, all poised to leverage the immersive capabilities of the XR stage.”

The students' creations will encompass everything from live broadcasting the excitement of esports to replicating the lively ambiance of a subway train. These projects are not just for fun, though; they offer numerous valuable opportunities for the students.

The XR stage project allows students to actively participate in setting up and integrating virtual production on a professional stage. They will have the privilege of collaborating with one of the world's best integration companies, Meptik, gaining hands-on experience and exposure to industry-standard practices.

Secondly, the projects are designed to exhibit the capabilities of the Immersive and Reactive Lab and the XR stage itself. Including projection mapping for dynamic displays, camera tracking for precise interactions, and blended reality capture for seamless integration of real-world video. These features provide students with a versatile platform to showcase their creativity and technical skills. This stage provides students with the opportunity to showcase their creativity and exhibit their technical skills to a wide audience, both within the university community and beyond.

Lastly, this initiative places professional-grade tools in the hands of students, enabling them to create and build with the same tools and technologies used by industry professionals. This equips them with real-world skills that are invaluable in their future careers.

For more information, visit the Department of ETBD or reach out to ETBD Professor Benjamin Nicholson.

One enthusiastic student expressed, "This was the most exciting and rewarding class that I have been a part of, and I can’t wait for people to experience it" (ETBD Student Caleb Adelman).