XR lab in Bury St Edmunds is 'incredibly exciting' for students

A £2m science fiction inspired virtual reality lab has opened in Suffolk for students and businesses.

The Eastern Education Group (EEG) opened the Extended Reality (XR) Laboratory at the University and Professional Development Centre in Bury St Edmunds.

The facility includes a lecture theatre with wall-to-wall screens, and video and motion capture studios.

EEG chief executive Dr Nikos Savvas said it was an "exciting time".

The XR lab will be available for businesses, as well as for students.

"The impressive space-age creation will be at the forefront of education, research and development," Dr Savvas continued.

"This is an incredibly exciting time for us as educators, for the businesses using this facility, and for the talent the businesses can recruit."

The lab, which is part of West Suffolk College's campus, was built by WindsorPatania Architects and was inspired by the films Men in Black and 2001: A Space Odyssey.

The EEG is a consortium of education establishments in Suffolk.

WindsorPatania co-founder and former West Suffolk College student, Ryan Windsor, said: "I believe this XR lab will democratise education and open up new opportunities for students and the community."

At the opening of the lab, visitors were able to try out haptic gloves - a wearable device that simulates the sensations of virtual objects - and a Teslasuit, a device that can mimic the feeling of bumping into a wall or the impact of a rugby tackle.

Tom Lloyd, executive director for skills, innovation and strategic development at the EEG, said: "This state-of-the-art facility will enable us to become one of the UK's leading lights when it comes to extended reality education."

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