VOXReality, a project funded by the European Commission, has awarded €1 million in grants to five EU projects advancing Extended Reality (XR) technology to improve accessibility across sectors like education, career support, and cultural heritage. Each project receives €200K as part of a year-long programme aimed at tackling communication barriers in human interactions.
The five projects will integrate AI to create immersive XR applications that address language and physical accessibility, making virtual environments more inclusive for diverse users. The initiative is supported by F6S, a global network that facilitates growth opportunities for startups, connecting founders with funding and other essential resources.
Breaking barriers in virtual environments
VOXReality’s initiative targets communication challenges across various industries. AI-enhanced XR tools enable smoother human-to-human interaction and provide accessible experiences for all, whether in virtual classrooms or industrial training settings.
Project Coordinator Spiros Borotis highlighted the impact of AI-driven XR stating: “By extending application domains for cutting-edge XR technologies, we have a unique opportunity to improve human-to-human interaction across multiple industries. This initiative will demonstrate the value of AI-enhanced XR in breaking down persistent communication barriers.”
Selected projects and their Impact
The winning projects, selected through an open call facilitated by F6S, span six European countries and focus on innovative applications of XR:
- AIXTRA Programme (Germany) – This VR tool, created by MindPort GmbH and LEFX GmbH, provides real-time translation in digital education, breaking down language barriers in virtual classrooms and creating a more inclusive learning environment.
- XR-CareerAssist Programme (France/UK) – Developed by DASKALOS APPS and CVCOSMOS, this project offers personalised XR experiences for career development, integrating real-time feedback and advice, and supporting accessible career guidance.
- CrossSense Programme (UK) – By Animorph Co-operative, this programme uses Automatic Speech Recognition and Neural Machine Translation to improve user interaction in XR, paving the way for seamless communication in virtual environments.
- VAARHeT Programme (Ireland/Latvia) – This project, by XR Ireland and Āraiši Ezerpils Archaeological Park, enhances heritage tours through voice-activated AR, offering personalised visitor experiences and real-time translations.
- WELD-E Programme (Greece) – KONNECTA SYSTEMS P.C. and IKNOWHOW S.A. developed this XR tool for remote welding support, combining voice and vision-based AI to create an efficient training tool for the industry.
Sean Kane, Co-Founder of F6S, remarked: “This project bridges the gap between AI and XR, allowing European innovators to create immersive experiences that can transform daily interactions.”
Read the orginal article: https://www.eu-startups.com/2024/11/brussels-based-voxreality-awards-e1-million-to-boost-accessibility-in-extended-reality-projects/
