New Perspectives
Expand your horizons with EXCIT3D GmbH, your reliable partner for innovative 3D technologies and digital transformation. As a leading specialist in the development of customized Virtual Reality (VR) solutions, we offer you VR experiences that are tailored to a variety of application fields, from gaming and education to architecture, trainings, tourism, as well as social and medical care for seniors. Together we can push the boundaries of what’s possible — to create interactive, immersive experiences that engage all ages.
Introduction to Virtual Reality
Virtual reality, often simply referred to as VR, is a technology concept that immerses users in a computer-generated, three-dimensional environment. By wearing a special VR headsets, users enter immersive experiences with distinct visual, auditory and haptic stimuli that feel like a different reality. This technology, once considered a mere element of science fiction, is now part of reality, enabling impressive experiences that can be both entertaining and educational.
Hardware for Virtual Reality
Virtual Reality can be experienced through a variety of hardware devices, each of which is designed to meet specific requirements and user experiences.
VR Headsets
The basic hardware needed to immerse yourself in Virtual Reality is VR headsets. With two screens and two lenses, these headsets simulate a virtual reality right in front of the user’s eyes. There are a variety of VR headsets on the market, including the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, each with their own unique features and specifications.
Mixed Reality Headsets
For even more immersive experiences, there are Mixed Reality Headsets, such as the Microsoft HoloLens. These devices overlay digital objects and information onto the physical environment, allowing users to connect the virtual and the real world and interact in a seamless context.
Smartphones and Cardboards
There are specific smartphone apps and cardboard viewers that can be used together for an easy and cost-effective introduction to Virtual Reality. These allow users to experience VR technology without having to purchase special hardware. With these devices, any user with a compatible smartphone can experience the wonders of Virtual Reality.
Caves
Virtual Reality Caves, also known as “Cave Automatic Virtual Environments” (CAVE), are immersive, multi-sided spaces that allow for a near-complete 360-degree Virtual Reality experience. These advanced environments are specifically designed to provide users with the highest level of immersion in VR by featuring high-resolution projections as well as surround-sound.
Application Areas for Virtual Reality
Although Virtual Reality is often associated with gaming and entertainment, it has proven to be a valuable tool in many areas of business and industry. Areas of application include product development, marketing education, trainings, medical applications (such as surgery preparation or therapies), tourism, senior care, and many more. There are numerous application areas that demonstrate the transformative power of Virtual Reality.
Product Visualization and Marketing
In marketing and sales, Virtual Reality can be used to visualize products in a striking and engaging way — as was the case in our collaboration with tool manufacturer P.F. FREUND & CIE & CIE. GmbH. Together, we simulated the use of the BOZZ tool in a virtual environment for an upcoming trade show.
With the progress of technology, 3D representations in VR have become an essential tool for product visualization and marketing. They can provide a detailed and realistic representation of a product, allowing customers to gain a deeper appreciation and understanding of the product’s features and benefits.
Prototyping is only one example: Engineers and designers can model a product in 3D and then test it in a virtual environment. This allows them to identify and correct design flaws before the product is actually manufactured, thus saving time and money.
In addition, 3D representations in VR serve as a powerful tool for sales. They provide potential customers with an interactive product demo in which they can manipulate the product in a virtual environment and view it from different angles. This experience makes the sales process more effective and persuasive, providing customers with an in-depth knowledge of the product.
Another innovative marketing tool made possible through VR involves virtual showrooms. Companies, especially in the retail sector, can use VR to create digital versions of their physical stores. Customers can visit these virtual spaces and look at products without having to leave their homes. This allows them to “experience” products before buying them, thus providing practical assistance for their purchasing decision.
Industry and Manufacturing
In industry and manufacturing, Virtual Reality enables us to visualize and simulate products and processes. One example: In a project for vehicle construction, we used the scan data of an EVEX Porsche 910 in an interactive 3D simulation. By using VR technology, we were able to significantly improve the product development and optimization process.
Another scenario is mechanical engineering. Modeling complex machines with a VR environment allows engineers to gain deep insights into the design and functioning of the machine long before it goes into actual production. Such an application of VR helps us to identify and solve potential design challenges before they lead to costly production problems.
Even in the aerospace industry there are potential applications. Creating a representation of a passenger aircraft in a VR simulation allows customers to explore the interior virtually and thus get a realistic feel for the actual flight experience.
The integration of Virtual Reality in these areas has the potential to significantly improve development and optimization processes of products, reducing costs and increasing customer satisfaction.
Architecture and Design
In architecture and design, Virtual Reality allows us to create and visualize buildings and spaces in a virtual environment. This gives architects and designers the opportunity to present and experiment with their ideas in a realistic and interactive environment before they are realized.
Our projects with E-Group demonstrate the vast potential of this technology. The “Europagarten”, a major real estate project in Herne, is already a showpiece in the virtual world thanks to our work. We were asked to develop an app that would allow people using their Android smartphone or tablet to place the planned building in augmented reality at a location of their choice in 3D. The app also offers 360° tours of the building, which can be viewed and walked through using VR headsets.
In close collaboration with E-Group, we modeled the entire building in 3D based on the architect’s plans, specifying many details such as furniture and toys for the inclusive daycare center on the second floor. We also created virtual tours of the daycare center, the green outdoor area and the roof area of the building in order to give future users a realistic insight into the finished project.
At EXPO REAL 2022, E-Group, an expert in sustainable commercial real estate development, presented the digital twins of their planned buildings with our support – including the “Europagarten”. Our collaboration with E-Group began at EXPO REAL 2021, where we visualized the architectural plans of the Europagarten in an AR app. We have since continued our work and added more buildings to the E-Group app, including the Kaiserquartier in Herne and the logistics hall in Sehnde-Ost (Lower Saxony).
Medicine and Therapy
In medicine and therapy, Virtual Reality can serve as a safe and controlled training tool for medical professionals. It is also used in rehabilitation and therapy to help patients recover in a safe and controlled environment.
An excellent example of the benefits of VR for the medicine sector is our collaboration with Städtisches Klinikum Solingen.
At EXCIT3D, we have created a virtual 360° presentation of all relevant areas of the hospital to give expectant parents an insight into obstetrics despite the restrictions imposed by the coronavirus pandemic. With this interactive tour, future parents can comfortably “walk through” all rooms, from examination rooms to delivery rooms to children’s intensive care unit, while being provided with further information on hospital services and processes.
This is not the first cooperation between this hospital and EXCIT3D: In the past, we have already carried out joint projects in the areas of 3D printing, as well as Augmented and Virtual Reality for the benefit of patients. One example is the 3D-printed shoulder of a patient that was used in the preparation process of a complex operation.
On the whole, EXCIT3D technologies are used for a variety of treatments, enabling faster and more efficient treatment with a reduced risk of infection.
Education and Training
Virtual Reality has already made its way into education and training, providing a realistic and interactive environment. This allows users to practice and refine new skills and techniques in a hands-on, yet risk-free way.
In police training, VR technologies can be used to simulate high-risk operations, such as car chases or hostage negotiation scenarios. This enables trainees to gain practical experience and work on their reactions in stressful and often dangerous situations without putting themselves or others in harm’s way.
In the trades sector, for instance in electrician training, VR can be used to simulate complex installations or repairs. With the help of VR technology, trainees can run through various scenarios and improve their skills without the risk of electric shock or other hazards.
Tourism and Virtual Time Travel
In tourism, Virtual Reality provides tourists with an immersive preview of their destination. With VR technology, users can visit places from the past or the future, either on-site or from the comfort of their living rooms. This enables entirely new types of travel experiences that are both educational and entertaining.
The AR and VR hiking app “Bergische Drei – Zeitreisen”, developed by EXCIT3D GmbH for the tourism organization “Die Bergischen Drei,” is an excellent example of this. It invites users to explore the industrial culture and cultural heritage of the cities of Remscheid, Solingen, and Wuppertal in an interactive and modern way. The app utilizes state-of-the-art 3D modeling technology and AR functionality to vividly depict historical characters and professions of the Bergisches Land, encouraging visitors to explore the region’s rich landscapes.
Another example is the “UslAR – Entdecke uns neu!”-App. Developed by EXCIT3D GmbH on behalf of the city of Uslar, this app invites users to embark on a virtual discovery tour of the city. It impressively combines culture and technology by bringing Uslar’s history to life through AR and VR. The app guides users to eleven historical sites where they can enjoy AR or VR experiences that are both exciting and educational.
Both apps are examples of how cutting-edge VR and AR technology can be used to innovatively present culture and history. They allow users to experience historical places and events in ways they could never have imagined before. These apps are more than just entertaining travel companions — they are educational tools that make history engaging and memorable. With apps like these, the future of tourism is undoubtedly digital, interactive, and incredibly exciting.
Virtual Experiences for Senior Citizens
For seniors, Virtual Reality offers the opportunity to relive past memories or visit places they cannot physically access anymore. Also it can be used to give older people access to concerts, events or places that they would otherwise not be able to experience.
Projekt SeniorVR is an example of how immersive technology can be used to enhance the quality of life for people in nursing homes. Originally initiated by the Lebensherbst association, SeniorVR is now implemented in care homes across Germany. It utilizes a VR app developed by EXCIT3D to give residents the chance to visit places they cannot physically reach. These virtual excursions allow them to spend time in familiar locations, explore their hometowns, or visit distant destinations like Australia, where relatives might live. There are four different “levels” of experiences, ranging from tranquil 360-degree photos to more active and interactive experiences.
In addition to enriching the daily lives of seniors, the project also promotes social interactions, as seniors can share and discuss their experiences. This contributes to a stronger sense of community and increased joy in life.
Additionally, at EXCIT3D, we use our 360°-Live-Streaming-Solution to broadcast Philharmonic concerts by the Bergische Symphoniker live to nursing homes. With the help of VR headsets, seniors can realistically and vividly experience concerts as if they were actually there.
EXCIT3D’s high-resolution 8K-360°-Live-Streaming-Solution was developed to enable users to participate in concerts and events without having to leae their current location. A special app was created for this purpose, supporting multiple cameras to provide an immersive experience.
The project, which was implemented in collaboration with the cultural management of the city of Solingen, the Bergische Symphoniker and the Lebensherbst e.V. association, was thus successful in attracting new target groups to cultural events. It opened up opportunities not only for seniors, but also for other immobile or remotely located individuals to participate in such events.
Moreover, VR can help reduce feelings of isolation and promote mental well-being. Projects like this one demonstrate the potential of VR technologies to improve the quality of life for seniors and offer them a more diverse range of entertainment options. We plan to expand similar initiatives in the future, extending them to more events and facilities.
Trade Fairs
Trade fairs and conferences are essential events in many industries, offering opportunities for networking, product presentation and sharing knowledge. However with the advent of Virtual Reality, new forms of presentation and interaction are emerging with the potential to revolutionize traditional trade show experiences. By combining physical and virtual elements, companies can present their products and services in innovative ways while expanding the reach and accessibility of their trade show appearances.
EXCIT3D offers exciting solutions in this field. Machines that are difficult to transport to trade fairs can be presented with 3D modeling or 360° virtual tours in VR. A prime example is the project developed by EXCIT3D GmbH for AUMAT GmbH. Through the digital presentation of a special-purpose machine, potential customers and other interested parties could gain a detailed insight into the machine’s functionality, regardless of their physical location.
Additionally, we have already created numerous virtual trade fair booths. In collaboration with Studio Bachmannkern and LEDVANCE, we realized a virtual booth for the leading trade fair Light+Building 2020 in Frankfurt, which had to be postponed due to COVID-19. This virtual booth received the German Design Award in the category Excellent Architecture, Fair and Exhibition, and is another example of how EXCIT3D GmbH utilizes modern technologies to provide innovative solutions for trade shows and exhibitions.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, EXCIT3D developed virtual solutions for public events such as Christmas markets. For instance, we organized a virtual Christmas market at Schloss Burg. Using 360° footage and interactive elements, visitors could experience the Christmas market and purchase products from exhibitors directly through links to their websites or online shops. This approach provided an interesting solution for organizers looking to hold their events despite restrictions.
History and Education
Virtual Reality can be used to showcase historical events and cultures in immersive ways, as demonstrated by our reconstruction of the Solingen Synagogue. For a collaboration with the Max-Leven-Zentrum Solingen, we brought the synagogue – built 150 years ago and destroyed in 1938 – back to life. The model, based on old plans and photos, showcased both the building itself and its interior, including the Torah ark and the lectern. We also provided 3D-printed models of the synagogue and the Torah ark, which were presented as gifts to the Vice President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, Mr. Abraham Lehrer.
Moreover, EXCIT3D enabled the exploration of this historical model in several interactive formats. The most impressive feature involves experiencing the model with a virtual reality headset, allowing users to walk around the outside of the synagogue and explore its interior.
In another project, EXCIT3D developed a virtual tour of Solingen Mitte, which explores the history of organized labor during the Nazi era. This tour, created in collaboration with the Max-Leven-Zentrum Solingen, guides users through the history of buildings and offices of organized labor, including the editorial offices of the “Bergische Arbeiterstimme”, placing them in a historical context.
These projects highlight the incredible potential of Virtual Reality to show us history in profound, immersive, and interactive ways that traditional methods simply cannot match. They open the doors to the past, allowing us to step into times and places that would otherwise only be accessible through books and pictures. They create a vivid connection to our past, enabling us to experience history in ways that are both emotionally and intellectually engaging.
EXCIT3D GmbH is your reliable partner for innovative VR solutions. Our dedicated team of VR developers and designers works closely with you to transform your vision into Virtual Reality. Contact us today at +49 (0) 212 26049777 to learn more about our services and how we can help you employ the transformative power of Virtual Reality.
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