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Get a Taste of Virtual Reality at Free Event

Don’t miss your chance to learn about the innovative virtual reality research [1] emerging from across the state of Florida.

The Florida Academic Virtual Reality Showcase (FLAVRS), organized in partnership between the University of Central Florida and the University of Florida, is scheduled for 6-9 p.m. on Monday, March 18 at the Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel. This unique showcase event will feature live demonstrations highlighting the latest innovations in virtual reality by some of Florida’s leading public universities. Attendees will have the exclusive opportunity to network and meet with virtual reality researchers, as well as key industry leaders.

FLAVRS will be held during the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Virtual Reality 2013 Conference, the premier international venue for virtual reality research and exhibits. The conference will be held March 16-23 in Orlando and is expected to attract more than 500 attendees from around the world. The March 18th FLAVRS event is an academic showcase associated with IEEE Virtual Reality 2013, providing a representative sample of Florida’s university labs to emphasize the importance of regional, virtual reality-related research efforts.

“Simulation and training is a perfect match for virtual reality – the disciplines have evolved together from their very beginnings. And what better place for the two to meet than Orlando, a nexus of some of the most advanced research in medical, military and education-related simulation and training in the U.S.” said professor Greg Welch, UCF.

The event will take place from 6-9 p.m. in the Pacific A Ballroom and Terrace of the Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel. General admission for FLAVRS is free. Catered reception food will be available for $40 per adult (purchase on site). In addition, there will also be a “Kids Food” table with free treats for all children.

For more information about the event, contact UCF professor Gregory Welch at welch@ucf.edu or UF professor Benjamin Lok at lok@cise.ufl.edu.

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About FLAVRS:
FLAVRS is sponsored by the University of Central Florida (Institute for Simulation & Training, College of Engineering & Computer Science, Office of Research & Commercialization, EECS Division of Computer Science) and the University of Florida. FLAVRS is an academic showcase associated with IEEE Virtual Reality 2013, the premier international conference and exhibition on virtual reality. For more information about FLAVRS, visit http://ieeevr.org/2013/flavrs. For details about the 2013 IEEE Virtual Reality Conference, visit http://ieeevr.org/2013.

University of Central Florida (UCF):
50 Years of Achievement: The University of Central Florida, the nation’s second-largest university with nearly 60,000 students, is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2013. UCF has grown in size, quality, diversity and reputation, and today the university offers more than 200 degree programs at its main campus in Orlando and more than a dozen other locations. Known as America’s leading partnership university, UCF is an economic engine attracting and supporting industries vital to the region’s success now and into the future.

University of Florida (UF):
With an enrollment of nearly 50,000 students annually, UF is home to 16 colleges and more than 150 research centers and institutes. Florida’s leading university traces its beginnings to a small seminary in 1853. It opened its doors in Gainesville in 1906 with 102 students. Today, it is one of the most comprehensive and academically diverse universities in the nation. UF is consistently ranked among the nation’s top universities: No. 17 in U.S. News & World Report “Top Public Universities” (August 2012); No. 3 in Kiplinger’s “Best Values in Public Colleges” (2013) and No. 7 in the Princeton Review “Best Value Public Colleges” (2012).

About IEEE
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) is the world’s largest professional association for the advancement of technology. Through its global membership, IEEE is a leading authority on areas ranging from aerospace systems [2], computers and telecommunications to biomedical engineering, electric power and consumer electronics. Info is available at ieee.org.