KUCHING: A 360-degree virtual reality (VR) application called ‘Kuching VR’ that enable users to see some of the city’s landmarks and tourist attractions was launched at Swinburne University of Technology, Sarawak Campus here yesterday.Kuching VR is a project funded and governed by the Marketing and Student Recruitment Department of the university to create global awareness about Kuching and Swinburne in particular.
Leveraging the trends in global smartphone adoption rates, increasing smartphone computing power and faster mobile data speeds – the department decided to look inwards and engage its talented faculty and alumni to develop the application.
The application will be used in all marketing activities by the university and its partners to build awareness and preference for Swinburne and Kuching.Kuching VR was developed by Trifold Enterprise, a company set up by a group of young Sarawakians who are recent graduates of Swinburne’s multimedia design programme.
Trifold Enterprise is the first extended reality (XR) company in Sarawak that works on VR, augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR) creative content devel-opment.In Kuching VR, one of the land-marks featured is the Swinburne Sarawak campus. Users of the application can download Kuching VR onto their Android smartphones and explore Swinburne Sarawak in an immersive way.
They will be able to view many different parts of the university to get an idea of what the campus is like. It will soon be launched on Apple App Store.The application can be viewed in full-screen more or VR mode for optimum virtual experiences. This enhances students’ on-cam-pus and educational experiences even before they step foot into the Swinburne Sarawak campus.Earlier, Chief Minister, Datuk Patinggi Abang Haji Johari Tun Openg in his speech hoped Swinburne could play its part in effort to make use of technology for Sarawakians to move forward and give value to the resources that Sarawakians have in Sarawak.Johari said he had requested Finland to help the state to do research on the use of aerosol that can be emitted by trees to cool down the atmosphere in our tropical climate.
“I hope this particular virtual reality application will become a precedent for us to produce other applications.“Technology really can drive the economy, transform your dream and also your imagination from virtual to real.
Once it is real, you have positive leverage on what you are going to do in the future,” he pointed out, assured that the state government would give its full support.Meanwhile, Swinburne University of Technology, Sarawak Campus Deputy Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer, Prof John Wilson said the Kuching VR App aimed to promote Swinburne Sarawak and places of interest in Kuching at the university’s events such as education fairs, road shows, and Open Days.
“The app will be used at these events to give prospective students in targeted markets outside Kuching to ‘experience’ the campus and the city at their own convenience, any-time and anywhere in the world.
“With the state government now on the march to developing a digital economy for the state, he said the skillset is especially pertinent and vital today and in the coming years as we work towards attain-ing developed status for Sarawak by 2030.
“On our part, Swinburne is committed to fulfilling the human capital needs of Sarawak by offering international quality teaching and learning, courses which are aligned with industry, as well as our expertise in research,” he said.
