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Technology Trends/Augmented and Virtual Reality (view source)

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Entertainment is still one of the largest uses for AR and VR. The explosive and sustained popularity of Pokémon Go (a mobile game AR application with 147 million monthly users<ref>Philips, Tom. (June 27th, 2018). Pokemon Go Active Player Count Highest Since 2016 Summer Launch. EuroGamer. Retrieved 27-February-2019 from: [https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2018-06-27-pokemon-go-player-count-at-highest-since-2016-summer-launch ]</ref>) proves there is a large base of users who are open to using the technology. VR games come in all shapes and sizes and the market is projected to hit 22.9 billion by 2020 .<ref>Statista. (2015). Virtual Reality video gaming sales revenue worldwide from 2015-2020. Statista. Retrieved 29-Fabruary-2019 from: [https://www.statista.com/statistics/499714/global-virtual-reality-gaming-sales-revenue/ ]</ref> VR as a medium is also being explored for the film industry and it is said to improve empathy and it can be used as a teaching tool. Even in the world of law, Bloomberg Law speculates that VR might be incorporated into the courtroom, so that evidence can be better understood in an immersive environment.<ref>Kaufman, Bruce. (November 16th, 2017). The Next Frontier for Virtual Reality: Courtrooms. Bloomberg BNA. Retrieved 20-February-2019 from: [https://www.bna.com/next-frontier-virtual-n73014472186/ ]</ref>

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Entertainment is still one of the largest uses for AR and VR. The explosive and sustained popularity of Pokémon Go (a mobile game AR application with 147 million monthly users<ref>Philips, Tom. (June 27th, 2018). Pokemon Go Active Player Count Highest Since 2016 Summer Launch. EuroGamer. Retrieved 27-February-2019 from: [https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2018-06-27-pokemon-go-player-count-at-highest-since-2016-summer-launch ]</ref>) proves there is a large base of users who are open to using the technology. VR games come in all shapes and sizes and the market is projected to hit 22.9 billion by 2020.<ref>Statista. (2015). Virtual Reality video gaming sales revenue worldwide from 2015-2020. Statista. Retrieved 29-Fabruary-2019 from: [https://www.statista.com/statistics/499714/global-virtual-reality-gaming-sales-revenue/ ]</ref> VR as a medium is also being explored for the film industry and it is said to improve empathy and it can be used as a teaching tool. Even in the world of law, Bloomberg Law speculates that VR might be incorporated into the courtroom, so that evidence can be better understood in an immersive environment.<ref>Kaufman, Bruce. (November 16th, 2017). The Next Frontier for Virtual Reality: Courtrooms. Bloomberg BNA. Retrieved 20-February-2019 from: [https://www.bna.com/next-frontier-virtual-n73014472186/ ]</ref>

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The GC has invested $9.5 million in AR technology developed by Vancouver-based software company NGRAIN.<ref>Market Wired. (June 26th, 2013). Harper Government Supports Market-Leading Canadian SME. Yahoo Finance. Retrieved 22-February-2019 from: [https://finance.yahoo.com/news/harper-government-supports-market-leading-180734827.html ]</ref> The software company has developed an interactive 3D AR platform for aerospace company Lockheed Martin. Lockheed Martin uses this interactive platform as a tool to perform maintenance on fighter jets like the F-35 and F-22. The company reports reduced maintenance time and less errors. The Canadian Military is also investing in VR, they have recently purchased a mixed reality simulation to train helicopter operators in the use of a hoist system.<ref>Burke, David. (April 10th, 2018) Fear makes virtual training lessons stick in Nova Scotia’s thriving VR industry. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 20-February-2019 from: [https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/virtual-reality-business-technology-nova-scotia-1.4609172 ]</ref> This and other projects like it reduce the training costs associated with hands-on jobs, where no costly accidents can happen and learners are allowed to learn from their mistakes in a risk-free environment.

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The GC has also been investing in AR and VR as tools of education and entertainment. Through the Build in Canada Innovation Program, $482,000 was awarded to Motive.io to develop a location based AR experience that takes users through Ottawa’s cultural heritage.<ref>Public Services and Procurement Canada. (November 20th, 2017). Government of Canada supports BC augmented reality startup through Build in Canada Innovation Program. Published by Cision Canada. Government of Canada. Retrieved 22-February-2019 from: [https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/government-of-canada-supports-british-columbia-augmented-reality-startup-through-build-in-canada-innovation-program-658845663.html ]</ref> Although there is no substantial research yet to support the claim that immersive VR experiences increase empathetic responses, many projects are being developed with that goal in mind. The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) helped fund a VR Residential School that takes viewers into a world crafted by survivors and researchers, it’s hoped that the project will eventually be adopted as a teaching tool for high schools.<ref>University of Manitoba. (September 12th, 2018). Launch of a virtual reality Canadian Residential School. University of Manitoba. Winnipeg, Manitoba. Retrieved 20-February-2019 from: [http://news.umanitoba.ca/launch-of-a-virtual-reality-canadian-residential-school/ ]</ref> Even the Parliament of Canada has been turned into an interactive augmented virtuality environment, this time by partnering with Carleton University to create a virtual tour of the Senate where users can walk around the building and click on points of interest to learn of their historical significance

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The GC has also been investing in AR and VR as tools of education and entertainment. Through the Build in Canada Innovation Program, $482,000 was awarded to Motive.io to develop a location based AR experience that takes users through Ottawa’s cultural heritage.<ref>Public Services and Procurement Canada. (November 20th, 2017). Government of Canada supports BC augmented reality startup through Build in Canada Innovation Program. Published by Cision Canada. Government of Canada. Retrieved 22-February-2019 from: [https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/government-of-canada-supports-british-columbia-augmented-reality-startup-through-build-in-canada-innovation-program-658845663.html ]</ref> Although there is no substantial research yet to support the claim that immersive VR experiences increase empathetic responses, many projects are being developed with that goal in mind. The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) helped fund a VR Residential School that takes viewers into a world crafted by survivors and researchers, it’s hoped that the project will eventually be adopted as a teaching tool for high schools.<ref>University of Manitoba. (September 12th, 2018). Launch of a virtual reality Canadian Residential School. University of Manitoba. Winnipeg, Manitoba. Retrieved 20-February-2019 from: [http://news.umanitoba.ca/launch-of-a-virtual-reality-canadian-residential-school/ ]</ref> Even the Parliament of Canada has been turned into an interactive augmented virtuality environment, this time by partnering with Carleton University to create a virtual tour of the Senate where users can walk around the building and click on points of interest to learn of their historical significance.<ref>Senate of Canada. (March 1st, 2017). Senate Virtual Tour. Government of Canada. Retrieved 6-February-2019 from: http://tour-ext.sencanada.ca/tour/index.html and [https://sencanada.ca/en/sencaplus/how-why/the-senate-virtual-tour-your-digital-admission-to-the-red-chamber/ ]</ref>

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<ref>Senate of Canada. (March 1st, 2017). Senate Virtual Tour. Government of Canada. Retrieved 6-February-2019 from: http://tour-ext.sencanada.ca/tour/index.html and [https://sencanada.ca/en/sencaplus/how-why/the-senate-virtual-tour-your-digital-admission-to-the-red-chamber/ ]</ref>.

The Canadian Military stands to benefit the most from the use of AR and VR technology, given their needs for logistics management, training solutions, and personnel management. At present, the military mainly uses those technologies for training purposes. Some simulations are entirely based in VR, and some have real physical equipment that can be “used” in a VR environment. Bluedrop, a performance learning and IT consulting and development firm, has designed both types of training programs, and one of their mixed reality simulations in particular integrates a real CH-47 Chinook helicopter fuselage into a virtual training program.<ref>Arellano, Nestor. (August 26th, 2019). VR, gaming technology and training the future soldier. Vanguard Canada. Retrieved 6-February-2019 from: [https://vanguardcanada.com/2016/08/26/vr-gaming-technology-training-future-soldier/ ]</ref> The Canadian Armed Forces has more than 230 simulators in 125 locations across Canada, and not included in this count is the number of Navy and Airforce simulators.<ref>Boutilier, Alex. (January 1st, 2015). Canadian Forces expand virtual reality training capabilities. Toronto Star Papers. Toronto, Ontario. Retrieved 8-February-2019 from: [https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015/01/01/canadian_forces_expand_virtual_reality_training_capabilities.html ]</ref> Military therapists have also explored the use of VR to treat post-traumatic stress disorder in soldiers, as a way for them to safely explore the source of their trauma and move past it.<ref>Madigan, Jennifer. (December 19th, 2017). Virtual reality simulation and neurofeedback to help PTSD. Blueline, Annex Business Media. Toronto, Ontario. Retrieved 8-February-2019 from: [https://www.blueline.ca/news/features/virtual-reality-simulation-and-neurofeedback-to-help-ptsd-5076 ]</ref> Through the Innovation for Defense Excellence and Security program, a few projects involving AR and VR have received funding from the Department of National Defense. Categories include cognitive performance enhancement, Resilient Non-GPS Based Positioning Navigation and Timing, and understanding and addressing PTSD.<ref>Department of National Defense. IDEas Recipients. Government of Canada. Retrieved 8-February-2019 from: [https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/programs/defence-ideas/past-opportunities/ideas-recipients.html ]</ref>

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The use of AR and VR technology can also aid and support public safety and emergency services. For example, if emergency vehicles are fitted with AR Head-Up windshield displays this could help with route navigation, allowing responders to find the quickest route and obtain traffic information in real-time. Location based AR technology could also allow first responders to gain insight on dangers and hazardous conditions around them. Through the Innovative Solutions Canada program, a current challenge open to the public is the creation of a heads up and hands free solution for supporting firefighters in the field.<ref> Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada. (2018). Head Up Hands Free Firefighting. Government of Canada. Retrieved 8-February-2019 from: [http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/101.nsf/eng/00056.html]</ref>

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The use of AR and VR technology can also aid and support public safety and emergency services. For example, if emergency vehicles are fitted with AR Head-Up windshield displays this could help with route navigation, allowing responders to find the quickest route and obtain traffic information in real-time. Location based AR technology could also allow first responders to gain insight on dangers and hazardous conditions around them. Through the Innovative Solutions Canada program, a current challenge open to the public is the creation of a heads up and hands free solution for supporting firefighters in the field.<ref> Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada. (2018). Head Up Hands Free Firefighting. Government of Canada. Retrieved 8-February-2019 from: [http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/101.nsf/eng/00056.html]</ref>

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