
Engineering the metaverse
Interactive and immersive technologies
We work closely with our external partners providing core engineering, design, delivery and evaluation of interactive and immersive virtual environments across sectors, including the UK creative industries, major tech and engineering companies, the cultural sector, health and social care and government organisations. We apply our research across multiple areas including audio, media broadcast, gaming, music, sports science, healthcare and therapeutic technologies.
Projects
Learn more about our current projects
CoStar Live Lab
The CoSTAR Live Lab with partners Production Park, Screen Yorkshire, Wakefield Council, York and North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Authority and Vodafone, will develop technologies for future live performance experiences using virtual production, from small-scale pilots to arena-sized productions.
We will provide research and development (R&D) capabilities to develop innovative, low-cost technologies and efficient workflows to transform the live performance sector and enable commercialisation of research and novel technologies that are close to market and shaped by the needs of industry.
XR Stories
A £15m investment by AHRC, ERDF, the University of York, the British Film Institute and Screen Yorkshire. Based in York’s Guildhall it supports research and development with companies working in cutting-edge digital technologies in the Yorkshire and Humber region to champion a new future in storytelling. XR Stories supports a programme of funding, research collaboration and connection working across film, TV, games, media arts, heritage, advertising and technology.
Find out more about XR Stories
To date from a core investment from AHRC of £5.9m XR Stories has leveraged Co-Investment of more than £20m across a portfolio of 80+ R&D Projects, studentships, internships, placements and business assists.
Project Partners include: WarnerMedia, Sky, BBC R&D, National Science and Media Museum, National Railway Museum, Production Park/XLOR, Prox & Reverie, MegaVerse, Joi Polloi, Reflex Arc, Studio McGuire, Live Cinema, Tyke Films, Northern Ballet, Opera North, Bang&Olufsen, Charisma.ai, XR Games, Revolution, Bright White, Pilot Theatre, Cooperative Innovations, Vidaveo, BetaJester, AIR TV, Human/HumanVR, Dubit, Fierce Kaiju, Bellyfeel, Duck Soup, Gazelle Twin, IOU Theatre Etc.
Digital Engineering
Digital Engineering employs sophisticated digital models to accurately represent and manage complex products or systems. With the integration of digital twins, a new era of agility and performance enhancement is revolutionising the product value stream, constructing detailed digital models of a system or product poised for development. Rather than stand-alone simulations, these digital twins are dynamic models that mirror every characteristic and behaviour of their physical counterparts in real-time. These models generate valuable data and insights and, especially with Artificial Intelligence embedded, facilitate a seamless integration of a product's design, development, delivery, and lifecycle support.
Digital Twins inform safe operation strategies and build on our existing expertise at York’s Institute for Safe Autonomy. We work closely with industry to develop simulation capability to inform an inspection, monitoring, and maintenance strategy that meets the requirements of regulatory bodies.
Our partners
Engineering and Design Industries
- ARUP
- AECOM
- Assystem
Cultural Sector
- National Trust
- York Museums Trust
- City of York Council
- Production Park / Explore
- Houses of Parliament
Government Organisations
- Digital Culture Media and Sport
- Business Energy Industrial Strategy
- Local Enterprise Partnerships
- UK Atomic Energy Authority
- Hartree Centre
Audio industry
- Meridian Audio
- Bang and Olufsen
- Dolby
- Sony Interactive
- Sonos
- Audio Analytic
Major technology and engineering companies
- Amazon Web Services
- Huawei
- Peratech
- Microsoft
UK Creative Industries (Music, Film, TV, Games)
- Screen Yorkshire
- British Film Institute
- BONZA Music
- Netflix
- ITV
- Channel 4
- BBC
- WarnerMedia
- Universal Music
- Sky
- Production Par
- Prox and Reverie
- Sony Interactive
- BetaJester
- MegaVerse
- Joi Polloi
- Cooperative Innovations
- Pilot Theatre
- Opera North
Health and social care
- York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- AgeUK
- Wellburn
- Care homes
- Grow Medtech
- Autistica