Falmouth’s inaugural immersive tech conference showcases the future of industry

Academics, students, tech experts, innovators and professionals got together at Falmouth University recently to explore what to expect from the metaverse and how key sectors like retail, healthcare, wellbeing, education, gaming and creative can utilise the trend.

250 people attended the Plug into the Metaverse conference over the two-day event last month (23-24 Feb), which was organised by the University’s Immersive Business project.

Highlights included keynote speeches from hospitality consultant and VR specialist Tracy Cosgrove; design, technology and innovation consultant Dean Johnson; and XR consultant Tracey Swales.

A whole host of panel discussions featuring Falmouth academics highlighted topics from ethics and sustainability to gamification and creativity in the metaverse. 

Brian Waterfield, Head of Immersive Business at Falmouth, said: “It was great to see so many people from different sectors and backgrounds talking about the future, the event was a massive success, and should now be a catalyst for change.”

MSc Entrepreneurship lecturer Vivienne Neale added: “The conference was an opportunity to put Falmouth University and Cornwall at the very heart of immersive technological development at a time when it has been receiving maximum publicity across the media. We look forward to continuing the conversation, with hopes of further collaborative projects in the pipeline.”