We have developed virtual reality experiences to allow medical staff to train in areas of violence, manage critical incidents, and become accustomed to procedural tasks that one would do in their field of work. We have developed a suite of different scenarios for St. Joseph’s Hospital & McMaster University that nurses, doctors, and other medical professionals can train with to prepare them for in-field complex and possibly dangerous situations. Through the use of virtual reality, we are able to immerse the trainee in an environment that simulates real life, allowing it to have the biggest impact on in-field experiences. More specifically, we have created scenarios that have occurred in the past, although rather than having a static ending, the medical professionals can make their own decisions along the way. Their decisions will impact the overall experience and outcome.

Role: Lead Developer
Time on Project: May 2017 – Jan 2018 for Contraband experience; Apr 2018 – May 2018 for Prison Seclusion experience
Technology used: Unreal Engine 4
Languages used: C++, Blueprints

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58ElIRAMF8Y

For Inside Tours, I acted as Lead Developer through the project, overseeing its development through several staffing changes.

During the primary development cycle, I worked on:

• almost all of the sound design/implementation
• analyzing the amplitude of audio files to provide the automatic mouth movements of Zoey the Robot
• developing the HMD-related features of the experience, such as detecting when the HMD was taken off to reset for the next user
• big fixes

Once primary development was done, I was flown down to Charlotte, NC to do the installation and acted as the Support contact to Discovery Place as issues arose in the wild. I set up several scripts to launch the experience on startup and hide any extraneous launchers (Oculus/Steam) that would potentially push their way into the foreground. On top of that, I worked to help source parts as they broke, provided manuals for changing out hardware and maintaining the machines we had provided them, and flew back on a few occasions to help with hardware migration.

The experience was initially developed for the Oculus Rift, but after several months and numerous broken HMDs, Discovery Place had designed a custom fitting to mount an HTC Vive into to provide better durability and longevity. I’d reworked small parts of the experience to ensure that they worked correctly with the Vive and continued maintaining the machines until the end of the Support contract.

Role: Lead Developer/Support
Time on Project: Sept 2017 – Apr 2018
Technology used: Unreal Engine 4
Language(s) used: C++, Blueprints, Bash

A virtual reality experience showcased at Science North in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. Participants assume the role of a skier or snowboarder making their way down the side of a mountain and can turn and ‘see’ one another through their journey.

Participants stand at one of two parallel stations at the exhibit and pull down a Gear VR housed in a custom apparatus that allows them to adjust for their height and view the experience in 360-degrees. Runtime is approximately 3 minutes.

Role: Lead Developer/Support
Time on Project: Jan 2018 – Mar 2018
Technologies used: Unity, Gear VR
Language used: C#

Image licensed from Jeffrey Brandjes via Unsplash.
Original image can be found here: https://unsplash.com/photos/hZin3PFaXfc
For information on Unsplash’s licencing, visit: https://unsplash.com/license

Throughout the month of November we were tasked with developing a virtual reality bobsled experience for Visa. We were given only 3 weeks of development time although with a lot of hard work we were able to put together something visually compelling and fun. We created a 3D environment of the Olympic bobsled track that will be at the 2018 Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea. The experience allows a user to actually be an Olympic bobsledder for Team Visa and race down the track, feeling how it would be for a true Olympic athlete.

Role: Lead Developer
Time on Project: Nov 2017 – Dec 2017
Technologies used: Unreal Engine 4, HTC Vive
Languages used: C++, Blueprints

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q542cZiIWgM

Commemorating 100 years since Vimy Ridge; SimWave recreated the scenes of World War I, bringing you back to the trenches of France in 1917 through virtual reality. Using our custom designed 4D multi-sensory booth, immerse yourself as one of the Canadian Infantry. See the comrades with historically accurate uniforms and equipment, feel the blasts of artillery through our vibrating floors and wind compressors, and remember the struggle of those that have fallen.

Jump into the trenches in France in 1917. Focusing on the impact the Royal Canadian Regiment had in the battle of Vimy Ridge. Interact with the environment and the soldiers around you, As you storm the battlefield and feel what it would be like to be a part of this pivotal moment in World War I. Through the use of our 4D rumbling platform, you will feel the explosions of artillery going off around you.

Role: Lead Developer/Project Lead/Support
Time on Project: Mar 2015 – Apr 2017
Technologies used: Unity, Oculus Rift, Arduino
Languages used: C#, C/C++ (Arduino, Smell Unit)

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dy-nkv3dKUg

All aboard the CN6400 Train: A historical representation of Canadian Innovation the CN6400 carried King George VI and Queen Elizabeth on the Royal Tour across Canada in 1939. We take you into the steam train cab to operate the functions of the train to educate people of the functional design of the train cab. Using Oculus Rift this is a 360 Virtual Reality experience with hand sensors, you can touch and interact with all the functions of the train and learn all about locomotive engineering.

Be The Engineer!
Complete several tasks within a given time limit and learn what it was like to operate a massive steam engine from the early 20th century.

Use your hands
Utilizing the power of the Leap Motion allows the user to operate the steam locomotive with their hands! No controllers needed.

Experience 4D Sensations
Our custom 4D booth provides extra sensations that enhance the immersion of the experience. The constant rumble of the engine and the release of pressurized steam will feel all too real!

Role: Lead Developer/Project Lead/Support
Time on Project: Mar 2015 – Apr 2017
Technologies used: Unity, Oculus Rift, Arduino
Languages used: C#, C/C++ (Arduino, Smell Unit)