Today, we have the privilege of delving deep into this transformative world with June Hsieh, an industry veteran with over 25 years of experience in the ICT sector. Join us as we embark on an insightful conversation with June, who currently spearheads sales operations for HTC in the DACH and Benelux regions. Together, we'll explore HTC's offerings, the burgeoning XR landscape, the convergence of VR and AR, and the future innovations that promise to reshape the way we perceive and interact with the digital world.
The interview is about:
JH: HTC VIVE works across a wide range of immersive technology. This includes headsets and accessories, software, and beyond. HTC VIVE works in almost every industry around the world, from gaming and arcades to medical and healthcare, automotive and design, manufacturing, and so many more. We’re even in space – we recently worked with partners to have the first fully functioning VR headset on the International Space Station.
JH: We have such a wide range of customers, but one of the real growth areas is Training and Immersive Learning. We have partners ranging from NASA using VR for astronaut training, to schools in Poland carrying out chemistry lessons, or surgeons using haptic feedback rigs to have ultra-realistic training experiences.
We also work in the medical field where trainees can take advantage of being remote, while also reducing patient risk.
JH: HTC VIVE is focused on the needs of our users, and we have extensive collaboration across the world with organizations at every level, including developers, resellers, and educational institutions.
As an example, we worked closely with multiple partners to meet the incredible standards required to put the first fully functional VR headset onto the International Space Station.
We’re equally proud of the work we did with our location-based software suits, now widely adopted in the fields of security training, museums, art performance, and location-based entertainment. Because the size and scale of the project aren’t what matters to us – we love solving the challenge and unleashing the potential of humanity
JH: Mixed Reality has powerful uses. In the office, it can be as simple as having multiple virtual screens saving you the time, money, and space of setting up physical screens, while still being able to use your real-world mouse and keyboard. This is ideal for onboarding new employees, for example.
In industry, it can mean repairing a machine while having a virtual guide in your eyeline. And medical uses are myriad, being able to reference a 3D model while examining or operating on someone can be a real game changer.
There are still distinct use cases which means that different devices can be suited to different situations. For the most part, Augmented Reality is still being used via smartphones for things like overlays of real-time information on the high street. While Mixed Reality is for more involved situations.
JH: The Extended Reality industry is growing rapidly, and it’s exciting to see that there’s so much innovation and competition. The needs of users are diverse, and there are different requirements in different industries.
JH: It’s a great sign that the Extended Reality market is becoming more and more mainstream.
JH: The XR market has been growing and maturing, so today we see a wide range of needs. Some customers are asking for complete solutions – like our VIVE hardware with our VIVE Business Warranty and Services support, and access to our MDM solution.
Others just want the hardware and because we support OpenXR and our Wave SDK is very easy to develop with, they can create their own bespoke experiences. We do have our content store for enterprise, and we also have an amazing network of content developers we can make introductions to. Whatever someone is looking for, we’re confident that we can find the right solution.
Something else that a lot of organizations are looking for, more than just the hardware and software, is understanding and flexibility. We’ve designed our VIVE ecosystem to match the needs of enterprises, and that ranges from having two different ISO certifications to ensuring our devices can easily fit into existing MDM solutions.
JH: We all need to do our part in sharing how XR can be a real game changer. That ranges from case studies with hard statistics, talks, and chances to experience XR.
JH: We use WebXR as part of our VIVERSE immersive platform, we’re big fans of it. There is no ‘silver bullet’ - and having the ability to use different technology in different situations helps the end user to access content whenever and wherever they are.
Did you know that you can access your courses with 3spin Learning directly in your web browser in addition to the desktop app and VR/AR glasses? Find out more here.
JH: We never rest. In 2023 we launched a new XR headset – VIVE XR Elite. We were the first to get a VR headset, VIVE Focus 3, working in microgravity and it’s now being used by the Commander of the International Space Station as part of mental health support. We launched our self-tracking tracker, VIVE Ultimate Tracker, to help track objects and movements, without the need for any external tracking solutions.
I can’t tell you much about our upcoming roadmap, but we’re always innovating.
Many thanks for the interesting talk, June.
June has been working in the ICT industry for more than 25 years in the fields of telecommunication, industrial IOT, and XR technology across different verticals including smart manufacturing, intelligent retail, and the healthcare industry. Her expertise ranges from product/project management to strategic business development and sales. She is leading sales in HTC Dach and Benelux now.
HTC VIVE is the premier Virtual Reality platform and ecosystem that creates true-to-life VR experiences for businesses and consumers. The VIVE ecosystem is built around premium VR hardware, software, and content. The VIVE business encompasses best-in-class XR hardware; VIVEPORT platform and app store; VIVE Enterprise Solutions for business customers; VIVE X, a US$100M VR business accelerator; and VIVE ARTS for cultural initiatives. For more information, please visit www.vive.com.
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