UMD Receives $2.1M from State to Create Two Endowed Chairs, One Focused on Virtual Reality

The University of Maryland has established two new endowed chairs—one in mathematics and the other in computer science—with $2.1 million in funding received from the state’s Maryland E-Nnovation Initiative.

For one of the chairs, UMD will recruit a world leader in virtual and augmented reality to hold the Reginald Allan Hahne Chair in the Department of Computer Science.

The new chair aims to stimulate this exciting and innovative research area.

Future uses of virtual and augmented reality are limited only by one’s imagination. UMD researchers in computer science and the university’s Institute for Advanced Computer Studies (UMIACS) are currently developing and exploring many uses for the technology: surgical training for health care professionals; consumer use for new experiences in shopping, dining, tourism and travel; industrial use for training personnel to complete intricate assembly or repair projects; and national security related to enhancing the safety and efficiency of U.S. warfighters in a battlefield environment.

In addition, immersive audio technology developed by UMD-based start-up company VisiSonics was recently licensed by virtual reality company Oculus VR.

Learn more here.