Showing of our VR apps at Techniquest

Last night was our second public demonstration of our Virtual reality apps. Here in Cardiff there is a fun science centre called Techniquest. Every month they do an adults only evening where over 18's can be kids again and play with fun science demonstrations and experiments, whilst also having a beer! Normally alcohol and science would be a bad thing, but here it is most certainly a positive!

Techniquest very kindly let us go along to show off our two astronomy VR apps, 'Our Solar System VR' and 'Our Universe in Light VR'. To say the event was successful would be an understatement. In just a few hours we reckon we showed the apps off to around 150-200 people! We had a queue out of the door of people wanting to use the apps, they were that popular!

The feedback was really great (my job today has been to go through all of our feedback forms, which is no easy feat!) and people commented how great the VR apps were. The 'Oohs' and ''Wows' are probably the best indication of just how much people enjoyed them.

Over 200 people have already downloaded the solar system app from the app store, which is fantastic. We're hoping to get this even higher, so if you haven't got it already, what are you waiting for!?!

Science Cafe Cardiff - Showing off some VR!

I'm shattered!

Last night I was one of the speakers at Science Cafe Cardiff, as part of their monthly events where scientists, engineers, mathematicians and general STEM people give informal public talks in a pub! I was lucky enough to be able to talk about the Virtual Reality project I'm running, showing off the Solar system and Universe in light apps. Luckily the whole event didn't finish late, but there's something about organising and giving public demonstrations that tires you out!

I gave a presentation on the project, the apps and the reasoning and science behind them, but the main aim was to let people play around with the VR headsets. Virtual reality seems to futuristic. 6 months ago I had never used VR, but now I can't imagine being without it. It's great to see people using it for the first time, slowly and cautiously moving their head as they realise they are able to look around. The best bit is when people put their arms out to try and touch a virtual planet, so immersed in the VR world that they almost think it's real.


We got loads of great feedback and questions at the end. I have about 30 feedback forms to work through and see what people thought, which is really good. Next week I'm at the Techniquest science centre demoing the apps as well, which should be really fun and hopefully a bit more relaxed!