By Haley Jiamin LU, Junior Project Manager PR & Events and Quentin Gigon, Junior Project Manager Innovation & Entrepreneurship
“To invent an airplane is nothing. To build one is something. But to fly is everything.”
Whether it be in ancient Greek mythology or recent super hero movies, flying always seems to have been an obsession for humans. While we may have achieved the dream of flying with airplanes, some would point out that we are disconnected from the real experience of flight, as we are operating a machine, instead of truly flying ourselves and flapping our own wings. With recent developments in VR, Max Rheiner, a professor at the ZHAW in Zurich, sought out to create an immersive flying machine to truly provide humans with the emotions and sensations of flying like a bird. And Birdly was born.
On August 30, swissnex China co-organized a lecture under the topic of ‘Interfacing with Extended Realities’ in Shanghai as well as the world premiere of the experience ‘Jurassic Flight’. LIU Zhejun, Professor of Tongji University, Max Rheiner, CEO of Somniacs, LU Min, COO of VR Times, and Salar Shahna, CEO of World VR Forum, provided valuable insights. For instance, Max told the story of how Birdly came about and discussed other past and future projects with the audience.
The public can try the flying experience at the exhibition venue. For more information regarding tickets, please check onsite.
Opening time & address: 10am-10pm, 31st August – 2nd September 2018, S107, 1F, HKRI Taikoo Hui, 789 West Nanjing Road, Shanghai.
