Immersive Interactive has worked with the university to create and install a bespoke cloud-based immersive experience
Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) is officially launching a new, cutting-edge immersive training room as part of its Adult Nursing programme in order to give students the experience of delivering clinical care under realistic, and high-pressure conditions.
The immersive room, designed and built by LCR-based Immersive Interactive, uses pioneering technology, including projection, audio, and interactivity, to bring training scenarios to life. Immersive Interactive worked with the university to create realistic clinical environments, building on traditional simulation methods which use mannequins and medical equipment. The platform also allows students and lecturers from LJMU’s nursing faculty to design and produce their own interactive learning programmes to tailor course content to their needs. The room will be officially launched as part of LJMU’s Adult Nursing programme this month and is the first time the university has used fully immersive content as part of the course.
Founded in 2013, Immersive Interactive specialises in creating bespoke education and training solutions using software, hardware, and digital content, to create immersive ‘virtual reality’ rooms. The business, based in Sefton, has seen significant growth in the past six years, and have recently received funding through the Local Growth Hub to further develop the cloud-based software on which its technology is based.
The Local Growth Hub have previously supported Immersive Interactive with funding and business support, including participation in the LCR Activate programme, which has allowed the business to expand its expertise into new sectors. As a result, Immersive Interactive has 150 spaces globally and is now providing rooms across all aspects of healthcare, including mental health, dementia care, and end of life care. The room at LJMU is the outcome of Immersive Interactive’s business growth and product development, giving users the ability to create and add their own immersive content and scenarios to the platform. In the case of LJMU’s new immersive training room, programme leads supported university students to develop their own course content.
Chris Porter, Director at Immersive Interactive, said, “Immersive training gives the sensation of placing someone in a completely different environment, which in the case of LJMU’s interactive room, this can make the difference between life and death in real life situations. As we’ve grown, so has our offering and we’re now able to build scenarios and rooms which are completely immersive, interacting with all the senses. The financial and advisory support the Local Growth Hub has given us has really helped us to bring our immersive rooms to life, develop our technical capability, and push into new territories. We’re set to keep on growing and pushing the boundaries of immersive training.”
Jan Williams, Senior Nurse Lecturer, at Liverpool John Moores University, said “I was really keen to find out how we could use technology to enhance the simulation-based learning on the course, but didn’t want to simply use technology for technology’s sake. Immersive Interactive developed the basis of the room for us and set it up within the university so staff could see if this was something they could use. Overwhelmingly, the staff felt that the room would enhance the students learning experience.
“We worked with Immersive Interactive to make the room as interactive as possible – students have created a range of scenarios which mimic real life. Clinical scenarios don’t happen in silent, sterile rooms – they happen at roadsides, or busy A&E departments – so this technology is key in helping our students become effective practitioners out in the real world.”
Speaking on Immersive Interactive’s success in developing their technology, Janice Mears, Head of Business Growth at Growth Platform’s Local Growth Hub, said, “Immersive Interactive’s offering has really evolved over the past few years, and we’re pleased to see that the funding and support we’re providing them with has enabled them to build something totally new for LJMU. The work they are doing with the university not only contributes to the LCR region, but to the wider community, and we’re excited to see what they deliver in upcoming projects using their technology.”