A giant "hamster ball" shaped virtual reality simulator, a multi-user networked VR simulator utilising motion capture technology and a dizzying array of hardware and desktop simulators; I/ITSEC 2009 had it all!
For seven consecutive years now, eLC has been sending teams to I/ITSEC in Orlando to keep abreast of the latest trends in the modeling, training and simulation industry. This year, one of our objectives was to explore the burgeoning field of serious games – What pedagogical and instructional design elements are being used in their development; how serious games are being utilised; and the best technological enablers available.
Over 2,100 international registrants from 50 countries were clocked this year. I/ITSEC´s global reach and attendance have gathered some of the industry´s most prominent companies/organisations, and it was easy to get inundated by the great amount of information available. However, as we went there with a clear goal in mind and ensured that we always planned our day in advance, we learnt much by attending the tutorial sessions and by chatting with the various representatives present. While we were at the conference, we also took the time to meet up with some of our partners at their conference booths to lend our support and discuss further opportunities to work together.
If you had read our previous news articles about our trips overseas, you may have noticed the recurring theme of "work hard, play harder", and this trip was no different. After all, all work and no play make Jack a dull boy! So in keeping with the "tradition", we visited the Premium Outlet for some shopping (a favourite Singapore pastime), went to Universal Studios for dinner at an NBA themed restaurant and explored Downtown Disney – all on different days of course! We also met up with one of our U.S. partners, Trivantis, at Boca Raton for a discussion before heading out together for a night of fun!
Our last two days in the U.S was spent in New York, where we visited Times Square (at 11pm at night, no less) immediately after touching down from Orlando and dropping off our luggage. The next day was spent at China Town for a scrumptious lunch before heading to the airport for our long-haul flight back to Singapore. So, without further ado, here are the pictures of our trip!
eLC at the I/ITSEC conference (Shortly after taking this picture, we were told not to take any photographs within the conference hall - which thus explains the distinct lack of any in-conference pictures).
Hard at work before the conference began.
The Marriott Grande Vista – Our home away from home during the stay at Orlando.
The stretch of shops and office apartments in Boca Raton, where Trivantis is located.
Dinner with our Trivantis partners – and boy, what a delicious feast it was!
The eLC team at Times Square eating ice cream in the near 1ºC weather!