Last December, from the 9th to the 11th, the annual Brussels event dedicated to immersive technologies celebrated its 16th edition. Over three intense days, experts, scientists, artists, students or the merely curious from the world over were able to discover and discuss the latest developments in this continuously evolving domain.

VR, AR, XR. If you regularly read our articles on kingkong (if not, go for it! You won’t be disappointed), you now know the meaning of these acronyms inside out. For the uninitiated amongst you, let us all the same establish a short glossary. VR (Virtual Reality) is an immersive technology which pitches the user into an entirely virtual environment, created digitally, by means of a headset which isolates them from the real world. AR (Augmented Reality) superimposes virtual elements (images, information) onto the real world via a screen (smartphone, smart glasses), thereby enriching the perceived environment. Finally, XR (Extended Reality) encompasses both VR and AR in order to fuse the real and the virtual as a means of creating multifaceted experiences. 

If we are specifically returning to these different terms, it is because Stereopsia is THE European crossroads symposium which embraces the full range of these technologies. A not-to-be-missed event which this year was held at the Brussels Maison de la Poste, a stone’s throw away from Tour & Taxis. A site perfectly adapted for the dozens of stands in situ, allowing the numerous visitors to immerse themselves in virtual worlds with the aid of VR headsets, to have discussions with virtual avatars brought to life by artificial intelligence or to see reality contort itself in rhythm with music.

Stereopsia, or the art of gathering the actors together

Besides the experiences on offer, which were often original, even startling, what struck us in particular during our rounds of the various stands was the diversity of the people attending. Artists, business creatives, experts, students and gawkers mingled and frequently talked to one another. This was one of the goals of the event’s organisers, amongst whom is Alexandra Gérard, the director of Stereopsia: ‘Stereopsia is the venue where, since its inception 16 years ago, we take stock of the technology and what has happened over the previous year in the immersive technologies sector and, above all, of what will happen in the following year. One of our main aims is to bring together those who create, those who need it and those who invest in these technologies. At this level, we can clearly state that Stereopsia is a crossroads.’ 

Conversations which therefore enable the sector’s expansion to be perpetuated, and more specifically at European level, continues Alexandra Gérard. ‘We came to realise that often the actors working in the immersive technologies need partners based in countries which are sometimes far away. For example, some need partners who have developed a technology in Norway. And so, if you don’t know them personally, it can be difficult to reach out to them. An event like this means we can get the Norwegians onsite, but also people from Luxembourg, the Portuguese, and many other nationalities. That oils the wheels of working to create coproductions, look for subsidies, tax shelters, etc.’

Technologies opening out to the world

If AR, XR and VR have been in existence for quite some time now, their place in the digital ecosystem (be it artistic, industrial, or even related to daily life) is constantly on the rise, but is also and most importantly becoming accessible to an increasingly significant number of people. Judith Guez, artist, researcher, but also a creative at the ‘Lava Virtual’ Salon, explains that it is for that matter this latter issue which is doubtless the biggest turning point in the use of these technologies: ‘No matter the field of innovation, human beings have always wanted to move onwards to more and more discoveries, wanted tools to go further or think even bigger. It is for that reason that, rather than talking about innovations, I would be more inclined to talk about trends. For example, this year, there is a great deal of discussion about artificial intelligence. In previous years, the hot topic was the metaverse, and just prior to that the focus was mainly on VR and augmented reality. Yet, what needs to be understood is that not everything gets lost from year to year. On the contrary, everything blends together little by little, and that creates something which is interesting to observe every time. In addition, it is noteworthy that these technologies are becoming accessible. The components used are cheaper, smaller and easier to use. That means that a lot more people working in different professions can access them and are able to create by using them.’

A mixture of technologies which Alexandra Gérard also highlights. But for her, they all have but a single goal: enabling ever greater development of the immersion on offer. ‘We had two panels on the subject during the event. It is really clear that in eye tracking, following the gaze, and in eyewear, everything that can be worn on the eyes, there has been a significant evolution meaning that the immersion can be intensified. The same is true of AI in the context of the XR4Heritage avatars, for example.’ And within that we have a final particularly interesting case to discover (and which we had already spoken about here), because it foregrounds historical 3D avatars of people overlooked in History, in particular African heroes and influential women. The aim of this project is to revisit the past, question the present and imagine desirable futures by offering immersive and inclusive cultural experiences. A challenge which has been met in particular through the use made of the different immersive technologies. 

Walloon and Brussels know-how seeking to expand

As we have mentioned, an event like Stereopsia allows this ebullient community to gather together. It is therefore no surprise to discover in attendance the wake! by Digital Wallonia platform (which we introduced to you in some detail here), which as part of the event was organising a meet-up between the Walloon and Brussels actors in the cultural, creative and digital sectors. A particularly valuable moment to swap ideas offered in partnership with the economic development operator, hub.brussels, through its cultural and creative industry platform, creative.hub, and the play.brussels audiovisual cluster, as Delphine Jenart (KIKK), the wake! coordinator, explains: ‘Stereopsia is one of the founder members of wake! It was therefore massively important for us to be hosted by it, but also to be in Brussels, which is really a unifying hub. Being able to create a synergy with the whole of the Brussels industrial and creative ecosystem is really significant, because it is in this direction of travel we wish to work towards in 2025. And then, it is also an event dedicated to XR, and we know that in XR there are trends which develop very strongly and which are highly relevant as regards our digital creativity sector. Consequently, this meeting enables us to source innovations, but also show that we exist, and that we would also wish to work with the digital creators talent pool operating in these sectors.’

A meeting which was also the opportunity to broach the theme of internationalisation and its importance for the sector, as is explained in this video. 

A meeting which was also the opportunity to broach the theme of internationalisation and its importance for the sector, as is explained in this video. 

Which, in any case, goes to prove, if further proof were needed, the extent to which Stereopsia is an event which has become unmissable for whoever wishes to imagine, collaborate on and construct the immersive experiences of tomorrow. 

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