Local colleges and universities showcased everything from health care simulators to virtual reality glasses at the 2023 eMerge Americas conference.
Institutions such as Miami Dade College, Florida International University and the University of Miami were exhibitors at the South Florida's largest technology conference. An estimated 20,000 investors, entrepreneurs, executives and technology enthusiasts from around the world registered to attend the two-day event at the Miami Beach Convention Center.
Launched in 2014, the conference connects technology entrepreneurs, investors, venture capital firms and more with the goal of transforming Miami into the tech hub of the Americas.
Here's a look at some of the tech on display:
Boston Dynamics' robot dog "Spot" took center stage at Florida International University's eMerge exhibit. Attendees had the chance to interact with the agile robot, which can be used to automate inspection tasks and capture data in various environments. Last year the university acquired two of the robots as part of a partnership with the Department of Defense. The university is developing communication and path planning methods for the devices in areas that don't have Wi-Fi or GPS.
Miami Dade College exhibited a virtual replication of its Wolfson Campus at the event. Attendees were able to try out virtual reality headsets to explore the college's digital twin. The hyper-realistic model of the college's physical grounds and buildings will enable students and faculty to join classes or attend events in the "metaverse" right from their homes.
The University of Miami introduced attendees to MiDAR (Multispectral Imaging, Detection and Active Reflectance Instrument), a remote sensing and mapping instrument under development. The system, which uses commercially available drones, can be applied to everything from mineral detection to underwater imaging.
Also on display at the UM booth was Harvey, a medical simulator mannequin used to train health care professionals. The mannequin can help medical students and nurses learn how to detect and respond to more than 50 heart and lung conditions. Visitors to the booth used a stethoscope to listen to the sounds of abnormal heart murmurs, breath sounds and other ailments. Attendees were also able to try out mixed-reality glasses to explore a virtual health care clinic and a digital version of Harvey.
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