The DIDYMOS-XR consortium gathered for its fifth plenary from the 20th to the 22nd November 2024 in Graz, Austria; at the palatial premises of project coordinators Joanneum Research. Partners assembled for three days of discussion and debate on the progress of the project, exchanging perspectives and updates on issues ranging from the ambitions and value of DIDYMOS-XR to the minutiae of its technological architecture and implementation. In particular, partners drilled into the feedback from the recent European Commission review, which gave an encouraging endorsement of the project and its accomplishments so far.
As DIDYMOS-XR approaches its third and final year, attention is shifting towards the finalisation and verification of the project’s XR and simulation technologies across its digital twin, industry, city planning, city maintenance and tourism use cases. Each of these elements was explored in depth, with partners deliberating about the viability and testing of the technical outputs. Systematic validation and stakeholder engagement is crucial to demonstrating the credibility of these tools, and a priority for the project over the coming months. Throughout the plenary, discussion ranged from broad debate on the degree of realism which is necessary or desirable for digital twins to the localisation, rendering and compression of data, the challenges of recruiting suitable validators, the wording of questionnaires, and the unexpected enthusiasm for virtual tourism from elderly users. We covered the complexities of hosting platforms, the confounding challenges of lidar, imaging and processing power, or with the colourisation and synchronisation of images captured from a vehicular camera setup, or with the mapping of damaged roads or cobbled streets. After two years of research, partners have the expertise, data, and demo footage to ensure a fruitful conversation, with detailed discussions on the merits of different camera technologies, for example, reflecting the honing of this knowledge base.
These technological judgements are a key way in which DIDYMOS-XR is advancing the state of the art for XR and digital twins but, while functionality is fundamental, usability is a growing consideration at this stage of the project. Qualitative feedback from pilot users suggested improvements from further information on VR museum exhibits to amending patchy lighting effects or limited interactivity. The meeting allowed partners to get into a room together and benefit from one another’s insights on these issues. Over the course of three days, conversations were varied and productive, and partners left with solid plans to maximise the potential of DIDYMOS-XR in its closing states and an agreed timeline of next moves. Continue following us on our website, YouTube and LinkedIn channels for more reports, reflections, and recommendations over the final year of the project.
Author: Alex Murphy, Trilateral Research
