Reported by: Mimi Haruna
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Women’s hockey remains undefeated, begin conference play
This past weekend the women’s hockey team started conference play and looked to continue their winning streak.
On Friday, the team had their first of two games vs. Chatham. This was the first ECAC West play for both teams. Just a little over two minutes into the game, Brennan Butler scored a short-handed goal and put the Lakers on the board. Chatham would tie the game in the second period. Alexa Aramburu would score the game-winning goal for the Lakers. The Lakers took game one by the score of 2-1.
On Saturday, the team had their second game vs. Chatham. In front of the homecoming crowd, the Lakers would get their first shoutout win of the year by defeating Chatham 6-0. The team combined to have three power play goals with Olivia Ellis providing two of those goals.
After this weekend of play, the Lakers improved to 4-0 on the year and 2-0 in the conference. The Lakers will play Cortland at home on Saturday and Sunday.
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Oswego State’s New Partnership with Virtual Reality
by Jamie Aranoff, WTOP-10 TV
German Virtual Reality Company, Crytek has announced a sponsorship with Oswego State providing virtual reality research opportunities and human-computer interaction graduate programs.
VR [Virtual Reality] First is an initiative to integrate virtual reality and create labs in higher education institutions nationwide. The aim of VR First is to link schools to a global network of virtual knowledge and research.
The need for jobs in the virtual reality market is rapidly opening, said Dr. Jolanda Tromp, a visiting professor at Oswego State. “Experts are needed to help with improvements to the hardware and there are a multitude of application areas opening up, such as big data visualization, explorations of the microbiology world, medical training, health & safety training for hazardous environments, college education programs of all sorts, fashion, journalism, marketing, to name a few,” said Tromp.
Oswego has joined a partnership of schools including Purdue University, Oklahoma State University, University of Florida and many others spanning six countries.
The Academic initiative with Crytek has allowed for the creation of a virtual reality lab in the Shineman center, with five state of the art virtual reality headphones. In addition, all headsets will be complete with Crytek’s software development, CryEngine.
Virtual reality is a computer-generated program that is viewed from specific headgear with a screen securely placed in front of users’ eyes. Virtual reality’s specific draw is that the program allows for users to feel as though they are in a three dimensional location, which is a dynamic shot allowing the image in front of a users eyes to move in sync with a user.
“It’s becoming affordable, the technology is improving and the headsets are smaller and more comfortable to wear,” Tromp said in a press release.
Last Spring, students in Tromp’s graduate virtual reality course divulged into the myriad of opportunities that are presented with the technology. It is applicable not only to the science and technology fields but medical, marketing, psychotherapy, space travel, journalism and more.
“There is a need for software development talent in this field,” said Tromp.
Many students of varying majors and studies are provoked by the new technologies, and their opportunities in the job field.
“It’s becoming cheaper and more common to produce headsets and I really feel as though the ideology of being able to interact with interact with virtual technology paves a way to new technologies I can not even begin to fathom,” said Sophomore computer science student, Joseph McGee.
In addition to the practicalities among many different fields, one Oswego student has taken the technology and applied it to pain management.
Second-year graduate student, Ryan Kikta is using virtual reality to bring patients undergoing medical treatments to feel as though they were in a non-medical location.
“It’s a green technology, it saves resources and time. Its flexibility is incomparable” said Tromp on the ability to use the technologies in different settings.
For students interested in the vast world of virtual reality technology, Tromp is teaching a graduate level virtual reality course again in the upcoming spring semester. The virtual reality lab is available for students to propose projects for, and to collaborate with companies off campus, some even providing opportunities for internships.
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Oswego Indoor Waterpark Project
OSWEGO, NY— Oswego residents can prepare for a boost in tourism as construction begins for a new indoor waterpark.
After receiving $10 million for downtown revitalization, Oswego has numerous projects with a goal to make the town more active.
“It would definitely reel in a lot of people. I love indoor water parks and I’m sure a lot of other people do too. Since it’s indoors people can go any time of year. It’s not just the summertime, it’ll attract more people,” SUNY Oswego student Ana Sanchez said.
Sanchez said in a place that is known for its cold, snowy weather, the waterpark will give people in the town more options, especially in the winter.
“I would definitely go any time of the season, no matter what it is. Definitely Christmas time when it’s cold, the snow is up here, the wind. I would definitely like to be in an indoor waterpark,” said Sanchez.
The waterpark could be a great addition to the town of Oswego, and especially for the waterbugs who still enjoy a good swim in the freezing Oswego winters.
Residents should prepare their bathing suits and water shoes for the opening, which should be determined soon.
Other projects from the money awarded from the downtown revitalization fund are the riverwalk, and the renovation of the Children’s Museum of Oswego (CMOO).
