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.

by Erin Meyer, WTOP10-TV

For college students who do not drink, finding a fun way to spend Halloween can be a bit of a challenge. But SUNY Oswego junior Ray Ossino says there’s plenty of options for sober scholars.

“I like to celebrate Halloween by going with a few of my friends to Lake Effect Cafe,” said Ossino. “They have a costume contest every Halloween, and then they have Halloween trivia.” She says campus events like this can be a great way to branch out.

“You get to meet new people, and through the people that I met there I found out that at the ice rink, they have open skate for Halloween too, and the also have a halloween costume contest there too.”

For students who want their Halloween weekend to be a bit scarier, Campus Recreation administrative assistant Jaydee Maldonado has a solution. She’s organized an upgrade for one of the campus’s most popular halloween events: the Scalesbury haunted house. Along with campus recreation, Maldonado has extended the haunted house to Lee Hall.

“This haunted house is actually going to be not only a haunted house,” said Maldonado. “It’s going to be a movie session at Scales Hall and then there is food, drinks and activities of all sorts relating to Halloween in Waterbury, and then Lee hall has the main event.” She says the addition of Lee Hall will elevate the haunted house from a quick event into all-night entertainment.

“I want us to continue to create events where students don’t always feel like they need to go out on weekends and do things off campus”, said Maldonado. She hopes the that these halloween events will inspire similar events in the college’s future.

Regardless of how you plan to spend your Halloween, WTOP wish you a happy one.

by Sabina Longo, WTOP10-TV

With Halloween quickly approaching, Lieutenant Zachary Misztal, from the Oswego Police Department has offered some tips to make your Trick- or- Treating more enjoyable. Lieutenant. Misztal provided a list of ways adults can follow to make their children’s experience much better.

• Children should have reflectors on their Halloween buckets.
• Facial makeup is better than masks so those who are giving out candy can see children’s faces.
• Costumes should be looser fitted children can wear warmer clothing underneath.
• Children should always be accompanied with an adult.
• Know your Trick-or-Treat route.
• Have a safety plan incase you get separated from the group.
• Only go to houses that are well lit.
• Check your child’s candy, if it looks suspicious or unwrapped throw it out.

The Recent trend of people dressed up in clown costumes around the nation has caused panic and fear in communities. “Children can dress up in clown costumes, they just have to be responsible with it,” said Lieutenant Misztal.