Orange Technical College – East Campus recently welcomed students and community members to its 2026 TechXpo, where two nationally recognized leaders in immersive technology shared insights into where virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and simulation are headed—and what that future means for today’s students.
The event highlighted how Central Florida has become a global hub for modeling, simulation, and extended reality (XR), and how technical education programs like those at Orange Technical College can serve as an accessible entry point into these fast-growing fields.
Exploring Tomorrow’s Worlds with XR
Ariane Fikki, Director of Global Partnerships for the Virtual Reality Augmented Reality Association, opened the session with a wide-ranging look at how XR technologies are shaping industries far beyond gaming.
While VR headsets and video games are often the most visible examples, Fikki emphasized that immersive technologies are now critical tools in workforce training, aerospace and defense, healthcare, smart cities, digital twins, and interactive media.
She highlighted how engines such as Unity and Unreal are used to simulate complex, high-risk, or high-cost scenarios, allowing professionals to test decisions and outcomes in virtual environments before applying them in the real world.
Fikki also pointed to the strength of Central Florida’s XR community, noting the region’s active developer groups, industry partnerships, and hands-on learning opportunities through events like game jams and hackathons.
Why Central Florida Is a Simulation Powerhouse
Dr. Carolina Cruz-Neira, Interim Director of the UCF Institute for Simulation and Training, followed with a deeper look at why students interested in modeling and simulation don’t need to leave Florida to build successful careers.
Central Florida sits at the center of a corridor stretching from the Space Coast through Orlando to the Suncoast—a region that hosts major aerospace and defense organizations, federal and military simulation commands, research institutions, and a growing number of technology startups.
Dr. Cruz-Neira explained how simulation and modeling are used to represent real-world systems—such as weather, transportation, healthcare, and energy—inside computers. These models help researchers and professionals analyze complex problems, predict outcomes, and design better solutions.
She also introduced the concept of digital twins, which combine simulation models with real-time data from sensors to create dynamic, data-driven representations of physical systems like cities, infrastructure, and human health.
Preparing Students for Emerging Careers
Throughout the discussion, both speakers emphasized that the future workforce will need individuals who can think creatively, work across disciplines, and adapt to rapidly evolving technology.
Technical education programs play a key role in that preparation. By offering hands-on learning environments, industry-aligned training, and affordable pathways into technology careers, Orange Technical College helps students explore emerging fields before committing to longer academic tracks.
For many learners, programs like those at OTC provide the confidence, skills, and experience needed to move forward into employment, advanced training, or higher education.
A Look Ahead
The 2026 TechXpo demonstrated how innovation in VR, AR, and simulation is already reshaping industries, and how students at OTC are positioned to be part of that transformation.
As immersive technologies continue to expand into healthcare, education, aerospace, entertainment, and beyond, events like TechXpo give students a chance to connect classroom learning to real-world applications and begin imagining their place in the future of technology.