In a world where technology increasingly blurs the lines between physical and digital realms, UT Dallas Researcher and Professor Jeff Price is helping write the future. As Director of the Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and Simulation Technology (VAST) Lab at the University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas), Price leads a team that’s pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in extended reality (XR) technologies—and their latest project could revolutionize how we train our workforce in complex or restricted spaces.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has just awarded the VAST Lab a contract to enhance aerospace maintenance using XR technologies. The research will address critical human factors that impact maintenance workflows, including training effectiveness, human performance, and operational safety. The goal is to integrate XR into training and operational procedures of aerospace maintenance to reduce costs, increase efficiency, and improve safety standards across the industry. To understand why this matters, you must first step into Price’s world, where the digital and physical realms seamlessly intertwine.

Beyond Imagination: How Augmented and Virtual Reality Shape Our World

“Think Iron Man,” Price explains, describing augmented reality (AR) technology. “It’s an overlay of information on the real world.” While virtual reality completely immerses users in a digital environment, AR enhances the real world with digital information – imagine walking down the street and seeing restaurant reviews floating in the air or a mechanic looking at an aircraft engine with repair instructions projected directly onto the parts.

The VAST Lab’s work extends far beyond aviation. From collaborating with an art museum in Santa Fe to create a Virtual Reality recreation of the Clark Hulings 1974 painting, “The Woodbearers of Chimayo,” to developing “digital twins” of campus buildings at UT Dallas, Price and his team are exploring the vast potential of XR technologies. During the pandemic, these digital twins could have transformed remote learning: “Instead of a Zoom meeting, imagine actually being in your classroom, working on a chemistry experiment virtually,” Price says.

One of the lab’s projects involves digitizing live performances for the metaverse. Imagine a vibrant network of interconnected virtual worlds where avatars can play, engage, and explore—all from the comfort of their own environment. This modern-day ‘meet up’ is transforming and reshaping how we work, learn, play, and connect, unlocking endless possibilities for creativity and collaboration. “We could have a quartet from the music department perform, digitize them, and place them in the metaverse,” Price explains. “People all over the world could feel like they’re right there at the performance.”

Extended Reality (XR) Research Will Transform Training for America’s Aerospace Workforce

The FAA project, however, could be their most impactful work yet. “This collaboration will allow us to push the boundaries of XR research and bring tangible benefits to an industry where safety is paramount,” Price says. The project aims to revolutionize how Technical Operations (Tech Ops) train and work, potentially reducing errors and improving efficiency in a field where mistakes can have serious consequences. Areas of research include the following:

• Augmented Reality (AR) Integration – AR overlays virtual information onto the real world, providing technicians with real-time guidance during maintenance tasks, thereby improving accuracy and efficiency.
• Mixed Reality (MR) and Metaverse Integration—Virtual environments will offer online learning spaces where technicians can train in real time with immediate feedback, enhancing the learning experience.
• Performance Metrics and Analytics – Researchers will develop standardized metrics and techniques to assess trainee proficiency, evaluate the effectiveness of XR-based training, and benchmark maintenance practices.

Empowering the Next Generation

The VAST VR Lab’s location within UT Dallas’s video game department makes it unique. “Our students know how to look at spaces, break them down, model them, and texture them,” Price says. This gaming expertise, combined with UT Dallas’s strong animation department, creates an ideal environment for students interested in the intersection of art and technology.”

But for Price, the most rewarding aspect isn’t the technology—it’s the people. “I love watching the students grow,” he says. Watching a student take responsibility and run with it is incredibly rewarding.” In a field that could easily become lost in the technical details, Price emphasizes the importance of maintaining humanity in their work.

As mixed reality becomes increasingly common – from heads-up displays in cars warning drivers of traffic ahead to psychological applications helping people face their fears – the VAST Lab continues to pioneer new applications for these technologies. Under Price’s leadership, students are not just developing new technologies but shaping how we’ll interact with the world in the years to come.

The future, it seems, is already here at UT Dallas’s VAST Lab, with creative minds, incredible technology, and the human touch, there are infinite possibilities.