Prof Bob Stone's Linkedin Analytics

An XR veteran of 37 years, 17 in the commercial/industrial sector and another 20 as a Professor (Chair) at the University of Birmingham. Today, Bob is Emeritus Professor and an independent consultant in XR, Telepresence and Human Factors. He is a Chartered Psychologist and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics & Human Factors. In the 1980s he specialised in Human Factors for defence and teleoperated subsea, nuclear and space systems, including research at the UK’s National Advanced Robotics Research Centre. One of the first Europeans to experience NASA Ames' VR VIEW system in 1987, he established the UK’s first industrial VR team at the Centre. He developed the world’s first tactile feedback glove, "Teletact" in 1990, and a unique keyhole surgery simulator, MIST, whuch became a European de facto trainer for a decade. After a BBC appearance in 1993, Bob launched the world’s first industrial VR collaborative project, involving some 20 large and small companies, fully funded by those companies. In May 1996, he became an Academician of Russia's Higher Education Academy of Sciences and was recognised by the Cosmonaut Training Centre's Director for “introducing VR to the cosmonaut space programme”. Later, he was made an Honorary Cossack at a ceremony near Starocherkassk in South Russia! He works closely with the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine and hospitals across the UK, evaluating VR technologies for military medic training and for patient mental and physical rehabilitation. Bob was the UK Human Factors Integration Defence Technology Centre’s Research Director for over 6 years; many of his previous academic team’s simulation projects originated here, including mixed reality for military command systems and defence medical training, IED disposal training and the exploitation of small unmanned air, subsea and land systems. His team also specialises in Virtual Heritage, undertaking innovative VR archaeology, maritime and drone-/submersible-based survey projects (heritage is Bob's No.1 "passion" in XR!). A Plymothian by birth, he was Team Leader for the 2020/2021 Virtual Mayflower & 1620s Barbican Project. He has received many national and international VR/Human Factors awards, including the MoD Chief Scientific Adviser’s Commendation for contributions to Defence Science & Technology, and national and regional awards for his and his team's healthcare R&D. Specialties: Human Factors / Ergonomics; simulation, Virtual Environments, XR (VR, AR and MR). Applications in defence, healthcare and heritage.