IT Brief Canada - Technology news for CIOs & IT decision-makers

Virtual Reality (VR) stories

Strap on a headset and enter a computer-generated world where interactions and movement bring person and machine closer together. As a simulation, experiences can vary from closely matching the real world, through to fantastical environments limited only by the imagination of their developers. VR is typically broken down into three categories- non-immersive, semi-immersive, and fully-immersive. A non-immersive example would appear on a normal screen, semi-immersive might add a headset, while fully-immersive combines headset and motion-sensitive controls. VR applications are extensive and include video gaming, training simulations including in military, healthcare and business, and travel and leisure.
Rasangi

The world needs more women in tech - and there's no time to wait

4 days ago
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smart cities
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data analytics
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digital transformation
Women hold just 28% of tech roles worldwide, a glaring gap experts warn is stifling innovation, ESG progress and global economic growth.
Brand logo portal dissolving into multiple gaming world gateways

Brands pivot to integrations in virtual worlds shift

Last week
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gaming
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martech
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partner programmes
Brands are ditching standalone virtual worlds in favour of repeatable integrations inside Roblox and Fortnite, GEEIQ data shows.
Office it control room vr headset dashboard admin monitoring

SkillsVR offers free VR device management amid Meta shift

Last week
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saas
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digital transformation
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mdm
SkillsVR launches ACTIVATE MDM Lite, a free six‑month VR fleet tool as organisations adapt to Meta's changing Quest hardware strategy.
Person vr headset laptop glowing globe shield encrypted home

ExpressVPN launches VR app & hybrid browser extension

Last month
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data protection
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vpns
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cybersecurity
ExpressVPN debuts a Meta Quest VR app and hybrid browser extension, offering switchable browser-only or full-device VPN protection.
Modern bank cash operations room automated machines global scene

How digital service is transforming global cash cycles

Last month
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data analytics
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digital transformation
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cx
From AI analytics to remote fixes, digital service is reshaping cash operations, boosting uptime, trust, and sustainability at every stage.
Modern manufacturing control room quality analytics dashboards

Siemens named Leader in Gartner QMS software ranking

Sat, 31st Jan 2026
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manufacturing
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data analytics
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iot
Siemens named a Leader in Gartner Magic Quadrant for quality management software, spotlighting its AI-enabled, integrated QMS portfolio.
Emergency responders 5g tower city skyline public safety network

Public safety LTE & 5G spend to top USD $6.3 billion

Wed, 28th Jan 2026
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uc
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smart cities
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digital entertainment
Global public safety LTE and 5G spending will climb from USD $5bn in 2025 to over USD $6.3bn annually by 2028, SNS Telecom & IT says.
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Goertzel & Lanier clash over AI autonomy & control

Fri, 16th Jan 2026
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crypto
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blockchain
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genai
Ben Goertzel and Jaron Lanier clash over whether increasingly autonomous AI deserves moral standing or must always remain under human control.
Boardroom 2026 ai investment vs cyber geopolitical risk tension

Forrester warns on 2026 tech budgets amid AI shifts

Wed, 14th Jan 2026
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uc
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semiconductors
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data analytics
Forrester flags cooler optimism for 2026 tech budgets as leaders juggle AI-driven investment plans with rising geopolitical and cyber risks.
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Porsche debuts cloud 3D configurator for Cayenne EVs

Mon, 12th Jan 2026
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gaming
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digital transformation
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hyperscale
Porsche launches a cloud-based 3D Cayenne Electric configurator, streaming photoreal models to browsers, apps and dealer showrooms.
Digital economy set to hit usd 28 trillion in 2026

Digital economy set to hit USD $28 trillion in 2026

Fri, 9th Jan 2026
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robots
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digital transformation
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quantum computing
The global digital economy is forecast to surge 9.5% in 2026 to USD $28 trillion, triple the pace of overall worldwide economic growth.
Smart iot enabled cement plant with drones and low emissions scene

CIMPOR's private 5G blueprint boosts efficiency, cuts CO2

Thu, 8th Jan 2026
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uc
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wearables
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drones
CIMPOR's new private 5G blueprint lifts plant efficiency by 1%, saves up to USD $15 million a year and cuts CO2 emissions by 140,000 tonnes.
Meta hq merging with singapore tech tower glowing data streams

Meta buys Manus to boost general-purpose AI agents

Tue, 30th Dec 2025
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data analytics
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digital transformation
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rpa
Meta has bought Singapore AI start-up Manus, aiming to embed its autonomous general-purpose agent across consumer and business products.
Hand reaching ai sphere to luminous branching shopping network

AI agents to reshape brand discovery by 2026, says Kantar

Tue, 23rd Dec 2025
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martech
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partner programmes
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digital twins
AI agents will reshape brand discovery by 2026, Kantar predicts, as marketers race to optimise for algorithmic assistants and micro‑communities.
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From hype to reality: The three forces defining security in 2026

Mon, 22nd Dec 2025
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wearables
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data protection
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smart cities
In 2026, agentic AI, digital twins and AR wearables shift from hype to daily tools, reshaping how security risks are detected and managed.
Person using vr headset with floating books and training icons transforming into 3d virtual scenarios

SkillsVR unveils AI tool to rapidly convert training into VR

Thu, 20th Nov 2025
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digital transformation
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ai
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ar, vr & metaverse
SkillsVR launches AI tool GenerateVR, turning static training materials into interactive VR modules rapidly, boosting immersive learning accessibility and scale.
Creative workspace artists sketching designers using digital tablets abstract ai patterns

Exclusive: Bosch on blending AI with human creativity

Thu, 30th Oct 2025
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digital transformation
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martech
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llms
Bosch blends AI with human creativity under Sebastian Schwartze, transforming marketing, design, and innovation across the company while stressing care and ethics.
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SuperWorld & ASI Alliance partner to build virtual real estate

Mon, 25th Aug 2025
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gaming
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crypto
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blockchain
SuperWorld partners with ASI Alliance to enhance its virtual real estate platform by integrating decentralised AI, creating immersive and monetisable real-world linked experiences.
Modern vr headset hologram technology vs obsolete av cables monitors office

Businesses chase AV innovation but struggle with old systems

Wed, 6th Aug 2025
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network infrastructure
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digital transformation
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supply chain
One in 10 businesses invest in holograms and avatars, but outdated AV systems and infrastructure hinder productivity and innovation benefits.
Nursing students vr headsets practicing clinical skills european classroom

UbiSim unveils AI tools to transform virtual nursing education

Thu, 10th Jul 2025
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ai
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ar, vr & metaverse
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health education
UbiSim launches AI-powered updates to its VR nursing education platform, enhancing personalised scenarios and expanding clinical training tools for students and educators.