ORLANDO, Fla. — The Metaverse industry offers many great opportunities for Puerto Rican companies.

Last week, for the first time, the city hosted Metacenter Global Week, a three-day event showcasing the many benefits the city offers to businesses and entrepreneurs coming from other states, including Puerto Rico.

Patrick de la Roza, CEO of Arthur App, was one of many executives representing companies attending the event. He said he hopes to introduce Hispanic audiences to the specialized software that helps hospitals communicate with patients.

“We’re here at Orlando Health right now. We’re going to expand to hospitals across the country and hopefully around the world, including Puerto Rico,” Dela Rosa said.

The Arthur app is software designed for hospitalized patients who are unable to speak because they are intubated or undergoing surgery.

During the conference, Metaverse technology pioneers, virtual reality and augmented reality experts, and leaders from a variety of fields will discuss how emerging technologies are shaping the future of business and impacting customer and sales strategies. did.

Tim Giuliani, CEO of the Orlando Economic Partnership, said Orlando is a top destination for a variety of reasons. Orlando has a combination of specialized and highly skilled talent, investment, industry, education and creativity in areas such as artificial intelligence, VR and AR, and Internet of Things technologies. , gaming, 3D, modeling and simulation will make the region a hub for metaverse development.

Meanwhile, David Adelson, CEO of Innovate Orlando and one of the leaders of the event, expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the gathering, which he said took months of preparation.

“I’m tired, but I feel great. You know, it’s so good to see everything come to fruition. We’ve been planning the launch of Meta Center Global Week for several months, almost It took six months. Usually this project takes over a year. And we’ve really accelerated and worked hard to put together a show that people are going to be proud of,” Adelson said. Told.

Entrepreneurs like Venezuelan-born Hassan Seguias, CEO of Orlando-based Xureal, will serve as panelists on “XR: Pushing the Limits in Performance and Entertainment Revealed by Industry Giants” to take advantage of these new tools. said that it is important. era.

“These technologies are critical to entertainment, the workforce, and the way we communicate,” he said.

“The Metaverse and all virtual reality and augmented reality technology is an evolution of the internet. It’s the next step in the internet. So when you go to Walmart or Amazon, instead of seeing a page in 2D, you see a page in 3D. You can enter there and shop as if you were in real space. Not only that, but you interact with other avatars and people in the store. You can ask them questions. “It’s going to be a different experience,” he said.

For businesses looking to expand, experts advise considering incorporating this technology into their plans.

“Gen Z, and beyond, are people who spend all day playing video games with immersive experiences, knowing they can use it at work and knowing that their favorite brands have this kind of technology. “You come to expect it,” he said. Moreover, the technology will become even more prominent in Latin America over the next three years, he added.

Lex Cartagena, CTO of Xureal, has lived in Puerto Rico, California and Florida and sees great potential in this area of ​​Orlando.

“Orlando has all the materials you need. Rent isn’t as high as other places. We have big companies like Disney, we have a lot of universities that provide talent, the city provides incentives, we have a lot of “We are working to support businesses,” he said.

He said he tried to start a technology company in Puerto Rico three years ago, but it just wasn’t the right time.

Virtual world = long-term opportunity
Meanwhile, Orlando Mayor’s Office spokesman Luis M. Martinez said the city is attracting more Hispanic-owned businesses from Puerto Rico and other states.

“This virtual world is a novel concept for many, but for Hispanic and Puerto Rican technology companies expanding into Central Florida who are looking to take full advantage of technology to provide innovative services to their customers. offers a wide range of long-term opportunities.”

“All the different components of the Metaverse, other than cryptocurrencies, are here in Orlando because we have the talent and the companies to be the Silicon Valley of the Metaverse,” said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer.

John Cunningham, president of the VR Association’s Central Florida chapter, explained the benefits this large region offers, not only for businesses but also for people looking for high-paying jobs in coding, software development, gaming, and more.

“My advice to everyone is to learn game engine technology like Unity or Unreal, because this is the technology we are building the next generation of the internet and you can learn it anywhere. “We have a lot of people immigrating from Puerto Rico, Brazil and Argentina,” he added.

Meanwhile, Jennifer Marcial Ocasio, director of communications for the Orlando Economic Partnership, emphasized the size of the metaverse for entrepreneurs in Puerto Rico and elsewhere.

“Orlando is like an invisible bridge that connects Orlando and Puerto Rico. Just like many people in the diaspora who have been here for years and started businesses here, they now have businesses on the island. We want to expand, it’s like that synergy and symbiotic relationship, because we’re only a two-and-a-half hour flight away,” she said.

The Orlando Economic Partnership is leading the Digital Twin project, a 3D technological map of the Orlando region covering 800 square miles, including Orange, Seminole and Osceola counties. It represents the first large-scale regional digital twin used by an economic development organization.