Rotary Career Symposium

04 | COULD A CARDBOARD BOX INSPIRE STUDENTS TO PURSUE A CAREER IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY? CORI KRUT, PROGRAM MANAGER AT THE INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES ASSOCIATION OF MANITOBA (ICTAM), CERTAINLY HOPES SO. TO BE FAIR, THIS ISN'T YOUR AVERAGE CARDBOARD BOX. IT'S GOOGLE CARDBOARD, WHICH TRANSFORMS A SMARTPHONE INTO AN IMMERSIVE VIRTUAL REALITY (VR) EXPERIENCE. ICTAM will have 12 Google Cardboards available for students to try in the Rotary Career Symposium's Career Discovery area. Sponsored by Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME), Career Discovery is a hands-on activity centre that simulates the manufacturing cycle and showcases a variety of workplace technologies and high-demand careers available in the modern world of manufacturing in Manitoba. Each activity station simulates a step in the manufacturing cycle that begins with design, the building process, and what it takes to complete a project in the final assembly phase. "This is an opportunity to have students try out different technologies. I'm sure a lot of students haven't had the opportunity to dive into VR," Krut says. "It can be an interactive tool for education as well. It's a good way to display some of the ICT careers involved in the making of these devices." Google Cardboard is a VR experience starting with a simple viewer anyone can build or buy. Once you have it, you can explore a variety of apps that unfold all around you. Check out google.com/get/ cardboard for more information. "It transforms your phone into a virtual reality headset, using the same idea as an old-school View-Master. Google makes the components out of cardboard," says Krut. "One of the best things about Google Cardboard is the accessibility. The cost is around $15. You can actually build it yourself by ordering separate components." Two of the immersive experiences students can sample include a tour of the Colosseum in Rome or a Paul McCartney concert. Krut says the apps are available for Androids and iPhones, and a lot of them are free. "As far as I know, no one has ever brought a Google Cardboard to the Symposium," she says. "I didn't think something as simple as a free app, a cellphone and a cardboard box could give you such an immersive experience. It'll be fun to watch people experience VR for the first time." Google employees are allowed to spend 20 per cent of their time working on a project that's not in their job description. Gmail came out of that, and so did Google Cardboard, says Krut. "It's an insight into how innovative things are getting and what kind of careers went into making this. There are all kinds of jobs related to ICT in every sector." As of 2014, 22,000 ICT professionals were employed in Manitoba. ICTAM is banking on the potential of Google Cardboard to attract students to this dynamic field. "ICT is a booming area, and we'll need lots of employees to meet the demand," Krut says. "We don't have enough. By 2019, 280,000 ICT jobs will need to be filled in Canada, and the number keeps going up." There are many advantages to pursuing a career in ICT, she adds. "You won't be chained to a desk—you'll have the flexibility to work in different locations. Also, ICT positions typically pay 50 per cent more than other occupations," says Krut. "No matter what area you're interested in, chances are there's ICT jobs available." One of ICTAM's goals is to get more women interested in a career in ICT. "It's a matter of getting to kids younger than we are," Krut says. Inside the box "As far as I know, no one has ever brought a Google Cardboard to the Symposium," Krut says. "I didn't think something as simple as a free app, a cellphone and a cardboard box could give you such an immersive experience. It'll be fun to watch people experience VR for the first time." Cori Krut, program manager at the Information and Communication Technologies Association of Manitoba, shows off a Google Cardboard. Photo by Darcy Finley www.careersymposium.ca www.careersymposium.ca www.careersymposium.ca Your Future is Waiting Contact us and find out if you qualify for our High School Scholarship! p Co nd find out chool S HERZING.CA /WINNIPEG 204.775.8175 g By Holli Moncrieff For the Free Press

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