Virtual reality room creating new learning opportunity for UCF healthcare students

Step inside UCF’s Rehabilitation Innovation Center, and you’ll find more than just four walls. With a touch of a button, a small room can instantly transform into an entire hospital floor, immersing students in the fast-paced world of patient care.

Moments later, that same space can render a 3D model of the human body, allowing graduate students to zoom in and explore the intricate details of the brain.

This is the Blended Learning Interactive Simulation Suite, or BLIS, a cutting-edge mixed-reality environment designed to enhance student learning and reshape how future healthcare professionals prepare for real-world challenges.

The suite surrounds learners with 270-degree, floor-to-ceiling touchscreen walls, delivering vivid visuals and spatial audio that transport them into fully immersive scenarios.

By blending imagination with technology, BLIS turns theory into hands-on experience, empowering students to build confidence, sharpen skills, and push the boundaries of what’s possible in education.