Sure thing, here goes:
So, there’s this Australian company, xReality Group. Yeah, it’s got a cool name, right? Anyway, they’ve got this little side venture called Operator XR. And guess what? They just snagged a hefty contract with Texas DPS. That’s the Department of Public Safety, but you probably knew that. Contract’s worth up to AUD $5.71 million, which is like $3.7 mil USD. Some serious dough, if you ask me.
What are they doing with Texas? Well, they’re rolling out some VR police training system. You know, like the ones where you put on the headset and suddenly you’re not in Kansas anymore—or Texas, I guess. It’s all about training cops, but in a totally immersive way. Think tactical decisions, de-escalation, working together like a real team—stuff that sounds exciting but kind of nerve-racking. Does it really feel real? Maybe someone knows, but that’s not me.
Texas DPS, big agency, lots of people—30 million or thereabouts counting on them. They’re jumping into this to make sure their folks are ready for anything, and maybe to make training a bit less… well, traditional. (Remember the boring classrooms? Not anymore!)
Wayne Jones, the head honcho at xReality, is pretty stoked. He calls this deal a “strategic milestone.” For him, having a big name like Texas DPS is like having a spectacular resume booster. Makes sense, right? He’s seeing this as a stepping stone to take over—er, I mean, expand into more states.
The first part of this deal’s worth AUD $4.3 million. They’re getting the OP-2 system rolling by 2026. Seems far away, but you know how time flies. When they start, they get all the gear and some hand-holding for two years. Who doesn’t like support when tinkering with new toys?
They’ve also got a plan to extend this support, could tack on another three years. That’s if Texas DPS is loving what they’re getting. Almost makes it feel like one of those “buy now, pay later” deals.
Oh, and back home? Operator XR got a sweet AUD $2.1 million grant from the Aussie Government. It’s to get their AI stuff moving faster, with some fancy real-time feedback and all that jazz. They want this thing global, with bells and whistles.
And that’s the scoop. Or most of it—I might’ve rambled on a bit. Anyway, exciting times for VR police stuff, right? Who would’ve thought?
