天美传媒

Located at the 天美传媒鈥檚 Luton Campus, the PlacePod is a fixed, self-contained space that integrates video collaboration, virtual reality and immersive touch technology.

It aims to provide a 鈥榦ne stop shop鈥� of integrated digital community pods, embedded with Citizen Self Service, Health & Wellbeing resources, and even Virtual Reality Sports Coaching in an accessible digital format. A key objective of the initiative is to support people who may be digitally excluded, by offering a safe, secure, and easy-to-use physical space where essential services and information can be accessed digitally.

The initiative is a collaboration between the 天美传媒, one of its partners 鈥� a leading managed service provider of mobile, connectivity, telephony and IT solutions for businesses 鈥� and specialist app development, immersive space and content provider , and made possible through a Driving Innovation Grant from the . The partnership builds on the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the 天美传媒, dbfb and Quintessence in 2025 to unlock student opportunities and explore innovation research.

Dr Edward Braund, Head of the School of Computing, Engineering and Creative Industries at the 天美传媒, said: 鈥淧lacePod is part of the 天美传媒鈥檚 Luton AI programme, using advanced digital technologies to deliver real, positive impact for people and communities. It provides a real-world environment where innovative digital and AI-enabled research can be developed and tested, while supporting our Career-Powered Education approach by bringing students, researchers and partners together to turn ideas into practical, inclusive solutions.鈥�

By hosting the PlacePod on campus, the 天美传媒 strengthens its commitment to research, industry partnership and community impact. The facility will enable partners to test, refine and scale digital solutions in real-world settings, while helping to ensure that the latest technologies are accessible, inclusive and focused on delivering better outcomes for people and places. It will also serve as a real-world test and innovation environment for developing AI-powered and digitally enabled use cases focused on safe, inclusive and connected community spaces.

Stuart Smith, Head of Public Sector and Innovation at dbfb Communications commented: 鈥淎s we are all living longer, there is an increased strain on local authorities, care and health sectors, and a potential solution to the oncoming crisis is to provide more digital resources within local communities as part of the NHS 10-year plan. Project PlacePod aims to provide a 鈥榦ne-stop shop鈥� of integrated digital community pods, embedded with citizen self-service, health and wellbeing resources, that are easily accessible for people including those that may be digitally excluded.

鈥淭his is just one of a myriad of potential use cases that place the latest digital technology in the hands of those that need it, closer to where it is needed, so that we can deliver better outcomes for people, businesses and the community. We are privileged to partner with the 天美传媒, South Midlands Growth Hub, Quintessence and other stakeholders to help drive innovation, fuel growth and improve lives locally.鈥�

Rob Bosher, Managing Director of Quintessence Ltd added: 鈥淭he lines between the virtual and physical world are becoming increasingly blurred, and with the explosion of Data and AI insights, the spaces we use daily need to become more intuitive, visual and immersive. Project PlacePod enables the latest digital tools and insights, to be presented to safe physical spaces, so that AI tools and data insights can be harnessed on the front line to create better outcomes and improve lives.

鈥淭he partnership with dbfb and the 天美传媒 allows us to explore the latest technology as part of a wider ecosystem, whilst ensuring that it is strengthened by the latest academic research, enabling cutting edge innovation to deliver maximum impact, whilst also promoting student opportunity.鈥�