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At times, it seems as though virtual reality is to the layman what Dippin’ Dots is to the frozen treat industry: constantly billed as the next big thing, but rarely spotted outside trade shows and carnivals.

But the leaders in the immersive technology field are working on it. Next week, they’ll descend on Vancouver for the VR/AR Global Summit for a chance to network, gather information about the latest advancements and, most importantly, share ideas and collaborate on new ways to apply the emerging technologies.

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The conference and expo, which takes place Nov. 1-2 at Parq Vancouver, is supported by the biggest names in tech, such as Microsoft and Amazon, and will feature keynote addresses, panels and workshops with more than 1,000 representatives from dozens of major technology companies.

“It’s a way to bring together the solution providers and the companies that are looking to buy those types of technologies — bridge the gap and help them connect,” said Nathan Pettyjohn, founder and president of the VR/AR Association, a global community that serves as a conduit between industries, companies and universities to help move the immersive technologies forward.