The HEAT project presented its latest immersive media research at the 2026 IEEE International Symposium on Broadband Multimedia Systems and Broadcasting (BMSB), held in João Pessoa, Brazil, from 8–10 July.
The conference brought researchers and industry specialists together to discuss developments in multimedia broadcasting, communication systems and emerging digital experiences. HEAT’s contribution showed how advances in connectivity, environmental sensing and edge computing could support more responsive and engaging extended reality applications.
Three HEAT-related papers were presented during the conference. The first introduced a wearable 5G-to-USB gateway for streaming point-cloud content to standalone VR headsets. The work explored a practical way to deliver data-intensive immersive experiences while allowing users to remain mobile.
A second paper presented an end-to-end olfactory pipeline for artistic XR. Combining real-time gas sensing with machine learning, the system examined how smell could become part of interactive, multisensory experiences.
The third contribution, EnviLoop, proposed a privacy-aware, edge-assisted IoT–XR architecture for smart venues. It connected environmental sensing with immersive services while considering how data could be processed securely and efficiently.
HEAT was also represented in the keynote programme. Professor Gabriel-Miro Muntean delivered a talk tracing the development of multimedia delivery from conventional systems to immersive XR approaches, with a focus on improving users’ Quality of Experience.
Professor Maurizio Murroni of the University of Cagliari also contributed to the panel discussion on future developments in media technology. His presentation, titled “Toward Immersive Hybrid Extended Reality Experiences”, brought HEAT’s perspective to a wider conversation about the technologies and research priorities shaping the future of immersive media.
The event gave HEAT researchers an opportunity to share their progress with the wider broadcasting and multimedia community. The contributions reflected the project’s broader aim of developing hybrid XR technologies that bring technical advances closer to meaningful, high-quality experiences for users.
Presented papers
Fadda, G., Palladino, A., Farina, M., Murroni, M., Amarie, N., Calaver, D., Alexandru, M., & Popescu, V. (2026). EnviLoop: A privacy-aware, edge-assisted IoT–XR multimedia service architecture for smart venues. In 2026 IEEE International Symposium on Broadband Multimedia Systems and Broadcasting (BMSB). IEEE.
Pilia, E., Porcu, S., Fadda, G., Palladino, A., Farina, M., Atzori, L., & Murroni, M. (2026). A wearable 5G-to-USB gateway for point cloud streaming to standalone VR headsets. In 2026 IEEE International Symposium on Broadband Multimedia Systems and Broadcasting (BMSB). IEEE.
Simiscuka, A. A., Sabu, A., Picoreau, M., Fadda, G., Popescu, V., Murroni, M., & Muntean, G.-M. (2026). An end-to-end olfactory pipeline for artistic XR with real-time gas sensing and machine learning. In 2026 IEEE International Symposium on Broadband Multimedia Systems and Broadcasting (BMSB). IEEE.
Keynote
Muntean, G.-M. (2026, July 10). Enhancing user quality of experience: From conventional multimedia delivery solutions to immersive extended reality approaches [Keynote presentation]. 2026 IEEE International Symposium on Broadband Multimedia Systems and Broadcasting (BMSB), João Pessoa, Brazil.
Panel discussion
Murroni, M. (2026, July 8–10). Toward immersive hybrid extended reality experiences [Panel discussion]. 2026 IEEE International Symposium on Broadband Multimedia Systems and Broadcasting (BMSB), João Pessoa, Brazil.
