THIS IS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS COMING UP THIS SPRING TRAINING MIGHT HAVE COME TO AN END, BUT EVERYONE IS GETTING A CHANCE TO PLAY BALL.

WE SWING BY THE RETURN OF WOMEN'S PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL, A GAME WHICH HAS BEEN 70 YEARS IN THE MAKING THE EVOLUTION OF THE WORKER AS MANY JOB SKILLS APPROACH, A HALF-LIFE.

WE LEARN HOW YOU CAN STAY AHEAD OF TAX CHANGES TO MAINTAIN OR EVEN ENHANCE YOUR CURRENT POSITION AND TAKING AN IMMERSIVE EXPEDITION UNDER THE SEA.

HOW A VIRTUAL EXPERIENCE COULD BE THE LATEST STEP IN HELPING TO PROTECT FLORIDA'S WATERWAYS.

HELLO, I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

SPRING TRAINING IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA HAS OFFICIALLY COME TO AN END THIS WEEK AS MAJOR LEAGUERS HEAD BACK NORTH TO BEGIN REGULAR SEASON PLAY.

BUT FOR THIS SPRING TRAINING, IT WASN'T JUST THE MEN GETTING IN ON THE ACTION FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1954.

WOMEN'S PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL MADE A RETURN TO THE DIAMOND AND IS NOW BACK IN FULL SWING.

WGCUS BRYANT MONTEILH WAS AT THE MILESTONE TODAY EVENT HELD AT JETBLUE PARK AND HAS THIS REPORT.

>> WITH THE CRACK OF THE BAT >> THE NEW WOMEN'S PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL LEAGUE IS UNDER WAY RIGHT HERE IN FORT MYERS.

IT'S BEEN YEARS IN THE MAKING ITS BEEN 70 YEARS SINCE THE LAST MAJOR WOMEN'S PRO BASEBALL LEAGUE, WHICH WAS THE ALL AMERICAN GIRLS PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL LEAGUE.

>> JUSTINE SIEGAL IS A WOMEN'S PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL LEAGUES FIRST EVER.

COMMISSIONER.

SHE SHARES HOW SIGNIFICANT THIS OPPORTUNITY IS FOR PLAYERS.

>> AND THE FANS SO MANY OF OUR PLAYERS HAVE DREAMED OF PLAYING IN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL AND NOW THEY GET TO BE HERE.

AND AS PART OF A PRO LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN, THAT'S PRETTY SPECIAL.

>> THE NEW WPB AL TOOK PART IN THE TWO-DAY EVENT AT JETBLUE PARK IN FORT MYERS.

THAT'S WHERE THE BOSTON RED SOX TRAIN FOR THE UPCOMING SEASON.

AND AFTER POLLS SINCE THE CALLED THIS ITS FIRST OFFICIAL SPRING TRAINING, THE FEMALE PLAYERS TRAINED ALONGSIDE FORMER MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYERS INCLUDING DOUG MIENTKIEWICZ AND KEY FAULK AND A NAME FROM THE WOMEN'S LEAGUE WHO MAY BE BETTER KNOWN THAN THOSE 2 FORMER PROS AS MONET DAVIS.

SHE STARTED PLAYING BASEBALL AT A YOUNG AGE AND ROSE TO NATIONAL FAME AND 13 BY BECOMING THE FIRST GIRL TO PITCH A NO-HITTER.

AND WHEN THE GAME IN THE LITTLE LEAGUE WORLD SERIES HER 70 MILE AN HOUR FASTBALL ELEVATED TO HURT HER CULTURAL ART.

CURRENT STATUS.

SHE SEES HOW BRIGHT THE FUTURE IS FOR WOMEN PLAYING PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL.

>> WITH HOW IN HIS WORDS GO NOW I FEEL LIKE IT'S A STEPPING STONE ON SHOWING THE GROWTH THAT WOMEN'S SPORTS HAS HAS DONE ON THE SPORTS WORLD.

AND I JUST THINK THAT IS GOING TO ALLOW MORE MORE GIRLS TO GO OUT AND DREAM BIG DREAMS, SOMETHING THAT THEY NEVER THOUGHT WOULD HAPPEN BECAUSE I KNOW THIS WOMAN OUT HERE WHO NEVER THOUGHT THAT THEY BE A PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL PLAYER.

>> STAR PITCHER KELSIE WHITMORE GROUP IN CALIFORNIA PLAYING BASEBALL.

SHE PLAYED SOFTBALL IN COLLEGE.

NOW SHE'S TAKING ON THE NEW LEAGUE MEANS EVERYTHING.

>> IT'S IT'S.

>> IT MEANS THAT NOW WE DON'T HAVE TO CREATE A PATH FOR OURSELVES.

THERE'S ALREADY A PATH MEAN FOR US.

IT MEANS THAT NOW THE GOALS IN THE DREAMS THAT WE HAD WERE LITTLE LAKE.

WE NOW HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR IT.

AND I MEAN, SO MUCH TO IT.

IT MEANS I MEAN, THE ONLY GROW ANY MORE ON YOUR TEAM.

>> SOME PLAYERS HAD ENCOURAGING WORDS FOR GIRLS WHO MAY ALSO WANT TO PLAY PRO BASEBALL ABILITY TO MARROW IS FROM QUEBEC, CANADA.

IT'S NOT ALWAYS A STRAIGHT PATH, BUT YOU GOT TO KEEP PUSHING ON AND ON.

>> AND BEING YOU AND HAVING SOME FUN.

>> AND YOU'LL GET THERE ONE DAY.

AMANDA GENTILONI IS FROM LOUISIANA.

>> AND A NICKEL STATE UNIVERSITY HALL OF FAMER.

ANYTHING THAT YOU PUT YOUR MIND TO YOU CAN ACHIEVE THE WORLD TRIES TO LIMIT YOU.

EVERYONE IS GOING TO TRY TO LIMIT YOU LIKE YOU CAN'T DO SOMETHING OR YOU WON'T DO SOMETHING.

DON'T LISTEN TO THEM.

AND SO THE TIME IS NOW ESPECIALLY TO SET A GOAL AND TO REALLY WORK HARD EVERY DAY TOWARDS THAT GOAL AND THEN ACHIEVE IT.

>> VETERAN JAPANESE PITCHER YUMMY IS CONSIDERED BY MANY TO BE THE BEST FEMALE PITCHER IN THE WORLD.

HERE IS WHAT SHE SHARED THROUGH HER TRANSLATOR.

THEY'LL TAKE WITH US THAT THIS IS SO TO SEE HIM UP THERE.

>> AND YOU MAIL, WHICH IS GOOD TO SEE TAX UNTIL SINCE DOSAGE.

THEY PUT THOSE THAT THEY THIS.

I WANT TO TELL TO THE GIRLS.

>> WHO PLAY BASEBALL AND WHO WANT TO BE IN THE LEAGUE THAT LIKE JUST KEEP GOING WAS CONFIDENT IS LIKE BELIEVING ELSE HEALTH LIKE YOU CAN DO IT BECAUSE NOW YOU CAN JUST A TREE IN THE LEAGUE'S FIRST 4 TEAMS REPRESENT BOSTON.

>> LOS ANGELES, NEW YORK AND SAN FRANCISCO PLAYERS AND FANS ARE EXCITED ABOUT WHAT'S IN STORE FOR WOMEN'S BASEBALL.

I LOVE BASEBALL.

LET'S GO THE WPBL HISTORIC INAUGURAL SEASON WILL LAUNCH ITS EIGHT-WEEK SEASON AUGUST 1ST FOR WGCU, IM BRYANT MONTEILH.

>> COMING UP NEXT, KEEPING YOUR CAREER AHEAD OF THE A.I.

CURVE.

IF YOU'RE IN THE MARKET FOR A NEW POSITION, THE TIPS THAT WILL KEEP YOU ADVANCING UP THE CORPORATE LADDER.

>> OFTEN TIMES WITHIN THE SLEEP FIELD, LEAP SCIENTISTS AND PHYSICIANS WILL CRITICIZE SNOOZING BECAUSE SHARED DECREASING THE AMOUNT OF RAPID EYE MOVEMENT OR REM SLEEP THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE GETTING.

SO WE SPEND MORE OF OUR TIME DURING THE LATTER PART OF SLEEP IN REM SLEEP.

OR WE CALL IT DURING SLEEP.

AND REM IS A REALLY CRUCIAL STAGE FOR BRAIN HEALTH.

MEMORY CONSOLIDATION PROCESSING EMOTIONS.

>> IF YOU ARE SOMEONE WHO HITS THE SNOOZE BUTTON REPEATEDLY IN THE MORNING, YOU MIGHT BE DOING SOME SERIOUS DAMAGE TO YOUR SLEEP IN THE LONG RUN.

SLEEP EXPERTS SAY MOST OF YOUR REM SLEEP HAPPENED IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS.

SO IT'S BEST TO AVOID CHRONIC SNOOZING.

SO YOU DON'T INTERRUPT IT.

SOME ADVICE.

SET YOUR ALARM FOR THE TIME.

YOU ACTUALLY NEED TO GET OUT OF BED.

IT'S ALSO BEST TO PUT YOUR ALARM ACROSS THE ROOM AND NOT ON A NIGHTSTAND PHYSICALLY GETTING OUT OF BED WILL LIMIT THE CHANCE OF HITTING THAT SNOOZE BUTTON REPEATEDLY.

BUT IF THE STRUGGLE TO GET OUT OF BED EVERY MORNING PERSISTS THAT COULD BE A SIGN OF AN UNDERLYING SLEEP DISORDER.

>> PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING A LOT OF SNEEZES MIGHT HAVE A LOT OF DISRUPTED SLEEP AT NIGHT.

SO WHETHER THEY HAVE SLEEP APNEA THAT'S CAUSING REALLY FRAGMENTED AND RESTORATIVE SLEEP OR THAT THEY HAVE INSOMNIA WHERE THEY'RE WAKING UP.

ARE THEY HAVE DIFFICULTY FALLING ASLEEP THE SO THEY TRY TO CATCH MORE SLEEP IN THE MORNING TIME.

>> BRINGING UP SLEEP ISSUES WITH YOUR DOCTORS CAN HELP IDENTIFY IF YOU NEED MORE TESTING SUCH AS PERHAPS AN OVERNIGHT SLEEP STUDY GETTING THE RECOMMENDED 8 HOURS OF SLEEP IS EASIER SAID THAN DONE FOR MANY PEOPLE FEELING TIRED EVERY DAY IS NORMAL.

TAKING IN CAFFEINE OR TAKING CAT NAPS MIGHT BE A QUICK SOLUTION.

BUT CHRONIC FATIGUE COULD BE A SIGN OF SOMETHING MORE SERIOUS.

WGCUS TEDDY BYRNE HAS MORE ON HOW TO BEAT THE BATTLE OF FATIGUE.

>> REACHING FOR THAT EXTRA CUP OF COFFEE.

WE'VE ALL HAD THOSE DAYS WHERE WE'RE JUST PLAIN TIRED.

BUT EXPERTS SAY THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NORMAL TIREDNESS AND ONGOING FATIGUE.

>> EVERYONE HAS THOSE PERIODS WHEN WE KNOW WE'RE TIRED SINCE THE HOLIDAYS, THE SCHEDULES BUSY WORK IS HARD.

THE KIDS AND KEEPING YOU UP AT NIGHT.

BUT THOSE ARE TIMES WHEN WE KNOW WHY WE'RE TIRED.

AND IF WE'RE ABLE TO CHANGE SOMETHING THAT TURNED THIS GOES AWAY.

IT, HOWEVER, IS MORE THAN THAT.

IT'S WHEN YOU'RE EXHAUSTED.

YOUR BODY'S EXHAUSTED YOUR MINDS EXHAUSTED AND YOU REALLY CAN'T PINPOINT A REASON WHY YOU'RE FEELING THAT WAY.

YOU GET UP AND IT'S JUST SO HARD TO GET TO YOUR DAY.

>> CLEVELAND CLINIC'S MARY ANN'S WHO MAY GO SAYS SEVERAL HEALTH CONDITIONS CAN CAUSE CHRONIC FATIGUE.

THESE INCLUDE SLEEP DISORDERS, ANEMIA, THYROID PROBLEMS AND MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS SUCH AS DEPRESSION OR ANXIETY AMONG OTHERS.

CERTN MEDICATIONS CAN ALSO MAKE YOU TIRED, INCLUDING SOME ANTI HISTAMINES USED FOR ALLERGIES.

D'ARCY MAY GO SAYS LIFESTYLE FACTORS MAY ALSO BE CONTRIBUTING AS WELL, INCLUDING STRESS, LACK OF EXERCISE OR AN UNBALANCED DIET.

SO WHEN SHOULD YOUR CHECK IN WITH A DOCTOR ABOUT FATIGUE?

>> FATIGUE IS PERSISTING.

YOU SHOULD REALLY GO SEE SOMEONE IF YOU'RE HAVING CITY, CAN YOU KNOW YOU'RE EXPERIENCING SYMPTOMS WITH IT, THEN THAT'S ANOTHER GOOD REASON TO GO.

THOSE SYMPTOMS COULD BE WEIGHT LOSS.

COULD BE DEPRESSION.

IT COULD BE THAT YOUR CONCERN OF MEDICATIONS CAUSING THEIR TIREDNESS OR MAYBE SOMEONE'S TOLD YOU THAT YOUR SNORING AND YOU MIGHT HAVE SLEEP APNEA AND THAT COULD BE A REASON FOR IT.

THAT'S WHAT I WOULD CALL YOUR PRACTITIONER AND SET AN APPOINTMENT AND JUST TO REVIEW IT AND MAKE SURE NOTHING MORE IS GOING ON.

>> D'ARCY MAY GO SAYS WORKING WITH YOUR PROVIDER TO FIND OUT WHAT'S BEHIND YOUR FATIGUE IS THE BEST FIRST STEP TO GET YOUR ENERGY BACK.

FOR WGCU NEWS, I'M TEDDY BYRNE.

>> ONE POTENTIAL REASON FOR A LACK OF SLEEP.

FEAR OF AI TAKING YOUR JOB, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND AUTOMATION ARE CHANGING THE WORKPLACE FOR ALMOST EVERYONE.

AND IF YOU'RE NOT KEEPING UP, YOU LIKELY WILL BE LEFT BEHIND.

A NEW SURVEY FINDS THAT NEARLY 80% OF HIRING LEADERS PREFER CANDIDATES WHO HAVE UPDATED SKILL SETS IN TODAY'S WORKPLACE AND CONTINUALLY UPDATING THOSE SKILLS ARE A VALUABLE TOOL IN OBTAINING JOB SECURITY.

WE ARE JOINED BY PROVOST AND FOUNDING DIRECTOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX CAREER INSTITUTE DOCTOR JOHN WOODS, DR WOODS, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON.

APPRECIATE THE TIME.

>> DR.

AS TECHNOLOGY ADVANCES, MORE JOB SKILLS ARE DEVELOPING.

WHAT WE CALL A HALF-LIFE.

CAN YOU TALK MORE ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS AND HOW IT IMPACTS WORKERS TODAY?

>> YEAH.

THE BEST WAY TO THINK ABOUT THE PHRASE, THE HALF-LIFE OF SKILLS IS THAT THE SKILLS THAT YOU HAVE THAT MAYBE HELPS YOU GET THE JOB THAT YOU YOU PERFORM TODAY OR THAT YOU PERFORM EVERY DAY ON THE JOB THAT THOSE SKILLS BECOME A LITTLE BIT LESS RELEVANT.

A LITTLE BIT LESS VALUABLE EACH AND EVERY DAY BECAUSE THE PACE OF CHANGE, PARTICULARLY TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGES AROUND US.

SO IT PUTS A REAL PREMIUM ON A CONTINUOUS UPSKILLING LEARNING HOW TO DO NEW AND DIFFERENT THINGS BECAUSE THAT WHAT YOU'RE PERFORMING TODAY ON THE JOB MIGHT NOT BE THE SAME SKILL THAT KEEPS YOU IN THE JOB INDEFINITELY.

>> HOW IS AI AND AUTOMATION CHANGING THE WORKPLACE AND WHAT DO WORKERS NEED TO DO TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO PROTECT THEIR JOBS?

>> YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THINK OF AI AND AUTOMATION IS HAVING AN IMPACT ON TECHNICAL FIELDS, TECHNICAL JOBS, TECHNICAL SKILLS.

BUT THERE REALLY HAVING AN IMPACT ON ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT BUSINESSES, ORGANIZATIONS, PROFESSIONS, JOBS, EVEN THE ONES THAT WE DON'T THINK OF IS NECESSARILY HIGHLY TECHNICAL.

THEY'RE REALLY BRINGING IN TO THE WORKPLACE MORE TOOLS THAT ARE A VERY DIFFERENT IN NATURE FOR COLLABORATION THAT ARE MANAGING WORKFLOWS THAT ARE CHANGING THE WAY WORK HAPPENS ON THE JOB.

SO AND PEOPLE NEED TO PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO HOW THAT'S HAPPENING IN THEIR PARTICULAR FIELD OR INDUSTRY AND TRY AND LEARN THE SKILLS TO MAINTAIN THEIR VIABILITY AND THEIR VALUE IN THE WORKPLACE.

>> DR ACCESS TO LEARNING HAS EVOLVED TREMENDOUSLY IN THE PAST DECADE.

HOW CREDIBLE ARE ONLINE LEARNING CERTIFICATES PROGRAMS AND EDUCATION THAT'S OUT THERE.

>> YEAH, I THINK PROBABLY MAYBE SPED UP A LITTLE BIT BY COVID WHEN WE ALL HAD TO GO ONLINE AND WE'RE SEEING IN THIS SURVEY THAT 98% OF EMPLOYERS BELIEVE THAT ONLINE LEARNING AS MORE CREDIBLE THAN IT WAS A DECADE AGO.

SO THERE'S REALLY WIDE ACCEPTANCE OF ONLINE LEARNING AND ONLINE LEARNING FITS INTO IS THE WORKING PERSON'S DAILY LIFE, BOTH THEIR WORK LIFE AND THEIR PERSONAL LIFE.

AND JUST IF IT'S A LOT BETTER AND THAT'S REALLY INCREASED ITS CREDIBILITY ORGANIZATIONS ALSO SAY AND IN OUR SURVEY THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE LEARNING ONLINE DEMONSTRATE ADAPTABILITY AND ARE OFTEN BRING TO THE TABLE.

THE NEWEST AND MOST CURRENT SKILLS THAT THAT ARE BEING TAUGHT.

SO IT HAS A LOT OF ADVANTAGES.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO RECRUITERS AND HIRING LEADERS OUT THERE.

HOW IMPORTANT IS THIS CONTINUED EDUCATION AND TRAINING WHEN THEY'RE PLAYING FOR JOBS ON APPLICATION?

>> YEAH.

AND NOT ONLY DO WE TALK ABOUT THE HALF-LIFE OF SKILLS, BUT WE'RE SEEING THAT CONTINUOUS LEARNING IS A SIGNAL IN AND OF ITSELF TO EMPLOYERS TO HIRING MANAGERS AT IT.

IT REPRESENTS TO THE EMPLOYER TO THE PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYER THAT SOMEBODY IS ADAPTABLE.

SOMEBODY IS WILLING AND READY TO LEARN TO GROW, TO CHANGE WITH THE CHANGES THAT ARE HAPPENING AROUND THEM.

SO NOT ONLY ARE THE SKILLS THAT SOMEBODY AS LEARNING IMPORTANT, BUT THE FACT THAT THEY'RE EMBRACING CONTINUOUS TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT, CONTINUOUS LEARNING GROWTH, THAT'S A SIGNAL AND REAL VALUABLE ONE AND OF ITSELF THAT EMPLOYERS AND HIRING MANAGERS ARE LOOKING FOR.

>> WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST PIECE OF ADVICE TOO?

MATURE WORKERS, SEASONED PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE TRULY CONCERNED ABOUT AI TAKING OVER THEIR JOBS AND THEY ARE WORRIED.

>> YEAH, I THINK IT'S GOING TO HAVE A DIFFERENT KIND OF IMPACT IN DIFFERENT SORTS OF WORK SETTINGS.

AND SO PROBABLY THE NUMBER ONE THING I WOULD ADVISE IS LOOK AROUND AND SEE HOW THE DIFFERENT TECHNOLOGIES ARE.

INNOVATIONS IN AI OR AUTOMATION ARE IMPACTING YOUR SPECIFIC FIELD.

YOUR SPECIFIC INDUSTRY FIGURE OUT WHAT SKILLS YOU MIGHT NEED TO LEARN AND HAVE A CONVERSATION RIGHT AWAY WITH YOUR EMPLOYER ABOUT WHAT SORT OF TRAINING DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES THEY OFFER OR IF THEY DON'T OFFER THEM WHAT SORTS OF TRAIN DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES THEY WOULD SUPPORT IN TERMS OF FUNDING AND EMBRACE THE IDEA OF THE LEARNING BOTH RIGHT AWAY AND ONGOING THAT THERE'S NEVER REALLY WE THINK GOING TO BE A TIME WHEN WE CAN STAND STILL THAT THE EXPECTATION NOW IS ONE OF LIFELONG LEARNING.

>> ANY FINAL THOUGHTS ON RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SOMEONE WHO WAS TO PROTECT THEIR CAREER?

>> WELL, I GET STARTED AND DON'T THINK OF IT AS A ONE AND DONE.

CONSIDER IT TO BE KIND OF A WAY OF LIFE MOVING FOR THAT.

PEOPLE ARE GOING TO NEED TO CONTINUOUSLY A NEW SKILLS.

AND SO I GUESS IT WOULD BE GET STARTED IN AND DON'T DON'T THINK THAT IT CAN VERY QUICKLY THAT LEARNING IS FOR LIFE NOW.

>> GREAT ADVICE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

DR WOODS.

>> THANKS.

ENJOYED CHATTING WITH YOU TODAY.

>> LIKEWISE.

>> AND YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND THE IMPACT IT'S HAVING ON THE WORLD AROUND US BY HEADING TO OUR WEBSITE WGCU.ORG.

SCUBA DIVING IS BIG BUSINESS IN FLORIDA GENERATING OVER 1 BILLION DOLLARS IN ANNUAL REVENUE TO ATTRACT MORE VISITORS.

FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION HAS PLACED OVER 4500 ARTIFICIAL REEFS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

ONE OF THE MORE WELL-KNOWN ARTIFICIAL REEFS IS THE USS SPIEGEL GROVE SHIPWRECK, LOCATED OFF KEY LARGO.

DESPITE BECOMING A POPULAR ATTRACTION FOR DIVERS, MANY PEOPLE WILL NEVER GET TO SEE THIS UNIQUE WRECK FOR THEMSELVES.

WGCUS PAM JAMES INTRODUCES US TO AN FGCU STUDENT WHO HAS DEVELOPED A WAY TO BRING THIS CUBA SENSATION TO LAND LOVERS EVERYWHERE.

>> SO THE FULL EXPERIENCE IS ABOUT 90 MINUTES LONG.

BUT I'M JUST GONNA SHOW YOU ABOUT A MINUTE AND A HALF TODAY.

AND THE DIVE IS THE USS SPIEGEL GROVE.

IT'S A 510 FOOT NAVAL SHIP WRECK ABOUT 6 MILES OFF THE COAST OF KEY LARGO.

ABOUT 130 FEET TO THE STAND, THE STRUCTURE THAT YOU'LL SEE IN THE VIDEOS ABOUT 80, 90 FEET.

THIS IS ACTUALLY SOPHIA OVER THERE.

SHE'S FEATURED IN THE PICTURE.

>> SENIORS ALWAYS AIBO IS PRESENTING HER LATEST PROJECT AT THE FGCU LIBRARY AS PART OF THEIR WEEKLY SCHOLAR SERIES ON CAMPUS.

HAS DEVELOPED A 360 DEGREE VISUALIZATION EXPERIENCE THAT GOES BEYOND VIRTUAL REALITY.

>> AND WHEN YOU PUT THE HEADSET ON, YOU'LL SEE THAT YOU'RE REALLY IMMERSED IN THIS EXPERIENCE.

AND IT'S REALLY LIKE YOU'RE ON THE DIVE.

YOU SEE THE ENTRY, WHAT YOU SAW ME JUMP OFF.

THE BOATS CALLED GIANT STRIDE.

YOU SEE OUR DESCENT.

WE SEE SOME OTHER DIVE MASK TO WORK.

THIS IS SOPHIE AGAIN HERE DOING HER DIVE MASTER DUTIES AND WE SEE WE'RE ENTERING A SHIP.

HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE DENIS WENT AROUND THE WRECK BEFORE?

OKAY.

A COUPLE A COUPLE.

BUT FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVEN'T, THIS IS REALLY AMAZING.

AND YOU'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE.

THEY BOTH STUDIES MARINE SCIENCE AT THE WATER SCHOOL.

>> USING VIDEO WASN'T ORIGINALLY PART OF HER MAJOR.

SO I AM STILL JUST A STUDENT RESEARCH ASSISTANT.

I WAS FORTUNATE HAVE TO KIND OF GO TO DR PARSONS AND SAY THIS IS WHAT I'M INTERESTED IN.

AND HE ALLOWED ME TO CREATE THIS UNDERWATER MEDIA POSITION.

>> FOR MYSELF AND SOME VARIOUS DIFFERENT RESEARCH PROJECTS.

>> ONE OF THOSE RESEARCH PROJECTS ENDED UP BECOMING IMMERSIVE MARINE MEDIA FOR EXPLORATION.

>> RESEARCH, SCIENCE AND INTERACTIVE ACCESS.

BUT WHAT DOES THAT ACTUALLY MEAN?

BASICALLY, I'M TRYING TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN PEOPLE CARING ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT AND ACTUALLY UNDERSTANDING IT.

SO WHAT'S DIFFERENT ABOUT IMMERSION IS THIS SET UP IN PARTICULAR GIVES ME A FIRST PERSON POINT OF VIEW PERSPECTIVE.

AND WHEN YOU PUT ON THE HEADSET, YOU BECOME MY EYES AND YOU'RE NOT JUST LOOKING AT A SCIENTIFIC DIVER, YOU BECOME THE SCIENTIFIC DIVER AFTER WHAT SHE CALLED THE PRODUCTION PHASE IN THE FALL SEMESTER.

THIS SPRING, SHE'S ROLLING OUT THE APPLICATION.

I'M MOVING MORE QUANTIFY ABUL ANALYSIS OF THIS PROJECT AND KIND OF UNDERSTANDING THE STATISTICS AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS BEHIND IT.

AND 2, HOW BENEFICIAL THIS VIRTUAL REALITY TECHNOLOGY CAN REALLY BE SPECIFICALLY FOR SCIENTIFIC DIVERS, BUT ALSO EXPLORING OUTSIDE CONNECTIONS WITH THAT AS WELL.

>> HER FIRST TESTS ARE FOR THE FGCU SCIENTIFIC DIVERS.

>> SO WITH THAT, WE'RE SEEKING TO ASSESS DOES IT MAKE THEM UNDERSTAND THEIR EXPECTATIONS AS DIVERS BETTER OR DO THEY UNDERSTAND THE DIVE SITE?

BETTER TODAY MAYBE FEEL LESS ANXIOUS OR LESS STRESSED ABOUT THE UPCOMING DIVE AND FROM A NON VIRUS STANDPOINT, WE'RE ALSO HOPING TO KIND OF, LIKE I SAID, MAKE THAT UNDERWATER WORLD MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR PEOPLE WHO MAY BE USED TO BE DIVERS AND CAN'T EAT ANYMORE OR JUST CARE ABOUT THE UNDERWATER WORLD AND WANT TO EXPERIENCE IT IN ANY WAY.

>> I'M TAKING THIS TECHNOLOGY BEYOND SCUBA DIVING IS WHAT INTEREST DR BRENT JACKSON.

SO WE REALLY WANT TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF ER CAN HAVE IN TERMS OF BEING A TEACHING TOOL, BUT ALSO.

>> AND ITS IMPACT MAY BE FOR PSYCHOLOGY.

A LOT OF WORK.

IT LOOKS AT THE WELL-BEING BENEFITS ASSOCIATE WITH SPENDING TIME OUTSIDE.

AND INCREASINGLY WE RECOGNIZE THAT WHEN YOU SPEND TIME OUTSIDE, YOU'RE EATING A LOT OF BENEFITS.

THEY WILL GAIN BENEFITS.

THINGS LIKE STRESS REDUCTION.

FERRIES ARE GOING OUTSIDE, REDUCES YOUR STRESS, REDUCES YOUR ANXIETY.

AND I'M REALLY CURIOUS IF DR A GREEN AND BLUE SPACES CAN PROVIDE THOSE SAME BENEFITS.

AND SO USING SURVEY INSTRUMENTS WERE ACTUALLY ABLE TO DETERMINE WHETHER PEOPLE FEEL THE RESTORED OF POTENTIAL OF VR EXPERIENCE IN A PUBLIC SPACE LIKE A DIVE.

>> ZABEL ALSO SEES THE BENEFIT OF A MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH FOR THE PROJECT.

>> SO I HAVEN'T HAD THE MOST AMOUNT OF EXPERIENCE.

BUT FROM WHAT I'VE LEARNED IN THIS FIELD IS THAT IT'S DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO CARE ABOUT THINGS.

IF THEY CAN'T UNDERSTAND THEM AND IN A MERGER REALLY SEEKS TO BRIDGE THAT GAP AND ALLOW PEOPLE TO FULLY IMMERSE THEMSELVES IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND GIVE THEM A TANGIBLE REASON TO CARE >> YOU CAN SEE MORE OF AS ALWAYS VIDEO WORK AS PART OF WGCUS UPCOMING DOCUMENTARY ON FGCUS RESEARCH REEF CALLED TIMBER LEASE RACE.

COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, BRINGING THE POWER GRID TO THE DIGITAL AGE.

WE LEARNED ABOUT THE LOCAL COMPANY BEING RECOGNIZED FOR ITS DEVELOPMENTS IN VIRTUAL UTILITIES.

CHANGING THE WORLD CAN BEGIN WITH A SIMPLE IDEA FOR THE BONITA SPRINGS BASED E2 COMPANIES.

IT BECAME ABOUT GLOBAL ENERGY ISSUES AND DEVELOPING ENERGY RESILIENCY AND RELIABILITY FOR COMPANIES.

THE COMPANY SOLUTION CREATE THE INDUSTRY'S FIRST VIRTUAL UTILITY AS WGCUS EMMA RODRIGUEZ EXPLAINS THE CONCEPT WAS BRAZEN AND INNOVATIVE ENOUGH THAT E 2 COMPANIES HAS NOW BEEN NAMED A FINALIST FOR THE PRESTIGIOUS EDISON AWARD.

>> EAT WHO'S MISSION IS TO GIVE AN INTERRUPT DOUBLE POWER TO CUSTOMERS.

SCOTT CALLED THE VICE PRESIDENT OF PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT FOR THE COMPANY SAYS THAT THEIR CUSTOMER BASE IS WIDE RANGING AND EVER GROWING.

>> DATA CENTERS ESCORT TO BE A BIG CUSTOMER OF OURS IN THE FUTURE.

COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL AGRICULTURE IN A BIT.

>> THE E 2 PRODUCT IN CONTENTION FOR AN EDISON AWARD IS ITS VIRTUAL UTILITY, AN ONSITE POWER SOURCE THAT CAN IMMEDIATELY HELP POWER GRIDS.

THE SYSTEM BY WHICH POWER IS GENERATED AND DISTRIBUTED IN A GIVEN REGION.

THIS UNIT POWERS EAT WHOSE ENTIRE BUILDING RIGHT NOW AROUND 30 ARE DISTRIBUTED ACROSS THE U.S.

AND INTERNATIONALLY, FLORIDA POWER AND LIGHT IS THE BIRD OF SOUTH FLORIDA'S POWER GRID.

THIS DEMONSTRATES AN ISSUE, THE 2 FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT JAMES RICHMOND CALLS ENERGY SOVEREIGNTY FOR THE RIGHT TO CONTROL.

MORE THAN ONE SOURCE OF POWER, ESPECIALLY IN EMERGENCIES.

>> LUSHER SELLING LEMONADE ON THE CORNER FOR CASH.

HE PROBABLY POWER TO DO SOMETHING IN YOUR LIFE.

IF YOU'RE DEPENDING ON ONE SOURCE FOR YOUR POWER, WHICH IS FBO, YOU DON'T HAVE ENERGY SOUR.

WHAT YOU HAVE IS A CRISIS.

IF YOU LOSE POWER.

RICHMOND SAYS ENERGY FROM VIRTUAL UTILITY UNITS IS INTENDED TO SUPPLEMENT THE EXISTING POWER GRID.

>> WHICH ALLOWS CUSTOMERS TO RELY ON ITS POWER IN THE EVENT THAT THE GRID FAILS.

THIS HAS HUGE IMPLICATIONS FOR GROWING COMMUNITIES IN FLORIDA.

RICHMOND SAYS THIS WILL ALSO HELP OFFSET NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL AND ELECTRICAL IMPACTS CAUSED BY BIG ENERGY CONSUMERS LIKE INDUSTRIAL COMPANIES AND HOUSING COMPLEXES VIRTUAL UTILITY'S ABILITY TO GO OFF THE GRID IS ANOTHER OPTION FOR SAVING RESOURCES.

>> SO IF YOU HAVE LARGE ENERGY USERS WITH THESE TYPE OF SYSTEMS, WHAT FPL ANOTHER'S DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT AS WELL.

I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THIS LARGE LOAD IT INSTANTANEOUSLY.

IF THERE'S A PROBLEM, THEY'RE GOING TO GO OFF THE GRID WHICH HELPS BE RUN THE GREAT FOR EVERYBODY ELSE.

THE E 2 TEAM HOPES TO FORGE AGREEMENTS WITH LOCAL EMERGENCY OPERATION CENTERS.

>> FPL AND HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS TO COLLABORATE ON MORE ENERGY REDUNDANCY.

THE TEAM ALSO SAYS THAT VIRTUAL UTILITY WILL ULTIMATELY LOWER UTILITY BILL COSTS FOR LAYPEOPLE.

THEY'RE GRATEFUL THEY'VE GARNERED THE ATTENTION TO WARRANT A SPOT ON THE EDISON AWARDS STAGE.

>> I HAVE A A BIG TEAM ENGINEERS, ELECTRICAL MECHANICAL VENDORS AND SUPPLIERS STRATEGIC PARTNERS THAT HAVE HELPED TO BUILD THIS AND REALLY NICE TO SEE THAT IT'S GET RECOGNIZED NOT ONLY BY OUR CUSTOMERS, BY BY THIS OF WORK.

>> FOR WGCU NEWS, IM EMMA RODRIGUEZ.

>> YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THE E2 COMPANIES, VIRTUAL UTILITY AND OTHER INNOVATIONS AS PART OF THIS YEAR'S EDISON AWARDS THAT EVENT TAKES PLACE IN FORT MYERS.

COMING UP ON APRIL, 15TH AND 16TH, YOU CAN LEARN MORE AT EDISON AWARDS .COM.

COMING UP ON OUR NEXT PROGRAM, THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN IS HAVING AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA AIRPORT.

NOW ICE OFFICERS ARE BEING BROUGHT IN TO BOLSTER SOME AIRPORT SECURITY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

MAKE SURE YOU HEAD TO WGCU .ORG THAT'S WHERE YOU'LL FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES.

HAVE A GREAT EVENING WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN RIGHT HERE ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.