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Interview: Unlocking XR Scalability with Sarah Chen, CTO of HorizonXR
A Techronicler interview with Sarah Chen, Chief Executive Officer, HorizonXR Innovations
The extended reality (XR) market is on track to reach a staggering $250 billion by 2028, according to McKinsey’s 2024 report, fueled by a 250% surge in search interest over the past five years, as noted by Exploding Topics in 2025.
Yet, scalability remains a critical challenge, with 70% of companies lacking the IT infrastructure to deploy XR effectively, per Gartner’s 2025 tech trends.
To explore solutions, we sat down with Sarah Chen, Chief Technology Officer at HorizonXR, a trailblazing company revolutionizing healthcare through XR surgical training and patient care platforms.
In this interview, Sarah shares her vision for overcoming IT bottlenecks, a practical solution to boost XR scalability, and actionable advice for healthcare organizations eager to harness XR’s transformative potential.
Techronicler:
Sarah Chen:
Yet, scalability remains a critical challenge, with 70% of companies lacking the IT infrastructure to deploy XR effectively, per Gartner’s 2025 tech trends.
To explore solutions, we sat down with Sarah Chen, Chief Technology Officer at HorizonXR, a trailblazing company revolutionizing healthcare through XR surgical training and patient care platforms.
In this interview, Sarah shares her vision for overcoming IT bottlenecks, a practical solution to boost XR scalability, and actionable advice for healthcare organizations eager to harness XR’s transformative potential.
Techronicler:
Gartner’s 2025 report highlights that 70% of companies lack the IT infrastructure for XR. In healthcare, what specific IT limitations are most problematic, and why do they hinder XR adoption?
Sarah Chen:
In healthcare, the biggest issues are outdated server architectures and insufficient network bandwidth. XR applications, like our VR surgical simulators, require 10-20 Mbps per user for low-latency streaming, but 60% of U.S. hospitals operate on 4G or basic Wi-Fi, per a 2024 FCC study. Legacy EHR systems also struggle to integrate with XR data, creating silos that disrupt workflows.
These limitations cause lag, crashes, or poor resolution, which are unacceptable in high-stakes settings like operating rooms, where 95% of clinicians demand real-time performance, according to our user feedback.
Techronicler:
If you were asked to recommend one solution to improve XR scalability in healthcare, could you elaborate on your proposed solution and explain how it addresses the IT backbone gap?
Sarah Chen:
My solution is adopting cloud-native XR platforms with edge computing integration. By hosting XR applications on scalable cloud infrastructure—like AWS or Azure—and using edge nodes for local processing, we can offload heavy computational tasks from hospital servers.
This reduces latency by 40% and cuts on-site hardware costs by 30%, based on our 2024 pilot with Mercy Health. Edge computing ensures critical data stays local for compliance with HIPAA, while the cloud scales to handle thousands of simultaneous users. It’s a plug-and-play model that lets even small clinics deploy XR without a $1 million IT overhaul, which IDC estimates is typical for mid-sized firms.
Techronicler:
Can you share a real-world example where this scalability solution enabled successful XR deployment? What were the key outcomes?
Sarah Chen:
Absolutely. In 2024, we partnered with St. Luke’s Medical Center in Chicago to roll out our VR surgical training platform across their network. Their legacy servers couldn’t support 50 concurrent VR sessions, so we implemented a cloud-native solution with edge nodes.
Within three months, training capacity increased from 10 to 200 surgeons monthly, with 98% user satisfaction. The hospital saved $500,000 in hardware upgrades, reduced training costs by 25%, and saw a 15% drop in procedural errors during live surgeries. It’s proof that cloud-edge XR can scale fast and deliver ROI.
Techronicler:
Implementing scalability solutions often requires significant investment, with XR infrastructure costs averaging $500,000-$1 million for mid-sized firms, per IDC 2024. How can healthcare organizations, especially smaller ones, justify this investment, and what role do partnerships play?
Sarah Chen:
The cost can seem daunting, but the ROI is compelling. Our St. Luke’s pilot showed a 3:1 return within 18 months, driven by reduced training expenses and better patient outcomes. Smaller organizations can start with subscription-based cloud XR platforms, costing as little as $10,000 annually, versus $500,000 for on-premises setups.
Partnerships are key—working with vendors like HorizonXR or cloud providers like Microsoft, which offers XR-ready Azure solutions, spreads costs. Open-source XR frameworks, like OpenXR, also lower development expenses by 20%, per a 2024 Omdia report, making it feasible for clinics with tight budgets.
Techronicler:
Looking ahead, how do you envision XR scalability evolving by 2028, when the market is expected to hit $250 billion? Are there emerging technologies or trends that could accelerate progress in healthcare?
Sarah Chen:
By 2028, I see 6G and AI-driven optimization as game-changers. 6G, with speeds 100 times faster than 5G, could slash XR latency to under 1ms, enabling seamless telesurgery, per a 2025 Nokia study. AI can optimize XR rendering, cutting bandwidth needs by 30%, which is critical for rural hospitals. We’re also seeing trends like modular XR headsets, reducing device costs by 40%.
Healthcare must prepare by investing in 5G upgrades now—only 25% of U.S. hospitals are 5G-ready, per HIMSS—and training IT staff in XR integration, as 50% lack the skills, per Gartner.
Techronicler:
For tech professionals or business leaders inspired to enter the XR space, what skills would you recommend they prioritize to contribute to scalable XR solutions in healthcare?
Sarah Chen:
Focus on three areas: cloud architecture, 3D modeling, and cybersecurity. Cloud skills, like AWS or Azure, are essential for building scalable XR platforms—demand for these roles grew 35% in 2024, per LinkedIn. 3D modeling expertise, using tools like Unity or Unreal Engine, is critical for creating immersive medical simulations; 60% of XR developers cite it as a top need.
Cybersecurity is non-negotiable, with 70% of healthcare breaches tied to weak systems, per Gartner. Certifications like CompTIA Security+ or AWS Cloud Practitioner are great starting points, and bootcamps can upskill professionals in 6-12 months.
Techronicler:
Thank you, Sarah, for illuminating the path to scalable XR in healthcare. Your cloud-native, edge-integrated solution offers a blueprint for overcoming the 70% IT backbone gap, paving the way for hospitals to harness the $250 billion XR market by 2028. From slashing surgical errors to empowering rural clinics, your vision at HorizonXR showcases XR’s potential to revolutionize patient care. We look forward to seeing your continued leadership in this transformative field.
Sarah Chen:
Thank you for the opportunity to share HorizonXR’s vision for scalable XR in healthcare. I’m thrilled to see the enthusiasm for our cloud-native, edge-integrated approach, which we believe can bridge the 70% IT gap and unlock the $250 billion XR market by 2028. It’s incredibly rewarding to work toward a future where XR reduces surgical errors and brings advanced care to rural communities. I’m grateful for your support and excited to continue driving innovation at HorizonXR to transform patient outcomes. Stay tuned for more breakthroughs as we push the boundaries of what’s possible in healthcare!
Sarah Chen is CEO of HorizonXR Innovations, a pioneer in XR healthcare solutions. With 15 years in health tech, including leadership roles at Stanford HealthTech Lab and Microsoft’s HoloLens division, she drives scalable innovations that enhance patient outcomes and clinician efficiency.