Agenda

Description

Realistic avatars are fundamental to VR experiences. Avatar SDK leads the way in creating lifelike avatars from selfies. In this discussion, we'll delve into the state of the art and the challenges associated with creating recognizable avatars. Topics will include avatar customization, the uncanny valley, and methods for measuring avatar likeness, as well as the implications of deep fakes.

Speakers

Victor Erukhimov

CEO , Itseez3D

Description

As XR developers and artists, our work is strongly defined by interdisciplinary approaches and collaborations, driven by the interest in extending artistic-speculative concepts and spatial perception through immersive and interactive media. At Immerea, we are constantly driven to offer new and challenging perspectives on perception and interaction within the captivating realm of VR games with high artistic quality. As media artists, we thrive on exploring the intersection of experimental animation, immersive installations and hybrid performances, between physical and virtual realms. This talk focuses at the convergence of these two practices, where interdisciplinary approaches unlock new possibilities for both personal artistic expression as well as for the creative XR industries.

Speakers

Manuel Bonell

Cofounder and CEO , Immerea

Flavia Mazzanti

Cofounder and CCO , Immerea

Description

This fireside chat will explore the past, present and future of VR fitness, its problems and opportunities. We will discuss:

• How did VR fitness become a stable market with a strong following, high user retention and a fast-growing developer community?

• How do VR and VR fitness improve health and mobility, and how can they be used for injury recovery and rehabilitation?

• What are the new trends in VR hardware and how can developers and users benefit from them?

• What are the new opportunities in enterprise markets?

Speakers

Ivan Isakov

CTO , Valkyrie Industries

Keith Leddington

Director of Partnerships , FitXR

Description

More and more live entertainment companies are exploring 3D virtual worlds as a new content distribution channel, to engage audiences in new ways and explore new monetization opportunities. Sports has always been at the forefront of innovation and has been using data to augment the viewing experience for many years. Now we see important technology waves come together to change live sports entertainment forever.

This talk discusses how advances in artificial intelligence is making live 3D data, for example of athletes, available in real-time, and how paired with the increasing adoption of 3D interfaces, this allows for a completely new live sports experience. We cover the state of the art of generating live 3D data, who the key players are (companies like Hawkeye, Beyond Sports, Move.ai etc.), and how it is used in a range of applications already today to provide fans at home a more immersive and interactive experience.

Speakers

Christoph Ortlepp

Co-Founder & COO , Virtex

Alexandra Nancarrow

Chief of Strategy & Partnerships , VR Motion Learning

Description

In this captivating abstract, visionary director Victoria Bousis will delve into the profound impact of virtual reality (VR) as a catalyst for empathetic engagement and compassionate policymaking. Bousis's latest creation, "Stay Alive My Son," a groundbreaking, immersive and interactive VR experience, recounts the powerful journey of Yathay Pin, a survivor of the Cambodian genocide who made the heart-wrenching decision to leave his young son behind for a chance at survival. Recently, “Stay Alive My Son,” won the Producers’ Guild Association Innovation Award for making movie history as a full-length and interactive VR narrative, by allowing audiences to become the protagonist and experience their story first-handedly.

Through the medium of VR, Bousis effectively conveys the emotions of ambiguous loss, regret, guilt, and unwavering hope for justice and reunion by allowing audiences to step into the shoes of a father and experience these emotions for themselves. As ordinary citizens and policymakers, by truly experiencing versus passively watching these emotions, they become vested personally, thereby humanizing the legal barriers and issues with a mission to change global policy for good.

Bousis's talk will extend beyond the immersive storytelling aspect, outlining the broader implications of "Stay Alive My Son" in mobilizing bottom up “community-driven initiatives” and top-down movements leading up to the United Nations’ Global Refugee Summit in Geneva in December. Her advocacy, combined with the emotive power of the VR experience, seeks to expedite family reunification processes in accordance with the United Nations' pledge to limit legal formalities to a 5-year cap, safeguarding the human right to family unity.

Having premiered in over 21 global festivals, including Venice, Cannes, and SXSW, and receiving countless awards, "Stay Alive My Son" has already proved its mettle. This session will offer an opportunity for Bousis to share insights into the adaptation process, technological advancements in digital humans, interactive spatial and game design used for interactive narratives, the intended impact of the project, and its future potential to inspire change.

Attendees can anticipate an inspiring discussion on leveraging technology for social change, highlighting the potential of VR to shape policies through deeply personal, human-centered storytelling, while also exploring its potential in illuminating untold stories for furthering social change.

Speakers

Victoria Bousis

Founder, Creative Director , UME Studios