Agenda

Description

Advances in XR technology raise important socio-technological issues – not the least of which is the potential for unprecedented insight into users’ behaviors, preferences, and mental processes.
That said, however, the adoption of XR technology need not and should not be an “us (the consumer) versus them (the industry)” scenario. Instead, industry and civil rights advocates should work together to tackle privacy challenges and ensure we get forthcoming policies and best practices right. Because XR is still relatively nascent, we have the opportunity to avoid mistakes of the past and develop this technology with a more informed, cleared-eyed approach. The XR industry and XR users should be partners in this process.
This panel will explore the ways in which the XR industry, civil society, policymakers, and other stakeholders can work together to advance the greater good. We will discuss the influence of civil society; the role of law and policymakers; the science behind XR technology and the challenges privacy by design presents to engineers; and the opportunity for industry to help lead the way.

Speakers

Michael Richards

Director of Policy , U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Carlos Gutierrez

Deputy Director and General Counsel , LGBT Technology Partnership & Institute

Joan V. O'Hara

Vice President of Public Policy , XR Association

Sandy Kunvatanagarn

Reality Labs Policy Manager , Meta

Geo Saba

Chief of Staff to Rep. Ro Khanna , U.S. House of Representatives

Description

The Metaverse is coming and it will impact all our lives before the current decade is out. As an industry pioneer who began working in AR and VR over thirty years ago, I have a broad perspective on where the field has been and where it's going. And right now, I am both excited and concerned. Excited because the momentum has finally hit critical mass. Concerned because of the very real prospect that large corporations could bring the destabilizing features of social media into the Metaverse. To address this, I have been calling for sensible regulation of metaverse platforms to help ensure the technology rolls out in a positive way. This talk will address this important issue by answering three key questions: (1) What will the metaverse really be like when widely deployed? (2) What are the most significant risks consumers will face? and (3) What are the most helpful and sensible forms of regulation to avoid the metaverse becoming a destabilizing force like social media?

Speakers

Louis Rosenberg

CEO and Chief Scientist , Unanimous AI

Description

Emerging technology looks to reshape not just what entertainment is, but how we connect and work with each other everyday. This presentation will include intersectional minorities in emergent VR and AR development to discuss the steps needed towards creating for equity instead of only equality. It will serve as an educational opportunity to guide newcomers and veterans alike to practice inclusive frameworks throughout every stage of a project's life cycle. Our discussion will innovatively push the boundaries of how people perceive the metaverse and its potential impact on the VR/AR community.

Speakers

Doug Smith

Director of Learning Success , HoloPundits

Adrian Rashad Driscoll

Head of Immersive , Collimation

Dana Ware

Creative Creative Officer , ARound

Description

Join for a discussion around the security/seamier side of the Metaverse and how we can establish trust and keep safety top of mind as we develop the infrastructure and regulations around immersive and emerging technologies.

Speakers

Elvis Chan

Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAC) , FBI

Sophia Moshasha

Podcast Host & DC Chapter VP , VR/AR Association

Joel Scharlat

Director of Operations , Cyber Bytes Foundation

Description

The metaverse is enabling us to explore new horizons of inclusivity across every sector. We have the opportunity and the responsibility to build a safe online space with radical inclusive principles at its core. No longer defined by the physical space we can create bespoke experiences that reflect audiences' needs and create a technology led equitable future, whilst keeping these spaces safe for all.
Featuring two leading experts from the UK cultural and academic sectors, this talk will draw on a range of international projects in which they have played vital roles. Asking questions and providing practical solutions to how the metaverse can act as a catalyst to rethink our shared future, and how embracing new technologies can encourage fresh perspectives, future thinking, and a radical approach to inclusion and access.
Takeaways:
• How utilising the metaverse can benefit telling cultural narratives.
• What can we expect from the next generation of experiences, festivals, and events?
• How do we meaningfully address the challenge of making content that is truly inclusive?
• Offer practical solutions to inclusivity and safety in the metaverse.

Speakers

Helen Davies

Research Fellow , University of South Wales

Description

In today's world technology is ubiquitous. COVID-19 has taught us that we can live and operate in a virtual world. We as a society rely on technology more than ever, from doing our jobs to running our homes to education. The future of tomorrow will bring more immersive technologies to everyday use for younger and younger audiences. This talk is meant to spark concerns and curiosity from the technical and non-technical audience about children's safety and well-being in the XR ecosystems aka the Metaverse.

We’ll explore hypothetical scenarios and ask difficult questions to ensure we’re protecting the next generation to the best of our ability. Malicious use of these technologies can lead to psychological, physical, reputational, social, and economic harm and put children at risk. In this session, XRSI founder Kavya Pearlman and advisory board member Kai Frazier explore the potential opportunities and risks in XR systems, understand how to mitigate them and how to better protect children and young people as we move fast into the Metaverse. This session will approach the topic from multiple different directions. An introduction to the Metaverse, and child safety specific challenges, concerns, constraints overlap and the types of threats children experience and may experience in the future. This includes discussion on issues of privacy and trust in the context of child safety and well-being. Finally, framing how the industry can respond to these challenges: what research and development are needed in order to move from research prototypes and early demonstrators to a secure, reliable, and trustworthy Metaverse that can play a more significant role in everyday life.

Speakers

Kai Frazier

Founder & CEO , Curated x Kai

Kavya Pearlman

Founder & CEO , XR Safety Initiative

Description

We all know that harassment is an issue in XR, but why does this happen and what can we do about it? Join our panel of experts, who have extensive experience working with the targets of abuse and designing the policies and systems to address it. You'll leave this talk with concrete suggestions about how companies, designers, and XR users can encourage positive user behaviors to create safer digital worlds with space for everyone.

Speakers

Queenie Wong

Reporter , CNET

Brittan Heller

Counsel , Atlantic Council

Jordan Fieulleteau

Reality Labs Policy Manager , Meta

Jessica Outlaw

Research Director , The Extended Mind

Description

Nonprofits need creative ways to capture attention, funding, and supporters. There is so much competition for dollars along with challenges in getting your message in front of the right audience. Many organizations aren't able to show their donors the impact, particularly nonprofits that work overseas. As the world becomes more digital, innovative organizations like Hope for Haiti are using VR to transport people to Haiti, in a totally immersive setting. Hope for Haiti and FXG partnered to design an interactive social app, optimized for the Oculus Quest. Users can explore a three classroom school (modeled off an actual school in Haiti) and roam a rural Haitian landscape. The app is designed to provide a hands-on experience and give users a more positive perception of the country, by building a connection to the environment. Since the app’s inception, Hope for Haiti raised funds through a VR NFT auction, was highlighted in XR publications, and connected with new supporters and donors. Hope for Haiti aims to be a roadmap for other nonprofits to embrace VR as a way to share their work and mission. The Hope for Haiti app is available for free download on SideQuest.

Speakers

Sarah Porter

Dir. of Innovative Philanthropy , Hope for Haiti