Agenda

Description

A fireside chat with LAMINA1 CEO Rebecca Barkin and Odeon Theatrical CEO Stephanie Riggs on the unique challenges of concepting, designing, and delivering moving and intuitive experiences in immersive mediums. We’ll dive deep into the design challenges stifling Web3 and the development of thriving open virtual worlds, as well as large-scale interactive experience design, and practical strategies for creating meaningful interaction that invites mainstream adoption.

Speakers

Rebecca Barkin

CEO , Lamina1

Stephanie Riggs

Founder , Ink & Paint

Description

Welcome to Metaverse Melodies, a groundbreaking live pitch competition where three teams pitch their musical creation to a panel of producers as they vie for the chance to bring their productions to life in virtual reality. In this high-stakes, high-energy session, witness the future of Broadway and live entertainment as it unfolds in the metaverse. The winner will receive the ultimate prize: a full-scale production of their show in virtual reality.. Be part of this pioneering journey that shatters traditional barriers and creates a more inclusive and accessible world of theater, where artists, producers, and crew members come together to build a thriving, equitable ecosystem.

Don't miss out on the chance to witness the birth of the next generation of Broadway and live entertainment, where creativity knows no bounds, and technology takes center stage. Come and be inspired by the rich, diverse stories that will captivate audiences and elevate humanity, both on and beyond the virtual stage.

Speakers

Tim Kashani

CEO & Co-Founder , Apples and Oranges

Pamela Winslow Kashani

Co-Founder , Apples and Oranges

Christopher Sepulveda

Film, Theatre & XR Producer , Apples and Oranges

Description

Ori Inbar, CEO and cofounder of AWE, will welcome attendees to the 14th annual AWE USA 2023 event with the theme: XR is Everywhere!

He will kick off with his annual update about the state of the XR industry and where it's headed, and will follow up with "Metaverse Unplugged" - a super-fan conversation with Neal Stephenson - the legendary author who coined the term Metaverse.

Speakers

Neal Stephenson

Co-Founder , Lamina1

Ori Inbar

Co-Founder , AWE and Super Ventures

Description

In this strategy-forward session, Prince will outline MicroOLED's principles for mass adoption of AR with a focus on commercial/enterprise applications. The session will address what's holding back AR, and propose a path forward to accellerate adoption across a range of use cases from navigation and wayfinding to process and procedure, which can all be addressed with MicroOLED's Light AR solution, today.

Speakers

Mark Prince

GM and Chief Commercial Officer | ENGO , MicroOLED

Description

In this session, we will explore the design aspects of BenVision, an accessible AR experience utilizing a Technology-Centered Design approach. We will discuss the integration of Camera Vision and AI in AR and the role of soundscapes in shaping emotions within XR environments. Our speakers will share their expertise in developing an immersive and accessible experience for vision-impaired individuals.

Using BenVision as a case study, we will investigate how the project enhances the world's experiential appreciation for visually impaired individuals through sound. We will cover our approach to effectively conveying object presence using sound in AR glasses and address ambience, musical soundscapes, and spatial audio features. Additionally, we will discuss our methodology for categorizing object characteristics based on sound qualities.

The session will touch on design principles from both UX and audio perspectives, emphasizing best practices for creating accessible XR experiences that promote functionality and emotional connections. Attendees will gain insights into designing for technology and humanity in the ever-evolving landscape of emerging technologies like XR.

Speakers

Lucas Thin

Design Technologist, Scholar , DesignSingapore Council

Soobin Ha

Audio Designer | Team Benvision , Velan Studios

Description

Join a timely and compelling conversation between product leaders across the field of XR wearables. Nexus Studios hosts a roundtable between innovators at Qualcomm, T-Mobile, and Meta, to explore both present and future trends in HMD AR applications. Spanning both consumer and enterprise solutions, from personal computing, to remote work, to multiuser gaming, hear how professionals are thinking about, preparing for, and executing on the upcoming era of HMD-based augmented reality. What projects, products, and processes will inspire you to see the world anew?

Speakers

Monica Arés

Founder , Th3 Third Door

Martin Herdina

Sr. Director XR , Qualcomm

Pablo Colapinto

Head of Immersive , Nexus Studios

Cerilenne Menendez Mendoza

XR Lead , T-Mobile

Description

We often think of mixed reality as blurring the lines between reality and fiction - and do that effectively, developers have long battled to make virtual and augmented worlds more realistic and immersive. Significant progress has been made in displays, haptics, motion tracking, and graphics, but what role does generative AI have to play? And how can developers leverage AI to unlock a new frontier in mixed reality?

AI-driven characters will pave the way for new forms of entertainment, education, and communication. Join Inworld and our partners Niantic and Liquid City in a discussion on developing mixed reality experiences with intelligent characters.

Speakers

Kylan Gibbs

CPO , Inworld AI

Ernestine Fu

General Partner , Brave Capital

Keiichi Matsuda

Director , Liquid City

Maryam Sabour

Head of Business, Platform & AR Headsets , Niantic

Description

It is indisputable that technology evolves faster than the ethical use of that technology. This results in inequitable systems that benefit the majority who developed the system while excluding the minority who were outside the scope of participation.

Blockchain and Web3 technologies must be available and usable by all individuals, regardless of their physical or cognitive abilities. However, because of the decentralized approach to development, no one appears to be accountable for making this happen. Making Blockchain and Web3 technologies accessible to individuals with disabilities can increase the potential user base for these technologies, creating new market opportunities. Blockchain and Web3 will face many regulatory hurdles. Making them accessible will remove a regulatory objection in countries that have strong accessibility laws. Many technologies in use every day, such as Siri and Speech to Text, were initially invented for people with disabilities. These are known as curb cuts, named for the dips in street corners that allow wheelchair users to get from one side to the other without assistance however 99 % of the users are not disabled. Including more diversity in developers, including individuals with disabilities, can lead to new and innovative solutions, approaches, and curb cuts that may not have been considered otherwise. Finally, Improving accessibility and disability inclusion will improve the experience for all users, not just those with disabilities, which will lead to increased adoption and usage of Blockchain and Web3.

Speakers

Sheri Byrne-Haber

Senior Staff, Accessibility Architect , VMware

Description

Listen in on a conversation with Meta & Immerse as they discuss the opportunities & pitfalls that come with building a virtual world focused on education. This will be both a lively and candid conversation sharing their behind the scenes experience pioneering cutting edge technology and learning how to balance pedagogical efficacy, quality user experience and scaling a go-to-market strategy.

Speakers

Description

In the multisensory virtual experience, the interplay of sight, sound, and touch simulation can enhance our sense of immersion, embodiment, and delight. How far away are we from achieving that? How can we integrate visual, audio, and haptic interfaces to create more compelling experiences? How can we use these tools today to facilitate genuine connection and communication – and what advances do we want to watch out for?

Our panelists will share learnings and observations from their research and development work to exceed the expectations of customers who want new, tactile experiences and unique personal environments. Join us to explore how multisensory experiences might affect the ways in which we create our real (and virtual) spaces.

Speakers

Linda Jacobson

Director of Marketing , HaptX

Jacquelyn Morie

Founder, Chief Scientist , All These Worlds, LLC

Tom Carter

CEO & Co-Founder , Ultraleap

Laura Kusumoto

Enterprise XR Program Manager , Creator

Kip Haynes

Sr. Creative Technologist , Lowe's

Description

Few people believed that the internet would be preferred to television and that a subscription system would be preferred to a one-time purchase, but it happened. And that's because someone prepared for success in advance. Created their blue ocean. Set the sails in advance. Do you see what I mean?

Now, AR is already shining on the market, but an important event for the entire tech world looms on the horizon: the long-awaited release of AR glasses. Giants such as Apple and Samsung are planning their release as early as 2023, and with them, the Quest ecosystem from Meta is actively developing. Imagine that those long-awaited AR glasses are already in your hands. What will you do with them?

Most admit that they are more likely to just twirl the glasses in their hands, try them on a couple of times and then just put them away for a long time. That's because they don't have a user behavior pattern. So, no need to wait for the wind, grab the sail and set it now. After all, AR exists not only in rare expensive gadgets but also in your personal smartphone. If for some reason you think that AR is out of your way and that such behavioral patterns have nothing to do with you, then let's look at AR from the other side.

And to do this, let's discuss the following questions.

- What kind of content will we need tomorrow and how do we start applying it today? What technologies are needed to create it?

- Looking for effective use of AR for the tasks of clients, business? Learning to measure.

- New AR professions of the future

- Don't wait for mass production of AR glasses. How to teach clients and partners to work with AR?

- What can the community start doing today?

Speakers

Anna Belova

CEO & Founder , DEVAR

Description

Enterprises face common challenges with XR, from overcoming the uncertainty of Metaverse hype to understanding how to start and scale XR implementation and the best products to get you there. Slalom and PIXO VR have partnered to help enterprises cut through the noise and confusion in the XR market. Come learn how we are combining the best XR strategists with the best XR platform and products, plus elite customer care all along the way, to help enterprises run successful XR programs.

Speakers

Sean Hurwitz

CEO, Founder , PIXO VR

Tamarah Usher

Senior Director, Slalom Strategy + Innovation , Slalom

Description

In this panel discussion, we will talk to three XR champions and leaders who have led successful large-scale deployments at Wal-Mart, Axon, and the Veteran’s Health Administration. While we often are caught up in what the future of XR may be, many need to realize the power that XR is bringing to major organizations today.

You will hear how they are using XR, the results of using VR in their organization, the challenges they faced, and how they scaled their programs. The future is bright for XR, but it is already radically changing how we learn, work, and heal.

Speakers

Robert Murphy

Sr. Director, Virtual Reality , Axon

Jarrad Nagel

Senior Manager - Global Learning Innovations , Walmart

Caitlin Rawlins

Deputy Director, Clinical Tech Innovation , Veterans Affairs

David Burch

Sales Director , ArborXR

Description

In this talk we'll explore the technology stack required for creating generative XR experiences. We'll discuss the various components of the stack, including the XR platform, programming languages, libraries, and frameworks, and explain how they all work together to create immersive and interactive experiences. Our focus will be on selecting the right XR platform, programming language, libraries, and frameworks for your specific generative XR project. We'll also dive into implementing generative techniques such as procedural generation and artificial intelligence to create unique and engaging experiences. Additionally, we'll discuss the current limitations of generative AI in XR development and the potential benefits and challenges of using generative AI in XR. By the end of the talk, listeners will be equipped with the knowledge and tools to start exploring the possibilities of generative XR and be aware of the current limitations and future possibilities.

Speakers

Jasmine Roberts

Research Engineer , Microsoft Research

Description

Are you staying ahead of the curve on the immense potential of VR and Eye Tracking? Join us for a presentation to explore the latest trends and success stories of how these cutting-edge technologies have transformed various industries. Discover how VR and eye tracking are revolutionizing areas such as brain health assessments and therapy, vision care, aviation training, and more with real-world examples and practical applications that deliver accurate and efficient solutions.

Speakers

Robert Malmström

Product Manager , Tobii

Amanda Bentley

Senior Director of Integration Sales Americas , Tobii

Description

Join us to explore the exciting possibilities of the convergence of VR and eye-tracking technologies and discover how they can be harnessed to understand human conditions and develop groundbreaking solutions. Driving or working while impaired by drugs puts lives at risk. With the legalization of cannabis in many states, the need for reliable impairment detection technology has never been more critical. In this presentation, you will learn how Gaize is pushing the boundaries of innovation by using cutting-edge VR and Tobii eye-tracking technologies to develop a non-invasive, automated, and rapid impairment detection device that is significantly more accurate than even the best-trained humans.

Speakers

Johan Bouvin

Senior Director of Sales and Business Development , Tobii

Ken Fichtler

Founder & CEO , Gaize

Description

While AR and VR technologies focus on bringing everything virtual, there are a number of people bringing it back into the real world. This panel will bring together a dynamic, diverse group of trailblazers that create new experiences incorporating robotics and XR technology. There will be a discussion of hardware and software that enables technology, common challenges and how you can think about linking the real world with the virtual world. If you have ever wanted to found a startup, create entertainment on or off stage or develop useful robots you should come to this talk to better understand what it entails.

Speakers

Giulio Corradi

Fellow , AMD

Russell Nickerson

Partnerships Engagement , MassRobotics

James Tukpah

PhD Candidate Research Assistant , Northeastern University

Colin Gallacher

President & Co-Founder , Haply Robotics

Description

svarmony revolutionizes indoor navigation with aryve, the cutting-edge augmented reality platform that is transforming the way we explore and experience indoor spaces.

In this presentation, we will delve into the breakthrough technology behind the aryve and how VPS systems have a high potential for disrupting industries, improving user experiences, and generating new business opportunities.

Join us as we navigate the uncharted territory of AR indoor wayfinding and unveil the possibilities it offers.

Speakers

Sascha Kiener

Founder & Owner , svarmony Technologies Inc.

Description

News organizations were one of the first to embrace 360VR content. Now Paramount’s CBS News Bay Area and CreatorUp have taken immersive storytelling back into the spotlight. In the last 5 months, five customized storytelling projects set engagement and viewership records as Scott Warren from Paramount and Dan Krolczyk from CreatorUp were able to merge teams to remove obstacles. Join the session for an opportunity to see the fifth season finale’ of stories that range from the snowcapped mountains of Tahoe to raging Pacific outside the Golden Gate Bridge. Learn more about how Insta360, HTC Vive and other partners helped along the way.

Speakers

Dan Krolczyk

Director of Global Partnerships , ELB Learning

Scott Warren

President & General Mgr of KPIX & KBCW & CBS News Bay Area Stream , Paramount

Description

Creating a new reality with Snapdragon Powered Devices: Join Said Bakadir, Sr Director of XR Product Management at Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. as he leads a lively discussion with XR OEMs about the challenges they face and the successes they have achieved in XR.

Speakers

Yi Xu

Director of XR Technology , OPPO

Said Bakadir

Sr. Director, Product Management , Qualcomm

Brian Hamilton

VP, Sales and Marketing , DigiLens

Vishal Shah

General Manager, XR & Metaverse , Lenovo