AWE USA 2024 Since 2010 over 5000 companies and 60,000 professionals have trusted AWE to connect, learn and grow their business in the XR ecosystem. Join this inspiring community of XR professionals that brings together: <ul><li>End-users and solution providers,</li> <li>Investors and startups,</li> <li>Brands and creators and developers,</li> <li>Job seekers and recruiters</li> </ul>

Vijay Ravindran

CEO

Floreo

Vijay Ravindran, as the CEO of Floreo, amalgamates his extensive expertise from pivotal roles at Amazon and The Washington Post to spearhead innovation in immersive technology for autism therapy. His tenure as the Chief Digital Officer at The Washington Post saw groundbreaking advancements in digital media and content delivery, revolutionizing how news is consumed in the digital age. Ravindran's leadership, honed through his experiences at Amazon including leading the launch of Amazon Prime, underscores Floreo's mission to leverage virtual reality (VR) for transformative autism therapy. With a deep-rooted commitment to harnessing technology for societal benefit, his strategic vision intertwines lessons from the forefronts of tech and media, propelling Floreo as a pioneering force in utilizing VR to enhance the lives of individuals on the autism spectrum.

Innovation in Autism Care: Case Studies & Navigation of FDA Approval Process for XR Application

https://www.linkedin.com/in/vijayravindran/

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9:00 AM-9:25 AM

GRAND BALLROOM

Main Stage

Jun 18

Welcome Keynote

Ori Inbar - AWE and Super Ventures

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9:30 AM-9:55 AM

GRAND BALLROOM

Main Stage

Jun 18

Qualcomm Keynote

Alex Katouzian - Qualcomm

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10:00 AM-10:25 AM

GRAND BALLROOM

Main Stage

Jun 18

Meta Keynote

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10:30 AM-10:55 AM

GRAND BALLROOM

Main Stage

Jun 18

Snap Keynote

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11:00 AM-2:30 PM

Networking

Jun 18

LUNCH

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11:00 AM-5:30 PM

Exhibit Hall

Networking

Jun 18

Expo, Playground, Start-Ups, and XR Museum Hours

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11:55 AM-12:20 PM

Room 101B

Gaming, Entertainment & Media

Jun 18

Beyond the Game: Evolution of VR Sports Gaming into Live Entertainment & Immersive Fan Engagement

Cagan Sean Yuksel - Dreamspace
Troy Jones Jr. - StatusPro

In this fireside chat with Status Pro, we'll dive deep into the transformative journey of VR sports gaming, exploring its emergence as a vital medium for live broadcast entertainment and fan engagement. Key talking points will include: <ul><li>The integration of live sports broadcasting within VR platforms</li> <li>The role of VR in expanding the accessibility of sports to a broader audience</li> <li>Future possibilities exist for brands to create meaningful and engaging narratives within the VR sports domain</li> </ul>

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12:10 PM-12:35 PM

Room 103B

Healthcare & Wellness

Jun 18

Deploying XR for Veterans’ Care and Transition

Anne Lord Bailey - Veterans Affairs
Stephanie Montgomery - XR Association

For veterans, readjusting to life after service comes with challenges including finding/returning to a job, accessing mental and healthcare services, and reconnecting with their communities. A U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation found that 53% of veterans are unemployed for 4 months or longer after leaving the military, citing a lack of resources and skills needed for the workforce. Immersive technologies are already being employed in some cases, including with the Veteran Affairs Office, as a solution to several of these challenges. In fact, the VAO has been one of the leading industry adopters in virtual and augmented reality for a variety of use cases. In this fireside chat, discover how AI-driven XR is helping veterans overcome some of the challenges of returning to civilian life. From upskilling to pain management and mental health services, XR is helping those who sacrifice so much to keep our country safe.

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12:20 PM-12:45 PM

Room 103C

Collaboration, Training & Education

Jun 18

Successfully Integrating XR into Existing Training Product Offerings, from a Blended Learning Approach to Full GTM Strategy

Tom Ditzler - J.J. Keller & Associates
Sean Hurwitz - PIXO VR
Justin Malloy - LION

PIXO VR hosts J.J. Keller and LION Protects to highlight how they are creating the optimal learning experience by integrating XR into their learning product portfolios through a blended learning curriculum, technology stack integrations, and a strategic go-to-market strategy designed to increase revenue and improve training results. In this session we will not only tackle the value of a complete XR integration, but the challenges that come with it and why it is crucial to work with the right XR platform partner.

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12:25 PM-12:50 PM

Room 101B

Gaming, Entertainment & Media

Jun 18

Decoding Play: Navigating the Terrain of Toys, Puzzles, and Games in XR

Bernie Yee - Windup Minds

Oculus's Quest launch was built on the premise that games drive early adoption of general computing devices. We think this will be similarly true for MR (and eventually, AR). The allure of AR (and MR) is to mimic physical play affordances from the real world to the simulated; so many product proposals literally replicate physical toys and puzzles - and conflate them with games. This talk will disambiguate toys, puzzles and games, so you know what you're building, what to expect from audiences, and chart a clearer roadmap to engagement, retention, and delight. We will also talk about what makes a game 'better' in MR, and 'only possible' in MR - with the premise that those experiences are the ones that will capture imagination and drive adoption - the way Beat Saber did for VR. It will draw upon experiences from both Meta's VR work and AR Glasses work.

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12:30 PM-12:55 PM

Promenade Room 104B

Enterprise

Jun 18

ExxonMobil’s Digital Reality Ecosystem Journey

Kyle Daughtry - ExxonMobil
Athicha Dhanormchitphong - ExxonMobil

ExxonMobil has been on a journey to build a Digital Reality Ecosystem with the goal to transform the company to a more visual way of working. This ecosystem aims to seamlessly integrate visual technologies, big data, and real-time information to enhance operations across their assets. By leveraging 3D, immersive, and real-time visual technology, the aim is to reduce cognitive load and empower operators with critical information through a deeper level of context.

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12:30 PM-12:55 PM

Room 102A

Web3

Jun 18

Are You Ready to Create and/or Consume at the Speed of Light?

Rika Nakazawa - NTT

As Gen AI technologies proliferate across governments, societies, and industries (especially Web 3, XR, Metaverse) the demand for computing infrastructure to power digital systems and economies will skyrocket. Data volume globally is expected to 16X in the bookends of 2018 and 2030, with commensurate energy demands to multiply 13X in the same window. This will mean more data centers, equipment, cabling, servers, GPUs, and power - MUCH more power - that is already unevenly distributed globally. This is not sustainable. But there is a way forward by moving from Electronic to Photonic networks, connectivity, and computing, at a fraction of the power needed, with higher throughput and lower transmission latency of data. That's right - we are on the brink of a rich digital landscape generated by the science and speed of light. Join us so we can 'illuminate' you with the paradigm shift promised by Innovative Optical and Wireless Network (IOWN).

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12:30 PM-12:55 PM

Room 102B

Retail & Marketing

Jun 18

Revolutionizing Engagement: AR's Impact in Sports, Retail, and Advertising

Monica Hsueh - Speed 3D Inc.

Monica Hsueh from Speed 3D will address the overarching challenges brands face in the implementation of Augmented Reality (AR), with a special focus on sports, retail, and 3D billboards. Key Pain Points for Brands include integration complexity, creating genuinely engaging AR experiences that provide real value, cost-effectiveness, measurement of ROI, Scalability, and the practical challenges of 3D billboards (fixed locations, long production times, etc.). Monica will showcase how sector-specific AR solutions not only address identified challenges but also open new avenues for brand engagement and conversion. The audience will be inspired with the potential of AR to revolutionize brand strategies, focusing on practical, impactful applications.

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12:45 PM-12:55 PM

Exhibit Hall

Expo Stage

Jun 18

Journey into Mindfulness: Open Eye Immersive Sound Guidance

Radhika Mukhija - Higher Prana VR

Join Radhika, a mindfulness expert and co-creator of the Higher Prana VR app, for an innovative open-eye immersive mindfulness session. This experience engages multiple senses with a focus on sophisticated sound design, validated by their partners. Dive into spatial environments engineered to shift you away from high-stress beta brain states. Enjoy the ambient electro-acoustic "organica" synthesis, created and recorded live by her co-founder in their immersive sound lab. With over a decade of experience mentoring C-level executives, Radhika's insights have shaped this application to effectively manage stress. During the session, she will share the benefits of open-eye meditation for stress relief, pain management, and mental health, guiding you through breathtaking VR landscapes. Prepare for a mindfulness journey that provides quick relief and increased mental clarity.

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1:00 PM-1:10 PM

Exhibit Hall

Expo Stage

Jun 18

Digital Wellbeing: Empowering Connection, Collaboration, and Creativity

Caitlin Krause - MindWise

This 10-minute "power talk" explores the future of healthy spatial experiences in the context of our wellbeing and our imagination, igniting innovative mindsets and resilience. Come learn how intentional digital choices can lead to positive, full-life thriving – using XR technology as the bridge. Caitlin Krause specializes in building mindful experiences for teams across a wide range of industries. Hear Krause talk about her learnings and research that led to her upcoming book, Digital Wellbeing (Wiley publishing, 2024), and leave with new strategies and practices you can put to use right away. This talk will be followed by a brief "meet the author" and book signing.

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1:00 PM-1:25 PM

Room 102B

Retail & Marketing

Jun 18

How to Craft Compelling Multiplatform Storytelling Strategies

Nisha Burton - Reflective Brands

Transmedia storytelling is a field primed for elevation through XR technologies. In this presentation, we will explore the art of crafting narratives that span across mediums, leveraging traditional storytelling mediums like film and emerging technologies like Augmented Reality (AR) to push the boundaries of storytelling. Delving into the dynamic interplay between film, documentary, and AR, we'll explore the strategic considerations behind placing different story elements in distinct mediums, while harnessing the unique strengths of each. Through a real-world case study, we'll dissect and learn from 'Designing Reality', a groundbreaking project spanning a short narrative film, feature documentary, 360 dome projection, and AR app. This innovative endeavor encompasses a fusion of AI-enabled participatory art, projection mapping, and live performance. Furthermore, it spreads the story across a documentary film exploring how emerging technologies can be used for good, and a sci-fi fiction film about the near future and utilizing AI to help build a better world. This project offers a glimpse into the limitless possibilities of transmedia storytelling. Through this case study, participants will be inspired to spread their stories across mediums to have the highest impact and create experiences that people cannot stop talking about. Whether embarking on personal projects or leading high-level marketing campaigns, the insights shared in this presentation will be invaluable in crafting stories that captivate and leave a lasting impression.

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1:00 PM-1:25 PM

Room 101A

Developer

Jun 18

Fast Forward of Two Decades on Immersive Research (History Talk)

Mar Gonzalez-Franco - Google

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1:00 PM-1:25 PM

Promenade Room 104A

XR Enablement

Jun 18

How Digital Twin Technology Will Transform Regional Planning

Trent Goodin - Orlando Economic Partnership

Join Orlando Economic Partnership President & CEO Tim Giuliani to learn how a first-of-its-kind 800-square-mile digital twin is transforming economic and community development, collaboration between municipalities, private companies and nonprofits and how attendees can harness this innovative tech to solve regional challenges. Discover how the Unity-developed platform used in 100+ presentations visualizes and models the impact of new development, infrastructure and services by incorporating data from dozens of sources, including municipal and federal, to reveal demographics and more. Audience members will gain valuable insight on the practical applications of digital twins at this scale including how this first-of-its-kind digital twin creates an innovative way to sell a region while enabling city planning on a deeper level, how utility companies and city planners can map out proposed infrastructure improvements on a holographic display, and how stakeholders can upload their own data to create rich 3D models for different simulations, such as climate change, transit routes and more.

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1:00 PM-1:25 PM

GRAND BALLROOM

Main Stage

Jun 18

Successfully Scale Your Business by Unifying Applications on an XR Streaming Platform

Florian Haspinger - Hololight

A fragmented XR market, siloed XR applications, limited XR mobile device performance, and lack of data security. The enterprise market faces significant challenges that make it difficult to deploy and scale XR. Hololight solves these challenges by unifying XR applications from independent software vendors (ISVs) and enterprises on its enterprise XR streaming platform, Hololight Hub. Attend this session to learn how enterprises can easily manage all XR applications on a central platform. Dive into the benefits of Hololight's XR streaming technology and see how we partner with leading XR software vendors and technology companies to deliver the most powerful platform for the enterprise.

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1:00 PM-1:30 PM

Room 102A

Web3

Jun 18

Evolution of Digital Assets, AR, & AI in Fashion and Luxury

Nova Lorraine - Raine Magazine
David Robustelli - Beyond

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1:00 PM-1:55 PM

Promenade Room 104B

Enterprise

Jun 18

PANEL: Primer for Entering into Enterprise XR

Shelley Peterson - Wizard Wells
Michael Whatley - The Coca-Cola Company
Yvo Klare - KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
Austin Coglianese - Fastenal
Angela Carnrite - Thermo Fisher Scientific

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1:25 PM-2:25 PM

Room 103C

Collaboration, Training & Education

Jun 18

PANEL: A Candid Conversation with Learning & Development, Our XR Successes and Struggles

Karen Alexander - XR Women
Leslie Forsberg - The Boeing Company
Martin Warters - Pfizer
Trista Pierce - Booz Allen Hamilton
Valerie Quezada - Takeda

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1:30 PM-1:55 PM

Promenade Room 104A

XR Enablement

Jun 18

5 Biggest Pitfalls Industrial SMEs Should Avoid when Adding XR to their Business

Harald Wuest - Visometry

We'll take a look at the 5 biggest pitfalls industrial SMEs should avoid when adding XR to their business AND offer you some alternatives so you'll know what to do instead. Overwhelming advances in AI, 5G, tracking, streaming, SLAM, nerfs, ARKit/Core, spatial computing, ERP integration, device-hype with Meta Quest & Apple Vision Pro... Even for market professionals, it is difficult to maintain an overview on current technology and align them to the manifold business needs of manufacturing industries. Tech demos on social media appear as ready-made solutions, but the gap to these is often still large so how are SMEs supposed to know where to start? Unlike larger corporates, for SME's investing in new technologies must amortize faster, and a business outcome must be assessable right from the start. This often prevents them from taking first steps into XR yet it is precisely this group that can benefit most from mixed reality technologies to make processes more efficient, save money, train people faster or compensate for labor shortages. Our talk is a practical guide that summarizes the most important “Dos & Don'ts” of the recent years and provides important practical help on how to get started, on which use cases to focus for quick successes, and on how to grow an XR strategy. We help to categorize the technical landscape, differentiate what is promising but experimental from what is already an off-the-shelf solution suitable for daily use. We give an overview on the most prominent industrial AR use (and fail) cases, valuable tips to avoid beginners' mistakes and present solutions and approaches SMEs should follow to get their XR business started.

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1:30 PM-1:55 PM

GRAND BALLROOM

Main Stage

Jun 18

What's Next for AR: From Spatial Displays to Spatial Computing

Chi Xu - XREAL

As the world's leading AR glasses brand today, XREAL knows what it takes to set a standard and then surpass it. The AR glasses market is on the verge of unparalleled growth, which comes with questions and opportunities. XREAL has long believed in the opportunity for a complete solution AR offering, pairing its unmatched AR glasses with a robust lineup of source devices. See what comes next when XREAL reveals a new device category alongside world-class partnerships with industry titans. If AR is on your radar, if spatial computing is in your repertoire, don't miss this presentation from XREAL's visionary Founder and CEO, Chi Xu.

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1:30 PM-1:55 PM

Room 101A

Developer

Jun 18

Creating Immersive 3D Solutions with Microsoft Mesh

Megha Sharma - Microsoft

Unlock the power of 3D immersive solutions in the workplace with Microsoft Mesh. In this session you will discover how to create experiences that facilitate connections across distance, enable 3D visualization and simulations, and more. Dive deep into Mesh capabilities, examining how you can enhance your environments, create interactions, and bring in live data. Finally, we'll cover how AI can help you achieve more in Mesh. Join us to make immersive solutions a reality.

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1:30 PM-1:55 PM

Room 101B

Gaming, Entertainment & Media

Jun 18

How Warner Records & AmazeVR are Bringing K-Pop & Rock to Spatial Experiences

Jacqui Bransky - Warner Records
Kim Gohree - AmazeVR, Inc.

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1:35 PM-2:30 PM

Room 103B

Healthcare & Wellness

Jun 18

PANEL: Seniors Do VR!

Jeff Pohlman - HTC Vive
Robin Raskin - Virtual Events Group
Richard Robinson - AgeTech Collaborative from AARP
Ted Werth - Mynd Immersive

An older generation has the time, the money, and the desire to experience virtual worlds. The evidence is quite definitive. Seniors are using VR for multiple reasons including the need for connection, a sense of empowerment, new worlds to explore, and increased cognitive function. Find out how a new generation of virtual reality experiences are helping seniors both therapeutically and emotionally.

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2:00 PM-2:25 PM

GRAND BALLROOM

Main Stage

Jun 18

Lenovo Talk

Vishal Shah - Lenovo

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2:05 PM-2:25 PM

Room 102B

Retail & Marketing

Jun 18

History of XR Marketing - 100 AWEsome examples! (History Talk)

Alan Smithson - METAVRSE

Discover how XR has transformed the marketing landscape, offering immersive experiences that have redefined engagement and storytelling for brands across the globe. In this fast-paced presentation, we will go down memory lane with over 100 examples of XR Marketing from the beginning to today.

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2:10 PM-2:50 PM

Exhibit Hall

Expo Stage

Jun 18

Building Walmart's 3D Creative Practice: Crafting a New Dimension in Retail Creative Content

Cynthia Maller - Walmart

“Entrepreneurship is just an exercise in not hyperventilating,” says Cynthia Maller. Join her as she takes us inside a transformative journey, charting Walmart's ascent from having virtually no customer-facing 3D capabilities to scaling the operation to serve the largest retailer in the world. She offers a unique window into the challenges faced, the strategies employed, and the innovation that has set a new standard in retail visualization. Immerse yourself in this captivating narrative of the nexus of technology and creativity, and the value of persistence, bravery, and vision in achieving big dreams.

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2:30 PM-3:00 PM

GRAND BALLROOM

Main Stage

Jun 18

IKEA's Journey Through 3D Visualization and Spatial Computing

Martin Enthed - IKEA

This 30-minute presentation takes you on an enlightening journey through IKEA's innovative transformative use of 3D visualization and spatial computing, starting with IKEA's early adoption of AR and 3D modeling technologies. The talk highlights the challenges and vision that propelled their digital evolution. It underscores how these technologies have offered immersive and interactive experiences with products in a virtual environment. Delving into the technical aspects, it reveals the intricate processes behind creating IKEA's highly detailed 3D product models. The session concludes with a forward-looking perspective from IKEA's spatial computing team, exploring future possibilities and ongoing innovations in this field. This presentation not only showcases IKEA's current achievements in tech-driven retail but also offers a glimpse into the exciting, tech-forward future the company envisions, and the joint work with standards to reach it.

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2:40 PM-3:05 PM

Room 102B

Healthcare & Wellness

Jun 18

Creating AWE: the Miracle of VR with Cancer Patients

Max Almy - Magika VRx
Teri Yarbrow - Magika VRx

This talk will focus on the power of VR to create transformative experiences for cancer patients in the Steward Center for Palliative Care, Joseph Candler Hospital of Savannah Georgia through case studies, observations, our current I.R.B. research, success stories, and the opportunities of content creation and implementation for this population.

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2:55 PM-3:50 PM

Room 101B

Gaming, Entertainment & Media

Jun 18

PANEL: Immersive Revolution: Transforming Fan Experiences in Next-Gen Sports & Beyond

James Giglio - MVP Interactive
Chris Sloan - SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park

In the dynamic landscape of sports, fan engagement has transcended traditional boundaries, thanks to the advent of immersive technologies. Join us as we delve into the transformative impact of immersive technology on fan experiences at sporting events, exploring the evolution from passive spectators to engaged participants. Key Topics <ul><li>Enhancing Stadium Experiences</li> <li>Virtual Fan Communities</li> <li>Player-Fan Interaction</li> <li>Impact on Sponsorship and Brand Engagement</li> </ul>

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2:55 PM-3:50 PM

Promenade Room 104A

XR Enablement

Jun 18

Helping the Blind to See

Charlie Fink - Forbes

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3:00 PM-3:25 PM

Room 101A

Developer

Jun 18

Implementation of Handling Spatial Objects in Swift on visionOS

Satoshi Hattori - Cyber AI Productions, Inc.

VisionOS continues to evolve. More people are purchasing and using Apple Vision Pro, and there are an increasing number of developers starting development in the simulator. One of the joys of Spatial Computing is the ability to freely place objects in space and interact with them. However, there is still very limited practical information available. To place objects in any location within Immersive Space and display or interact with SwiftUI views, it's necessary to understand and implement the proper techniques. Furthermore, to consistently display objects in the same location even after restarting the application, knowledge of techniques such as using World Anchor to fix objects in the world space is required. In this session, I will explain the necessary processes for spatial processing along with source code and demonstrate them on the spot. This session will be helpful for visionOS app developers.

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3:10 PM-3:35 PM

Room 103B

Healthcare & Wellness

Jun 18

Innovation in Autism Care: Case Studies & Navigation of FDA Approval Process for XR Application

Michelle Hascall - Cortica
Neil Hattangadi - Cortica
Vijay Ravindran - Floreo

In this session, leaders from Floreo, a VR system for teaching skills to neurodiverse children, and Cortica, the leading provider of whole-child value-based autism care, will describe their strategy and partnership as Floreo seeks FDA approval as a medical device. In 2023 after concluding a pilot study together, Floreo gained FDA Breakthrough Device Designation on the basis of the outcomes data generated. In this session, the trial design and regulatory strategy of both the pilot study and upcoming pivotal trial will be detailed, including tips specific to XR applications based on FDA guidance.

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3:20 PM-3:40 PM

Exhibit Hall

Expo Stage

Jun 18

HackOps: How one of the Largest-Employee Training VR Experiences Boosts Cyber Security

Sai Huda - CyberCatch
Dan Krolczyk - ELB Learning

Embark on a journey into "HackOps", where you'll uncover crucial insights to enhance your understanding of VR & cybersecurity, along with innovative ideas on how other companies are using VR for training. According to Verizon's 2023 Data Breach Investigations Report, a staggering 74% of data breaches stem from human errors and despite spending over $1 billion annually on security training, breaches persist, especially with the looming threat of AI-powered attacks. Delve into attackers' common strategies and learn effective defense tactics relevant to your organizational role. Discover the transformative power of gamified VR through the case study of HackOps by CyberCatch and ELB Learning, which immerses learners in realistic 360VR hacker scenarios, bolstering their cyber awareness and fortifying organizations against threats. Plus gain some real-world practical skills to strengthen your 'human firewall' and safeguard against ransomware and data theft for your role/your company.

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3:25 PM-3:50 PM

Promenade Room 104B

Enterprise

Jun 18

Accelerating XR at Mondelez: How a Global Snacking Leader Embraces Spatial Computing

Matthew Tomlinson - Mondelēz International
Richard Hess - Mondelēz International

Mondelez International has been on a journey leveraging XR over the past decade. From initial research trials to acceleration during COVID, Mondelez enters 2024 investing into spatial computing as the future of work across their business, especially within their R&D and Digital Services functions. We look to take you along the journey of XR, which is seen as a key capability within our business, from the past and into the future - including unique use cases you could only find at the world's leading Snacking company.

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3:25 PM-4:15 PM

Room 103C

Collaboration, Training & Education

Jun 18

PANEL: Not Set in Stone: The Impact of Emerging Technology on Mine Rescue Training

Jennica Bellanca - CDC / NIOSH
Thomas Codrick - Booz Allen Hamilton
Timothy Orr - CDC / NIOSH
Amy Knox - Booz Allen Hamilton

Join the CDC NIOSH development team and supporting Booz Allen cast to dive into their journey of developing, expanding, and evaluating VR Mine Rescue Training, an immersive platform which leverages virtual reality to enhance realism, address logistical challenges, and improve target decision making for first responders and beyond.

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3:25 PM-4:20 PM

Room 102A

Web3

Jun 18

PANEL: Web3 - Beyond the Hype

Gregg Katano - Cosmos Collab
Luis Oscar Ramirez - Mawari
Lori H. Schwartz - StoryTech
Nicola Sebastiani - The Sandbox
Louisa Spring - T-Mobile

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3:25 PM-4:20 PM

Room 102B

Retail & Marketing

Jun 18

PANEL: Rendering Believable 3D Assets for E-Commerce

Daniel Frith - London Dynamics
Emmett Lalish - Google
Ashleigh Miller - Amazon
Jane Rawnsley - Avataar

3D assets can offer extraordinary return on investment for retailers and brands, but success requires realism. The colors and materials that exemplify your brand must shine through across different platforms, lighting environments, and scenes. Instead, 3D assets often look indefinably wrong. In this session, experts from the Khronos 3D Commerce Working Group will demystify the barriers to realism in e-commerce. Panelists will explain why accurate physical representations sometimes slide into the uncanny valley, including which colors and materials are most challenging to render in 3D and why. Then, they’ll introduce new, standards-based approaches to rendering realistic 3D objects. Panelists will explore best practices for tone mapping, materials rendering, and viewer selection that can help support visual consistency across e-commerce applications using glTF and PBR. Attendees will learn best practices for creating truly reusable assets, freeing marketing departments to alter lighting and create new scenes without the frustration of lost visual fidelity. These techniques also enable the addition of new materials and colors with minimal manual adjustment, empowering brands to extract more value out of every 3D asset. Learn the new rules for efficiently producing glTF 3D assets that support increased add-to-cart rates, reduced returns, and higher customer satisfaction.

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3:45 PM-4:10 PM

GRAND BALLROOM

Main Stage

Jun 18

PICO's XR Ecosystem Driving Enterprise Innovation

Amir Khorram - ByteDance | PICO

This talk will illuminate PICO's use of its technological expertise to develop a comprehensive enterprise ecosystem promoting collaboration, efficiency, and expansion. It will provide an overview of how PICO's customized solutions meet today's business challenges while redefining future possibilities in VR and related technologies. Learn about the strategic alliances, cutting-edge technology, and creative applications that establish PICO as a leader in progress and a force for change in this digital era.

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3:50 PM-4:15 PM

Room 103B

Healthcare & Wellness

Jun 18

Everything You Need to Know About Reimbursement in Healthcare XR

Kaitlyn O'Connor - Nixon Gwilt Law

Providers are already integrating Extended Reality (XR) into patient care in a variety of ways. For example, using VR to gamify physical therapy exercises for pediatric patients to keep them engaged in their treatment, or to provide targeted exposure therapy in a controlled environment for patients with extreme phobias or post-traumatic stress disorder. The catch? VR headsets are still expensive relative to other forms of treatment, and most public and commercial insurance payors don’t cover them yet. This presentation will review the following: <ul><li>Why reimbursement is important for healthcare XR companies to understand and how it will impact their business</li> <li>An overview of the reimbursement structure in the US</li> <li>Existing Virtual Reality reimbursement codes (both paid and experimental)</li> </ul>Existing reimbursement pathways not specific to XR but that provide opportunities for XR companies and providers that use their technology Understanding reimbursement pathways will be a huge advantage for innovators in the healthcare XR space, helping forward-thinking founders build compliant products, address their provider customers’ and their patients’ treatment challenges, and provide comfort to investors that healthcare XR is built for longevity.

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3:55 PM-4:20 PM

Promenade Room 104B

Enterprise

Jun 18

Building a Business Case for Your Haptics Strategy

Joe Michaels - HaptX

Take a sneak peek at innovative haptics work by leaders in heavy industry, healthcare, transportation, and home improvement, all gunning for deep realism in training and design simulation. Learn the key impact areas for XR champions to consider when building a business case for your team’s haptics strategy. Plus, for the first time anywhere, we will debut live the world’s first mass-produced, premium haptic glove.

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4:00 PM-4:25 PM

Room 101A

Developer

Jun 18

How to Design Great Social Products for Teens

Jasmine Oh - Meta

How can we employ VR as a parenting tool? How can we help teens find unique ways to explore their identities in VR, find ways to connect with like-minded people, and build their independence as they learn to self-monitor in a virtual environment? The younger the generation is, the less delineation there is between their virtual selves and their real selves. Instead of viewing their VR avatars as mere avatars, Gen X and Z view them as close representations of themselves. They invest more time than any other generation in curating their virtual selves and aspire to evolve their virtual representation of themselves as they also grow in real life. I will walk through current market trends of popular VR games and apps among teens, what teens look for in an immersive environment, and how we can design social products that can augment teens' developmental needs. I will review examples of social VR products that are interactive and fun while also building good habits with teens. I will also walk through how to best balance parental/guardian need for oversight vs. teen's privacy. After the talk, you will walk away understanding how to best design social products for teen needs and what types of guardrails to apply when designing for teens.

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4:15 PM-4:50 PM

GRAND BALLROOM

Main Stage

Jun 18

PANEL: Blending Story, Visuals & Audio for Memorable Immersive Experiences

Joanna Popper - Consultant
Young Guru
Adrian Rashad Driscoll - Collimation
Don Allen Stevenson III

Join us as three amazingly talented guests discuss the intricate interplay between narrative, visual aesthetics, and sound design that unlocks the potential of XR to immerse audiences in unforgettable worlds. <ul><li>Gimel “Young Guru” Keaton is a multi-platinum and Grammy award winning engineer. He is highly respected in the music industry for his work in sound engineering and design. He has been affiliated with several prominent artists and producers, including Jay-Z, Alicia Keys, and more.</li> <li>Don Allen III is a visionary XR and AI futurist known as the “Bob Ross” of the Metaverse. He has carved out a unique niche in the intersection of art and technology.</li> <li>Adrian Driscoll is an award-winning director, filmmaker, VR/AR consultant, and co-founder of Collimation.</li> </ul>

#ABD3F6

4:15 PM-4:50 PM

Exhibit Hall

Expo Stage

Jun 18

Start-Up Founders' Lightning Round

Each year we receive over 100 submissions for the Start-Up Pitch Competition from founders in the XR space. This year we expect to receive our highest number of submissions ever and only 12 will be featured in the Start-Up Pitch Competition so we decided to provide a space for some of the finalists to do an "elevator pitch" during the Start-Up Founders' Lightning Round. We hope you'll <a href="https://www.awexr.com/usa-2024/startup_pitch">apply for the Start-Up Pitch Competition</a> and also join us at the Expo Stage to hear of the best pitches we received this year!

#b9c4f0

4:20 PM-5:15 PM

Room 103B

Healthcare & Wellness

Jun 18

PANEL: Pathways for Developing Adoption of VR by Mental Health Clinicians

Dr Joe Elliott - Joe Elliott Psychological Svcs.
Howard Gurr - Private Practice
Albert Rizzo - University of Southern California ICT

An informative and thought-provoking discussion by a panel of mental health luminaries with over 50 years’ combined experience creating and deploying VR tools and resources for clinical treatment. Topics covered will be of interest to attendees in various track/verticals in addition to Healthcare & Wellness. Talking points will include: <ul><li>Who is the prototypical clinician end-user of VR treatment tools?</li> <li>What have been some stumbling blocks encountered with existing hardware, software, and subscription services utilized in creating VR applications for mental health treatment?</li> <li>How does a professional mental health clinician become competent and ethical in deploying VR for treatment?</li> </ul>The panel is excited by the prospect of sharing stories and expertise, in the hopes of fostering lively dialog and stimulating fruitful multi-disciplinary collaborations.

#C38dfa

4:30 PM-4:55 PM

Promenade Room 104A

XR Enablement

Jun 18

History: The Thousand-Year Quest for Virtual Reality (History Talk)

Jeremy Dalton - PwC

Embark on an extraordinary journey through time, celebrating humanity's age-old fascination with immersive experiences. As we travel back to the origins of our advanced technologies, you'll uncover the ancient innovations that laid the groundwork for today's experiences. This exploration is more than a history lesson; it's an homage to the unceasing human spirit that tirelessly seeks to transcend the ordinary. Feel a surge of pride as you recognize yourself as part of this grand tradition, a lineage of dreamers and innovators who dared to delve deeper into the immersive unknown.

#ffacbd

4:30 PM-4:55 PM

Room 102A

Web3

Jun 18

Building Immersive 3D Content for any Device with WebXR

Connell Gauld - Zappar

Alongside headsets like the Quest 3 and Magic Leap, Apple also announced support for WebXR in the Vision Pro making it one of the most exciting ways for creatives and developers to create and deploy immersive AR/VR content to the web with no app downloads or extended build times. In this talk, Zappar CTO, Connell Gauld will show you how to capitalise on the new exciting era of WebXR, and demonstrate how to quickly create, preview and publish stand-out 3D web content across a range of use cases and devices using next-gen web tooling.

#ffacbd

4:30 PM-4:55 PM

Room 102A

Web3

Jun 18

Web3 in Media & Entertainment from Ownership to Distribution

Michelle Munson - Eluvio

In this session, Emmy-award winning technologist, Michelle Munson of Eluvio, will discuss the adoption of new Web3 experiences, shifts in the digital supply chain for premium content, and the use and adoption interactive/multimedia NFTs across the media and entertainment industry. Hear how leading broadcasters, movie studios, and others, are transitioning from Web2 to a Web3. This session will highlight case study examples by leading companies including FOX, Globo, MGM Studios, Sony, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, WWE, Black Eyed Peas, Dolly Parton, and others. Michelle will draw upon experiences helping mainstream consumers, not just early NFT adopters or crypto enthusiasts, understand the practical benefits of Web3 based on real-world case studies. The session will discuss how blockchain technology enables new opportunities for content distribution, fan engagement, monetization, on-the-fly creation of new multimedia NFTs and Web3 native interactive experiences, and more. Notably, she will also discuss the latest innovations around content ownership, content rights enforcement, and on-chain royalty settlement and payments to multiple parties.

#91bc3f

4:30 PM-4:55 PM

Promenade Room 104B

Enterprise

Jun 18

Lenovo Talk

Jason McGuigan - Lenovo

#01cdf0

4:30 PM-4:55 PM

Room 103C

Collaboration, Training & Education

Jun 18

Emergency Response Training with AR and Customized Virtual Production

John R. Kennedy - ORETTC
Mary Lin - ORETTC

The traditional tabletop exercise is a standard tool for first responder training. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown, our instructors were unable to travel to and visit sites for in-person training. Our team at the Oak Ridge Enhanced Technology and Training Center (ORETTC) developed two solutions to bridge the gap created. An augmented reality (AR) tabletop exercise (TTX) and a customized site-specific scenario-based exercise. Through the use of AR headsets, we are able to project TTX scenarios in front of participants and facilitate the training from a distance. Participants are able to choose roles specific and run through several drills to practice communications and procedures in an emergency situation. The customized site-specific scenario-based exercise uses greenscreen technology on an LED volume wall and enlists role-player actors to portray adversaries, insiders, or bystanders, these videos recreate response scenarios in a no-fault training. The immersive nature of these videos provides participants with a direct view of their own work environments, such as lobbies, hallways, or source rooms, foster increased engagement and facilitate more effective knowledge transfer. These videos are then used in virtual or in person training to promote communication between site personal and community emergency responders.

#ffacbd

5:00 PM-5:25 PM

Room 102A

Web3

Jun 18

The Tokenization of Identity, Money, and Assets in Financial Markets

Cam Nili - Accenture

The tokenization of identity, money, and objects is unlocking new business models and redefining the notion of ownership in the digital age. As we embark on the continued emergence of new realities driven by XR and blockchain, the role of central bank money must adapt in the next generation of financial markets as novel venues for exchanging value emerge. Underpinning this evolution is the introduction of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), which leverage tokenization to deliver proof of value, ownership, and transfer. While retail applications are receiving much attention, this talk will uncover insights into the expected benefits and hurdles of wholesale CBDCs in interbank payments and securities transactions, including impacts on exchanges, custodians, and banks and what this means for the future of web3 and other tokenized payment instruments like stablecoins and deposit tokens.

#C38dfa

5:00 PM-5:25 PM

Promenade Room 104A

XR Enablement

Jun 18

Creating & Managing Spatial Data: Unleashing Growth Potential: Managing Spatial Computing Data to Scale Up Your Business

Lauren Marble - Amazon Web Services

#01cdf0

5:00 PM-5:25 PM

Room 103C

Collaboration, Training & Education

Jun 18

Integration of Enhanced XR Training Technologies in Dynamic Engineering Operations Digital Twin Experiences

Austin Arnwine - ORETTC
Ashley Stowe - ORETTC

The Oak Ridge Enhanced Technology and Training Center (ORETTC) developed a series of immersive tools to integrate digital threads in an effort to optimize training and engineering design functions. To accomplish this task, a digital ecosystem has been created and specific focus has been placed on which connectivity between segments of the ecosystem—data inputs, visualization, process models, and use cases. One example involves users experience in a digital twin glove box manufacturing area with incorporation of XR technologies such as AR/VR and haptic feedback gloves. In this case, users are trained to work with hazardous material in a virtual glove box with the same feel and experience of working in the physical glove box without exposing the worker to hazards.

#94b4a3

5:00 PM-5:25 PM

Room 101A

Developer

Jun 18

Tips & Tricks to Improve Your AR Game Designs

Blake Gross - DB Creations
Dustin Kochensparger - DB Creations

In this talk, AR game studio co-founders Blake and Dustin will share tips, tricks, and secrets that will help you improve your AR game designs, using lessons learned from a variety of award winning AR titles. Examples include designing around the complexities of a player's actual space, developing innovative new control schemes (like your player's tongue!), and managing brand licenses to create games for clients.

#ABD3F6

5:00 PM-5:30 PM

Exhibit Hall

Expo Stage

Jun 18

PANEL: Creator Lightning Round

Balraj Bains - Nexus Studios
Sallia Goldstein - Paper Triangles
Tomás Pietravallo - Creator
Sasha Zabegalin - Sasha Zabegalin
Brianna Wick - Wick Studios

#91bc3f

5:00 PM-5:30 PM

Promenade Room 104B

Enterprise

Jun 18

Imagine, Immerse, Innovate: XR’s Role in Amplifying Human-Centered Design for the US Navy

Kelles Gordge - Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
Wade Lewis - Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

Empathy is the most important thing your team can build. Using the latest XR tools combined with Design Thinking best practices, we would like to share with you the strategies we have unlocked in providing immersive empathy building for technical teams to address some of the US Navy’s most gnarly National Security challenges. This session will touch on subjects from immersive narrative building in XR to rapid digital prototyping and illustrate with case studies how our team brings solutions to life.

#ff7f69

5:00 PM-5:55 PM

GRAND BALLROOM

Main Stage

Jun 18

PANEL: Beyond Passthrough: How New Display Technologies Can Shape the Future of AR Glasses

Andrea Bravo - Metaverse Data & Ethics
Cathy Hackl - Spatial Dynamics
Tomas Sluka - CREAL
Naamah Argaman - Meta
Marty Banks - UC Berkeley

The arrival of the recent passthrough XR headsets has set a clear onboarding into spatial computing technologies and opened a world of new applications. While these devices are driving a revolution, the public is conscious of some of their hardware limitations, and true AR glasses appear like a natural evolution of them. This panel will discuss how see-through display technologies can shape the post-passthrough era and play a key role in bringing the ultimate AR glasses to all, considering feasibility, customizability, and wearable, visual and social comfort aspects.

#f074ac

5:05 PM-5:30 PM

Room 101B

Gaming, Entertainment & Media

Jun 18

AI and the Spatial Web for Live Events & Festivals

Eric Wagliardo - &Pull

The entertainment landscape is constantly changing. Pop culture moments such as music festivals can spend their way to adoption, but new tools such as AI and real-time rendered game engines offer fertile ground for grassroots creators to create followings and push the medium in innovative ways. This talk will explore what happens when XR and tools finally reach confluence to spark cultural change and adoption.

#b9c4f0

5:25 PM-6:00 PM

Room 103B

Healthcare & Wellness

Jun 18

Enhancing Patient Experience Through Immersive Technology

Dr. Linda Ciavarelli - HouseCall VR
Amy Hedrick - Cleanbox Technology
Julia A Scott, PhD - Santa Clara University

How do we navigate the gap between patient understanding and complex medical information in an increasingly digital healthcare environment? Join us for a cutting-edge panel discussion about how to better leverage immersive capabilities of virtual and extended reality (VR and XR) to improve patient experiences and outcomes. Attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of the practical and technical considerations of deploying immersive technology in healthcare settings, the behavioral impacts of VR/XR, and strategies for improving patient literacy through these tools. This panel is an indispensable discussion for software developers, data scientists, UX/UI designers, and technologists who are committed to staying ahead of the curve in the rapidly evolving landscape of healthcare tech innovation.

#94b4a3

5:30 PM-5:55 PM

Room 101A

Developer

Jun 18

How to Pitch Investors for your Spatial Computing Start-Up

#94b4a3

5:30 PM-5:55 PM

Room 101A

Developer

Jun 18

Spatial Analytics: Elevate Your 3D Apps by Discovering a Hidden Dimensions of Insights

Tony Bevilacqua - Cognitive3D

Through compelling case studies, Tony will demonstrate how spatial analytics have driven enhanced ROI, business value, and problem-solving in real-world applications. This session is a wake-up call to move beyond outdated 2D analytics. Embrace spatial analytics to innovate and create superior VR/AR products, apps, and experiences, staying ahead in the competitive landscape.

#01cdf0

5:30 PM-5:55 PM

Room 103C

Collaboration, Training & Education

Jun 18

Solving the Competency @ Scale Challenge with Immersive VR

Richard Vincent - FundamentalVR

Clinical training has advanced over the years, and now with the adoption of technology we are able to accelerate human capability via precision simulation using virtual reality (VR) and as a result, advance pre-human competence in surgery and additional clinical environments to improve patient outcomes. Haptic technology enables users to develop the knowledge of how it feels to perform a procedure correctly or incorrectly – helping to build muscle memory that is particularly important in advanced and precise surgical environments. This session will discuss the value of Immersive VR and haptic technology environments and experiences that facilitate skills development and transfer, allowing medical device manufacturers to improve access and accelerate procedure and product adoption. The session will cover the growing body of scientific evidence which demonstrates the value of VR vs. traditional training across various specialties. It will also provide real life case study examples of companies that implemented immersive VR training successfully and showed improvement in patient care while demonstrating significant ROI.

#ffacbd

5:30 PM-5:55 PM

Web3

Jun 18

Why Open Wins

Ben Erwin - The Poly Awards

Hindsight reminds us of all the proprietary solutions who led the market, only to be disrupted by an open standard. Examining where things when right and wrong is essential to inform aspirations for success in future of XR and Spatial Computing. Ben Erwin is a leading advocate for standards, interoperability, and the agency of creators and developers in the Metaverse through his work as the creator of The Poly Awards, MetaTr@versal, and the WebXR Summit Series. In this talk, he’ll break down case studies from computing infrastructure to provide insight to why open wins, then transpose those findings onto the choices the XR industry faces today. This talk is of interest to decision makers, engineers, and creatives who are presently navigating the Wild West of the 4th Industrial Revolution.

#f074ac

5:35 PM-6:00 PM

Room 101B

Gaming, Entertainment & Media

Jun 18

From Technopreneur to VC Investor, What Have I Learned?

Bert Nepveu - Triptyq Capital

#bcda85

6:00 PM-8:00 PM

The Cove at Long Beach Convention Center

Networking

Jun 18

Welcome Party Sponsored by Zappar

Please join us for the Welcome Party sponsored by Zappar from 6:00 – 8:00 pm at The Cove, located at the Long Beach Convention Center. Wind down after a busy first day, catch DJ Celeste and share some fun with friends! One drink per guest provided, use the drink ticket on your AWE badge. Food available for purchase. NOTE: The Cove at Long Beach Convention Center is an outdoor venue.

#ff7f69

9:00 AM-9:25 AM

GRAND BALLROOM

Main Stage

Jun 19

Niantic Keynote

#ff7f69

10:00 AM-10:25 AM

GRAND BALLROOM

Main Stage

Jun 19

We Need a Super Cockpit for the Mind (History Talk)

Tom Furness - Virtual World Society

In addition to providing an update on the work of the Virtual World Society, Dr. Furness will recount some of his history in developing the Super Cockpit for the USAF in the 70s-80s. He will then convolve that with the current direction of the metaverse and AI communities to propose a new cockpit that is now needed to navigate our future in the metaverse: the Super Cockpit for the Mind.

#ff7f69

10:30 AM-10:55 AM

GRAND BALLROOM

Main Stage

Jun 19

Sightful Keynote

#FFFF00

10:30 AM-10:55 AM

Room 102A

AI & Virtual Beings

Jun 19

PANEL: Unraveling Realities: Navigating AI & Manipulation in Immersive Virtual Worlds

Daniel Berrick - Future of Privacy Forum
Dona Fraser - BBB National Programs
Erin Hilliard - Cooley

From fully customizable artwork and digital assets to chatbots and non-player characters with complex personalities and storylines, generative AI could reduce the roadblocks to creating virtual worlds in XR and make them more compelling to users. Companies are unsurprisingly racing to incorporate generative AI into immersive environments, but this is not without risk. XR applications utilizing generative AI may capture sensitive data about people, which could be used to manipulate people into making harmful decisions, particularly individuals belonging to vulnerable populations. This activity could implicate a host of existing and proposed laws in the U.S. and abroad, such as those addressing sensitive data categories and “dark patterns.” While these laws were not drafted with generative AI’s manipulative potential in mind, they could nevertheless impact its design and deployment in immersive virtual environments for the foreseeable future. In this presentation, you will leave with an understanding of: <ul><li>How generative AI is being applied to create and enhance virtual worlds in XR;</li> <li>Why manipulation may occur in XR worlds when generative AI is used, as well as examples of how this may manifest; and</li> <li>How many U.S. and foreign laws, such as the Federal Trade Commission’s Section 5 authority, Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), and the EU’s GDPR, interact with manipulation caused by generative AI applications to XR.</li> </ul>

#FFFF00

11:00 AM-11:25 AM

Room 102A

AI & Virtual Beings

Jun 19

Spatial in the Cloud: Using Generative AI Tools on AWS to Build Better Spatial Experiences

Dan Cotting - AWS
Kimate Richards - Amazon

#94b4a3

11:00 AM-11:25 AM

Room 101A

Developer

Jun 19

XR Streaming by Hololight

Susanne Haspinger - Hololight
Philipp Landgraf - Hololight

The limited performance of XR mobile devices and the effort required to prepare data are significant challenges for XR developers and users. Enterprises struggle with the quality of content in XR and the security of sensitive data stored on the XR device. Hololight Stream is the XR streaming SDK for enterprises and ISVs that delivers high fidelity XR experiences by offloading the rendering process to local servers or the cloud. Its multi-device support and native Unity 3D integration streamline application development, saving time and effort while increasing the security and scalability of AR and VR applications. Learn more about why XR Streaming should be an integral part of every XR application.

#53F5FF

11:00 AM-11:55 AM

Room 103B

Creator

Jun 19

PANEL: 3D Content Creation for Spatial Computing

Alexey Medvedev - Meta
Olga Dogadkina - Emperia
Leonard Daly - Daly Realism
Peter Martin - Adobe

Applications blending digital content with the real world are reshaping industries. From digital twins in manufacturing and environmental monitoring to 3D overlays in technical services and healthcare, to virtual try-on in retail, the scope is expansive. However, these applications impose intricate requirements on 3D content creators. Today’s applications demand that 3D assets be both re-usable and easy to integrate into complex, interactive scenes. This means creators must define not just their appearance, but physical properties that allow them to realistically affect and be affected by their environments. At the same time, these assets must be lightweight for web-based transmission, ensure real-time interaction without lag, and display consistently across various platforms and devices. In this panel, experts from the Khronos 3D Formats Working Group will address the challenges of crafting 3D content for spatial computing, focusing on innovations in interactivity and physics for standards-based 3D assets. The panel will delve into open-standard approaches to these challenges, highlighting how collaborative development efforts are paving the way for more immersive, responsive, and versatile applications.

#f074ac

11:00 AM-11:55 AM

Room 101B

Gaming, Entertainment & Media

Jun 19

PANEL: The Impact of XR, AI & the Blockchain on Journalistic Integrity

Melanie Hogue - Microsoft
Mary Matheson - Arizona State University
Adam Rose - Starling Lab for Data Integrity
Robert Hernandez - USC Annenberg School of Journalism

In an era of "fake news" and "post-truth" and deep fakes, how can we use XR, AI and the blockchain to produce authentic, verifiable news and non-fiction stories? Adam Rose from Stanford's Starling Labs will explain how this research lab is using the latest cryptographic methods and decentralized web protocols to meet the technical and ethical challenges of establishing trust with audiences/viewers. Mary Matheson, ASU Prof of Narrative & Immersive Media, will reveal the tools and methodology she used to capture images, verify archival footage and protect characters' identities in her latest VR documentary about Russian war crimes in Ukraine.

#bcda85

11:00 AM-2:30 PM

Networking

Jun 19

LUNCH

#bcda85

11:00 AM-5:30 PM

Exhibit Hall

Networking

Jun 19

Expo, Playground, Start-Ups, and XR Museum Hours

#ABD3F6

11:10 AM-12:05 PM

Exhibit Hall

Expo Stage

Jun 19

Virtual Production XR Tools

Ray Mosco - HTC Vive
Sally Slade - Genies
Kristin Carey - 3500 Kelvin
Alex Porter - Mod Tech Labs Inc.
Jacqueline Cooper - CG Pro and CG Empowers

Virtual Production is a technology forward film-making method that leverages XR technologies to create our favorite movies. From the Disney’s The Mandalorian to Indie fan films, the next generation of filmmakers are utilizing game engines, XR tracking solutions, LED walls, and AI driven mocap to create sophisticated virtual scenes at a fraction of the time and cost of traditional film production. The rise of VTubers and shifting content formats are also empowering solo creators to produce Studio class films with smaller teams and finer budgets. Meet experts who have spent years in the XR industry who are now applying their skills to the future of content creation. Learn about the XR origins of Virtual Production and the tools that are making this possible.

#aec993

11:30 AM-11:45 AM

Room 103C

Start-Ups & Investors

Jun 19

From Inception to Adoption: The First Decade of Investing in XR & Spatial Computing (History Talk)

Ryan Wang - Outpost Capital

A decade after the Facebook-Oculus acquisition, the XR and spatial computing fields have experienced immense growth alongside significant challenges. Ryan Wang, Co-founder and General Partner of Outpost Capital, offers a critical analysis of the past ten years from an investor’s vantage point, highlighting the technological progress and investment shifts within the industry. Ryan will evaluate the sector's evolution since 2014, shedding light on both achievements and obstacles, with a special focus on the implications for startup founders and entrepreneurs. Looking forward, he will provide projections for the next decade, identifying emerging opportunities and advising on strategies for navigating the evolving landscape. This session is designed to arm founders, entrepreneurs and investors with actionable insights, preparing them to leverage the expansive potential of XR and spatial computing.

#FFFF00

11:30 AM-11:55 AM

Room 102A

AI & Virtual Beings

Jun 19

Authentic Real-World 3D/4D Human Data to Train AI, Wear Tech, & Image Health

Kelly Duncan - 3dMD
Chris Lane - 3dMD

The world continues to make rapid progress in the development and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its derivatives to digitally create ‘humans’. With this progress, how can we be assured of the provenance of the digitally-created ‘human’. The answer is... Real-World Authenticity. Today digital ‘human’ creation is predominantly derived from synthetic human appearance, behavior, and interaction data due to computer processing limitations. However, tomorrow’s digital ‘human’ creation will be based on AI learning from authentic real-world data of people recorded physically in action with the utmost 3D fidelity. Not only will authentic real-world data train digital human mankind, the authenticity of the 3D geometry of the digital body form will be able to be used anthropometrically to ensure that the technology physical human mankind wears is effective, comfortable, and responsive.

#94b4a3

11:30 AM-11:55 AM

Room 101A

Developer

Jun 19

OpenXR's Open-Source Pipeline for Accessible XR Development

Frédéric Plourde - Collabora ltd.

OpenXR, the cross-platform open standard for VR, AR, and mixed reality development (known as XR), has emerged as a cornerstone of the XR industry, enabling developers to create immersive experiences that transcend platforms and devices. In this talk, members of the OpenXR Working Group at the Khronos Group and major contributors from the open-source community will delve into the evolution of OpenXR, its significant contributions to making XR development more accessible, and its pivotal role in democratizing XR development through open-source tools and platforms. OpenXR eliminates the need for developers to rely on proprietary APIs for each hardware, instead providing a unified API that ensures compatibility across various platforms and devices, enhancing developer efficiency and broadening the scope for creating XR applications. The central discussion of this talk will focus on the establishment of a complete, free, and open-source development pipeline for XR, supported by the Khronos OpenXR Working Group. This includes tools like the Godot OpenXR game engine, Monado OpenXR runtime, and various device simulators, enabling developers and studios to develop immersive experiences without the limitations of financial costs or specific hardware requirements. Frederic Plourde, the lead of Collabora XR, and Bastiaan Olij, the core developer for XR support in Godot Engine, will discuss how this integrated ecosystem removes traditional barriers to XR development, such as expensive licensing fees and the complexity of setting up specialized XR testing devices. They will showcase how, with OpenXR's open-source development cycle, anyone can create engaging and immersive applications more easily and affordably.

#91bc3f

11:30 AM-12:25 PM

Promenade Room 104B

Enterprise

Jun 19

PANEL: Exploring Immersive Technology's Impact on Architecture, Engineering, & Construction (AEC)

Mike Boland - ARtillery Intelligence
Paul Davies - The Boeing Company
Andrew Lowe - Rolls-Royce
Diana Olynick - M4 Method
Max Sikorski - General Motors

Join us for an enlightening conference session delving into the transformative role of immersive technology within the realms of Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC). Panelists will discuss groundbreaking case studies, innovative tools, and industry insights, while offering attendees a comprehensive understanding of how immersive technology is reshaping the engineering & design landscape.

#C38dfa

11:30 AM-12:25 PM

Promenade Room 104A

XR Enablement

Jun 19

PANEL: Current State and Future Direction of AR Glasses

Jason McDowall - The AR Show
Jeri Ellsworth - Tilt Five
Adi Robertson - The Verge
Edward Tang - Avegant
Karl M Guttag - KGOnTech

A panel of experts will discuss the current and future state of AR spatial computing devices, given the influence of the new Vision Pro world. Has the Vision Pro influenced the XR industry to change the direction of the development of consumer-oriented devices? If so, what should those new directions be, and what limitations are there to implement them? The discussion will center upon examining the technical development of spatial computing with light weight glasses and the roles that they should now have.

#fbaf17

11:30 AM-12:25 PM

Room 102B

Retail & Marketing

Jun 19

PANEL: Essential Tips for Marketing Your VR Game

Jasmine Lehman - AtomBombBody
Eric Masher - Impact Reality / Flat2VR Studios
Harry (Skeeva) Skigis - Impact Reality / XR Update / Between Realities
Elliott Tate - Impact Reality / Flat2VR Studios
Jasmine Uniza - Impact Reality / Flat2VR Studios

An essential session for game developers and marketers alike, offering invaluable insights into effectively promoting and launching virtual reality (VR) games and apps. In this session, the panelists will delve into proven strategies and best practices tailored specifically for the unique challenges and opportunities presented by the VR gaming landscape. From leveraging social media and influencer partnerships to crafting compelling trailers and press releases, attendees will gain actionable tactics to maximize visibility, generate buzz, and drive engagement leading up to and following the launch of their VR games.

#aec993

11:55 AM-12:50 PM

Room 103C

Start-Ups & Investors

Jun 19

PANEL: Investor Q&A - Ask Us Anything!

Jasper Brand - BITKRAFT Ventures
Maddie Callander - Boost VC
Taylor Hurst - Konvoy
Petri Rajahalme - FOV Ventures

What makes companies stand out, what are investors looking for, what are they avoiding, and what are some of the biggest mistakes start-ups make when pitching VCs? During this panel session, investors who focus on AR/VR, Spatial Computing and related technologies will share best practices, advice, and information to help you capitalize on all opportunities.

#94b4a3

12:00 PM-12:25 PM

Room 101A

Developer

Jun 19

Developing an XR User Interface for High-Level Robot Teleoperation

Steve Feiner - Columbia University

Many real-world tasks carried out by robots require human participation, whether on-site or remote. However, operating robots typically demands that users undergo extensive robot-specific training to perform low-level tasks effectively and safely. I will describe an experimental XR user interface our team is developing to instead assign and manage assembly tasks remotely through high-level goal-based instructions rather than low-level direct control. The user manipulates virtual replicas of task objects to prescribe 6DoF destination poses without needing to be familiar with specific robots and their capabilities. To make this possible, our user interface is integrated with a robot-planning system that determines, verifies, and executes robot-specific actions. I will present some of the issues involved in designing XR user interfaces to asynchronously support high-level task assignment by users and low-level task performance by robots.

#f074ac

12:00 PM-12:55 PM

Room 101B

Gaming, Entertainment & Media

Jun 19

PANEL: Cultivating Worlds: Exploring Social VR Gaming Experiences

Perrin Kaplan - Zebra Partners
Shane Rhodes - Mighty Coconut
Jonathan Hamel - Another Axiom
Morgan Tucker - Rec Room

#FFFF00

12:00 PM-12:55 PM

Room 102A

AI & Virtual Beings

Jun 19

PANEL: GenXR: Creating Generative AI Powered Extended Reality

Leila Amirsadeghi - Microsoft
Amy LaMeyer - WXR Fund
Terry Schussler - Deutsche Telekom AG
Leslie Shannon - Nokia
Dominique Wu - XReality Pro

Join our panel as we delve into "GenXR", an exciting intersection of Generative AI and Extended Reality, set to revolutionize user-generated content in the Metaverse. We'll examine its potential, emerging applications, and the hurdles to be overcome, with the aim to envision the future of spatial computing.

#53F5FF

12:05 PM-12:35 PM

Room 103B

Creator

Jun 19

Designing for the Next Frontier of Work-Based Learning

Marina Halter - Transfr
Stanton Nash - Transfr
Westley Wadsworth - Transfr

At Transfr, we're creating the world's leading platform for immersive learning. In this talk we'll showcase and break down some of the techniques that we use to design and create our award-winning training experiences, and how they address each educational step in the participant's classroom-to-career journey.

#ABD3F6

12:10 PM-12:40 PM

Exhibit Hall

Expo Stage

Jun 19

Creative Resilience: Trusting Your Artistic Voice in a Rapidly-Changing Industry

Kevin Ang - Bingko
Estella Tse - Estella Tse, LLC
Lafiya Watson Ramirez - Bad Chick Studios

Between imposter syndrome, new headsets, discontinued headsets, and a slew of technical challenges, three XR artists showcase how you can navigate through a sea of constant change and uncertainty. Staying rooted to "WHY" you create can drive your work forward whether it's to tell stories, share with others, connect with your community, or experiment with new technology. Join Lafiya Watson Ramirez, Kevin Ang, and Estella Tse to learn about their wins and failures and how you can each harness your authentic creative voices for XR.

#ff7f69

12:15 PM-12:40 PM

GRAND BALLROOM

Main Stage

Jun 19

Reanimating Programmer Ada Lovelace with the Magic of AI

Marco Tempest - NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

#94b4a3

12:30 PM-12:55 PM

Room 101A

Developer

Jun 19

How to Easily Add Epic Haptic Effects to Your VR Projects

Andrew Dunar - HaptX
Kaitlyn Franz - HaptX
Scott Stachiw - Roundtable Learning

Join this hands-on haptics tutorial session for Unity and UE specialists who want to improve interaction accuracy and the operator’s sense of presence when immersed in virtual environments. We will explore key haptics development practices crafted by Roundtable Learning for BNSF. Attendees will learn how to use the HaptX SDK to make the surfaces and forces of your virtual objects and processes feel authentic, applying advanced tactile feedback methods: high-frequency, low displacement taction AND low-frequency, high displacement taction. No experience with haptics coding required to get started.

#fbaf17

12:30 PM-1:25 PM

Room 102B

Retail & Marketing

Jun 19

PANEL: Creating Immersive Branded Content

Veronica Flint - Quixotical
Nodo Ivanidze - MetaViu
Aditi Chalisgaonkar - Walmart
Denise Coke - $NP Designs, LLC

Creating Immersive Branded Content Panel Description: Immersive branded content creation has emerged as a powerful strategy for brands to deeply engage with their audience in the digital landscape. By seamlessly integrating brand messaging within captivating narratives, visuals, and experiences, companies can forge genuine connections with consumers. Whether through augmented reality, virtual reality experiences, or gamified campaigns, immersive branded content transports viewers into a world where they not only passively consume but actively participate.

#91bc3f

12:35 PM-1:30 PM

Promenade Room 104B

Enterprise

Jun 19

PANEL: Enterprise AR Work Instructions

Alexander Berlin - Arvizio
Sven Brunner - Sphere (by holo|one)
Alex Goldberg - Blue Origin
David Nedohin - Scope AR

#C38dfa

12:35 PM-1:30 PM

Promenade Room 104A

XR Enablement

Jun 19

PANEL: Industrial Metaverse: Building the Factories and Workforce of the Future

Elizabeth Hyman - XR Association
Dan O'Brien - HTC Vive
Bharani Rajakumar - Transfr
Todd Boppell - National Association of Manufacturers - NAM

There are currently more than 600,000 open U.S. manufacturing positions, which is expected to rise. The National Association of Manufacturers estimates that by 2030, 4 million manufacturing jobs will likely be needed. How can immersive technology help to solve the challenge of filling these vital positions in our economy? In this panel discussion, decision-makers and experts in manufacturing and training will delve into the burgeoning industrial metaverse and how immersive technology is helping to train, upskill and prolong the careers of manufacturing employees. Additionally, they’ll explore real-world use cases and how AR and VR are used to increase manufacturing efficiency and solve complex problems with limited disruption to production XRA’s CEO Liz Hyman will moderate the discussion and unpack the findings from the XR Association’s survey of Manufacturers to be released in May

#ABD3F6

12:45 PM-1:05 PM

Exhibit Hall

Expo Stage

Jun 19

Welcome to the Medi-Verse. The Doctor will see you now.

Jim Melzer - HMDmd

The explosive growth in head-mounted displays has fueled applications in the medical/surgical world as seen from the multiple approvals from the Food and Drug Administration. Join Jim Melzer for a discussion of the many applications currently emerging in the medical/surgical field. These range from simple, non-surgical assessments, to remote collaboration, to physician/patient education to pre-surgical planning and rehearsal to real-time surgical assistance using augmented reality imagery overlay. This talk will focus on the benefits being realized, the range of display requirements for the various applications, the commercially available products that can meet these challenges, and where improvements can provide additional benefits to the patient and medical professional.

#94b4a3

1:00 PM-1:15 PM

Room 101A

Developer

Jun 19

Pixel Ripped Odyssey: A Decade of VR Evolution - From Student Project to Atari's Triumph

Ana Ribeiro - ARVORE Immersive Experiences

Embark on a journey through ten years of immersive experiences in the world of VR development. Join a seasoned developer as they share invaluable insights, challenges, and triumphs in crafting VR adventures. From the early days with the Oculus Development Kit One to the present, explore the dynamic evolution of VR gaming. Uncover the lessons learned, innovations embraced, and the enduring passion driving a decade of crafting unforgettable VR experiences. Don't miss this opportunity to gain exclusive insights from a veteran developer at the forefront of VR innovation.

#ff7f69

1:15 PM-1:55 PM

GRAND BALLROOM

Main Stage

Jun 19

Fireside Chat with Gaming Visionary Jason Rubin

Jason Rubin - Meta
Sonya Haskins - AWE

From co-founding Naughty Dog and creating iconic titles like Crash Bandicoot to his influential role at Oculus and Meta, Rubin has been a driving force in the gaming industry for decades. Join us as Rubin shares experiences from his career, perspectives on XR history, and predictions for the industry. Don't miss this exclusive opportunity to hear from one of the leading voices shaping the gaming landscape.

#aec993

1:55 PM-3:00 PM

Room 103C

Start-Ups & Investors

Jun 19

Start-Up Pitch Competition: Part 1

Marco DeMiroz - The Venture Reality Fund
Adam Draper - Boost VC

#FFFF00

2:00 PM-2:25 PM

Room 102A

AI & Virtual Beings

Jun 19

Virtual Immortality in XR: History, Present & Future Evolution

Gregory Panos - Persona Foundation

"Virtual Immortality" is becoming an important concept being explored by many new entities and organizations. Life documentation, 3D Scanning to create photorealistic avatars and various expressions of embodiment are rapidly evolving toward an exciting future where lives will persist beyond the mortal plane. Social VR, Virtual Theater, Musical performances, Storytelling, history and educational experiences along with a myriad of other XR/AR/VR/MR experiences will require dynamic, believable human simulations which act, and re-act, with enough precision to satisfy our complex neurologically ingrained perceptual needs as they relate to realistic and comfortable human interactions in synthetically generated and augmented environments, etc. The speaker will discuss the history, current state-of-the art development, techniques and future agenda evolving to support the field of human construct development, tracking and behavior, including physical 3D body / form capture, facial expression / body motion capture designed to inhabit interactive, immersive environments and scenarios. Acting / performer concerns will be discussed, as well as, the progress of available commercial technology needed to address the complex aspects of creating ideal, believable virtual personae and the desired habitation of these "constructs" into the virtual and augmented world(s) and what to expect from this process going forward. Current implementations including Meta's "Codec Avatars", Apple's "Persona" (available on the Vision Pro headset) and similar constructs will be described and discussed as they relate to XR, "spatial computing" and human experience and metaverse-related social communication paradigms.

#ff7f69

2:00 PM-2:55 PM

GRAND BALLROOM

Main Stage

Jun 19

PANEL: Racing Beyond Limits: The Next Lap in XR

Darren Cox - GT Academy
Torsten Gross - MateriaMX
Stefy Bau - Init Esports
Cagan Sean Yuksel - Dreamspace

Embark on a revolutionary journey into the future of racing, where technology meets the track. Hear from this amazing group of experts as they explore XR's role in racing's future, featuring insights from Darren Cox, the visionary behind GT Academy, celebrated in 'Gran Turismo', and a key figure in digital motorsport innovation. Together with pioneers Torsten Gross and Stefy Bau, the conversation will span from sim racing's impact and VR/AR in training to the critical need for inclusivity in the sport. This compact session offers a deep dive into technology's transformative power in racing, led by industry trailblazers.

#53F5FF

2:05 PM-2:30 PM

Room 103B

Creator

Jun 19

Using AI Image Generation in Production Pipelines

Lauren Morrison - Google

AI image generation is a disruptive technology that is changing the way we create content, and VFX houses are some of the earliest adopters. What does this mean for artists, clients, and the cost and quality of final deliverables in 2024 and beyond? In this talk, I will show some behind the scenes examples of how this has changed the way I work with agencies, where the technology succeeds and fails, and how to prepare for a future where this is a regular part of production.

#94b4a3

2:15 PM-2:40 PM

Room 101A

Developer

Jun 19

No Animation? No Problem! Breathing Life into your Characters with Physics

Richard Pieterse - Netflix

#f074ac

2:30 PM-2:55 PM

Room 101B

Gaming, Entertainment & Media

Jun 19

Memory Space: Chinatown AR

Scott Fisher, M.S. - USC School of Cinematic Arts

The goal of this project is to geo-locate historic photographic images of LA's first Chinatown onto the location where they were originally taken and that is now occupied by Union Station. Using the 8thWall mobile AR platform, historic images from the Huntington-USC Institute on California and the West are viewed on a visitor's mobile device screen and appear superimposed onto the actual site of the original buildings. As players move around the station and surrounding area, they retrace the steps of the original photographers and enter portals into 3D street scenes of the original Chinatown community. The project utilizes VPS wayspots, Arcturus Holostream, generative-AI imagery and video, interlinked 8th Wall projects, and interactive characters using the Inworld 8th Wall module.

#FFFF00

2:30 PM-2:55 PM

Room 102A

AI & Virtual Beings

Jun 19

Exploring the Intersection of Generative AI and XR Prototyping

Yu Cheng - Schlumberger
Rajat Lokesh - Schlumberger

Join us as we share the practical insights gained from our experiments in applying Generative Artificial Intelligence to XR Prototyping. In this talk, we'll walk you through our hands-on experiences and findings of our exploration of the potential of AI in various aspects of XR development, including design, 2D art, 3D model creation, animations, audio, and code generation. Through our journey, we'll highlight both the opportunities and challenges encountered, offering a realistic perspective on the integration of generative AI into XR prototyping workflows. And yes, in the spirit of full disclosure, we admit: even this abstract was crafted with the help of an AI companion! So, whether you're a developer, designer, or simply curious about the future of XR, this session aims to provide actionable takeaways and spark discussions on the practical applications of Generative AI.

#fbaf17

2:30 PM-2:55 PM

Room 102B

Retail & Marketing

Jun 19

Decentralized AI Perception: How Collaborative Spatial Computing brings AI to Retail

Nils Pihl - Auki Labs

#91bc3f

2:30 PM-3:15 PM

Promenade Room 104B

Enterprise

Jun 19

PANEL: Navigating the Fusion of Physical and Digital Marketing

Andy Hunt - The Hershey Company
Brian Selzer - BlueSe7en Media
Gene Feldman - Nestle Purina

#C38dfa

2:30 PM-3:25 PM

Promenade Room 104A

XR Enablement

Jun 19

PANEL: Encouraging a Culture of Innovation

Jeffrey Berthiaume - Southwest Airlines
Jack McCauley - Oculus
Jenni Ogden - Eye Q Productions

#53F5FF

2:35 PM-2:55 PM

Room 103B

Creator

Jun 19

Designing Intuitive & Accessible Spatial Experiences for VisionOS

Yulia Lápicus - Consultant

The world of VisionOS is an innovative space where user interaction is based on physical movements, gestures, and visual focus within a 3D environment. In this presentation, we will discuss the essentials of spatial design and the crucial role of intuitive interfaces that seamlessly blend with users' natural actions in spatial computing. We will explore the advanced input mechanisms required for interpreting a broad range of human behaviors and movements to ensure that digital interfaces are not only responsive but also intuitive. Our discussion is centered on the Human Interface Guidelines, and we will cover the best practices for designing exceptional user experiences with a particular focus on VisionOS. Attendees will learn about key design considerations unique to spatial computing, such as ergonomic comfort, optimizing content for the user's field of view, and the strategic use of depth and scale to enhance interaction. This presentation covers the importance of accessibility in spatial computing. We will demonstrate how VisionOS and SwiftUI work together to create inclusive immersive experiences. Attendees will learn to design intuitive and accessible spatial interfaces, expanding the boundaries of traditional UX design into VisionOS.

#94b4a3

2:45 PM-3:10 PM

Room 101A

Developer

Jun 19

Building for Beginners: UX Fundamentals for any XR Application

Rocío Sergio - Magic Leap
Jessy Escobedo - Magic Leap

How to empower new users to confidently engage in XR experiences Experience comes first. Nowhere is this more true than for new XR users, where intuitive, thoughtful UX is the key to long-term adoption. In this talk, Magic Leap’s Jessy Escobedo and Rocío Sergio will share five essential insights that will elevate any application and inspire users interacting in XR for the very first time. Informed by real-world user research into how novice users learn best in AR, Jessy and Rocío will share best practices for developing immersive experiences that transform beginners to lifetime adoptees.

#ABD3F6

2:45 PM-4:35 PM

Exhibit Hall

Expo Stage

Jun 19

Auggies Finalists' Showcase - moderated by Sophia Moshasha

Sophia Moshasha - Virtual Reality Marketing

This year we celebrate our 15th Annual Auggie Awards and we also want to celebrate finalists with this fast-paced showcase where Auggies finalists will be invited to make some noise at the Expo Stage and celebrate their submission. Finalists will be around the Expo Stage area to talk about their submissions, network with other finalists and talk with attendees about their project.

#FFFF00

3:00 PM-3:25 PM

Room 102A

AI & Virtual Beings

Jun 19

The New Holodeck: A Vision for Spatial Problem-Solving

Valentin Heun - PTC

Imagine a world where you can travel anywhere, anytime, and collaborate with anyone to solve spatial problems. Whether designing a city, exploring geographical wonder, or reviewing the design of a factory, you can use a Holodeck to immerse yourself in the situation and find solutions. The modern vision of a Holodeck is not just virtual reality but the ultimate information hub, ultimately connecting the physical world with the benefits of the digital. Its structured data provides APIs for AI to understand better space, humans, machines, and digital twins, allowing for spatial applications to support your decision-making. As such, the Holodeck transcended to the real world through robotic extensions and sensors, allowing you to manipulate and understand spatial problems of any scale. In this talk, I will explore the possibilities of spatial computing with a new perspective on the Holodeck. From its origins in science fiction to its current and potential applications in various domains. I will also discuss the challenges and opportunities of creating a data model that can govern the Holodeck and enable spatial AI. Finally, I will speculate on the future of collaboration and business travel using the Holodeck and how it can transform our perception and problem-solving of spatial problems.

#fbaf17

3:00 PM-3:25 PM

Room 102B

Retail & Marketing

Jun 19

Headlines to Bottom Lines: How XR Companies Can Achieve Mainstream News Coverage & Drive Growth

Amanda Proscia - Lightspeed PR
Ethan Rasiel - Lightspeed PR

Join Ethan Rasiel and Amanda Proscia, authors of the Best-Selling book PR Confidential: Unlocking the Secrets to Creating a Powerful Public Image, for expert guidance on how XR companies can earn top-tier media coverage. Rasiel and Prosica are the co-founders of Lightspeed PR/M, a technology-focused PR agency now in its eleventh year of helping tech companies make headlines and move the needle. Their presentation will walk through the specific challenges faced by the XR industry, with examples from their own client work, on how to: • Manage over-hype • Generate media excitement and engagement • Craft stories for mainstream outlets like The New York Times, Fast Company or CNN. Attendees will leave with a clear blueprint for creating a PR strategy that can propel their XR devices, platforms, or services.

#53F5FF

3:00 PM-3:25 PM

Room 103B

Creator

Jun 19

The Technology of Imagination

Dave Zaboski - Laetro

In these data driven times, everyone knows how to dial up the data science- SEO, SEM and other optimizations. If a company is looking for innovative growth, they'll have to learn how to dial up the creativity. Former Disney Animator Dave Zaboski (Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Aladdin, Pocahontas, Fantasia and others) shares insights, real world principles and practices from the hallowed halls of Disney and beyond on how to enhance creativity, collaborate more powerfully and turn a thought into a thing with the same ease and grace as the master storytellers from the past. You'll walk away with practical tools to help you Believe, Iterate, Collaborate, Risk, and Complete.

#f074ac

3:00 PM-3:50 PM

Room 101B

Gaming, Entertainment & Media

Jun 19

PANEL: Encouraging a Spirit of Discovery: A Fireside Chat with the Creators of Gorilla Tag

Kerestell Smith - Another Axiom
David Yee - Another Axiom
David Neubelt - Another Axiom

Embark on an exhilarating journey into the heart of a virtual jungle with the team at Another Axiom, creators of Gorilla Tag, the smash-hit sensation that accrued over $26 in revenue within two years of release and was the first to top 100K user reviews on the Meta Quest store earlier this year. Simple phrases like “become gorilla,” “embrace your inner ape,” and “reject humanity,” combined with gorilla-like movement and lack of a tutorial seem counterintuitive, but the team at Another Axiom went out on a limb and their philosophies have made Gorilla Tag one of the most successful games on the Quest platform. From conception to execution, learn about the challenges, breakthroughs, and unforgettable moments that shaped Gorilla Tag into the beloved VR phenomenon it is today and find out what this team is up to next. Whether you're a Monke, an aspiring developer, or simply curious about the future of VR gaming, this is a session you won't want to miss. Swing into action and join us for an inspiring conversation with the talented minds at Another Axiom.

#ff7f69

3:10 PM-3:35 PM

GRAND BALLROOM

Main Stage

Jun 19

Visionaries: Palmer Luckey and Darshan Shankar

Palmer Luckey - Anduril
Darshan Shankar - Bigscreen VR
Stephanie Riggs - The End of Storytelling: The Future of Narrative in the Storyplex

#94b4a3

3:15 PM-3:45 PM

Room 101A

Developer

Jun 19

VisionOS Best Practices for Beginners

Enrique López Mañas - Code & Theory
Supreet Singh - Code & Theory

With the launch of Apple Vision Pro, a full ecosystem is emerging in search of the killer app - an application that demonstrates the technology's unique strengths and seamlessly integrates into our daily lives. This mirrors what occurred with other hardware, such as smart devices nearly two decades ago. With the introduction of any new technology, questions inevitably arise: How can we develop apps effectively? Is there an established ecosystem of SDKs or libraries available for use? Which tools are most suitable? This session will delve into the best practices for visionOS during this initial development stage and propose a set of guidelines to effectively develop apps for Vision Pro. We will also cover common beginner challenges that everyone has to overcome.

#91bc3f

3:25 PM-3:50 PM

Promenade Room 104B

Enterprise

Jun 19

Unlock the Future of Shopping: Navigating the 3D and AR Revolution on Amazon

Ashley Crowder - VNTANA
Chris Anderson - Amazon

Step into the next frontier of e-commerce as we delve into the groundbreaking shift in Amazon's shopping experience. In a recent move, Amazon bid farewell to its 360 spin experience in December and has set its sights on the transformative potential of 3D and Augmented Reality (AR) technologies. Discover how this shift is reshaping the online retail landscape and revolutionizing the way customers interact with products. Join us for an enlightening session with Chris Anderson from Amazon and Ashley Crowder from VNTANA, a distinguished 3D retail expert, as we unravel the secrets behind leveraging 3D and AR to enhance the customer journey on Amazon. Through extensive testing and years of refinement, these immersive technologies have proven to be powerful catalysts for increased sales by providing consumers with an unparalleled understanding of the products they're considering. In this session, you'll gain valuable insights into the approach Amazon is taking with 3D and AR, and learn firsthand from experts on how to kickstart your journey into this dynamic realm. 3D content creators and Amazon sellers alike will learn best practices for creating and submitting 3D and AR content for display on Amazon. Join us for a compelling exploration of the future of online shopping – where innovation meets consumer engagement, and every click brings a product to life in three dimensions.

#C38dfa

3:30 PM-3:55 PM

Promenade Room 104A

XR Enablement

Jun 19

A Fireside Chat with VR Pioneers Carolina-Cruz Neira and Linda Jacobson

Carolina Cruz-Neira - University of Central Florida
Linda Jacobson - HaptX

Linda Jacobson and Carolina Cruz-Neira have been collaborating on VR projects since the early 1990s, and together they launched and ran an early VR development agency from 2001-2005. Whether you're a seasoned VR enthusiast, interested in the history of XR, or simply curious about the frontiers of technology, this fireside chat promises to be an engaging exploration of the past, present, and future of virtual reality.

#53F5FF

3:30 PM-3:55 PM

Room 103B

Creator

Jun 19

Essential Skills for a Lucrative Career in Social Augmented Reality

Eddy Adams - Eddy Adams LLC

#FFFF00

3:30 PM-3:55 PM

Room 102A

AI & Virtual Beings

Jun 19

History of AI: Humans vs. AI - A Rivalry Driven by Fear and Fascination (History Talk)

Marty Resnick - Gartner

There is a complex mix of fear and fascination that drives the public perception of the ongoing rivalry and race between humans and artificial intelligence. From the earliest chess-playing algorithms to today's sophisticated AI systems, examining the milestones where machines have challenged and sometimes surpassed human abilities, fueling progress and sparking debates about the real-world concerns shaping this evolving relationship.

#aec993

3:30 PM-4:30 PM

Room 103C

Start-Ups & Investors

Jun 19

Start-Up Pitch Competition: Part 2

Marco DeMiroz - The Venture Reality Fund
Adam Draper - Boost VC

#ff7f69

3:40 PM-4:40 PM

GRAND BALLROOM

Main Stage

Jun 19

PANEL: Quest for Innovation: Designing Mixed Reality Games

Robin Moulder - 3lbXR & 3lb Games
Tommy Palm - Resolution Games
Jesse Schell - Schell Games
Jenna Seiden - Skydance Interactive
Rita Turkowski - Meta

#91bc3f

3:55 PM-4:20 PM

Promenade Room 104A

Enterprise

Jun 19

Create Real Magic with Coca-Cola AI

Benny Lee - Coca-Cola

Coca-Cola has always been in the experience-making business — the simple pleasure of drinking an ice-cold Coca-Cola is timeless and ubiquitous in its appeal. But how does a company with a 130-year-old brand and physical products grounded in the analog world translate and transform that experience into the digital domain? Join Benny Lee, Senior Global Manager of Experiential Design at Coca-Cola, in this fascinating session to discover how Coca-Cola continues to craft authentic and meaningful experiences with innovative 3D technology and digital touchpoints covering AR/VR, NFT, and Metaverse.

#C38dfa

4:00 PM-4:25 PM

Promenade Room 104A

XR Enablement

Jun 19

The Past, Present, & Future of Brain-Computer Interfaces

Rolando Masís-Obando - Johns Hopkins University

In brief: A historical look into how brain computer interfaces have transformed over the past few decades: the landmark research of the past, the landmark research of today, and how it’s going to transform the future of XR. As a neuroscientist for about a decade, my work has focused on how people represent spatial contexts, concepts, and events. I have been able to place people in VR experiences and then through the use of neuroimaging and AI methods untangle their thoughts and how those thoughts influenced what they remember. As this neuroimaging technology reduces in form-factor and increases in accessibility, we can no longer turn a blind-eye to how it may be used nefariously in consumer products. In this talk, I will describe how Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) have been defined over the years, how research in this field has catapulted, an overview of the neuroscience behind the technology, the landmark studies of the past and present, use-cases in which XR, robotics, prosthetics and BCI have intertwined, and how new AI models are being used to perform mind-reading of both language and mental images. “With great power comes great responsibility” – I will end the talk by describing how and what it means for the future of XR and why it’s important to be careful with this technology, but also how incredibly empowering it can be for the future of XR.

#FFFF00

4:00 PM-4:25 PM

Room 102A

AI & Virtual Beings

Jun 19

AR: A Feast for AI

Logan Smith - Argyle

The AI revolution started in earnest when the massively parallel power of GPUs let us train larger, deeper models than we could have dreamed previously. Since then, the models have been growing in size and sophistication. Now the new bottleneck is data. ChatGPT, image generation, TikTok's recommendation engine all demonstrate the incredible power of the new algorithms when the data is there. But spatial tasks are generally missing that crucial data. Let's explore how AR apps, useful in their own right, can be leveraged as an unprecedented source for spatial data to feed a new generation of spatially intelligent models. We will touch on both performance and ethical concerns associated with passive data collection, as well as best practices for pipeline and deployment.

#f074ac

4:00 PM-4:25 PM

Room 101B

Gaming, Entertainment & Media

Jun 19

Empowering Immersive Sports Experiences

Valerie Allie - InterDigital

#fbaf17

4:00 PM-4:25 PM

Room 102B

Retail & Marketing

Jun 19

Hologram Technology Overview for 2024

Tracy Evans - Exhibitry

#94b4a3

4:00 PM-4:25 PM

Room 101A

Developer

Jun 19

Hands Free Spatial Interaction in XR: Combining Eye & Head Movements

Botond Bognar - Pillantas

Apple Vision Pro cemented eye movements as one of the key user input modalities. Our team has worked in this domain for the past seven years and we are ready to share how far gaze based spatial interaction can take us. During our presentation we will demonstrate on the latest head mounted displays how users can interact with spatial content e.g. pick up, move, rotate 3D content using binocular eye vergence and head movements without using their hands or having to engage with controllers or display elements. In addition we will unveil some of our key findings and technology explaining how we integrated eyes and head movements and share how it is useful in consumer and enterprise environments.

#53F5FF

4:10 PM-4:30 PM

Room 103B

Creator

Jun 19

Formidable Female Creators

Jacquelyn Morie - All These Worlds, LLC

#91bc3f

4:25 PM-4:50 PM

Promenade Room 104B

Enterprise

Jun 19

About DAM Time: 3D Digital Asset Management for Enterprises

Alon Grinshpoon - echo3D

Learn how to quickly store, secure, share, and stream 3D content across your organization and beyond. Join to see how you and your team members can leverage a 3D-first content management system (CMS) and delivery network (CDN), asset compression and conversion tools, and a scalable infrastructure to manage, process & stream 3D content in real-time & across devices. We will explore why 3D digital asset management (DAM) is important for your organization and why 3D-focused cloud infrastructure is needed. Participants are encouraged to bring their laptops or mobile devices or can follow the live demonstration. Register for your free echo3D account here: https://www.echo3d.com/signup

#94b4a3

4:30 PM-4:55 PM

Room 101A

Developer

Jun 19

XR in Rapid Inspection & Documentation (RID) for Aerospace

Jason Laan - Laan Labs

#C38dfa

4:30 PM-4:55 PM

Promenade Room 104A

XR Enablement

Jun 19

The AR Alliance: Hardware Ecosystem Enabling the AR Market

Bharath Rajagopalan - STMicroelectronics

This talk will discuss how industry leaders like STMicroelectronics, Meta, EssilorLuxottica, Corning and many others are coming together to create an ecosystem of hardware, and the associated software and firmware, to enable the AR mass market. This includes the development of standards and protocols that can drive faster adoption of devices and products.

#f074ac

4:30 PM-4:55 PM

Room 101B

Gaming, Entertainment & Media

Jun 19

History From Pixels to Portals: Tracing the Evolution of Gaming in XR (History Talk)

Stephanie Llamas - VoxPop Insights

Gaming has not only provided an important on-ramp for XR users, but also given way for interactions that extend into use cases beyond entertainment. XR has benefitted from gaming's rich legacy of innovation, both playing on the lessons learned from the games industry and providing a new horizon for interaction. This presentation will explore the current state of XR gaming as well as provide an abridged trip through its historical landscape. Whether attendees are gaming enthusiasts, technology aficionados, or simply curious about the evolution of playable immersion, this presentation offers a compelling narrative that sheds light on the past, present, and future of XR gaming, with interactive discussion around the intersection at which gaming meets B2C, B2B and beyond.

#fbaf17

4:30 PM-4:55 PM

Room 102B

Retail & Marketing

Jun 19

How Much is XR, The True Cost of Spatial Experiences

Terry Proto - Virtual Reality Marketing
Deborah Worrell - Virtual Reality Marketing

For years, the question of the true cost of XR experiences has remained elusive. At VRM, armed with the world's most extensive XR case study library, we aim to provide clarity. The nuanced answer to "How much is an XR experience?" is explored through a range of successful projects at different price points. From cost-effective solutions to high-end immersive ventures, we provide businesses with tangible references - and help them make informed decisions. Join us in this exploration of XR success stories, as we unravel the complexities of pricing and provide a roadmap for companies eager to embrace spatial computing in 2024.

#53F5FF

4:35 PM-5:30 PM

Room 103B

Creator

Jun 19

PANEL: How Generative AI Can Make XR Creation More Accessible

Molly Bloom - Cisco
Sean Dougherty - Lighthouse SF
Dylan Fox - XR Access
Stefanie Hutka - Sendfull
Ash Shah - Magic Leap

3D content is often inaccessible to consume, let alone to create. But AI and its capability for conversational interfaces could be a gateway for millions of disabled creators to make their own content and break the cycle of exclusion that has led to a landscape largely barren of disabled people. In this panel, we’ll discuss the challenges that face disabled creators, highlight capabilities of AI that could support them, and examine how this could affect the industry as a whole.

#FFFF00

4:35 PM-5:30 PM

Room 102A

AI & Virtual Beings

Jun 19

PANEL: Holograms in the Real World

Jon Karafin - Light Field Lab
Molly Lavik - Mentor InSight, Inc.
Samantha Wolfe - PitchFWD LLC
Natascha French - MVP Interactive

#ABD3F6

4:45 PM-5:30 PM

Exhibit Hall

Expo Stage

Jun 19

XR Women Awards 2024

Karen Alexander - XR Women
Sophia Moshasha - Virtual Reality Marketing
Julie Smithson - METAVRSE

#C38dfa

5:00 PM-5:30 PM

Promenade Room 104A

XR Enablement

Jun 19

The History and Future of Spatial Computing in the PTC Reality Lab

Valentin Heun - PTC
Benjamin Reynolds - PTC

This talk will present a journey of spatial computing, spanning from MIT’s spatial programming research to the future of spatial AI. Spatial computing enables us to interact with digital content that is anchored to the physical world, and to solve spatial problems, such as understanding the shape, motion, and behavior of objects and environments for remote collaboration. In this talk, we will share the history and vision of the PTC Reality Lab, a research group that has been exploring spatial computing for over a decade, from the MIT Reality Editor to the Vuforia Spatial Toolbox, and from industrial metaverse applications to spatial AI. We will showcase some of the key projects and insights that have shaped our research agenda. We will also discuss the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for spatial computing, such as spatial multitasking, multi-user collaboration, reality capture, and holoportation.

#f074ac

5:00 PM-5:30 PM

Room 101B

Gaming, Entertainment & Media

Jun 19

Building An Immersive Society: Learnings and Insights from Leading 3D Social Platforms

Morgan Tucker - Rec Room

Immersive social platforms are so much more than just games. The most successful companies in this space have one thing in common: they see society where others see entertainment. In this presentation, you will hear from Morgan Tucker, head of Creator at Rec Room, about the keys to building vibrant spatial societies through community, opportunity and infrastructure. He will share insights from his experiences at IMVU, Roblox and Rec Room including: <ul><li>Principles of design in 3D worlds</li> <li>Fostering civility through community</li> <li>The role of UGC and harnessing creator-led growth</li> <li>How to collaborate with the community to achieve success</li> </ul>

#94b4a3

5:00 PM-5:30 PM

Room 101A

Developer

Jun 19

Designing for the Future of XR

Nicole Lazzaro - Xeodesign Inc
Josette Seitz - Specular Theory
Finn Staber - Chicken Waffle

#ff7f69

6:00 PM-7:30 PM

GRAND BALLROOM

Main Stage

Jun 19

15th Annual Auggie Awards

Ori Inbar - AWE and Super Ventures

The annual Auggie Awards have been the most recognized industry AR & VR awards show in the world since 2010. The Auggies continue to showcase the best of the best in augmented and virtual reality and award winners will be presented with a prestigious Auggie Award live on stage. This year is particularly special as we celebrate the history of XR, AWE's15th anniversary and all the visionaries who have made this industry possible.

#53F5FF

9:00 AM-9:25 AM

Room 103B

Creator

Jun 20

The Importance of Connection and Intimacy in XR

Deirdre V. Lyons - Ferryman Collective
Whitton Frank - Ferryman Collective
Adele Keane - Imvizar

Join us for this captivating Fireside Chat where we discuss the art of forging bonds and engaging audiences within the magical realms of Virtual and Augmented Reality. This session spotlights the innovative work of Ferryman Collective, pioneers in VR theatre, alongside the creative storytelling experiences of prolific company Imvizar and their work in AR. Discover how these trailblazers are redefining audience engagement, enabling participants to traverse digital landscapes and connect with stories and each other in new and exciting ways. Whether you’re a seasoned XR enthusiast or new to the scene, this chat promises to enlighten and inspire, showcasing the boundless potential of XR to connect us all.

#91bc3f

9:00 AM-9:25 AM

Promenade Room 104B

Enterprise

Jun 20

Unleashing Enterprise Potential with XR and Immersive Technologies

Elizabeth Baron - Immersionary Enterprises

Elizabeth will delve into the rationale behind the use of Extended Reality (XR) as an optimal tool for handling extensive datasets, surpassing conventional methods of review. Her presentation will involve a comparative analysis of use cases employing various data visualization techniques, highlighting instances where XR consistently delivers substantial value when integrated into enterprise settings through a holistic digital twin. The discussion will encompass the significance of scientific datasets, addressing simultaneously aesthetic and engineering perspectives. Elizabeth will specifically emphasize the role of stereoscopic immersive high-fidelity environments in presenting data contextually, catering to a diverse demographic within the industry and even within a single company. Furthermore, Elizabeth will draw from her experience in developing and implementing immersive realities at Ford Motor Company to shed light on both the triumphs and challenges associated with the widespread adoption of immersive technologies. In this presentation Elizabeth will reveal insights into the transformative potential of XR and the strategic considerations for its large-scale adoption for many industries, from automotive to medical.

#f074ac

9:00 AM-9:55 AM

Room 101B

Gaming, Entertainment & Media

Jun 20

PANEL: Winning Mind and Market share on Quest

JP Minetos - Hartmann Capital
Pablo Colapinto - Nexus Studios
Emily O'Neal - Lighthaus Inc
Arturo Perez - Kluge Interactive
Almir Brljak - Sinn Studio

Discover the winning strategies for founders in the XR and gaming space on Meta Quest. This talk delves into key insights, market trends, and actionable advice to succeed in this dynamic ecosystem. From understanding user behavior to learning how to get edge in the market, learn how to dominate both minds and market share by standing out as differentiated and unique on the app store.

#ff7f69

9:00 AM-9:55 AM

Main Stage

Jun 20

PANEL: Empathic Interfaces: Exploring Intersection of Emotions, AI, & Spatial Computing

Moritz Baier-Lentz - Lightspeed
Anand Dass - Meta
Nanea Reeves - Tripp
Sly Spencer-Lee - Emerge

Our emotions are at the core of the human experience. Brene Brown’s research identifies 87 human emotions and experiences. It’s hard enough to identify and discern our own emotions and much harder to decipher what someone else is feeling, especially when we’re communicating digitally. There are new products that are changing this. Join us for an enlightening panel discussion where leading innovators and investors converge to explore the forefront of emotional intelligence in technology. Discover how TRIPP is revolutionizing wellness, analyzing users' moods and emotions to tailor deeply personal experiences. We’ll discuss how sensing technologies in Apple Vision Pro and Meta Quest 3 help perceive and respond to emotional cues. We’ll explore Emerge’s unique tactile approach to multi-sensory communication that soon can unlock new ways to communicate emotions. You’ll also hear firsthand from a visionary investor who has championed the spatial computing sector since 2020, backing companies that push the boundaries of what's possible. This panel promises to be a deep dive into the technologies shaping our emotional landscape, offering a glimpse into a future where tech not only understands but also adapts to our emotional needs, enriching our digital experiences in profound ways.

#ffa86b

9:30 AM-9:50 AM

Room 102B

XR Policy

Jun 20

Identifying and Overcoming Regulatory and Legal Roadblocks

Brian Wassom - Warner Norcross + Judd LLP
Tony Liao - University of Houston

How will ever-evolving regulatory and legal frameworks create roadblocks to the successful rollout of you XR project—and how can you overcome them? XR Professor Tony Liao draws from his experience teaching and mentoring students on the nuances of XR communication, the exploration of XR in neuroscience and its effects on brain activity, the concept of presence within XR, and the broader implications of XR on human experience and behavior. Attorney and longtime XR thought leader Brian Wassom will report from the legal trenches on what legal risks lie just over the horizon, and how to best insulate yourselves from liability.

#ffa86b

9:55 AM-10:15 AM

Room 102B

XR Policy

Jun 20

Should Law Change to Adapt to XR?

Christa Laser - Cleveland State University

Traditional legal problems like the copying of creative content and unauthorized use of others' images arise in the extended reality space. But should different rules apply? What are we trying to incentivize through the law and how can law and technology adapt? Professor Laser uses real world case examples from her time in practice working on gaming litigation to explain the dangers and potential for law in this area.

#53F5FF

10:00 AM-10:20 AM

Room 103B

Creator

Jun 20

Leaving the Bricks Behind: The Next Stage of Stand-Up Comedy

Kyle Render - Rendered Talent
Kirsten Hudson - Social Concept Group
Austin Cause Caine - Cause + Christi: Immersive XR Design

Dive into the future of cracking up as we explore how stand-up comedy is evolving from the classic club scene into the wild realm of virtual reality. This panel is all about how tech is evolving and changing the game, turning the whole world into one big club where everyone gets to sit front-row. Through insights from the pioneers and creators at the forefront, we'll examine the challenges, triumphs, and untapped potential of comedy in the virtual age, ensuring humor transcends boundaries to connect us all regardless of physical location. It's about making sure that no matter where we are in the world, a good joke can still bring us all a bit closer together.

#94b4a3

10:00 AM-10:25 AM

Room 101A

Developer

Jun 20

Better Together - How to Design for Harmonious Collaboration

Sydney Blount - Magic Leap
Jacqueline Zimmermann - Magic Leap

For humanity to succeed, we must work together. However, it has become increasingly tempting to turn inward, live heads-down in our personal devices, and become myopically focused on our individual tasks. As we shape the future of work through the next generation of XR, it is essential that we carefully consider the future of collaboration. It is essential that we design experiences where people can effectively come together to co-create in spatial environments. This talk will examine design principles for collaborating in augmented reality. We will discuss tactics for fostering cooperation and how to unlock group flow through thoughtful design. Magic Leap spotlight applications (Workshop and Assist) along with strategic partnerships will be featured as supporting use cases.

#f074ac

10:00 AM-10:40 AM

Room 101B

Gaming, Entertainment & Media

Jun 20

STORY LIVING: 10 Tools from Video Games & Immersive Theater to Make Story Worlds in the Metaverse

Joshua Rubin - Subverse Narrative Consulting

As an Interactive Emmy-winning Narrative Director, I’ve spent 25 years creating groundbreaking stories for film, TV, video games, VR, AR and immersive theater. With this talk, I will offer AWE's audience of XR professionals key techniques from both video games and experiential theater that we’ll need to build the future of storytelling in extended realities. Drawing links between classic video games (like GTA, Portal, Last of Us, Destiny, Fortnite) and immersive theater groups, both historical and contemporary, (Punchdrunk, The Living Theater, Odyssey Works, Third Rail Projects, La Fura del Baus), this talk will examine how both mediums leverage player agency and create living worlds. Attendees interested in experiential storytelling will come away with knowledge about tools like emergent narrative, environmental storytelling, sandbox game design, and a responsive world. I’ll discuss the importance of state change tracking, best practices for balancing player choice when using branching story techniques, and the role of AI in the future of story. With the launch of the Vision Pro, we are seeing significant industry momentum in XR and the metaverse. However, as my colleagues often say: “The metaverse is a technology in search of a reason for being.” As such, this talk will provide tangible insights on how to drive human-focused experiences, and provide essential ideas to creators looking to craft XR worlds that go beyond passive consumption into the realm of “story living.”

#C38dfa

10:00 AM-10:50 AM

Promenade Room 104A

XR Enablement

Jun 20

Designing Spatial Audio for Hybrid Communication in Microsoft Mesh

Kat Moynahan - Microsoft
Aili Niimura - Microsoft

In 2023, the Mesh team embarked on building spatial audio, a key feature in Mesh’s 2D/3D immersive experiences. Designing in this dynamic realm presented unique challenges particularly due to limited guidance on how to design great immersive experiences that are both user friendly and intuitive. In our case study, we'll share our journey designing audio experiences and functionality that push the edges of how people meet and communicate in immersive environments. We’ll explore how we brought user experience strategy, 3D design, and immersive audio together to create effective collaborative virtual spaces. Join Kat Moynahan, who specializes in product strategy, Sasha Belitskaja, an expert in 3D and interaction design, and Aili Niimura, a wizard in spatial audio, from the Microsoft Mesh spatial audio team as they share key moments in the development of Mesh’s spatial audio, and the mindsets, best practices and lessons learned that helped them along the way. See how a clever mix of online tools, working sessions and product reviews brought spatial audio to life and connects 2D and 3D participants in real time.

#ff7f69

10:00 AM-10:55 AM

GRAND BALLROOM

Main Stage

Jun 20

PANEL: The Future of XR Headsets and How They'll Deliver our Spatial Future

Paresh Rajwat - Meta
Tim Bajarin - Creative Strategies
Said Bakadir - Qualcomm
Vishal Shah - Lenovo
Anna Nilsson - Varjo

Expert panelists share the newest developments in XR headsets and how they are driving the future of spatial computing. XR headset technology is advancing rapidly and has become an important means toward delivering an immersive 3D world. There are multiple XR headsets on the market, and new ones in the works that will define the next wave of spatial computing. At the same time, smart glasses are emerging to challenge traditional XR headsets, setting up a new battlefront in the metaverse. This is a hot topic in the world of spatial computing and this panel will explore and share how they see these new technologies impact the augmented world of the future.

#01cdf0

10:00 AM-10:55 AM

Room 103C

Collaboration, Training & Education

Jun 20

PANEL: Aligning Academic & Industrial R&D for Spatial Computing: the Educational Rift in Spatial Reasoning

Sadah Espii Proctor - Yale University
Elizabeth Childs - Stanford
Markus Eger - Cal Poly Pomona
Jasmine Roberts - Microsoft Research

In the rapidly evolving landscape of emerging markets, the role of R&D is pivotal in pioneering advancements and ensuring sustainable growth. As we stand on the cusp of a technological revolution powered by spatial computing, including augmented and virtual reality, there is a compelling need for higher education institutions to bridge the existing gaps. These gaps are not only technical but also educational, particularly in enhancing spatial reasoning skills which are crucial for leveraging the full potential of spatial computing technologies. Our proposed fireside chat aims to explore how higher education and R&D can collaboratively foster an environment that not only accommodates the burgeoning demand for spatial computing but also adheres to the highest standards of research practices. This is especially critical in a market-driven landscape where the rush to innovate often sidelines these fundamental practices. Through this dialogue, we intend to underscore the importance of an integrated approach that prepares the next generation of professionals to thrive in and contribute to the sustainable development of this exciting field.

#91bc3f

10:00 AM-10:55 AM

Promenade Room 104B

Enterprise

Jun 20

PANEL: Deploying Sustainable Enterprise XR Solutions

Dan Blair - BSD XR
Angelina Dayton - Virtual World Society
Brian Nevinsky - Lockheed Martin
Nathan Thomas - CN Railway

#bcda85

10:00 AM-3:00 PM

Exhibit Hall

Networking

Jun 20

Expo, Playground, Start-Ups, and XR Museum Hours

#53F5FF

10:25 AM-10:45 AM

Room 103B

Creator

Jun 20

Transforming an Idea into a (Virtual) Reality: How to Build Worlds

Michelle Weisblat-Dane - IAmCompuBear Consortium
Helen Lundström Erwin - The Foremothers Café
Christi Fenison - Cause + Christi: Immersive XR Design

The Foremothers Café is inspired by Helen Erwin's historical novel Sour Milk in Sheep's Wool, and the Swedish suffrage movement at the turn of the 20th century. Helen will share the stage with world builder Christi Fenison, her collaborator to create the world in VR. Michelle Weisblat-Dane will moderate the discussion. As they will discuss, Helen began by sending Cause and Christi a drawing that she had made on paper with colored pencils. Then they discussed Swedish historical and architectural details, and from there it went; with Helen's historical knowledge and Cause & Christi's world-building skills, magic happened. If you've ever been interested in how creators bring worlds into virtual reality, this is a great session to attend!

#FFFF00

10:30 AM-10:55 AM

Room 102A

AI & Virtual Beings

Jun 20

The Future of Dataviz is Augmented Reality with AI

Jason Marsh - Flow Immersive, Inc

AI is leading to a democratization of data science, and AR is a natural next step in computing. Together, they can help users have the best data collaboration and conversation they have ever experienced, and leave the meeting feeling like they have a clear mental model and making a great data-driven decision. In the enterprise, most data is presented in bar charts pasted into PowerPoint. Even dashboards are often left to experts to navigate. Humanity has problems that need better data communication to solve, but we need a way to increase the credibility of the data through greater detail (stereo vision reduces visual crowding), increase depth of understanding through ease of data filtering and navigation, increase ease of converting datasets into visualizations, and simplify storytelling and collaboration to make executives and stakeholders build great mental models. Augmented Reality and AI will help with these problems, and how typical meetings discuss data will be improved and forever changed.

#94b4a3

10:30 AM-11:00 AM

Room 101A

Developer

Jun 20

Surviving an XR Acquisition

Dan Flanegan - That XR Company
Paula Monteiro - ANYLINE

Dan Flanegan (formerly Qualcomm and ClayAir) & Paula Monteiro (formerly of Qualcomm and Wikitude) will share their personal experiences surviving the acquisitions of their XR startups by a Fortune 500 tech giant. They will share their unique insights, including: <ul><li>Preparing yourself and your XR company for an exit</li> <li>Negotiation your new role and compensation</li> <li>Cultural adjustments going from startup to big corporation</li> <li>How to maintain XR product and customer continuity</li> <li>Opportunities for self development and education</li> <li>How to leverage an exit into your next XR opportunity</li> <li>Building a network to meet your next XR startup cofounders</li> </ul>

#f074ac

10:45 AM-11:10 AM

Room 101B

Gaming, Entertainment & Media

Jun 20

Live Streaming From a Meta Quest with Unity, Amazon IVS & Twitch

Todd Sharp - Twitch

In this session, we'll look at how to create a dynamic live streaming experience directly from a Meta Quest game built in Unity. By integrating the live streaming experience directly into your game, you can lower the barrier to entry for new content creators. Additionally, you can add next level interactions like user-controlled environments and objectives and directly integrate chat and remote stream playback. Your stream can be published to your own live streaming platform created with Amazon Interactive Video Service, or directly to a user's Twitch channel. We'll look at all of these use cases and more in this session.

#53F5FF

10:50 AM-11:15 AM

Room 103B

Creator

Jun 20

How AI is Democratizing the AR Creation Market

Darya Sesitskaya - Shader

The recent breakthrough in Generative AI, particularly with Image and Video Generation technology, opens up new opportunities to democratize the AR market and give more power and freedom to the end users. While the prior generation of generative models was, at large, not good enough for a wide variety of use cases, we are now seeing the first indicators that diffusion models have passed the bar for generating rich and diversified content. Recent advancements, such as generation of 3D models in real time, photo animation, and real-time image generation capture the very beginning of what we think is the next big trend in AR: allowing users to create AR effects and modify their look in real time.

#C38dfa

11:00 AM-11:25 AM

Promenade Room 104A

XR Enablement

Jun 20

Cliffhanger Creativity: The Journey of Turning Climbing El Capitan into a VR Experience

Greg Downing - Hyperacuity

#FFFF00

11:00 AM-11:25 AM

Room 102A

AI & Virtual Beings

Jun 20

AI + XR: Practical to Dystopian in 25 Minutes

James Cooper - Raytheon

#94b4a3

11:00 AM-11:25 AM

Room 101A

Developer

Jun 20

Build a Fulfilling Career in the Shifting AR/MR Landscape

Lianne Baron - Meta
Luke Hurd - WPP / VML

#ABD3F6

11:00 AM-12:00 PM

Exhibit Hall

Expo Stage

Jun 20

LIVE This Week in XR's 200th Podcast LIVE

Charlie Fink - Forbes
Ted Schilowitz - Red Camera

The "This Week in XR" podcast will celebrate its 200th episode by recording live with an AWE audience. Forbes tech columnist Charlie Fink and Red Camera co-founder, futurist Ted Schilowitz, host special guests and select audience members to discuss top news at the show, and what we can expect at the intersection of spatial computing and AI.

#bcda85

11:00 AM-1:30 PM

Networking

Jun 20

LUNCH

#01cdf0

11:05 AM-11:30 AM

Room 103C

Collaboration, Training & Education

Jun 20

XR for Empathy, Environmental Stewardship & Global Kindness

John Anderson - University of Idaho
Dr. John Francis - Planetwalk

Dr. John Francis, renowned as the "Planet Walker," and John Anderson, "Professor XR”.are joining forces to pioneer XR environments aimed at fostering kindness and supporting the GLOBE Program (Globe.gov) for children internationally. Dr. Francis, is currently on his monumental journey from South Africa to Cairo, spanning several years that embodies the ethos of "how we treat one another is how we treat the environment." Leveraging XR technology, both Dr. Francis and Professor Anderson aim to immerse children in interactive environments that cultivate empathy, environmental stewardship, and global kindness. Through this collaboration, they seek to empower the next generation with the understanding that acts of kindness towards each other and their environment can ripple outward to positively impact our planet. By intertwining Dr. Francis's profound insights with Professor Anderson's XR expertise, they envision a transformative educational platform that not only educates but also inspires compassionate action for a more harmonious world, one step at a time.

#91bc3f

11:05 AM-11:40 AM

Promenade Room 104B

Enterprise

Jun 20

Being Awesome in 2040: How did we get here? What the hell happened?

Amy Peck - EndeavorXR
Avi Bar-Zeev - XR Guild

Join irreverent XR Veterans Amy Peck and Avi Bar-Zeev as they recount the probably true life stories, looking back from the year 2040, about how it all unfolded for Spatial Computing, XR, AI, and what one company called the “WeKnowUVerse” (hint: that one did not go so well). So what went right in all those years and what went wrong? And exactly how did Elon Musk end up surviving and even thriving as an Emperor Penguin on Mars?

#53F5FF

11:20 AM-11:40 AM

Room 103B

Creator

Jun 20

Beyond Our Bodies: AI & XR’s Role in Transforming Identity

Cameron Kostopoulos - Kost

Technology is rapidly redefining what it means to be human. What happens when it empowers us to transcend our physical form? Award-winning creator Cameron Kostopoulos explores this question through the lens of their groundbreaking work. Utilizing full-body tracking, artificial intelligence, and haptic feedback, Cameron's projects, including the PGA Innovation Award-winning 'Body of Mine,' transcend traditional boundaries of storytelling, allowing audiences to see the world through another’s eyes - and through their body. This session will unveil how emerging media can alter human identity and connection in the digital age.'

#ffa86b

11:20 AM-11:50 AM

Room 102B

XR Policy

Jun 20

Bridging Neuroscience & Policy in XR

April Boyd-Noronha - XRSI - X Reality Safety Intelligence
Erik Viirre - UC San Diego
Ashley Coffey - Coffey & Code Podcast

#FFFF00

11:30 AM-12:25 PM

Room 102A

AI & Virtual Beings

Jun 20

PANEL: Creative Frontiers: Navigating the Artistic Landscape in the Age of AI

Craig Allen - NewCo
Evo Heyning - Realitycraft
Julian Reyes - Virtual Worlds Museum
Rachel Joy Victor - FBRC.ai
Erin Reilly - University of Texas at Austin

We invite you to an enlightening panel discussion, "Creative Frontiers: Navigating the Artistic Landscape in the Age of AI," which zeroes in on the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on the creative industries. Our panel of innovative artists and thought leaders will delve into the role of AI as both a collaborator and a tool in the hands of modern creators. This session will explore the ecosystem of AI tools that are revolutionizing how artists—from filmmakers to musicians to visual artists—approach the creative process. We’ll examine case studies of generative AI applications like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Adobe’s Firefly, sound samples like Lalal.ai, and Suno as well as Midjourney and more, highlighting their capabilities to augment creativity and streamline workflows. Our panelists will dissect the implications of these technologies on the creative economy, scrutinizing how they're reshaping job roles, altering monetization strategies, and influencing the distribution of creative works. We'll also address the ethical dimensions AI introduces, including questions of intellectual property and the maintenance of artistic integrity in an era where the line between human and machine-generated content is increasingly blurred. As we navigate this uncharted territory, the panel will offer insights into how artists and industry professionals can harness AI responsibly and effectively. We'll discuss strategies for adapting to AI's growing presence in the creative sector, the skills necessary to leverage these tools, and the potential for AI to democratize the arts and empower creators across the globe. Whether you’re an artist exploring AI-generated art, a producer leveraging AI for music composition, or a writer integrating AI into your storytelling, this panel is your compass for understanding and capitalizing on AI’s role in the creative process. Join us to envision a future where AI and human creativity coalesce to redefine the boundaries of art and industry.

#01cdf0

11:35 AM-12:00 PM

Room 103C

Collaboration, Training & Education

Jun 20

How Spatial Computing Will Take An Permanent Role In K-12 Education

Aaron Wolko - Nivra

Take an exclusive look into a window of data as to how schools are adopting XR technology in their educational syllabus and how you can benefit from becoming a creator in this field. Education is a multi-trillion-dollar industry ripe for disruption, and there has never been a better way to learn than VR/AR.

#f074ac

11:45 AM-12:10 PM

Room 101B

Gaming, Entertainment & Media

Jun 20

The Last Decade and the Next Decade in XR/Spatial

Neville Spiteri - Wevr

It feels like deja vu. 10 years after Valve’s Steam Days 2014 announcement of room-scale VR, and 10 years since Meta (formerly Facebook) acquired Oculus, Apple releases the Vision Pro as the new computing paradigm with immersive photos, video and spatial applications across gaming and other verticals. Apple’s entry in the market, the dominance of Meta’s platform, the evolution of HTC’s Vive offering and Google’s upcoming Android XR/Samsung collaboration sets the stage for the next decade in XR. In this talk we will explore the real opportunities for entertainment IP holders, brands, and creators to engage, not in fleeting trends, but in sustained market opportunities and healthy ROI in XR/spatial.

#53F5FF

11:45 AM-12:10 PM

Room 103B

Creator

Jun 20

Augmenting for Aesthetic Impact

Helena Dong - BUCK
Alexis Zerafa - The Mill

The aesthetic impact of AR adds a vital dimension to the way we experience it. As we grasp the technology, how do we channel our ideas in a way that feels robust and compelling? Drawing from our collaborations with brands such as Coachella, Dior, Fendi, and Rimowa, we explore practical strategies for crafting AR experiences with visual and sensory appeal. By looking at case studies and spatial principles, we discuss how various design elements can be combined to amplify campaign messaging, and examine how a broader artistic perspective influences the development of AR.

#ffa86b

11:50 AM-12:15 PM

Room 102B

XR Policy

Jun 20

Building a Human-First Metaverse: Committed to Responsible Governance

Matthew Price, PhD. - World Economic Forum

The ‘Metaverse’ is not dead. Our definition, conception, and expectations are evolving. And as it rapidly evolves into this future internet state, a physical and digital blended reality, it is crucial that we establish a foundation of responsible governance that prioritizes ‘human-first’ concepts through global multi-stakeholder collaboration. Come learn about what it means to be ‘human-first’ in metaverse development – emphasizing the importance of balancing innovation with ethical, cultural, accessible, and responsible design decisions. Attendees will gain insights into the challenges and opportunities associated with building a responsible Metaverse, as well as the commitments we must make in shaping its future.

#01cdf0

12:05 PM-12:30 PM

Room 103C

Collaboration, Training & Education

Jun 20

Revolutionizing Construction Training: Mixed Reality for Precision in Concrete Leveling & Placement

Greg Meyers - ForgeFX Simulations
Dave Raasakka - Somero

Step into the future of construction training with the latest innovation from Somero Enterprises, Inc.: A cutting-edge simulation-based training program for their Laser Screed machines, enhanced by the power of mixed reality technology. This state-of-the-art training solution, developed in collaboration with ForgeFX Simulations, harnesses the Meta Quest-based VR operator training simulator to provide an immersive learning experience. The training simulator marks a significant leap forward for Somero Concrete Institute, offering mixed reality-based operator and service training that prepares trainees for real-world scenarios without the need for the presence of physical equipment. ForgeFX Simulations, known for their custom 3D training simulation software development, has played a crucial role in bringing this application to life, creating a highly immersive, interactive, and engaging training environment. This session, co-presented by Dave Raasakka of Somero Enterprises, Inc., and Greg Meyers of ForgeFX Simulations, will highlight the industry's hurdles and the breakthrough solutions provided by mixed reality technology, discussing how mixed reality is reshaping training methodologies for cost savings, precision, and efficiency. This presentation is a must-see for industry professionals seeking to stay at the forefront of training methods and technologies in leading industry sectors like construction.

#f074ac

12:15 PM-12:40 PM

Room 101B

Gaming, Entertainment & Media

Jun 20

Photos and Films in Immersive Experiences

Victor Agulhon - TARGO

Photos and films are more than just our everyday entertainment—they're our gateway to the real world. This talk explores the transition of these familiar formats from 2D screens into immersive viewing experiences. From AI remastering to 3D conversion to native 3D film capture, this talk will showcase how creative thinking and advanced technology enable new storytelling. Discover pioneering use cases in entertainment and documentary that demonstrate the power of films and photos into immersive experiences. The talk will feature exclusive behind-the-scenes look at immersive experiences produced by Emmy-nominated studio TARGO—"JFK Memento", "Behind the Dish","Surviving 9/11" and unreleased titles.

#53F5FF

12:50 PM-1:15 PM

Room 103B

Creator

Jun 20

The Future of Training: VR and AI Innovations

This talk explores the significant role that Virtual Reality (VR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) play in modern training programs. We will discuss how VR provides immersive learning environments and examine the potential for AI, including large language models, to further personalize and enhance these experiences. The session will highlight current uses for example in government, commercial and entertainment settings, explore future advancements, and consider practical challenges.

#53F5FF

1:10 PM-1:25 PM

Room 103B

Creator

Jun 20

Democratization of Space or Digital Vandalism?

Shahwali Shayan - Royal College of Art

Delve into the dynamic intersection of augmented reality and public art as we navigate the intriguing landscapes of contemporary artistic expression. In this exploration, we confront the dichotomy between the democratization of space and the subversive potential of Augmented Reality. Through the lens of Augmented Reality, we examine the conceptual practice of stacking realities, where mundane objects are transformed into monumental installations, echoing the spirit of Dadaism in our modern age. Join me on a thought-provoking journey that challenges conventional notions of art and invites contemplation on the evolving role of technology in shaping our cultural landscape.

#53F5FF

1:30 PM-1:55 PM

Room 103B

Creator

Jun 20

Enhancing Human Connection in the Physical World with XR

Athena Demos - Big Rock Creative
Scarlett Kim

Join Athena Demos and Scarlett Kim as they present actionable strategies for enriching human experiences in the XR omniverse. Attendees will learn how to adapt techniques from large-scale events and theatrical productions to foster engagement and connectedness in XR, leaving with practical tools to create impactful digital experiences. This talk also discusses how to build communities in the metaverse that strengthen real-world communities. Demos and Kim will draw on their projects as diverse case studies of immersive environments where physical and digital realities intersect. Demos breaks down key elements to the community building success of BRCvr, an official virtual Burning Man experience and other award-winning projects. Kim discusses her work with Culture House Immersive building a national ecosystem of original and licensed immersive experiences, and other location-based and XR projects focused on collective impact.

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1:30 PM-1:55 PM

Room 102A

AI & Virtual Beings

Jun 20

How AI is Unlocking the Highest Fidelity Immersive Experiences

Matt Miesnieks - Dejavu

Apple Vision Pro unlocked 14k high fidelity spatial experiences for the first time. Outside of cinema VFX pipelines, regular Apps, games and content has never had to deliver anything this high fidelity before. The benefits are incredible, but the technical challenges are enormous. Dejavu has solved this problem and is making hifi possible for everyone

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1:30 PM-1:55 PM

Room 101A

Developer

Jun 20

Resilient XR Environments: Building & Navigating Conflict-Resilient Spaces

Molli Aronce - VR Create|Connect
Ruth Diaz - VR Create|Connect

Join Ruth Diaz and Molli Aronce for a groundbreaking session exploring the dynamics of conflict and collaboration within Extended Reality (XR). This talk dives into the heart of conflict resiliency, contrasting traditional resolution methods with innovative strategies tailored for the XR domain. Discover the DOT model's transformative approach to converting conflict into opportunities for growth, fostering an inclusive and creative XR community. Learn practical tips for designing conflict-resilient spaces and engaging with conflicts constructively to enhance collaborative efforts and drive change in virtual realities.

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1:30 PM-2:15 PM

Room 103C

Collaboration, Training & Education

Jun 20

PANEL: The City of Los Angeles and Immersive Innovation

Kathleen Cohen - The Collaboratorium
Dawn Comer - City of Los Angeles
Rachel Kornak - City of Los Angeles
Marcela Oliva - USGBC - Los Angeles
Ryat Yezbick - Arizona State University

This panel gathers several key thought leaders representing the Mayor’s Office of The City of L.A, LA-based Arizona State University and LA Trade Tech College to discuss immersive XR projects happening around town. The discussion will be led by Kathleen Cohen, Tech Humanist and XR Strategist who has brought these brilliant minds together to reflect the current perspectives of local programs. The City of L.A. uses innovative technologies to address a wide variety of real-world challenges. Dawn Comer and Rachel Kornak from the Mayor’s Office of Finance, Operations and Innovation will discuss several initiatives that focus on providing equitable access to City services, reducing the digital divide, supporting small businesses, training youth for jobs of the future and advancing digital transformation of government services. Ryat Yezbick of LA-based Arizona State University Narrative and Emerging Media program (NEM), directed by Nonny de la Peña, is launching several city-wide initiatives that seek to harness the power of immersive media through co-creative strategies with local residents across Los Angeles. NEM initiatives will provide skills and jobs training for participants in immersive XR technologies while helping residents restore blighted spaces in their neighborhoods, connect across political divides, and build greater platforms for inclusion through XR and haptics technologies. With over 30 years of dedication, Professor Marcela Oliva has revolutionized LATTC's Architectural and Environmental Design program. She developed the nation's largest Digital Twin/Virtualization BIM/GIS System, aligned with National Intelligence Standards. Her expertise in Omniverse/Metaverse/Digital twins and their impact on social mobility is widely recognized, establishing her as a trailblazer in her field and AIA Presidential Award Educator of the year 2023. Marcela was also honored as the Los Angeles Business Journal DEI Non-Profit Organization of the Year, making significant contributions to various fields in LA.

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1:30 PM-2:20 PM

GRAND BALLROOM

Main Stage

Jun 20

PANEL: Spatial Data Revolution: Lockheed Martin, Exxon Mobil, and AWS Ignite a New Era of Spatial Computing

Evan Helda - AWS
Brian Nevinsky - Lockheed Martin
Kurt Scheuringer - Amazon Web Services
Michael Hotaling - ExxonMobil

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1:30 PM-3:00 PM

Hall A

Collaboration, Training & Education

Jun 20

Colleges and Career Development Roundtables

David Gainey - Cañada College
Paul Hillman - Grand Valley State University
Mary Lee Carter - Parker University
Amany Alkhayat - New York Institute of Technology
Cristina Carl - Ediphi
Amir Ahmadi - Educator
Kevin Park - New York Institute of Technology
Ashley Neall - Intercollegiate XR
Nina Faye Lin - XRIO
Dr. Sanika Doolani - Edstutia
Christine Hobbi - ServiceAlliances International, Inc.
Sarah Barker - RightAfterThis.Com

There are many amazing XR-related projects going on at universities around the world. Rather than the traditional presentation format, we wanted to give attendees an opportunity to talk with the professionals in charge of these projects and ideas. Between 1:30 - 3:00 pm in Hall A, we'll have 10 roundtables. Each table will be hosted by a professional ready to chat with you about a different topic. Join a discussion and then switch halfway through. (Each discussion will last 40 minutes and then there will be a 10 minute break to swap.) If you join late, that's ok. Just find a table with an open spot and jump in the discussion!

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1:45 PM-2:15 PM

Room 103B

Healthcare & Wellness

Jun 20

Virtual Horizons: Revolutionizing Health Equity & Inclusion with VR

Kyr Poskonoff - LikeXR
Whitney White - Equity Commons

In this presentation, we delve into the transformative power of virtual reality (VR) technology in revolutionizing equity, inclusion, and patient experience across the healthcare sector. Through immersive experiences and groundbreaking applications, VR has emerged as a pivotal tool in breaking down barriers and fostering a more inclusive and effective healthcare environment. From training healthcare professionals to understand diverse patient perspectives to creating virtual simulations that address implicit bias, this presentation explores the myriad ways VR is reshaping the landscape of health equity, inclusion, and patient experience. We examine case studies, share insights, and discuss best practices for leveraging VR to promote equity and accessibility in healthcare services.

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1:45 PM-2:30 PM

Room 101B

Gaming, Entertainment & Media

Jun 20

PANEL: Futurize: Crafting Tomorrow's Games and Products

Ryan Canuel - Petricore, Inc
Holly Hirzel - Consultant
Ben Taylor - SQUARE ENIX
Vickie Nauman - CrossBorderWorks

Create products that are innovative and adaptable for the future by learning how to predict and integrate emerging technological trends into your game and product development. Join this expert panel as they discuss practical strategies for designing games that are not only relevant today, but will resonate in the future tech landscape. Topics of discussion: <ul><li>Methods and tools for forecasting future technological trends.</li> <li>Practical strategies for embedding these insights into current game and product design.</li> <li>Approaches to ensure games and products remain adaptable and relevant in the face of technological shifts.</li> </ul>Benefits for Participants: <ul><li>Actionable insights and strategies for designing games and products with a future-focused perspective.</li> <li>Understanding how to incorporate future tech trends into current development processes.</li> <li>Opportunities for knowledge exchange with industry experts and peers.</li> <li>Enhanced skills in creating products that are innovative and adaptable for the future.</li> </ul>

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2:00 PM-2:25 PM

Promenade Room 104A

XR Enablement

Jun 20

Evolution of RF Signal Visualization From Spectrum Analyzers To Augmented Reality

Suzanne Borders - BadVR

We are surrounded by invisible radio frequency signals created by human technology like radio, cellular, and satellite. Traditionally, we see these signals through spectrum analyzers. However, the capabilities of existing analysis tools are being outpaced by the rapid modernization of wireless networks and topologies like 5G, IoT, Bluetooth, LoRa, etc. RF is inherently multidimensional, but conventional analyzers display signals in 2D slices, limiting real-world applicability to highly technical users. Emerging technology that combines Augmented Reality displays and AI/ML algorithms is capable of spatializing RF data into its natural 3D location for easier understanding and communication. This talk will provide an overview of the evolution of RF visualization tools from flat interfaces to immersive ones that can be used to discover and map RF signals and networks. The audience will gain a broad understanding of the emergence of immersive interfaces and how they can be applied successfully to spatial data visualization. Building upon proven UI/UX principles, we will walk participants through challenges with the design and development process, theory behind decisions, and usability issues to overcome in actual deployments. Resulting best practices will be shared openly. Finally, the audience will learn about future applications of these tools and forecasted innovations as the underlying technology matures.

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2:00 PM-2:25 PM

Room 101A

Developer

Jun 20

How to Build a Great Metaverse Platform

Antony Vitillo - The Ghost Howls

This talk narrates the story of the development of VRROOM, a metaverse platform dedicated to concerts and liveshows. Antony Vitillo, who has led the development of the platform since the first day, will tell you how a new social XR platform comes to life, from its inception to its launch, going through the difficulties of design and development. The speaker will mention the hurdles his team had to face and the solutions that have been found, which will be useful pieces of advice to follow for people who want to create their own metaverse platform. In a moment when the "metaverse" still sounds like an obscure theoretical word, this talk offers useful insights on how it is to be practically building it.

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2:00 PM-2:25 PM

Room 101B

Gaming, Entertainment & Media

Jun 20

The Landscape of Sports XR

Pablo Colapinto - Nexus Studios

When it comes to adding distinct value to consumers with spatial XR techniques, leveraging live sports data offers some of the most compelling possibilities that push the boundaries of entertainment. Advances in computer vision techniques have given leagues the ability to track positional data of all aspects of gameplay with immense speed and accuracy. Applications include second screens to track fantasy statistics, virtual cameras to see gameplay from a new angle, companion apps that overlay data on top of plays from wherever you are sitting, and completely new ways of remixing and reviewing replays. Stadiums themselves are the perfect micro-metaverses, providing a mappable canvas rich with data to be visualized, commerce to be communicated, and passions to be expressed, while new devices give at-home viewers ways to get closer to the action. In this talk, Nexus Studios' Head of Immersive will dive into some of the more exceptional use cases for XR for sports across a spectrum of leagues, technologies, and platforms, and discuss who is using this technology, which companies are poised to capitalize on it, and where this technology is going next in the very near future.

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2:20 PM-2:50 PM

Room 102B

Healthcare & Wellness

Jun 20

Can Virtual Reality Transform the Prison System?

Major Bunton - Creative Acts
Sabra Williams - Creative Acts

Creative Acts uses VR and the Arts across the California prison system to help people radically reimagine their lives, prepare for reentry and disrupt the punitive, damaging prison culture. We will address both the incredible impact the program is having and the very real tech issues that working with headsets inside solitary confinement presents. If your interest is Web 3 or tech on the cutting edge, you won't want to miss this presentation!

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2:25 PM-2:40 PM

Room 103C

Collaboration, Training & Education

Jun 20

Virtual University Tours for International & Underrepresented Students

Jenny Dinh-Tran - Santa Clara University
Kidus Solomon - Santa Clara University

How can schools reach students who are coming from overseas or who might be the first in their family to attend college? Existing virtual college tours often focus on history and facilities, but fail to capture the personal experiences of students. Our student-led virtual campus tours enable prospective students to experience the campus in the shoes of current students. This "by students, for students" approach provides an authentic window into student life. Our tours use multimodal engagement to provide a rich, immersive experience in a VR headset or web browser. Users can listen to stories, visually traverse the campus, and tap on locations of interest to reveal additional information. High-resolution 3D models of the campus are created using Matterport’s LiDAR camera and geospatial AI. This talk shares lessons for creating virtual tours that speak to a diverse, global audience.

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2:30 PM-2:55 PM

Promenade Room 104A

XR Enablement

Jun 20

Transforming AEC: Autodesk Workshop XR and Beyond

Miao Tian - Autodesk

In this presentation, Tian will discuss the potential of XR as a transformative solution for the complex issues faced by the AEC industry. The presentation will consist three parts: 1. Understanding the customer base 2. XR Opportunities 3. Start small by tackling specific user pain points with scalable solutions. The recently announced Autodesk Workshop XR will be used as an example with references to other notable XR products in the market such as Microsoft Mesh and Meta Horizon. The AEC industry as a targeted customer base is characterized by its intricacy, and depending on the project size, can have a highly complex working pipeline. For product designers, the goal is to alleviate customer pain points. However, they often encounter limitations such as hardware restrictions, limited resources, and competitive pressure. This presentation explores strategies for designing XR products that seamlessly integrate into the AEC workflow, which enhances productivity. This presentation will provide valuable insights into the use of XR in the AEC industry, with Autodesk Workshop XR serving as the primary case study. Attendees should leave confident that the knowledge learned will be a helpful XR design reference to enhance the application of XR in the AEC industry.

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2:30 PM-2:55 PM

Room 102A

AI & Virtual Beings

Jun 20

Building for the Future of Human Cognition

Stefanie Hutka - Sendfull

As XR and AI become increasingly intertwined, we have the potential to augment human cognition in a way that was previously impossible. Dr. Stefanie Hutka, neuroscience-PhD-turned-UX-leader, will discuss the future of user experiences at the intersection of XR and AI, drawing from the latest research on cognitive science, human-computer interaction, and a decade of experience leading UX research for spatial computing product launches. Dr. Hutka will examine the cognitive implications of increasingly embodied interactions, systems that can anticipate and adapt based on your context and emotional state, and the delegation of increasingly advanced “thinking tasks” to AI-powered spatial computing devices. At the end of this talk, you’ll be equipped with a new product development framework to help unlock, rather than replace, human capabilities, tools to guide problem framing, ideation and product evaluation, and design principles to help us build more useful, usable spatial computing systems.

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2:30 PM-3:30 PM

Room 101A

Developer

Jun 20

PANEL: State of 3D Asset Interoperability using USD & glTF

Neil Trevett - Metaverse Standards Forum
Ashley Crowder - VNTANA
Henrik Edstrom - Autodesk
Aaron Luk - NVIDIA

The Metaverse Standards Forum 3D Asset Interoperability Domain Group along with the Alliance for Open USD (AOUSD) are enabling cooperation between the USD and glTF communities to build synergies and reduce overlaps, gaps, fragmentation, and industry confusion. Developers building tools and platforms with USD and integrating the popular glTF standard will share the state of these 3D initiatives and how they can benefit each other. Join us to explore expanding the scope of 3D asset definitions to include behaviors, sound, physics, and scene composition and discuss how different standards organizations, open source projects, and commercial companies are converging towards a shared material representation for the open metaverse.

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2:35 PM-3:00 PM

Room 101B

Gaming, Entertainment & Media

Jun 20

Master Immersive Filmmaking: A Guide to Craft Better Spatial Video for Apple Vision Pro & Meta Quest 3

Hugh Hou - Metaverse Stage, INC
Keeley Turner - Metaverse Stage, INC

Step into the future of storytelling with our panel discussion, "Master Immersive Filmmaking: A Guide to Craft Better Spatial Video for Apple Vision Pro & Meta Quest 3". Join spatial influencer, YouTuber Hugh Hou and award-winning immersive filmmaker Keeley Turner, as they explore cutting-edge techniques and technologies reshaping the film and entertainment landscape. Dive deep into the art of creating immersive narratives, mastering three dimensional space, and the intricacies of cinematic storytelling using the latest spatial computing on both Apple Vision Pro and Meta Quest. Hugh and Keeley will discuss their various successful projects with Meta and strategies that work on their most recent VR Films including Blackboxtv presented Tale of Terrors (Webby 2024 nominations) and Ocean of Light (PGA 2024 nominations). Learn from their insider perspective on where spatial filmmaking is going and how big brands like Apple and Meta define the distribution landscape and revenue structure for immersive films. Whether you're a seasoned filmmaker, XR developer or an aspiring storyteller, this discussion will unravel the secrets behind crafting stories that transcend traditional boundaries. Don't miss the opportunity to gain insights, tips, and inspiration from the forefront of cinematic innovation. It's time to redefine storytelling with Spatial Computing.

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2:40 PM-2:55 PM

Room 103C

Collaboration, Training & Education

Jun 20

Revealing Invisible Stories: Towards Large-Scale AR Tours of Cultural Heritage Sites

Cinthya Jauregui - Santa Clara University
Isabella Gomez - Student and Researcher

Across the world, cultural heritage sites hold layers of stories that are often overlooked or unseen. How might these hidden narratives be revealed using Augmented Reality (AR)? At Santa Clara University, the monuments, buildings, and Mission Church highlight the Catholic heritage of our campus, but almost no recognition exists for the Ohlone Native Americans who continue to steward the land the university was built on since time immemorial. Together with the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe, our cross-disciplinary team launched the Thámien Ohlone AR tour, a webAR campus-wide tour that leverages Niantic’s 8th Wall and Lightship VPS to reveal these invisible histories and spur visitors to question which stories get recognized and how. This talk describes challenges and opportunities for creating large-scale AR experiences for social justice that are accessible to mass audiences. Drawing on our experience creating the Thámien Ohlone AR tour, we provide lessons for leveraging AR to transform the engagement with cultural heritage sites.

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2:55 PM-3:30 PM

Room 102B

Healthcare & Wellness

Jun 20

XR Developers and Nurses: Working to Solve Education Pain Points

Suzan Kardong-Edgren - MGH Institute of Health Professions
Devin Marble - ImmersiveMedical

Dive into the synergy between XR technology and nursing training. Discover how developers can craft innovative solutions to enhance nurses' patient care skills, streamline communication in simulations, and promote critical thinking in a safe, controlled environment. This talk is a call to action for XR developers to collaborate closely with nurses, addressing significant educational challenges through intuitive, secure, and efficient technology. Be part of the transformation in nursing education, fostering better outcomes for future healthcare professionals.

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2:55 PM-3:30 PM

Room 103B

Creator

Jun 20

PANEL: Bad*ss Girls in XR: Fueling Futures ... Part 2

Tereze Bogdane - Innovation Girls
Najda Musta - Innovation Girls
Amelia Stys - Innovation Girls
Natalia Stys - Innovation Girls
Marta Teivane - Innovation Girls
Richard Zreik - Innovation Girls

At AWE EU 2023 in Vienna, the Innovation Girls took the stage and shared their amazing works to reshape the fast-fashion industry. These young women have transformed from newbies to metaverse creators and startup founders. They won the AWESOME Award at AWE and now you can find out what they've been up to since last October.

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3:05 PM-3:30 PM

Room 101B

Gaming, Entertainment & Media

Jun 20

Fun in XR: A Blueprint for Success

Ariel Giacobbe - Creator
Joe Mares - Fun Empire, Inc.

In a world where the pursuit of "fun" often seems elusive and subjective, understanding the universal elements that make something truly enjoyable becomes a powerful tool for creators. This session dives into the essence of fun. Identifying what makes something fun lets the creator see beyond old tropes and derivative content and allows them to unlock innovative, memorable, and even groundbreaking ideas. This talk will explore the intrinsic elements that universally contribute to the fun factor, enabling creators to navigate the creative landscape with a newfound confidence. Attendees will gain insights into how the principles of fun can be applied across various mediums, but also tackle creating fun content and products.

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3:05 PM-3:40 PM

GRAND BALLROOM

Main Stage

Jun 20

Our Next Reality: a Debate of our AI-powered Immersive Future (History Talk)

Alvin Graylin - HTC
Brittan Heller - Atlantic Council
Louis Rosenberg - Unanimous AI

Over the last 100 years, technology has changed our world. Over the next decade, the convergence of spatial computing and artificial intelligence will transform our reality. In this session, XR pioneers Alvin Graylin and Louis Rosenberg will discuss the issues raised in their new book, Our Next Reality, about the future of computing and the impact that artificial intelligence and immersive media will have on society. This session, like the book, will be structured as a dialog on whether the new world we're creating will be a technological utopia or an AI-powered dystopia and will give guidance on how to aim for the best future we can. At the end of the session we will also provide a handful of predictions about the future of computing generated by a group of XR experts who deliberated as real-time collective intelligence. It should be enlightening.

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3:45 PM-4:15 PM

GRAND BALLROOM

Main Stage

Jun 20

AWE USA 2024 Wrap-up and Best in Show Awards

Ori Inbar - AWE and Super Ventures

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