27 Aug 2026
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Mike Boland
AWE Talks: XR's Secret Ingredient is Integration
AWE USA 2026
Welcome back to AWE Talks, our series that revisits the best AWE conference sessions. With AWE USA recently concluded, there's a fresh batch of stage footage to keep us occupied for weeks.
We continue the action and insights this week with a look at the importance of integrated systems in XR. The king of integration, Applied Materials, breaks it down and introduces its new SENZ XR platform.
See the summarized takeaways below, along with the full session video. Stay tuned for more video highlights each week and check out the full library of conference sessions on AWE's YouTube Channel.
Speakers
Paul Meissner, Applied Materials
Key Takeaways & Analysis
- Historical innovation is often associated with individual breakthroughs and products.
- But the real moments of change are in intelligent and cohesive tech integrations.
- This principle can be seen as far back as the design of Florence, Italy's famed Duomo.
- After several approaches failed to construct its signature dome, the breakthrough was integration.
- Several fields of architecture, design, and construction were brought together to make it stand.
- This raises the question: what is XR's Duomo?
- XR innovation and milestones are similarly associated with individual breakthroughs or products.
- But the real magic is in the intelligent and cohesive integration of a multifaceted tech stack.
- This is the case throughout computing but is particularly pronounced in XR given its complexity.
- That includes everything from power to processing to waveguides, optics, and display systems.
- Underlying this complexity are the countervailing forces of style and wearability.
- That brings us to the yet-unfulfilled holy grail of XR: all-day stylish and UX rich AR glasses.
- One key moment is when Ray-Ban Meta's sales success can be coupled with visuals.
- This is a near-term goal for Applied Materials, and one that will be achieved through integration
- This is where Applied Materials has always lived, and it's bringing that competency to XR.
- The manifestation of that principle is the new SENZ platform, announced from the AWE stage.
- This integrates waveguides, light engines, and other key components into tight systems.
- SENZ has achieved lightweight prototypes that will be the building blocks of OEM execution.
- This involves key partners that range from processing (Qualcomm) to eyewear (EssilorLuxottica).
- All the above, with Applied Materials at the center, should accelerate the path to XR's holy grail.
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