04:05 PM - 04:55 PM
It is argued that the metaverse isn’t here yet, but the tools and foundational technologies exist to create what we imagine the metaverse might one day be: an interconnected spatial web of mixed reality and fully digital worlds that are persistent, interoperable, and social, with rich economic structures and diverse cultures.
On this panel, we’ll hear from some of the leading voices in this space, who are providing the tools, and technologies, or pushing the creative limits of what is possible in our mission to make the metaverse. We’ll talk about accessibility, challenges, design choices, tools, where we are on the timeline of making the metaverse, and where it’s all heading.
04:05 PM - 05:00 PM
Haptics is the next major unlock for augmented reality and virtual reallity, like “HD” and “4K” was for audio and video. This panel will explore the current state of haptics tech in XR, ethnics, accessibility and future-forward use cases, including live events, training and esports. The discussion will cover technologies, innovations, standards, advice on adoption, and hands-on development.
04:30 PM - 04:55 PM
The social unrest and increase in crime the past few years -- exacerbated by the pandemic -- has led to renewed concerns for safety. In this session, we explore how VR is actively being used to improve public safety training for optimal outcomes. From increasing access to training, to learning situational awareness around mental illness, to improving decision-making under stress, Axon is pioneering VR with a mission-based purpose: to protect lives and make our communities safer.
04:35 PM - 05:00 PM
With a proven 20-plus year track record in providing clinical-grade ‘near-ground truth’ 3D surface imaging systems to children’s (and teaching) hospitals and research institutions worldwide, 3dMD is now providing the same ‘near-ground truth,’ high-throughput, dynamic-4D capture systems to its tech sector customers to compete in the race to build and shape the metaverse. Dynamic anatomical-3D precision is mandatory for medical applications. It is equally key in creating and sustaining a lifelike, comprehending, and comfortable metaverse experience. This presentation will focus on how 3dMD provides an efficient image capture workflow tool for XR/VR/AR, Computer Vision, AI, Machine Learning, and Human Factors teams to personalize natural human actions, behaviors, gestures, nuances, etc. into digital media interpretation input that will persistently populate, train, and wear the metaverse.
04:35 PM - 05:00 PM
META’s ARfusion™ platform combines precision cast lens fabrication tools with functional metasurfaces. Recognizing the growing need for user prescriptions in AR eyewear, we have created a platform that allows developers to integrate waveguides and associated smart technologies into thin lightweight prescription glasses. As will be discussed, ARfusionTM allows many smart technologies including waveguides, microdisplays, holographic components, liquid crystal and electrochromic foils, antifogging films, eyeglow suppression films and antennas to be seamlessly integrated within glasses. The ARfusionTM fabrication process requires few steps, and is scalable, versatile and cost-effective.
04:35 PM - 05:00 PM
The Metaverse is coming and it will create new challenges for brands. One big risk is content management -- specifically, how to prevent your 3D content library from spiraling out of control amid the coming 3D avalanche. In this session, Shutterstock's Dade Orgeron, VP of 3D innovation, will share tips for how to prevent that from happening, from standards to working with the right infrastructure-- so you can navigate the future with ease.
04:35 PM - 05:00 PM
While enterprise adoption of AR technology is becoming widespread, siloed and proprietary solutions have limited the growth and reach of innovative AR deployments. With its open-platform approach, Magic Leap 2 makes it simple and easy to create and port applications so that you can run your solutions where they run best. In this session, we will cover the exciting new features of Magic Leap 2 and provide practical tips and guidance on how you can easily create and port your solutions to the most advanced AR platform that enables the most immersive AR experiences.
04:35 PM - 05:25 PM
Join us in an authentic panel discussion with three CEO’s leading the Immersive Tech Landscape. The focus will be on the current trajectory of immersive media, and where we are headed. As Founders, how has the landscape of VR changed from the previous years? What is the latest thinking on the current ecosystem? These CEO’s will share perspectives on team-building and what it takes to develop a highly-driven team working on forward-thinking products. They will speak to how to ideate and build for the Metaverse using the tools available and deep-dive into what it really takes to build out an application for consumer and enterprise use.
05:00 PM - 05:15 PM
Leading XR, Civic & Big Tech Organizations Unite to Kick-off a Workforce Diversity Program for the Metaverse
05:00 PM - 05:55 PM
By 2030, the global esports industry is expected to reach over $4.7 billion. While only a fraction of that is VR esports, the fact is that twenty years ago no one could've anticipated the value, appeal, or evolution of traditional esports. Now it's exciting to anticipate the future of competitive VR, which beautifully combines technology and physicality for sport.
Join this group of expert panelists as they discuss how players, community moderators, content creators, event organizers, and others play an essential role in the development of VR esports and the communities overall.
05:05 PM - 05:30 PM
We will discuss practical challenges and real world experience of deploying XR in a large organization for applications across manufacturing, training and remote support. The talk will cover both VR and AR and nuances of each approach from a hardware and software perspective. We will also delve into the importance of open XR standards in enterprise XR strategy from technical feasibility to business considerations such as IT integration, scalability, and future proofing your XR investment.
05:05 PM - 05:30 PM
As the Metaverse continues to grow, it's essential that we discuss the development of a humanity-first approach in regards to standards of education, accessibility, safety, privacy, wellness, equality and community development.
Join Dr. Muhsinah Morris for a Fireside Chat with Christopher Lafayette as he shares ideas gleaned from the GatherVerse community as well as the greater tech community with a focus on global communities for the Metaverse.
05:05 PM - 05:30 PM
In this talk, Luis will provide a structured overview of the key delivery bottlenecks, what technology advancements are being made and some case examples of recent metaverse implementations spanning transportation, education and entertainment, in order to answer the question: “Are we there yet?!”
05:05 PM - 05:30 PM
Join us as we talk about what’s next for MRTK. In this talk, we’ll reflect on MRTK v2, identify the themes we are focusing on in MRTK3, and give you a sneak peak of what is to come!
05:05 PM - 06:00 PM
The XR Guild is a collection of conscientious artists, designers, developers, researchers, PMs, lawyers and business people dedicated to the ethical development of χR, Spatial Computing, web3, the Metaverse (and any other popular names that may arise) for the collective benefit of Humanity. It is open to anyone working in XR (at any level of experience or background) who is serious about promoting ethical principles across big companies and small.
Come learn about the Guild, why it exists, what are our principles, and who is organizing it. Bring. your questions and we'll answer as many as we can.
Panelists include Tony Parisi, Amy Peck, Evo Heyning, Damon Hernandez, and Holly Hirzel.
05:15 PM - 06:00 PM
The hiring race for top XR talent reached a pivotal turning point. Tech giants are all hiring thousands of top talent at unprecedented salaries and benefits. "Metaverse" Job listings increased 10x compared to last year. Competing for tech talent is not just an HR challenge anymore. It is a matter of survival when the XR tech capabilities of companies are at stake.
Topics to be discussed:
• Challenges of recruiting experienced and diverse XR dev teams
• Key XR tech skills and tools to look out for
• Building a strategic XR talent pipeline
• How to formulate benefits packages and salary levels to retain talent?
• How to hire game dev/designer into enterprise roles?
• What’s the secret sauce behind building strong XR teams?
05:30 PM - 06:00 PM
With TikTok's launch of Effect House, anyone can now create AR experiences and effects for TikTok's global community.
AR on TikTok is different than anywhere else — it's uniquely creative, used by people in distinct and imaginative ways, and often it's just plain WEIRDER. The Effect House community is different, too; for a new generation of creators, TikTok is their first experience with augmented reality. This new contingent of effect creators is using Effect House to bring an entirely new set of skills and ideas to the world of AR.
During our early beta, effects made by our creators were used in 1.5 billion TikTok videos and viewed over 600 billion times. At AWE, you'll hear firsthand from some of those creators and find out:
• How does an AR effect become a global trend?
• How can creators build an audience for their AR experiences?
• What features in Effect House are most exciting for designers, developers and artists?
And of course, we'll share some of our favorite TikTok videos featuring community effects :) See you there!
05:35 PM - 06:00 PM
Mixed reality wearables are coming, and with it an opportunity to turn users into protagonists in their own interactive story. Casting the user as the role of lead character poses many narrative, technical, and usability challenges that have never before needed to be solved. This new form of entertainment will be prolific and provide opportunity for a new generation of storytellers.
Through invention, prototyping, and iteration, we created Forensic Detective, an immersive augmented reality experience that rose to number 2 in entertainment in the App store.
Join Brett Bagenstose, Principal and self titled “Baron of Pixels” of NeoPangea along with Kris Soumas, Director, Content Strategy & Partnerships of Verizon Consumer Group, for a fascinating glimpse into the world of immersive storytelling through AR, and find out how you can tap this new resource to make your own story come to life in a whole new way.
05:35 PM - 06:00 PM
The OpenXR standard, from the Khronos Group, is a royalty-free open standard that enables application developers to program to a single, common, high-performance API which supports a number of different AR and VR platforms. Containing everything an application needs to drive XR devices in a system, OpenXR helps applications run on a multitude of platforms, allowing hardware manufacturers to gain access to a broader range of pre-existing content. In this session Brent Insko, Lead XR Architect for Intel and OpenXR Working Group Chair will be joined by Lisa Watts, VP Product Marketing & Developer Programs for Magic Leap to discuss the benefit of cross-platform development with OpenXR.
Lisa will present typical myth busters about developing on an OpenXR platform and Brent will share recent industry developments for the open standard, explain how XR developers can integrate OpenXR into their workflows, with updates about expanded augmented reality support that is under development for OpenXR. Together, these two speakers will highlight the role OpenXR plays in getting gaming, entertainment and enterprise XR developers to a common ground. Developers will leave with a fresh understanding of how to leverage OpenXR to create cross-platform XR experiences and expand the open metaverse.
05:35 PM - 06:00 PM
With customer buying preferences shifting to virtual with high regard for convenience, comfort, and hygiene, enterprises across the globe must be ready to keep up with the pace of immersive transformation. Join us as we uncover the Metaverse playbook for the enterprise of the future, delving into how they can provide immersive experiences and an omnichannel connected journey to their customers while building a robust recommendation and retargeting engine for personalization. We’ll go deep into the following 4 critical aspects of leveraging Metaverse to drive immersive transformation:
• Invest in building high-quality 3D assets for your products.
• Create an immersive, scalable, and compatible product experience for all smartphones, utilizing those assets.
• Integrate the immersive experience with omnichannel touchpoints and the sales pipeline(LMS & CRM) for a connected customer journey
• Rely on the right set of metrics to track and drive continuous innovation in customer experience and build a better marketing funnel.
We’ll also share our own experience from working with large enterprises, solving for their entire workflow and the disruptions & differentiation they witnessed.