Dave Alpert appointed as Chair of VR/AR Association AEC Committee

We are excited to have Dave Alpert help lead our community for AEC.

Dave Alpert, CEO and Co-Founder of Geopogo AR, is an award-winning building architect and inventor with granted patents in AR and the Metaverse. Following  decades of experience leading landmark design projects like the California Supreme Court and the Lucasfilm Executive HQ, Dave co-founded Geopogo AR to apply the power of AR to solve chronic problems in the design and construction process. His team has launched two successful products and is partnered with Magic Leap, Oracle, and Siemens. Dave has been an active thought leader in the design tech community, organizing meetups for the AIASF Design Tech Committee and speaking and presenting at CES, AWE, DevWeek, AIA conventions, IFMA, and other events. He is personally committed to inclusion, collaboration, and transparency in his quest to democratize access to 3D creation and visualization.

“I’m excited to co-chair the AEC and Real Estate committee because I believe in working together with peers and mentoring new members of the community. By collaborating, we can all make more effective progress in the enterprise adoption of AR and VR. Please join me by proposing monthly topics of value to you, presented by experts who you know, especially by end users in enterprise.”

— Dave Alpert

How Nestlé is scaling virtual reality to train employees

In cooperation with VRdirect, Nestlé has rolled out a VR training at the Nescafé factory in Girona, northern Spain, to teach safety instructions and traffic rules on the company’s giant premises. The VR training is designed to help employees become aware of potentially dangerous areas and avoid accidents, like those where forklifts and electric pallet trucks are used.

Through 360-degree images and videos of the company premises, employees gain an understanding of the situation at hand. Using control buttons, they interact with the relevant safety instructions or answer questions about the appropriate action to take.

The VR training covers, among other things, safe routes across the premises that are heavily frequented by trucks, hygiene regulations before entering the production halls, the safety check before and when using an electric pallet truck, as well as traffic rules and signals in the warehouse that guide the many forklifts in operation.

In addition, Nestlé creates flexibility and scalability of VR solutions across all locations. A long-term partnership with VRdirect’s experts supports Nestlé’s professional launch of their global VR strategy.

Advantages for VR for training:
- Practice dangerous tasks or “what if” scenarios with no risks in virtual environments with VR training
- Enhance performance with VR training
- Improving safety with Virtual Reality training
- Offer decentralized Virtual Reality training to expand the availability

ImagineAR Partners with SPORTFIVE Hungary kft to Deliver Premiere Interactive Mobile Augmented Reality Fan Experiences for Ferencvárosi Torna Club

Imagine AR Inc. an Augmented Reality Company that enables sports teams, businesses and enterprises to dynamically create their own AR mobile campaigns, was be selected by SPORTFIVE Hungary kft to deliver immersive AR experiences fully integrated with the official team mobile app for Ferencvárosi Torna Club in Spring 2023. This opportunity was spearheaded by Hype Sports Innovation in their current GVA3 program. Once the experiential proof of concept is successfully delivered, it is expected to lead to a multi-year SDK license agreement.

Alen Paul Silverrstieen, CEO of ImagineAR, states, “We have been part of the Hype Sports Innovation program since 2021 and greatly appreciate the opportunities to partner fan engagement mobile AR campaigns with top sports clubs around the world. SPORTFIVE is a top-level sports marketing company in Hungary and will be our first integration of the ImagineAR SDK utilizing Flutter. We hope this activation with the top soccer club in Hungary will grow our global partnership with SPORTFIVE and their existing clientele”.

Volumetric Capture Enhances Whitney Houston's Magnificent Performances in New Biopic

The long-awaited Sony and TriStar Pictures' project I Wanna Dance with Somebody hit theaters on December 23, 2022. This musical biopic on the late, great Whitney Houston follows her life and career as she rose to stardom. And a decade after the songstress’ death, this tribute movie is no less historic. I Wanna Dance with Somebody features game-changing volumetric capture crowd technology to depict some of Houston’s iconic performances. To help enhance the impact of her stage performances with authentic reactions, Virginia-based Avatar Dimension and London-based Dimension Studio collaborated with the visual effects team lead Zero VFX to create 1000 holograms of over 300 actors, each shot multiple times in various costumes with numerous reactions for the movie’s performance scenes.

Using the latest technological advances, the extras were recorded in volumetric 3D on Avatar Dimension’s mobile stage – transported from its Washington DC facility and set up in Boston, MA. Using 70 cameras to cover the scene in 360 degrees "allowed for more expansive camera moves and the flexibility in post to create new shots as required by the edit, some without the requirement to shoot pickups,” according to the film’s VFX supervisor, Paul Norris, and VFX producer, Tim Field. This made the technology cost-effective for the studio who didn’t have to pay for expensive re-shoots. The average shoot can be very costly for a TV or Film production, most starting at a million dollars a day, depending on the desires of the creative leadership and the complexity of the scenes. On top of that, crowd scenes can be expensive. The advances of technology makes such scenes more efficient and cost-effective to create.

Volumetric capture allowed for the editors to use fewer actors to replicate populations and fill a space, but also to move the camera around the venues to view the performances from any angle. Zero had complete creative control so they could swap out crowd members where necessary. “In fact, we were able to adjust the entire balance of the whole crowd by changing the ratios of the different actions as required by the director and editor to achieve the desired emotional tone for each shot,” said Norris. Volumetric capture is the future of filmmaking, saving studios millions of dollars when creating a crowd and a tone.

Julia Beabout Joins Seattle VRARA Chapter as EVP of Partnerships and Community

Roberto Haza, Seattle Chapter President and Founder of Xtended Reality Advisory is thrilled to announce Julia Beabout, CEO and Creative Director of Novaby, is joining the Chapter as EVP of Partnerships and Community. Julia brings with her tons of experience as an expert and thought leader in AR Placemaking and Collective Memory practice, she has spoken on the subject for ARIA at the MIT Media Lab, U.S. State Department, Augmented World Expo (AWE), Architects Institute of America, the University of Washington, the National Consortium for Creative Placemaking, and even in our own VRAR Association

Julia has 25+ years experience leading clients and organizations through highly technical, creative projects up to $200 million, in the virtual and real worlds. 

She has a BS in Architectural Engineering from Penn State University and an MA in Asian Studies from the Florida International University where her research focused on Collective Memory Theory and practice. She is registered Professional Engineer (PE), Leed Accredited Professional, and U.S. State Department Critical Language Scholar. She speaks, reads and writes Chinese.

Julia is also co-founder of Tech in the Tenderloin (TNT), a non-profit that connects low-opportunity youth with high-opportunity tech through fun events and educational activities in the Tenderloi neighborhood of San Francisco and beyond.

We are certain the Seattle Chapter will continue its momentum and build VRAR partnerships and community with the active participation of Julia in our team. Please join us in welcoming her and stay tuned for exciting events this year.

Sign up for IGS 2023! And watch the highlights from our Immerse Global Summit 2022

IGS 2023 will take place on October 17-19 in Orlando, Florida.

Watch the highlights from our Immerse Global Summit 2022 in the video below…and stay tuned for details on IGS 2023!

Sign up here to get updates!

Orlando Mayor opens 2,500 metaverse jobs aimed at reinforcing Orlando as the MetaCenter

To bring the metaverse to life, Mayor Buddy Dyer announced the opening of 2,500 new jobs in Orlando. Over the years, Orlando has become a leading hub for tech companies that want to innovate and explore the capabilities of emerging technologies.

Orlando as a Growing Hub for Tech Talent

“The density of talent, investment, industry, and creativity in Orlando has made the city ground zero for metaverse development, making Orlando the MetaCenter,” shared David Adelson, Orlando Economic Partnership Chief Innovation Officer.

Adelson explained that the initiative to transform Orlando into the MetaCenter stemmed from decades of innovation, which started with increased activity around the Cape Canaveral rocket launch site in 1957. This was further supported by the founding of the University of Central Florida (UCF) to create a workforce capable of supporting the US space program.

“Orlando then became the epicenter of experiential entertainment when Walt Disney came to town. This collision of creative entertainment and technological advancements formed the foundation of the innovative ecosystem that exists here today,” he adds.

Since 2015, Orlando has seen a 46% growth in the number of tech companies in the area, with over 1,600 companies now calling it home. The city also houses tech centers such as Lake Nona and the Creative Village, as well as tech talent from educational institutions like UCF and Full Sail University.

Mayor Buddy Dyer Opens 2,500 Jobs to Build the Metaverse

On December 7, 2022, Mayor Dyer gave his annual State of Downtown Address both in person and in the metaverse, making him the first person to give a mayoral address in the digital space. During his 2022 address, Mayor Dyer shared his vision for Orlando’s future, proclaiming the city as the metaverse’s MetaCenter.

“Mayor Dyer said that his address was an open invitation for anyone to come to Orlando and apply for these positions. We are echoing that call,” said Adelson.

These job opportunities, which include in-demand roles such as software developers, systems engineers, and metwork architects, will help build the metaverse and solidify Orlando’s position as one of the nation’s fastest-growing hubs for tech talent and technological innovation.

Several organizations like the Orlando Economic Partnership, the VR/AR Association (Florida Chapter), and the Orlando Tech Community are some of the champions bringing the metaverse to life in the MetaCenter.

“The list of execs from our next-gen gaming, entertainment, AI, AR/VR, IoT, and simulation training companies joining this effort continues to grow,” Adelson told us. Local governments in Orlando and Orange County have also expressed their support.

Orlando Leveraging the Capabilities of a Digital Twin

To encourage more tech investments in Orlando, the city has been using a digital twin of the entire region to show investors and other stakeholders what the city has to offer. Available at the marketing center in downtown Orlando, users can access immersive experiences via an experience-based platform to explore the region in a more convenient way.

During the recent Unity Fireside Chat, Laureen Martinez, Orlando Economic Partnership Vice President of Marketing and Communications, shared that the digital twin has provided an imaginative and convenient way to showcase the city to guests. It also helps position the city as more than just a tourist destination.

“Our vision is to have more and more companies come to Orlando for us to be able to change their perceptions, just simply through the act of them coming and experiencing this and learning more about Orlando – things that they probably could have never imagined,” Martinez said.

Building the Metaverse in Orlando

Many businesses in the city are developing their own metaverse products and services.

Disney is working with local companies to develop AR/VR technology. Red 6 is using AR headsets to enhance training for pilots. BrandXR is also building AR experiences for some of the world’s biggest brands and institutions, including NASA and Microsoft.

“With buy-in and collaboration from private partners, educational institutions, and the public sector, we have good reason to be so optimistic about the MetaCenter. With these partners, we will continue to illuminate the benefits of the MetaCenter on a global scale,” said Adelson.

Orlando and its MetaCenter champions are working to position the city as the ideal destination for innovative businesses to scale and succeed. They’re determined to attract companies and individuals who share the same vision in building the metaverse.

“We work to attract the companies and people that are looking to build the metaverse and do everything we can to facilitate their growth; our ecosystem of companies in gaming, AR/VR, AI, 3D reconstruction, IoT, and modeling and simulation is unparalleled,” Adelson added.

Future Plans for the City’s MetaCenter 

What can the world expect from Orlando’s MetaCenter?

Orlando is gearing up to reinvent its downtown area, with the goal of advancing “Broad-based Prosperity®” for the region.

“We define this as creating a region whose residents live a meaningful life in a place where equal access to resources and pathways to success allows opportunities for all,” explained Adelson. Partnerships between the local government, higher education institutions, and the local industry helped launch the Creative Village, a 68-acre innovation district. It’s home to UCF, the Electronic Arts HQ, Valencia College, and affordable housing and establishments.

David Adelson shared more insights on what the future holds for the metaverse’s development.

“We expect to use our digital twin technology for more than just virtual tours to attract businesses to the area. With this technology, we will be able to preview how different investments, like a transit system upgrade, might affect the environment and its residents,” he told us. “This is a tool that can allow us to run simulations of new policies or infrastructure projects and preview their potential impacts before planning in the real world.”

Article originally appearing on arpost.co by Gergana Mileva

Talon Simulations joins the VR/AR Association

February 2023 – Talon Simulations, a provider of extended reality simulator solutions, is excited to become a new member of the VR/AR Association (VRARA).  Talon brings 10 years of industry experience deploying XR vehicle simulators to various military branches and national entertainment chains. 

As a simulator solutions provider, Talon delivers turn key systems that are developed specifically for each client by utilizing modular hardware components and a versatile software development kit.  Their Talon Strike XR Vehicle Training Platform can be configured for land, air, sea, or space vehicles and incorporates force feedback controls, a high resolution head mounted display, and a dynamic motion simulator for a fully immersive and realistic training scenario.  They have utilized the same technology to develop an off the shelf arcade simulator, the Talon Vortex, that offers guests the ability to swipe their card and choose to experience a race car, roller coaster, fighter jet, or turret shooter.  Talon also helped develop, deploy and continues to support 150 custom four seat motion simulators for Dave & Buster’s arcades throughout the US and aids other XR manufacturers with installation and support of their products, thus reducing the risk of adopting XR technology for customers all around the world. 

“Our team has been eager to become a part of the VR/AR Association in order to increase our involvement with the rapidly evolving immersive technology industry,” states Brandon Naids, Talon’s CEO and Co-Founder. “We believe we can relay knowledge that we have developed working in the space over the last 10 years to aid in the ease of adoption for others. We look forward to connecting with the global community and contributing to building a strong and effective industry.”

“The solutions that Talon Simulations develops are great examples of how immersive technology is being used in both entertainment and military training and we look forward to having them participate in the VRARA and expand into other industries.” states John Cunningham, President VRARA Central Florida Chapter.

About Talon Simulations

Located in Orlando, FL, Talon Simulations, LLC is a small business specializing in extended reality vehicle simulators for entertainment and training.   Their strong focus on durable hardware along with prompt technical support makes Talon a reliable partner in both professional training environments and high throughput arcades.  

Below are a few highlighted projects that Talon has been a part of: 

• Engineered, integrated, and installed B-52 Mixed reality Air Refueling Simulator for Global Strike Command at Barksdale Air Force Base. See video here. 

• VR VTOL Aircraft for Bell Aerospace utilized for research towards the development of next generation flight controls. See video here. 

• Nine (9) F-22 simulators for the US Air National Guard that tour the country for recruitment where they met all of their 2019 goals and increased brand awareness by 300%. Read more here. 

• 150 Four Seat Simulators designed, manufactured, and supported for Dave & Buster’s. See video here.

• VR Fighter Jets at the San Diego Air & Space Museum operating daily since September 2016

• See full list here

Contact Information:

Brandon Naids - CEO/Co-Founder

(407) 440-1356

Brandon@talonsimulations.com

www.talonsimulations.com

How MAKEEN Energy is improving trade fairs with virtual showrooms

It’s costly to ship industrial equipment to trade fairs around the world, but MAKEEN Energy has discovered a more efficient way of bringing its products to the customer.

The Challenge: Shipping industrial equipment for international trade fairs
Part of what enables MAKEEN Energy to be at the forefront of innovation is meeting stakeholders worldwide and attending trade fair exhibitions. Most of the time, that involves bringing heavy machinery to locations in far-flung corners of the world. That isn’t always easy to facilitate on a tight deadline, and it can quickly accrue significant transportation costs and demand a lot of floor space for the larger facility equipment.

Anders C. Anderson, CEO at MAKEEN Energy, shared with us how the company identified a need to leverage the power of modern technologies that could mitigate some of the challenges of attending these global events on a regular basis. It was important for the salespeople at MAKEEN Energy to meet customers on location and still give them an opportunity to get close to the product.

So, instead of having to ship heavy machinery from country to country for every exhibition, the team at MAKEEN Energy realized that being able to show their industrial equipment in a fully rendered, 3D virtual showroom might be a fantastic way to enhance their global exhibition offering.

The Solution: A true-to-scale virtual showroom
The team at MAKEEN Energy found an easy way to construct a virtual showroom of their product line using the SynergyXR platform while still being able to generate an accurate representation of their real-life gas filling stations. We break down how XR is enabling sales for this global energy company.

Useful and dynamic
With the digital showroom builder in SynergyXR, it wasn’t difficult to feature complex industrial systems in an intuitive and engaging way. Using 3D models of their equipment in a seamless virtual environment, MAKEEN Energy was able to easily pack their sprawling machinery into a portable VR headset, like the Meta Quest 2, and use it as an add-on to their physical stand at international trade fairs. This was a boon for their global business segments, whose success is based on providing customers with a strong impression of their products.

Lars Sall, Regional Director of Asia Pacific at MAKEEN Energy, describes how SynergyXR has been an invaluable asset in the overseas trade fairs he and his team have been attending. He notes how virtual showrooms give customers a realistic impression of their equipment up close, even down to the most intricate details.

Not only have the salespeople at MAKEEN Energy been using virtual showrooms at trade fairs, but they are also using them to enhance remote customer meetings around the world. Lars goes on to explain how the pandemic is still felt in certain parts of Asia, and because these countries are enforcing strict limitations around social gatherings, having the ability to close the distance and present MAKEEN Energy’s products virtually is a great alternative that lets them bypass logistic barriers and sell to customers frictionlessly.

Worth implementing
Getting the project off the ground turned out successful, though it certainly involved a lot of moving parts. Lillian Christensen, Head of Corporate Communications at MAKEEN Energy, tells us that getting everyone on board with new technology in a global company, within a rather conservative industry, was a process that took both time and patience. In her view, it wasn’t just a matter of embracing SynergyXR at corporate headquarters. It was equally important that the commercial terms were properly instructed in adopting the solution.

While it was a new and modern approach to how they’d done things traditionally, MAKEEN Energy was willing and flexible enough to adapt. Anders notes how they already had some of the resources available to them for a smooth implementation, such as their team of young engineers who could easily render their 3D designs and plug them directly into SynergyXR.

SynergyXR designed an approachable step-by-step plan for MAKEEN Energy’s implementation process and provided regular support for the development of their virtual showroom, ensuring that everyone involved was thoroughly onboarded and accustomed to the new technology.

“It felt like the natural next step for us. We needed to lean on professionals, and the team at SynergyXR are professionals,” explains Anders. He adds that, “of course, it’s easy for me as the CEO to say ‘I want this’, but it has to be implemented correctly. In this case, we had a 3-month deadline to prepare for an exhibition and build our very first virtual showroom. SynergyXR took us by the hand and walked us firmly through the process. We made it on time, and it was well-received by our customers.”

The Result: Unforgettable product demonstrations and an evolving company tool
Since introducing their virtual showroom at trade fairs, MAKEEN Energy has had great successes bringing new customers into their sales funnel. Its reception among trade fair attendees has been incredibly positive and often had people lining up at their booth, excited to try the unique virtual experience.

With a smile on his face, Lars remarks how he “was curious to see if high-ranking managers or directors would risk looking a bit silly with these googles on, but there was no hesitation about it whatsoever. It only helped to make them connect with the product in a more memorable way.” Especially among new customers, Lars observed how bringing them straight into an accurately scaled representation of a MAKEEN Energy production hall leaves a vivid impression with the customer and awakens their curiosity to further explore the product line.

In extension of that, Anders elaborates how the social aspect of their business has been enhanced with SynergyXR. Because MAKEEN Energy deals in capital goods that are costly to implement, they typically have to convince a great number of decision makers and purchase managers among their customers, who all need to be on board to complete a deal. Using SynergyXR as a demonstration tool, it’s proved to be a powerful way of showcasing the detailed specifications of their products to engineers and service technicians among their international stakeholders. While it doesn’t serve to replace the face-to-face interaction altogether, it’s been a useful supplementary tool to accelerate the process.


Surprising benefits
As a natural evolution of their continued usage, Lillian tells us how they’re discovering new and unexpected uses of SynergyXR. Besides showcasing MAKEEN Energy’s new product line to international customers, which has greatly improved their external communication, they’re also using it to showcase the new product line internally among their commercial staff around the world. By slowly expanding its capabilities to cover more areas of functionality, the team at MAKEEN Energy are finding more reasons to apply the platform in the future training of staff and even using it to promote the company at job fairs to attract new talent.

Finally, Lillian unpacks how the rising use of SynergyXR is helping MAKEEN Energy stay at the forefront of innovation and sustainability. “By no longer having to ship heavy equipment around the world for exhibitions and reducing travel with virtual product demonstrations, we’re able to limit our carbon footprint and reinforce our brand as a responsible energy company.”

About MAKEEN Energy
MAKEEN Energy is a global corporation delivering responsible energy solutions across 6 continents and 140 countries. Founded back in 1951, it has a long and storied history as an engineering and project company working with gas developments around the world to promote cleaner energy practices.

Brooke Meredith appointed as Chair of VR/AR Association's Location-Based Entertainment Committee

We are excited to have Brooke Meredith help lead our community for Location Based Entertainment.

Immersive experiences designed for participants who are in the same physical and virtual location have a unique set of affordances and challenges. Join representatives from different organizations to develop best practices and guidelines for LBE. Part of the mission of the Location Based Entertainment. committee is be to develop relationships between content creators and venues and to lower the barrier of entry for indie developers. 

“Brooke is ecstatic to co-chair the Location Based Entertainment Committee. With the launch of VPS, Sky Segmentation and other location based technology advancements we have the ability to dynamically insert entertaining and engaging content experiences anywhere and everywhere. The world becomes a creative canvas and it’s exciting to think how we can layer virtual elements on top of our physical environments to share stories, interact and educate.
”

— Brooke Meredith

With expertise in innovation, creative strategy and business development, Brooke Meredith is an award-winning cross-channel marketing executive. Over the course of her career, she has worked with a number of notable clients, including Verizon, Saks, Walmart, Diageo, American Express, Visa, HBO, and PWC. She is recognized as an industry expert and she has served on a panel at the AR/VR Association's 2021 conference on Augmented Reality and Paid Media: How Augmented Reality is Determining the Future of Paid Media. Brooke joined Aircards in 2022 as the Vice President of Client Partnerships, joining an incredible team to spearhead projects that deliver interactive, impactful and immersive experiences for marketing, advertising, and business to business clients. With the launch of numerous location-based augmented reality initiatives, Aircards has helped users augment their real worlds, share their experiences, and reengage with their surroundings. Brooke is passionate about augmented reality and specifically how brands can engage and interact with their users in an authentic, dynamic and enriched manner wherever they are.

University of New Brunswick Establishes Spatial Computing Education, Training and Research Laboratory

New lab will support growth in aerospace ecosystem 

 Aerospace is one of the most research-intensive and export-focused manufacturing industries, employing thousands of highly qualified people in every region across the country. By strategically investing in the aerospace sector, the federal government is supporting an innovative industry and a key driver of our nation’s economy. 

New lab will help small and medium-sized businesses in the aerospace industry 

Today, the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Official Languages and Minister responsible for ACOA announced an investment of $823,125 toward the Spatial Computing Education, Training & Research Laboratory (SPECTRAL) at the University of New Brunswick (UNB). The announcement took place at Fredericton-based Kognitiv Spark, a global leader in spatial computing technology. Kognitiv Spark is investing $150,000 in the project, as well as a $410,000 in-kind contribution. 

 SPECTRAL will support SMEs and other aerospace industry clients by providing access to world-class research and development and supporting a digitized aerospace supply chain, as well as new educational and training programs in the spatial computing field. The project will create a pipeline of highly qualified personnel with training in industry-relevant spatial computing and help local companies maximize opportunities in the global aerospace supply chain. 

Today’s announcement further demonstrates the Government of Canada’s commitment to help businesses grow, reach new markets, drive innovation and contribute to Atlantic Canada’s economic success. 

Quotes 

“We are committed to driving economic growth in Atlantic Canada. The University of New Brunswick’s Spatial Computing Education, Training & Research Laboratory will help maximize opportunities in the spatial computing industry and meet growing demand in the global aerospace sector, benefitting our economy for years to come.” 

- The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Official Languages and Minister responsible for ACOA 

 “Spatial computing is an exciting area full of rich, emerging potential for the aerospace ecosystem and beyond. We are grateful for ACOA’s support of our vision of collaboratively advancing research and innovation in this domain and training tomorrow’s experts through student learning opportunities.” - Dr. Paul J. Mazerolle, President and Vice-Chancellor of UNB 

“Today’s announcement is truly exciting and will have a positive impact across not just the Atlantic region, but Canada and the wider aerospace industry. This is the next step in a collaboration that highlights some of the amazing opportunities for technical and academic leadership in Spatial Computing that exist here in New Brunswick.” - Duncan McSporran, COO and VP of Defence and Public Sector, Kognitiv Spark 

Quick facts 

• The University of New Brunswick’s (UNB) SPECTRAL builds on years of expertise and partnership in human-computer interaction, as well as a desire to grow the aerospace ecosystem. 

• Since 2016, Kognitiv Spark Inc. has worked closely with global partners to guide mixed reality solution development, with an emphasis on user-centered development. 

• ACOA’s contribution is through the Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI) program, which supports projects that promote sustainable community economic development, enhance business development and growth, and facilitate innovation. 

Kim Holland 

Director of Marketing 

Kognitiv Spark 

kim@kognitivspark.com 

Explore the ways you can create in, and build for, the metaverse with Meta Spark!

The VR/AR Association has partnered with Meta to develop the next generation of metaverse creators to gain the skills required to create in extended reality (XR) technologies including AR and VR. Through Meta Immersive Learning, Meta is investing $150M to help develop the next generation of metaverse creators, fund high-quality immersive experiences that transform the way we learn, and increase access to learning through technology.

Through the Meta Spark Curriculum, creators and learners can explore free online courses, podcasts and creator-led trainings to help them transform their ideas into life in the metaverse. Creators of all levels have the opportunity to discover online learning courses, training programs and certifications in creating AR experiences by using Meta Spark.

To obtain your complementary certification voucher for Meta Certified Spark Professional 700-101, please contact info@thevrara.com with proof of completion of the Quickstart, AR Fundamentals and AR Pro courses.

Creators who complete all courses receive the following benefits:

• Access to our community of Meta Spark creators.

• Access to Meta’s job board to help monetize your new AR creator skills.

• A complimentary voucher to enroll in  the Meta Certified Spark Professional 700-101 certification for free.

Learn AR with Meta Spark courses

Whether you’re a new learner or an experienced professional, Meta Spark Studio has all of the features and capabilities you need to create engaging augmented reality effects.

Quick Start

The Meta Spark quick start course helps aspiring augmented reality creators develop the necessary skills to create basic effects in Meta Spark.

• Getting Started with Meta Spark (20 mins)

• The Basis of Creating Effects with Meta Spark (55 mins)

• Sharing Your AR Effects with the World (10 mins)

• What’s Next for AR Creators (5 mins)

• Click Here to Get Started!

AR Fundamentals

This course is designed for creative professionals eager to learn fundamental AR design principles and practical AR creation skills using Meta Spark Studio.

• Introduction to AR with Meta Spark (1.6 hrs)

• Create AR with Meta Spark Studio (3.3 hrs)

• Manage AR Effects (40 mins)

• Click Here to Get Started!

AR Pro

The Spark AR Pro course is the next step for experienced Augmented Reality content creators. You'll learn how to design more engaging experiences with Spark AR and have opportunities to create effects for fictitious businesses.

• Before Diving In (5 mins)

• Design and Concept (1.2 hrs)

• Scene Assembly (1 hr)

• Scene Interaction (1.5 hrs)

• Testing and Deployment (30 mins)

• Click Here to Get Started!

• This course, in addition to the study guide and the practice test, will also help prepare you for the professional certification exam.

To obtain your complementary certification voucher for Meta Certified Spark Professional 700-101, please contact info@thevrara.com with proof of completion of the Quickstart, AR Fundamentals and AR Pro courses.

Phoenix-Based Software Firm Launches New "Metaverse Workshop" Division

Founders Workshop, a 14-year old digital product and software development firm based in Phoenix, has announced the formation of its new Metaverse Workshop division and the hiring of Julian Reyes as Chief Metaverse Officer. Metaverse Workshop will deliver business consulting and product development around a variety of emerging technologies related to the Metaverse, Web3, and augmented and virtual reality.

The division’s core offerings will include education and ideation workshops, product strategy and development, and ongoing product support.

In his new role, Reyes will be responsible for applying Founders Workshop’s proven product development process to implement Metaverse, Web3, XR, and Digital Twin solutions. Prior to joining Founders Workshop, Reyes worked at Meta and Cisco. He also was the CEO and founder of Keyframe Entertainment, which produced media projects, events, VR demos, and 3D worlds.

Since 2008, 150+ innovative business leaders have trusted Founders Workshop to build their digital products, web and mobile apps, and market-ready startup MVPs. From business strategy and consulting services, to product design and management to engineering and beyond, Founders Workshop develops software that propels business forward.

Contact

Name: Julian Reyes

Email Address: julian.reyes@metaverseworkshop.biz

New Hawaii Chapter of the Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality Association (VRARA) Launches

HONOLULU, HI - The Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality Association (VRARA) is proud to announce the launch of its newest chapter in Hawaii.

"We are thrilled to be expanding the presence of VRARA in Hawaii and to be able to offer our members and interested parties in the state access to the resources and networking opportunities provided by the Association" said Jordan Oliver, Vice President (VP) of the VRARA Hawaii Chapter. "The virtual and augmented reality industry is rapidly growing, and we believe that Hawaii has the potential to be a leader in this field. We are excited to be a part of that growth and to support the development of this industry in the state."

"We are excited for this new chapter in Hawaii to tap into our global VRARA community of 60,000 professionals to support Hawaii's growing tech sector through knowledge sharing and key connections." said Kris Kolo, Global Executive Director of VRARA.

The Hawaii chapter will be led by: 

• Matthew King II, Managing Director of HEMexperiences.com, a VR and immersive experiences company, as Chapter President

• Jordan Oliver, Consultant and Esports Manager at HPU Esports Arena as 1st Chapter Vice President, and 

• Albert Fung as 2nd Chapter Vice President and VR Specialist.  

They will partner to promote the use of virtual and augmented reality technologies in various industries and sectors, such as education, healthcare, tourism, and entertainment. 

King shares, "I look forward to building our chapter goals which includes 

1. creating a powerful Hawaii eco-system to collaborate, network, and succeed;

2. provide an environment where members and invitees can confidentially share new ideas, meet potential supporters, users, investors, and connect universities directly with innovative industry allies;

3. and share the spirit of Aloha physically and digitally, from Hawaii to the World and beyond."

For more information about the VRARA Hawaii Chapter, please contact Hawaii@thevrara.com or visit  https://www.linkedin.com/company/vrara-hawaii-chapter.  

VRARA Hawaii Chapter - Launch Event

Date: Tuesday, February 21, 2023 

Time: 5:00 PM  9:00 PM

Host Location: HPU Esports Arena 

1 Aloha Tower Drive, Honolulu, HI 96813

To receive an invite to attend the launch event, please request online at

https://forms.gle/ss3hnEVFtvkr2scw9.

+++

About the Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality Association (VRARA)

The VRARA is a global organization that aims to promote the growth and development of the virtual and augmented reality industry. Founded in 2014, the organization has grown to include a diverse range of members from various industries and sectors, and has chapters around the world. The organization connects and collaborates with industry leaders working in the virtual and augmented reality space, globally.

Hawaii Chapter Executives

Matthew King II:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewkingii 

Jordan Oliver:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanjoliver 

Albert Fung: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thealbertfung

SPONSORS

• https://hemexperiences.com 

• https://www.hpu.edu/esports/arena.htm

Meta expands its partnership with the NBA to offer 52 games in VR

Post originally appearing on techcrunch.com by Aisha Malik..

Meta is expanding its partnership with the NBA and WNBA to offer more than 50 live VR games on Meta Quest, the company announced on Monday. Meta Quest is the official headset of the NBA, as Facebook signed a deal with the league back in 2020.

The company will deliver a package of 52 live NBA games, including five immersive 180-degree monoscopic VR games in 2880 on Xtadium and on Meta Horizon Worlds. Meta will also offer a selection of WNBA, NBA G League and NBA 2K League games over the course of the season. In Meta Horizon Worlds, you’ll also be able to access game highlights, recaps and archival content.

Users can visit the dedicated NBA Arena in Meta Horizon Worlds starting today to watch NBA content with friends, compete in interactive minigames and support their favorite teams. Meta says that in the future, fans will be able to watch even more content in the app with an NBA League Pass subscription.

Meta also announced that it’s partnering with the league to launch NBA-licensed apparel in Meta’s Avatar Store in the coming weeks. Users will be able to purchase their favorite NBA or WNBA team apparel for their avatar and showcase it across Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger, as well as on Meta Quest.

“Meta’s immersive VR technology is opening up new opportunities for sports fans to engage and interact with their favorite NBA teams,” said Meta Director of Sports Media and League Partnerships Rob Shaw in a blog post. “Fans will be able to express their fandom by donning their favorite team’s gear on Avatars and enjoy more live NBA games and experience NBA League Pass in a much more social and immersive way.”

The games available in VR on Meta Quest in January include Milwaukee Bucks vs. Detroit Pistons on January 23, Denver Nuggets vs. New Orleans Pelicans on January 24, Denver Nuggets vs. Milwaukee Bucks on January 24, Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder on January 27, Los Angeles Clippers vs. Cleveland Cavaliers on January 29 and Miami Heat vs. Cleveland Cavaliers on January 31.

ENGAGE Unveils New AI Customer Service Virtual Employee Named Athena

NEW YORK, Jan. 23, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ENGAGE XR Holdings Plc (AIM: EXR; Euronext Growth: EXR), a virtual reality ('VR') technology company and provider of virtual communications solutions in the metaverse, today announced the launch of Athena, an augmented reality (AI) employee that integrates AI into a virtual reality (VR) environment for ENGAGE enterprise clients. Athena takes the concept of customer service chatbots to the next level using Open AI programs ChatGPT-3 and DALL.E allowing enterprise clients the ability to have full, interactive conversations with the avatar within the ENGAGE metaverse. Click HERE and HERE to experience Athena.

“The launch of Athena is going to open up endless possibilities for enterprise clients and change the future of the metaverse,” said David Whelen, CEO and co-founder of ENGAGE. “With just a prompt or two, users can have full conversations with Athena inside the ENGAGE platform and ask her just about anything from completing simple tasks and answering basic questions to creating complex and unique installations within the metaverse.”

Traditionally, customer service chatbots are software or computer program interfaces that simulate human-like conversations via text or voice interactions. Up until now, chatbots have been programmed using keywords and preset scripts, which can limit their functionality and usefulness. Athena’s AI intelligence takes the customer service chat functionality further for ENGAGE Link users. Athena can provide advice, answer questions, source media for playback, create AI imagery, find 3D objects, create sticky notes, and interact with key functions of the platform. This is all done via an animated avatar body giving people who interact with Athena the sense they are speaking with a real person. The AI functionality also enables Athena the ability to learn and enhance her intelligence the more she interacts with people, improving her performance and responding more naturally to conversational prompts.

“We named ENGAGE’s companion, Athena, after the Greek goddess of wisdom, handicraft and practical reason,” said Whelan. “As our clients continue to interact with Athena, she will expand her intelligence with each prompt and conversation. The introduction of Athena is only the beginning of an extensive roadmap we have planned for AI metaverse applications.”

Over the coming weeks, engineers at ENGAGE will be adding more functionality and connectivity to Athena, utilizing different AI programs. She will be given access to hundreds of technical documents training her to become an expert on the ENGAGE platform and helping to enhance her responses to become more humanlike.

ENGAGE XR plans to provide custom AI employees for its enterprise clients at a premium in the future. Each custom avatar will be tailored with a unique personality and will be provided all the technical knowledge they will need to support each individual company’s goals and tasks. The avatars will be able to take on a host of client-facing tasks which include tech support, training, education and moderation.

To learn more about ENGAGE XR and Athena, please visit the company’s blog and website https://engageplc.com and follow us on social on LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube and Facebook.

About ENGAGE XR
ENGAGE XR Holdings plc (AIM: EXR; Euronext Growth: EXR) is a metaverse technology company focused on becoming a leading global provider of virtual communications solutions through its new fully featured corporate metaverse, ENGAGE Link. The Company also has a proprietary software platform, ENGAGE. ENGAGE provides users with a platform for creating, sharing, and delivering VR content for education, training, and online events through its three solutions: Virtual Campus, Virtual Office, and Virtual Events. EXR is listed on AIM in London and on the Euronext Growth Market in Dublin, a market operated by Euronext Dublin. For further information, please visit https://engageplc.com and follow us on social on LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube and Facebook.

Contact: 

K Squared Group
Kelly Kaufman
kelly@ksquaredgroup.com

ENGAGE XR Holdings Plc
Sandra Whelan, COO
info@engagexr.co

Proteus Effect for Metaverse

Post originally appearing on vrinsights.io by Hema Ahuja.

What is the “Proteus Effect” for the Metaverse?

A person’s behavior often changes in the virtual world depending on the characteristics of their avatar. This is known as the Proteus Effect.

We all know that small changes to our appearance can affect the way we feel about ourselves. Take a haircut, a new hair color, or a new suit, for example. The effect is noticeable immediately, right?

But what if you could make much more significant changes? Grow 2 feet taller, for instance. Or grow wings. Or even transform into another person entirely. Now you can — on virtual reality platforms.

The virtual reality market, estimated to be at US$12 billion in 2022, is projected to double in size to US$22 billion by 2025. That’s only three short years. With the growth of VR platforms that allow complete immersion, the role of avatars will become central.

The Role of Avatars in the Metaverse

Avatars are critical to the metaverse experience — they effectively embody the user and become their identity. Especially Social VR platforms like VRChat, Rec Room, etc., are based on users becoming their avatars.

Avatars become the primary interface in the virtual realm, whether socializing, attending meetings, or playing games. Companies like Ready Player Me (RPM) have an avatar creation app that pops out avatars that can be used universally with just a couple of clicks. You can upload a photo to have an avatar look like you or customize it based on your imagination.

Here are examples of avatars created by uploading my photo and customizing with existing options on RPM.

As more of our interactions occur in the metaverse, from social meetups for recreation to business meetings, this avatar will become our online persona. It will become us; therefore, the Proteus Effect will play a vital role.

The Proteus Effect

Back in 2007, researchers at Stanford University found that people with taller or more attractive avatars behaved differently in the virtual world than their cohorts in the study. Specifically, they displayed more intimacy-sharing behavior and were more confident. The researchers concluded that these behavior changes were directly related to the users associating their identity with the avatar, a phenomenon they labeled the Proteus Effect.

Proteus, Who?

Proteus was a Greek god who could shift forms at will — just one of several mythological characters from around the globe that held this power to transform their appearance. Others include Shiva in ancient India, Loki in Norse mythology, and the Raven in Native Northwest American cultures.

So, the transformation theme has been part of many cultures, and we see that reflected in our superhero movies. Therefore, it’s natural that, given the option, metaverse users will want to create avatars that transform & represent them.

The Implications of the Proteus Effect

The Proteus Effect changes what psychologists call our self-perception, which is how we see ourselves in relation to the outside world. It influences how we feel about ourselves and interact with others. Digital technologies, including the metaverse, impact our self-perception, and as we communicate using avatars, it may change our behavior.

The ability to reinvent yourself, once reserved for supernatural beings and parlor games, is now becoming an aspect of daily reality. Over time, more interactions may move into the digital realm. How much will the Proteus Effect change and influence human behavior in this new landscape? The truth is, it’s hard to know for now.

A 2019 meta-analysis of 46 studies on the Proteus Effect found that it is indeed a “consistent” and “reliable” phenomenon. It’s happening right now as users create avatars and navigate the metaverse in their new, customized, and optimized identity. And just as changing your appearance affects how you feel and, therefore, how you interact in the real world, there is now a new opportunity for addressing the same consumer demand in the virtual world.

Show Me the Money

RPM recently announced it had raised more than US$56M to bring its total funding to US$72M. In addition to hiring, they plan to expand the platform with more developer tools, including those for monetization and more services for creators. They plan to double down on creating interoperable avatars and identities that can be used across multiple virtual environments. 

There is an opportunity to cater to the self-perception enhancement effect that avatars engender. But while many companies are still experimenting with how that will happen, several large real-world companies have already jumped on the bandwagon.

Brands in Metaverse

L’Oréal recently signed an agreement with RPM to create makeup looks and hairstyles for their avatars. Similarly, Tommy Hilfiger has a partnership with RPM to bring their gear to the metaverse. While these agreements greatly expand branding for the companies, they also aim to produce future revenue. 

Sneaker companies have also been the first group of serious investors to move money and interest into the metaverse. Adidas released it’s own “Into the Metaverse” NFT collection in 2021. They partnered with the Bored Ape Yacht Club and NFT influencer Gmoney to create more virtual offerings and host metaverse classes within the Adidas app. Nike acquired the digital sneaker maker Rtfkt and is releasing special edition shoes with customizable skins modeled after those in the metaverse.

Gucci has also entered the metaverse market. A virtual version of their Dionysis handbag recently sold for even more than the real-world original on Roblox. The platform allows you to build and buy clothing, accessories, and more for — you guessed it — your metaverse avatar. 

There are many instances of brands working in partnership with metaverse platforms to mention in this post. The examples give an idea of possibilities.

The Future of Avatars in Virtual Reality

So how significant will the Proteus Effect be for the future of the metaverse? We spend money on things in the physical world that make us feel good and confident about ourselves. Why should our digital self be any different?

As we increase our time in immersive environments and see our peer groups with custom avatars, how we feel about our representation may start to matter.

Impact on Social VR

For Social VR companies, tapping into the power of the Proteus Effect could be an essential driver of user engagement and revenue.

Here is a quick Reddit poll to see if VRChat users are willing to pay for an avatar. It’s only a subset of Social VR users, so the insights drawn are directional.

The results show that a good proportion of users (44%) plan to make custom avatars themselves using 3D tools or pick available avatars. So, the tools that enable these users and make it easier to create custom avatars should be a priority for Social VR companies.

The remaining (56%) would pay others to make a custom avatar, so monetization tools and a marketplace could drive more creators toward the platform. I also recommend reading the comments from users for more insights.

Conclusion

For Brands and Social VR platforms, how avatars impact self-perception could be the key to creating engagement and positioning themselves to stay ahead for future success in the metaverse. And that’s why we are here to help – Contact us today and let’s get started!

New Office Move for FourPointZero

FourPointZero, a leading Recruiter focused on the XR and Metaverse, has completed a move to larger office space to accommodate its growing team and expanding operations.

The new office is more than double the size of the company's previous space and provides ample room for the company's continued growth

"We are thrilled to be moving to a larger, more modern office space that allows us to support our growing team and meet the demands of our global client base," said Martyn Makinson, CEO of FourPointZero.

"This move is a testament to our team's hard work, dedication and confidence in the XR industry - we are excited to see what the future holds for FourPointZero”

FourPointZero’s new office is a spacious and modern design, with collaborative workspaces and on-site amenities such as a gym and café. The company is committed to creating a positive and productive work environment for its employees.

Due to the rapid growth in XR and, more recently, the Metaverse FourPointZero has experienced major growth, and the move to a larger office space is a natural next step in its ongoing expansion.