In this episode of the podcast, we sit down with Stephen Curtis, a Senior Prototyping Architect working in Spatial Computing at AWS. Stephen shares his insights on how to get started with immersive technology and the journey AWS took to start taking XR seriously.

We discuss how technology can be used to remove friction in enterprise, give examples of enterprise friction in XR, and how AWS helps customers with their journey into XR.

We dive deeper into operational excellence, and managing content and devices for XR. We also discuss the best approach for XR content authoring and whether companies should use authoring tools or apps.

For companies starting a pilot project, Stephen shares his advice and established use cases. We also discuss the XR use cases that Stephen is most excited about and how to quantify data for efficacy.

As the conversation turns towards the Metaverse, we explore whether it will be one world or multiple worlds, and whether it should be open-source. Finally, we discuss what might surprise us about XR or the Metaverse in 10 years!

Join us for this insightful conversation on the future of immersive technology and XR for enterprise.

Timestamps:

• Getting started with immersive technology (0:22-4:25)
• 50 things Stephen learned since 30 (4:25-6:55)
• Technology as a goal to remove friction (7:41-10:04)
• Examples of enterprise friction that AWS can solve (10:20-12:35)
• What was the journey for AWS to start taking XR seriously (12:45-15:54)
• Where is our progress on where VR is with real-world applications? (15:55-18:08)
• How does AWS help customers with their journey into XR (18:09-20:30)
• Operational excellence, manage devices (ArborXR), manage code (20:38-21:48)
• What’s the best approach for XR content authoring/XR Content (21:48-24:11)
• Advice for companies starting a pilot project (25:28-28:03)
• What XR use cases are you most excited about (28:04-29:22)
• Will the Metaverse be one world or multiple worlds? (31:18-36:13)
• What may surprise us about XR or the Metaverse in 10 years? (38:28-41:12)

About Stephen Curtis

Stephen is a Senior Prototyping Architect for the Worldwide Specialist Organization on Spatial Computing. He currently works with AWS customers, APN partners, and AR/VR device manufacturers to leverage cloud-based technologies to build immersive and spatially aware experiences.

Stephen has developed and/or led over a dozen successful prototyping engagements for some of the largest AWS global customers (including BMW). With industries including automotive, telecommunications, energy, manufacturing, biomedical research, and pharmaceutical technologies. Specializing in taking bleeding edge technologies and bringing them to enterprise. He was also the lead developer on the Visual Asset Management System (VAMS), a spatial data lake reference architecture which is now the foundation of the AWS go-to-market strategy for spatial computing.

Prior to AWS, Stephen has been an enterprise-level developer, architect and technical leader for nearly 20 years. Working with global-scale companies in the travel and hospitality, marketing technology, startup consulting, video game, construction, utilities, media and entertainment, luxury brand, retail and fashion industries.

About ArborXR:

ArborXR helps organizations confidently manage VR & AR devices at scale, remotely install content, and control what users can see and do in the headset. Our mission is to help people live more meaningful lives through the power of XR. Learn more at https://arborxr.com.

Links & Resources:

• Connect with Stephen on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/stephenlcurtis
• Connect with Brad on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brad-scoggin/
• Connect with Will on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/willstackable/
• Learn more about getting started with XR in our ultimate guide to managing VR training for work: https://arborxr.com/blog/ultimate-guide-to-managing-vr-training-for-work/