Over Coffee® | Stories and Resources from the Intersection of Art and Science | Exploring How to Mak

Over Coffee® | Stories and Resources from the Intersection of Art and Science | Exploring How to Mak

By Dot Cannon: Public Speaker & New-Media ReporterSociety & CultureEducationArts
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Over Coffee® | Stories and Resources from the Intersection of Art and Science | Exploring How to Mak episodes

  • Exploring the World in 360

    This post and podcast are for informational purposes only, and are not intended as medical advice. Please contact a healthcare professional with any health-related questions.







    What if you could experience your dream travel destination--exactly as it is--as you plan your trip? Or use VR to get a guided tour of someplace you've always wanted to visit?



    With Weezy VR, those questions are no longer theoretical.



    Switzerland-based startup Weezy VR is the world's first interactive virtual reality app for travel. And they'll be onsite at CES® 2023.



    "What you see is what you get," says CEO and Co-Founder Jimmy Kunzli, explaining how the platform works. Users, he continues, see unaltered 360 videos of their destinations.



    They also get virtual guided tours and filters which can tell them about climates, costs and how they might like the locales they have in mind, depending on the purpose of their travel.



    Jimmy shared the story of Weezy VR, explained how it works and what's next.



    And if you're coming to CES® 2023, you'll get a chance to meet Jimmy and his staff and talk with them about the platform! Look for Weezy VR in CES®' Eureka Park® startup area, in booth #61344 of the Switzerland pavilion.



    On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover:




    * How Jimmy first came up with the concept of Weezy VR;









    * The process involved, from concept to creation;









    * How the platform works;









    * A new feature he'll showcase at CES®2023;









    * One of Jimmy's best experiences since the creation of the platform;









    * How the platform is currently serving patients in hospitals and care facilities;









    * What's next, after CES®!;









    * Where the name comes from;









    * What it's like for Jimmy, as he prepares for his first CES® show;









    * How to support Weezy VR as the startup grows.




    CES® 2023 runs from January 5th through January 8th in Las Vegas, and is open to members of the consumer technology industry. Both in-person and virtual attendance registrations are available. We'll see you there--virtually!
    18 min
  • “Going NOWHERE” is a Blast

    Over Coffee® is on holiday hiatus. Please enjoy this reposting of one of our top episodes of 2022. And be sure to join us next week, as we profile some of the innovators of CES® 2023!







    For this Christmas holiday, we plan on going NOWHERE.



    And it's going to be a lot of fun.



    That's because NOWHERE is a relatively-new virtual platform, combining Zoom's ability to communicate face-to-face with the ability to travel through, create content for, and host events in, some breathtaking virtual worlds!



    This past week we visited an enchanting "snow globe", created for the Christmas season. There's currently a breathtaking "Cosmic Lighthouse" world that's new since we last visited, as well as an art show featuring NFTs to empower Brazilian women.



    Those are just three of the experiences available--along with performance spaces, workshops and just about anything a creator can imagine.



    This past spring we had the opportunity to talk with NOWHERE Co-Founder and Managing Director Ana Constantino. Here she is, with the story of NOWHERE and some guidance on how to get involved, have fun and even host your own events.



    On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover:




    * Ana’s previous experiences as a creative professional at the intersection of art, media and technology;









    * How she and her collaborators came to create NOWHERE;









    * The reasons behind the name;









    * How to share content and participate in live experiences in NOWHERE;









    * The platform’s intellectual property requirements;









    * One her most fun creative experiences, since launching NOWHERE;









    * A closer look at some of NOWHERE’s virtual worlds;









    * Ana’s advice on creating compelling 3D worlds.

    17 min
  • Expanding Worlds with XR

    Over Coffee® is on holiday hiatus. Please enjoy this reposting of one of our top episodes of 2022.



    (Photo courtesy of Dr. Colleen Bielitz, and used with permission.)



    Futurist Dr. Colleen Bielitz has an invitation for you.



    She would like to invite you to get involved in XR--or to get further immersed in it, if you're already exploring augmented, virtual and extended reality.



    Colleen is Associate Vice-President of Strategic Initiatives and Outreach at Southern Connecticut State University. Her additional professional credentials include: entrepreneur, blue economy pioneer, tech evangelist,, and XR researcher.



    And her mission: to make XR accessible to everyone.



    Colleen is Co-Chair of the VRARA Education Committee, as well as serving on the board of XR Women–the global collective of women in augmented and virtual reality.



    We've virtually attended events which both organizations hosted, and can wholeheartedly recommend them as vibrant communities which encourage both visitors and members to grow. Beginners are welcome, and supported in their learning journeys.



    Among Colleen's innovations is Project Blue, an initiative towards creating a tech transfer, innovation hub and Blue Economy research in New Haven, Connecticut. AND, exciting update: during this interview we discussed her work on IMXR. The website is now up, and expanding horizons! Here's the link.



    In this interview, prerecorded in spring, 2022, Colleen discussed her mission of making XR available to all, shared resources for getting started and discussed her goals for the future.



    On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover:




    * How technology first captured Colleen’s imagination, as an area in which to use her talents;









    * A definition of XR;









    * Free resources and platforms for beginners;









    * What immersive technology can mean to artists;









    * The directions in which Colleen would like to take XR education in the future;









    * Some of the dangers of this new immersive “world”;









    * Safeguards that could help users avoid those dangers;









    * The current implicit bias behind the looks of avatars;









    * Some of Colleen’s most exciting experiences, both with VR applications and during her workdays;









    * A closer look at Project Blue, and a preview of the next chapter;









    * A look at IMXR;









    * Two challenges to innovators in the metaverse;









    * Some exciting applications for users with disabilities;









    * One of the areas that Colleen sees as requiring considerably more work, towards a metaverse that welcomes everyone.

    34 min
  • Programming the Future

    Over Coffee®is on holiday hiatus. Please enjoy this reposting of one of our top episodes of 2022!







    (Graphic courtesy of Deshjuana Bagley, and used with permission.)



    "Dream big," says State College of Florida Coding Academy Director Deshjuana Bagley.



    That's exactly what Desh, as she prefers to be called, has done--and what she continues to teach students to do.



    In addition to her work with SCF, Desh is the founder and CEO of Tampa-based TechPlayZone. As a mom who wanted to create a better future, not just for her own sons but for the next generation of innovators, Desh guides students to become creators, rather than simply consumers, in the metaverse.



    And she has a special event coming up.



    SCF Coding Academy is currently preparing for their Winter Break "Super Cyber Camp"! Geared towards students, grades 2 through 7, this promises to be a lot of fun as the young participants program in Minecraft.



    They'll also learn the principles of cybersecurity in the best possible way: in VR scenarios where they're having fun problem solving! (Here's the link for more information.)



    In this interview recorded in Spring, 2022, Desh shared her story, her creative journey with Tech Playzone and her vision for the future.



    On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover:




    * How Desh first became engaged in computer science and robotics;









    * The story of TechPlayzone;





    * Desh’s memories of the early days of her unique program;





    * What she’s doing to engage students in creating with technology, versus the traditional approach in which schools teach tech;





    * How teachers can get around the “intimidation factor” and make technology work in their curricula;





    * What can work best for educators in arts disciplines;





    * Some of the digital resources that can be most helpful in the arts;









    * A closer look at the classes offered at State College of Florida’s Coding Academy (these are available online!);





    * Another technology program which allowed her students to create their own virtual worlds;









    * Desh’s vision for the future of TechPlayzone, and an exciting upcoming project;









    * Her favorite resources for artists who’d like to start creating in XR;









    * Desh’s advice to arts students, in preparing for the new jobs which will result from current advances in robotics.

    33 min
  • Music, Art, Air Pistons

    (Photo courtesy of Maxwell Durea, and used with permission.)



    One Love Machine Band creator Kolja Kugler is, first of all, an artist.



    He's also a roboticist--which he says he never expected to become.



    Kolja started out creating sculptures from scrap metal. But the project wound up having other ideas--and he found himself turning those sculptures into robots.



    And not just any robots. These are robot musicians who play real instruments!



    (Photo courtesy of Kolja Kugler, and used with permission.)



    As members of Kolja's One Love Machine Band, they're a real crowd-pleaser. One Love Machine Band has wowed audiences all over Europe--including at the Maker Faire Rome and during Kolja's TEDx Talk in his native Berlin.



    Kolja enjoys watching audience reactions, especially. A common response: delight.



    "Everybody became a child, suddenly, when they looked at that bass player, playing," he says.



    (Photo courtesy of Kolja Kugler, and used with permission.)



    Kolja explains that he started by building the band manager, whom he named "Sir Elton Junk". Next came the bass player, the drummer and some unusual background harmony. He sees himself as "playing" with the scrap metal, to see what kinds of characters emerge as he builds.



    And he has some exciting visions for the future.



    Kolja shared the story of his robotic band, discussed his creative process and offered a look ahead at what may be next!



    On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover:




    * How Kolja first discovered his passion for creating sculpture;





    * One of the best creative lessons he learned from English arts group The Mutoid Waste Company;





    * The story of the One Love Machine Band;





    * The ways in which Kolja sees his robotic sculptures evolve as he builds them;





    * His favorite memories from the first time the One Love Machine Band performed in public;





    * A closer look at the "characters" of the musician robots;





    * What helped Kolja keep going when he ran into roadblocks;





    * What he considers the most fun involved in creating his playful art!;





    * His vision for the band, in the future;





    * Where the One Love Machine Band may be performing, in 2023.





    31 min
  • XR For Any Season

    Over Coffee® is on Thanksgiving hiatus. Please enjoy this reposting of one of our top episodes of 2022!









    ARVRinEDU® Founder Jaime Donally has created an Advent calendar--with new and user-friendly applications for augmented and virtual reality!



    And that's only one of the XR applications she offers educators.



    Jaime, who is an author, speaker and EdTech consultant, shares all kinds of fantastic resources on her ARVRinEDU® blog. Just one of the highlights: her collection of AR/VR resources from the free Verizon Innovative Learning HQ portal!



    And with December approaching, Jaime is once again offering her ARVRinEDU® Advent Calendar. The theme for 2022: "STEAM-Verse".



    If you'd like to receive these free resources, Jaime invites you to subscribe at ARVRinEDU.com for daily emails.



    During our conversation in early August, Jaime shared the story of ARVRinEDU®, shared some of her favorite resources for teaching in XR and told a favorite story of the effectiveness of AR from her own experiences as a parent.



    On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover:




    * Jaime’s educational journey, from reluctant reader to education professional;









    * Her own introduction to immersive technology;









    * A definition of augmented, versus virtual and mixed, reality;









    * The story of ARVRinEDU®;









    * A closer look at some of the augmented and virtual-reality applications on the site;









    * A preview of the content Jamie's planning for her Advent calendar;









    * Jaime’s advice to educators who are just starting to use immersive technology in the classroom;









    * Some immersive apps which engage students in reading, science and writing;









    * How students can create 3D content;









    * Some VR applications that can be implemented in the classroom;









    * Some of Jaime’s favorite recent immersive-technology discoveries;









    * The FREE microcredentialing training Jaime is currently offering, online! (Here’s the link!)









    * One of Jaime’s favorite success stories, from her use of AR and VR.





    39 min
  • Cleanbox vs.”Barriers”

    This post and podcast are for informational purposes only, and are not intended as medical or safety advice. Please contact the appropriate professionals with any questions you may have in these or other areas.



    (Headshot by Mary Rice Photo, and used with permission.)







    Immersive technology is ready to revolutionize our world, says Cleanbox Technology Co-Founder and CEO Amy Hedrick.



    Areas in which nongaming uses of VR and XR are blossoming, include education, medicine, retail, and transportation , among other fields.



    But widespread adoption of virtual reality or other new technologies often requires willingness to engage with shared devices: headsets, laptops, even phones.



    One possible barrier to that implementation: the fear of spreading germs through shared devices.



    Accordingly, Nashville-based Cleanbox Technology has engineered and patented technologies which can disinfect a surface in 60 seconds--using UV light! Cleanbox's website says that their products can eliminate 99.999 percent of all contagions on surfaces, in a safe and environmentally-friendly process.



    Cleanbox Technology offers products which can sterilize any shared device: headsets, VR or AR hand controls, respirator masks and more. And their products aren't for technology alone.



    Cleanbox's newest device, the Omniclean 2, can sterilize any frequently-touched object placed in its chamber. A recent company video shows the UV light technology decontaminating markers, a purse and small office items.



    Amy shared the story of Cleanbox, discussed some of the ways she's seeing the use of immersive technology change the world and offered a preview of what's next.



    On this edition of Over Coffee®, we cover:




    * How Amy first realized the potential of virtual reality to make an impact on the world;





    * The story of Cleanbox;





    * One of the most memorable ways she saw VR being put to use in a safety application, during her travels as she acquainted immersive-technology users with Cleanbox;





    * How she makes the practical consideration--hygiene--behind the technology, appealing;





    * An imaginary "unboxing" of one of Cleanbox's products and how it works;





    * What UVC light is, and how it works in sterilizing surfaces;





    * The safety mechanism used to make Cleanbox safe for general use;





    * Why the technology is environmentally friendly;





    * What most people don't know, about traditional sterilization procedures.





    * And, what's next!

    21 min
  • Another Aspect of ERICA

    ERICA at the Japan section of Eureka Park® during CES® 2020, Las Vegas.



    "ERICA (isn't just a laughing robot)," clarifies researcher Dr. Divesh Lala.



    "The laughing is just a small part of the whole."



    Kyoto University researchers first began working with ERICA, or ERATO Intelligent Conversational Android, in 2015. Their goal: to develop her as a social robot who can function in conversational situations.



    Currently, that objective includes teaching the robot to laugh--an appropriate laugh, at the right time.



    Divesh, who is a JSPS Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Kyoto University, specializes in the area of artificial intelligence. For almost six years, he's been a researcher on the ERATO Ishiguro Symbiotic Human-Robot Interaction project.



    In other words, he's had the opportunity to work with ERICA, from the very early days.



    Using gaze behavior, speech and gesture, Divesh creates engaging conversations with this humanoid robot. He's published numerous research papers on his work--including "Can a Robot Laugh With You?", on which he is one of three co-authors.



    Divesh talked about the process of programming ERICA to be an engaging and believable conversationalist, explained what's involved in giving the robot the ability to laugh and offered a preview of what's next.



    On this edition of Over Coffee®we cover:




    * How Divesh first became interested in artificial intelligence;





    * His recollections from his early days of working with ERICA;





    * A speech-recognition issue which is natural to humans but presented researchers with a challenge, in programming the robot;





    * A distinction to keep in mind, about ERICA;





    * How researchers decided to include laughter in her conversational capabilities;





    * Considerations involved in that process;





    * How it works, when the robot laughs;





    * Divesh's favorite experience, from this latest aspect of his research work;





    * Some possible future applications of ERICA's conversational capabilities;





    * What could be next, for the laughter model;





    * Divesh's recollections of the first time he heard ERICA laugh;





    * Where to find additional publications on his research;





    * Divesh's advice for fellow robot enthusiasts, on creating lifelike humanoids.

    46 min
  • EDUmetaverse: “Crazy Special”

    (Images courtesy of Andrew Wright and used with permission.)







    "It's all geared around creativity," says EDUmetaverse creator, owner and lead consultant Andrew Wright.



    "And so when they're (learning), they're constantly making, as well."



    He's talking about students' experience in his collection of customizable virtual worlds, designed to enhance the learning experience in classrooms across the globe.



    An innovator in the educational-technology space for more than a decade, Andrew is the owner of Sydney-based iTeacher. Nevertheless, he says the pandemic provided a catalyst for him to explore new worlds--virtually.



    His response: the creation of EDUmetaverse.



    Today, Andrew has built more than 50 customizable virtual worlds. In these experiences, students can travel to any location imaginable. Collaboration and creativity are center stage. So is learning retention: students are experiencing and interacting with, rather than memorizing, the subject matter.



    Naturally, those experiences can incorporate multiple disciplines at once.



    According to Andrew's LinkedIn page, he opens up EDUmetaverse on weekends, for visitors.



    Exploring the worlds



    When you visit, you might get to visit a medieval market. Or a farm, to explore the farm-to-table food production process. Or possibly even Mars!



    One major project, on which six schools around the world are collaborating, is a virtual butterfly preserve. Students get to upload information on the butterflies in their region, and learn more about conservation.



    Perhaps most exciting of all, though, are the results Andrew has seen.



    The end results



    Students get excited about learning--to the point that they don't want to leave the classroom sometimes! Quieter students can blossom. And some at risk have had a 180-degree turnaround in their perspectives of their future possibilities.



    "I know what we're doing here is something crazy special," Andrew comments.



    While some of the worlds are free, Andrew, who is an independent creator, says he hopes to monetize in the future. If you would like to see some of his work, in addition to checking out the main page on Framevr.io, here is a link to EDUmetaverse's YouTube channel.



    Andrew talked about his experiences, shared some of his most inspiring moments in creating EDUmetaverse, and shared his vision for the future.



    On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover:




    * How Andrew first became inspired to become an innovator in the field of education;





    * The story of EDUmetaverse;





    * Andrew's experiences as a first-time learner with a popular world building software;





    * What you'll experience when you come into EDUmetaverse;





    * A preview of one of the virtual worlds;





    * How historical figures are represented through AI art;





    * Some projects in which students collaborated and learned through AI art;





    * A look at headsets versus desktops (EDUmetaverse is set up to be ac...
    38 min
  • Omega Mart: Unbridled Creativity









    At first glance, a casual observer might mistake Omega Mart for a supermarket.



    But after about ten seconds, they'll realize they're in for an adventure--and a lot of mind-bending fun.



    Omega Mart, the second permanent art installation by Santa Fe-based arts and entertainment collective Meow Wolf, is a surreal, and interactive, immersive experience. Secret passageways, slides, Easter eggs and surreal worlds are all part of the fun.



    So is storytelling with a sense of humor, as visitors can explore the lore of "Dramcorp"--or not--as they choose.



    Comprised of sixty different rooms with work from international and local artists, Omega Mart opened in Las Vegas' Area 15 in 2021. It could accurately be described as a "show", with psychedelic lights, tall overhead flowers, a playable laser harp and portals leading to unexpected places.



    The artists of Meow Wolf have even designed "products" for the "supermarket" area--and they're unlike anything you'll find in your local grocery.



    And their goal--as with Meow Wolf's previous installations in Santa Fe and Denver-- is to continue the mission of inspiring creativity through art, exploration and play.



    Spencer Olsen, Senior Creative Director at Meow Wolf, worked on twenty-two of the projects which Meow Wolf created for Omega Mart over the four years of its construction. We talked about the creative process, some of the areas visitors can experience and what's next for Meow Wolf.



    On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover:



    * What first inspired Spencer to become an artist;



    * One of the best creative lessons he learned from his first teacher;



    * How Spencer first became a part of Meow Wolf;



    * His favorite part of working with his fellow artists;



    * The story of Omega Mart;



    * What was most exciting about preparing the project with the team;



    * A theme which visitors will discover;



    * A closer look at some of the products in the "supermarket" area and how they fit into the storytelling;



    * What it was like for the team of artists to come up with these tongue-in-cheek "supermarket" products;



    * A hidden portal for which to look, and what guests see when they pass through;



    * The summit of the narrative behind this experience;



    * Two robots created especially for the occasion!:



    * One of the technologies which Spencer most enjoyed incorporating into Omega Mart;



    * The challenges the team dealt with, while bringing Omega Mart to life;



    * One of the best creative lessons from the experience of creating this installation;



    * A "don't-miss" feature of the installation;



    * Some of the tactile experiences of Omega Mart;



    * What Spencer remembers best from Omega Mart's opening day;



    * Why the show isn't "done", and what's new!



































    29 min

About Over Coffee® | Stories and Resources from the Intersection of Art and Science | Exploring How to Mak

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Would you like to know more about the art of twenty-first century "cool stuff" that's changing our world? Such as: robots, space exploration, new media, wearable technology and other innovations that…