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

  • New Dimensions of Talent
    Meow Wolf's House of Eternal Return, Santa Fe, New Mexico.                 (Photo by Kate Russell, courtesy of Meow Wolf, and used with permission.).

    What is Meow Wolf?

    A DIY arts and music community?  An immersive experience, based on emerging technology plus storytelling?  A learning space with regular workshops, entertainment and art therapy?  A network of creatives who give back to the community?

    Yes!  All of the above.

    Technically, Meow Wolf describes itself as "an arts and entertainment group, based in Santa Fe, New Mexico". Established in 2008 as an art collective, they have an installation called the "House of Eternal Return" which covers 20,000 square feet.  The experience, when visitors enter, starts with a deceptively normal-looking house.  Then, it progresses into a science-fiction and surreal experience, which involves both augmented and virtual reality.

    And Meow Wolf is about to expand its community!  In 2020, they'll open a new location in Las Vegas.  In 2021, they're also scheduled to open a site in Denver.

    Lauren Cason is Meow Wolf's Creative Director of XR.  We talked about XR, the story of Meow Wolf, and what visitors can experience when they come to Meow Wolf's main installation.   Lauren, who mentors young women in video game art and design, also offered some of her favorite (free) resources for game creation--and shared the name of a favorite book for artists!
    On this edition of Over Coffee®, you will hear:

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    How a serendipitous occurrence led to Lauren's interest in XR;

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    The ways  her creative journey proceeded from there;

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    What first led Lauren to come on board at Meow Wolf;

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    How Lauren herself describes Meow Wolf;

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    Her definition of XR (what is it, anyway?);

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    How the artists in the collective give back to artist communities throughout the nation;

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    One of Lauren's favorite memorable moments from the original installation, House of Eternal Return;

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    The origins of the arts collective's unique name!;

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    How Meow Wolf was created;

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    Some of the special arts events which the venue hosts;

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    A look inside House of Eternal Return;

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    What Lauren most wants to teach the young women whom she mentors, about game development;

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    Some of her favorite free or inexpensive resources for game development;

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    One of the best creative lessons Lauren has learned, since the start of her career as an artist;

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    And, a book she especially recommends!

    29 min
  • JImu: Inspiring the Future


    Jimu Robot kits are far more than "toys".

    Global AI and robotics company UBTECH has developed these robotics kits to teach children STEM skills in a playful and imaginative way.  The goal: to have the young roboticists learn by creating and programming their robots.

    During CES® 2020 in Las Vegas in January, Jeff Gordon was onsite, displaying his company's new robot kits.  Jeff is the Director of PR and Communications at UBTECH Robotics in Los Angeles.

    He's also a dad, who has had firsthand experience seeing how young customers like these cool robots!

    We talked about the story of the Jimu robots, UBTECH's educational goals in creating them, and how the newest robots work.
    On this edition of Over Coffee®, you will hear:

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    How (and why) UBTECH came to create their consumer robotics kits for kids;

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    A look at UBTECH's three newest Jimu Robot kits;

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    How one of those three, "Firebot", from the mythical series, works;

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    Why UBTECH chose to create their top selling robotics kit, the "Unicornbot";

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    How to program a robot through the free Jimu app;

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    Some of the ways young "clients" can program the "Unicornbot";

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    Jeff's suggestion for inspiring kids creatively to pursue more science, technology, engineering and math-related subjects;

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    A new contraption which UBTECH has, which literally takes young robot creators "out of the bos";

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    One of the most fun reactions Jeff saw from his own son, after the launch of one of these robotics kits!


    Follow UBTECH for updates!   Their social media include Facebook, Twitter, their YouTube channel, and Instagram.
     
    11 min
  • A New Creative “Reality”
    (Royalty-free image by Gerd Altman, from Pixabay.)

    During a festival, art, competition, and music aren't unusual.

    But getting to experience them in virtual reality really is.

    And that's exactly the opportunity which the Global VR Art Fest and Tournament will be offering attendees!

    The Global VR Art Fest and Tournament starts off in London on Thursday, February 13th.  After that opening date in the U.K., there will be local festivals in thirteen cities in five different countries--including the U.S. and Australia.

    And attendees will get to create art in virtual reality, as well as simply seeing it.  There will also be prizes for new participants, as well as competition prizes on the professional-artist level.

    Paul Rock is both the co-founder of Toronto-based arcade Another Reality, and the organizer of the Global VR Art Fest and Tournament.  We talked about the origin of this special event, what attendees can expect to experience and some of the cities which will be participating.
    On this edition of Over Coffee® you will hear:

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    How Paul first realized the potential of VR as a vehicle for artists;

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    The inspiration that first led him to organize the Global VR Art Fest and Tournament;

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    What attendees will experience;

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    Paul's advice for beginners;

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    What it's like to create art in Tilt Beush;

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    A look at some of the cities in which the Global VR Art Fest and Tournament is happening;

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    A look at the VR technology in which a DJ's creating the music!;

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    The prizes for which artists will be competing;

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    Paul's vision for the future of his special event;

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    Some of his favorite resources for creating art in VR (in addition to Tilt Brush);

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    One mistake to avoid, when creating VR art;

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    One of the biggest challenges Paul has faced, in creating his series of special VR events;

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    How you can help support the Global VR Art Fest and Tournament.


     
    20 min
  • The “Fox” That Saves Lives


    BlueFox-Lifeline wrist computer innovator David Busch knows how quickly someone can drown.

    Tragically, he's has seen drowning incidents occur, in both his own life, and in his career.   And ultimately, witnessing these tragedies led him to create a wearable to prevent similar incidents.

    David has a background in the recreation industry.  As a serial entrepreneur, he built and operated water parks  all over the world.

    But an accident, which still haunts him today, led to his current career: President and founder of Guardian-Lifeline Drowning Detection Systems.  Actually, "career" may not be the correct term.  Dave, as he prefers to be called, says he considers his work a calling.

    And that calling led to the BlueFox-Lifeline wearable computer--which has three different ways to interrupt a drowning incident.

    During CES® 2020, Dave shared the story of how he came to introduce the world's first drowning detection systems.  He also explained how the BlueFox Lifeline wrist computer works, and what's next!
    On this edition of Over Coffee®, you will hear:

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    How the BlueFox-Lifeline wearable drowning prevention computer works;

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    How Dave's professional background--and a "weird set of circumstances"--led to his calling today;

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    Some shocking statistics on preventable drowning incidents;

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    The journey Dave took, which resulted in his finding his inventor partner, and the creation of the BlueFox;

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    When the BlueFox Lifeline wrist computer (which has Swiss technology) will be available in the U.S.A;

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    One of the reasons Dave's current work "hits close to home";

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    Dave's biggest challenge, with marketing the BlueFox-Lifeline wearable;

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    And, his most exciting experiences since beginning to market it!;

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    Some of the ways Dave would like to evolve the wearable in the future.


    Would you like updates on what Dave is doing with his drowning-prevention innovations?  He'd like to keep you posted!  You can sign up for his newsletter on Guardian-Lifeline's main website.
    20 min
  • Immersive Empowerment
    (Photo courtesy of Bad VR, and used with permission.)

    Bad VR is in the empowerment business.   And at the helm is Suzanne Borders, CEO and co-founder.

    What her L.A.-based startup does, specifically, is translate data into easily-understandable virtual-reality and augmented reality experiences.   They're the world's first immersive data visualization platform.

    In other words, if you have a lot of charts and graphs, they'll create a visual representation.  This platform puts you inside the data--where you're seeing all the facts at once, and quickly finding the information that's relevant to your needs.

    Bad VR's first product, an app called SeeSignal, allows users to see the strength of their wi-fi, cellular phone or Bluetooth networks.  And they have a new product which they're just about to release.  (We'll tell you more about that, as soon as we can!).

    Suzanne, or Suzie as she prefers to be called, talked about the experience of founding Bad VR in 2017, some of her favorite resources for developing immersive technology, and what's next!
    On this edition of Over Coffee®, you will hear:

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    How Suzie first became interested in virtual and augmented reality;

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    How her own first VR experience captured her imagination;

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    The steps to her journey, in creating Bad VR;

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    What Suzie found particularly "scary" as she began to create her startup;

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    A specific, plain-English definition of what Bad VR does;

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    How their AR application, SeeSignal, works;

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    Some of the possible uses of Bad VR, in going from abstract ideas to specific visualizations;

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    Creative lessons from Suzie's experiences, in designing immersive media;

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    How a real-life event helped Suzie plan a visualization model;

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    The resources Suzie has found most helpful, as both an artist and an entrepreneur;

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    Suzie's future plans for Bad VR, and what she needs to make them a reality;

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    Why her creative team (including future hires!) is unique in the tech industry;

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    Suzie's recommendation for staying on top of developments in the rapidly-developing field of immersive technology;

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    The reason behind her company's name!

    33 min
  • Pix: In a Creative Light


    What if you could put anything you wanted--in lights--on your backpack?

    And, what if you could animate that design or message?  As well as change it, any time you wanted?

    That's exactly what's possible with Pix.

    Pix is a Ukraine-based startup, which has created the world's first LED-light customizable backpacks.

    During CES® 2020, Pix co-founder and CMO Sergii Iezdin was onsite in the Eureka Park startup area.  We talked about the Pix customizable backpack, the story behind it and his journey, as an innovator.
    On this edition of Over Coffee®, you will hear:

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    How Pix's first two backpack products work;

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    Some of the features of the backpack when it isn't being worn!;

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    How Sergii and his team came to create the LED-lighted backpacks;

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    The mechanics of creating your own digital art on one of these backpacks;

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    Sergii's advice to fellow inventors and innovators.

    6 min
  • A New Vista for 3D Printing


    3D printing with glass?  That's possible now.  And it may be widespread very shortly, with a new 3D printer from Korea-based startup Muto Labs.

    During CES® 2020, Muto Labs' Soon Chan Hong premiered his company's new "Mutable" 3D printer.



    This is the world's first 3D printer with the capability of printing both glass and crystal items!  Soon Chan says the first model will be available in spring, 2020.

    Soon Chan talked about the new innovation during our brief conversation in the Eureka Park startup area.
    On this edition of Over Coffee®, you will hear:

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    How Soon Chan and his team came to design the glass-printing 3D printer, the "Mutable G";

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    Some of the ways the glass printer can be used;

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    Soon Chan's advice to fellow exhibitors at CES® in the future;

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    What he found especially enjoyable about CES® 2020.


     

     
    7 min
  • P.E.T.E.R.: Tech for Our Planet


    P.E.T.E.R. is getting ready to take to the seas.

    And she's going to make a huge difference in water quality.

    During CES® 2020, Techstars hosted a "Pitch Competition Student Startup Showdown" in the Eureka Park startup area.



    Students took the stage to explain their technology innovations.  Then, a judges' panel asked questions about their creations.

    Pleasant Robotics Founder and CEO Gabriella Pleasant won first place in the competition.  She created her robot, named P.E.T.E.R., with the goal of healing our oceans.

    How does it work?  The robot goes into the water, ingests microplastics and turns them into biodegradable material before disintegrating.  The robot itself is made up of organic materials!

    Currently, Gabi, as she likes to be called,  is looking into mass-marketing P.E.T.E.R.   Just after winning the "Showcase", she shared the story of creating her biodegradable robot, explained how it works and previewed the next steps in her journey.  (That will include receiving her degree from UC Santa Cruz, where she's currently studying computational linguistics!)
    On this edition of Over Coffee® you will hear:

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    What first inspired Gabi to become a roboticist;

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    The steps involved, in the two-year process of creating P.E.T.E.R;

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    How the robot works;

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    How the design changed, from original idea to now;

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    Gabi's "dream technology" she'd like to add to future editions of P.E.T.E.R.;

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    And, since the robot is a "she", the reason behind the name!


     

     

     
    10 min
  • Actronika: The “Touch” of Reality
    An Over Coffee® special-edition "blend", recorded live at CES® 2020!

    "Haptics" means "the science of touch", as explained on Actronika's website.

    And Actronika is a Paris-based startup which is creating technology that incorporates touch right into virtual-reality experiences.

    During International CES® 2020, Actronika researcher Dr. Damien Faux was displaying a prototype of his company's haptic platform in the Eureka Park startup area.

    Actronika's patented technology will enable VR users to experience the "feel" of they're seeing, on the screen!
    CES® 2020 continues through Friday, January 10th in Las Vegas.
    5 min
  • BZIGO: AI vs. Mosquitoes
    An Over Coffee® special-edition "blend", recorded live at CES® 2020!


    Mosquitoes.  Depending on where you are geographically, they can be anything from nuisance--to deadly.

    In CES® 2020's Eureka Park startup area is an ingenious solution.

    Ben Resnick is the Marketing and Project Manager for Israel-based startup Bzigo.  Wait till you hear how his company uses technology to get rid of these pests!

     
    CES® 2020 continues from now through Friday, January 10th in Las Vegas.
     
    4 min

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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…