The VR Report

🌏 Is AR Mainstream? If not, when?

Did you know there are an estimated 1.4 billion AR device users today. AR filters are just the beginning as we enter spatial AR with hardware coming out in the next year. 

David Gene Oh interviewed James Ashley, an AR developer who’s worked on Hololens and now at Archer - up-leveling  e-commerce with augmented reality with the help of Walmart. 

Summary of our interview:

1️⃣ Beyond Code - The Art of Storytelling in AR: James highlighted how AI and storytelling are crucial for AR's success. It's not just about the technology but also how we use it to craft engaging stories.

2️⃣ User Experience in AR Gaming and Retail: The interview discussed the need for balance in AR gaming and retail. Making devices easy to use and improving game quality are both essential for wider AR adoption.

3️⃣ Ethics and Impact in AR: James, with his philosophy background, shared insights into the social implications of AR. The technology is reshaping our connections and communities, a critical aspect to consider as we develop and use AR.

#AR #XR #VR #TechTrends #Innovation

Join us on The VR Report with David Gene Oh and Greg Castle, Managing Partner at Anorak Ventures. With a portfolio boasting Oculus, RecRoom and Anduril Greg has done phenomenal well investing in XR. Greg shares his do's and don'ts for pitching to VCs, personal stories from Oculus' early days, and his unique definition of the Metaverse. Plus, get his expert startup advice for scaling in the XR world!

Join me on The VR Report as I sit down with James Jensen, the CEO and founder of Jump By Limitless Flight and co-founder of The VOID. 🌌

🌐 In the near future we will transition into a new world. A realm that will be augmenting the digital with physical, and it will be powered by blockchain according to Hrish Lotlikar, the CEO of SuperWorld. 🚀 Join us on The VR Report as we unravel how digital real estate, XR (VR/AR/MR/AI) technologies, and Web3 will culminate into the metaverse.

🚀 Navigating solo founder waters in emerging tech? Meet Emre Tanirgan. With a background at Disney Imagineering and Magic Leap, Emre embarked on the Paradiddle VR journey in 2016. 🥁 His creation, merging real drumming and mixed reality, has soared to over 2.1M YouTube views, making it a standout XR experience in 2023.

Paradiddle's recent debut on the Meta store marks a milestone. Six years of hard work and community input have shaped more than just a game; it's a beacon for solo founders everywhere, showcasing the impact of building alongside a passionate community. 🌟

#paradiddlevr #mixedreality #Quest3 #applevisionPro #xrbootcamp #thevrfund #VirtualReality #Innovation #ParadiddleVR #StartupJourney

Join David Gene Oh in a captivating conversation with Philip Rosedale, the visionary behind Second Life, often hailed as the precursor to today's metaverse. In this virtual realm, people gather not just for play, but for work, and sometimes, even to find love. Rosedale, who spearheaded this digital revolution from San Francisco over two decades ago, delves into the intricacies of Second Life's enduring appeal.

David Gene Oh interviews Anand Dass, a tech industry veteran, shares his journey into extended reality (XR) and his focus on AR and VR applications. He discusses the evolution of computing paradigms and the shift towards mixed reality.

Highlights
- Nima has been in the immersive technology space for over a decade, starting his career at Apple and later starting his own consulting firm.
- He worked on a VR game called "Smack It Ball" and became deeply involved in the Seattle VR scene, organizing events and creating meetup groups.
- Nima also worked with Epson on the Moverio platform as a local developer evangelist.
- The game "Smack It Ball" was put on Early Access on Steam but did not gain enough traction to continue development.
- Nima joined Leia, where he worked as the manager of the within app for mobile and was involved in the development of the augmented reality app Wonderscope.
- Wonderscope received positive reviews and became part of the curriculum in many schools.
- Nima is currently the director of product at Leia.

Amy LaMeyer is the managing partner of WXR Fund, which focuses on investing in companies using VR, AR, or AI with at least one female in the leadership team. She looks for companies that understand the problem they need to solve, have the right timing for the market, and have a strong team. Amy believes that the intersection of cost, content, and comfort will lead to the mass adoption of XR technology. She also emphasizes the importance of diversity in the industry and supports underrepresented voices through the WXR Fund.

In the latest episode of The VR Report, I rap with Devin Reimer, a trailblazer in VR gaming. He’s developed platinum hits like Job Simiulator and the Rick and Morty VR experience. Devin shared a compelling tree analogy to describe his journey in the XR industry. He likened starting in VR to planting a tree: initially, there's little visible growth, but then come bursts of development, from leaves to branches. This mirrors VR's own ebbs and flows, with periods of 'investment winters' and sudden growth. Devin’s experience through these cycles has been instrumental in his success.

Key Takeaways from Our Chat:

Devin's journey from an indie developer to being acquired by Google, and now starting Astrobeam, is a story of relentless pursuit of innovation. His insights offer a glimpse into the future of XR and the endless possibilities it holds.