“New opportunities are on the horizon,” said Unity Technologies Enterprise Solutions Executive Elizabeth Baron.

Wednesday morning had arrived.   And just after 5:30, Pacific time, opening keynotes were starting, for the fall edition of the VR/AR Association’s Global Summit Online Conference and Expo.

Innovarors from all over the world had logged in to connect, learn and collaborate.    Among the countries represented were Ireland, Canada, Norway, India, the Czech Republic, Romania and Dubai.

And for the next three days, participants would explore all aspects of the latest developments in virtual, augmented and mixed reality.  As the largest immersive tech event in the world, the autumn VRARA Global Summit Online would feature more than 200 speakers, exhibitors and sessions.

A Changing Landscape

In her keynote, “The New Golden Age of Insight”,  Elizabeth explored the role of immersive technology in today’s uncertain times.   The pandemic, she said, is transforming consumer interactions.

“Experience is changing,” she said. “We’re now in an experience economy, not a product economy.”

The result, she continued, is experience design.  This type of design focuses on the quality of a  product user’s experience.

And the key?  Storytelling.

“Stories are all around us,” Elizabeth explained.  “They’re what (inspire us, make us feel alive)…There is still a story to be told in the products that are created.”

Immersive real-time interaction with a product, she said, is key to that storytelling.   So is the melding of art and science in the process.

“There’s a new way to communicate: experiential.  (This creates a common understanding of your product.)”

An immersive “Renaissance”

Elizabeth explored the use of immersive environments for displaying a consumer product’s features, as well as real-time training and product design.

Her recommendations included putting as much information as possible into immersive environments, and making those scenes as true to life as possible.

“Look at the real way light behaves in a scene (when designing),” she said.

But, she continued, immersive interaction must be organic.  “I believe we are embarking on a renaissance…where technology can finally work with you naturally,” she commented.

“…If you’re looking at a vehicle and you have a controller in your hand, (that’s unnatural).”

“Actions in the immersive space can be an extension of your creativity.”

A king, VR and a paradox

 

The all-virtual VRARA Global Summit’s fall edition had more sessions, fireside chats and main-stage presentations than one post can cover. But a standout favorite was the panel discussion, later that morning, on “Tutankhamun: Enter the Tomb.”

Moderated by Periscope VR Founder/CEO Lynn Rosenthal and Realcast Co-Founder and CBO Craig Vezina, this panel discussion explored the creation of this eight-minute VR experience based on the world of Egypt’s most famous pharoah.

“We just shot Tut’s tomb on a whim, not knowing what to do with (the footage) and it all just came together,” began producer and Experius VR Co-Founder Elliott Mizroch.

The resulting VR experience was slated for a world tour.  After appearances in Los Angeles, Paris and London, the plan was to take “Tutankhamun: Enter the Tomb” to Boston.

The pandemic interrupted the tour–but not the power of Tut’s story.

“What drew me to this project (was), it’s really just this incredible redemption story,” said director and Citylights Co-Founder Joel Newton.

“Tut became king at a young age.  His father was very unpopular, and Tut was crippled.  Ancient society…saw that as a weakness.”

Consequently, Joel said, the young king’s body was consigned to what amounted to an “extra tomb”, as opposed to one specifically designated for him, after his death.

“The vizier, I believe, took over when Tut died…They truly tried to erase him from their history.”

But history had other ideas.

Over time, more prominent tombs were looted.  Tutankhamun’s tomb remained pristine until the time of its discovery, in 1922.

“The kid whom they tried to erase from history has now become the most eternal voice from that generation,” Joel said.

Forging new paths

And that eternal voice is speaking to a new generation–and possibly opening new doors.

“We’ve learned a lot about being at museums and we love it,” Joel said.  “And so we’re looking for more opportunities to get VR into museums.”

Meanwhile, Elliott commented on the VR experience’s effectiveness.

“I knew, the minute we had the model done in Unreal Engine.  I put my seven-year-old niece into a headset.

…”She was silent for five minutes.  Then, it was like she’d been to Egypt.  She took the headset off and began asking questions.

“I think this is just the beginning.  The guided experience can slowly grow from here.”

 

Day 2 of the VRARA Global Summit Online starts at 5:00 am, Pacific time, on Thursday, October 1.  Networking sessions in areas including storytelling, ecommerce and training will be featured.  The day’s sessions start at 5:45 am and continue through 2:30 pm, Pacific time.  Here’s the link for information.