Events created from the ground up to entertain, inspire, network, educate and be a lot of fun.

• VRAR Chicago: New Frontiers March 31, 2025

  

  “The point here is not to have a lot of people just talking about (VR),” comments VRAR Chicago Founder Matthew Wren, of the upcoming Chicago XR Summit.

  “…We want them to come into the space, put the headsets on and actually try this.”

  VRAR Chicago’s XR Summit, happening on June 4th at Illinois Institute of Technology and virtually, in Frame VR, will be unique in several ways.

  Breaking new ground, hands-on

  Unlike many other technology-related events, admission to Chicago XR Summit is free to attend. (However, attendees MUST have tickets; here’s the link to sign up.) The focus: the applications of virtual reality in various industries–including education, design and workforce development.

  In addition, no speakers will be featured. Attendees get to explore exhibitors’ innovations in immersive technology through hands-on demonstrations.

  Also, Matthew says, exhibitors will not be charged for exhibiting their products and services! While they’ll pay a deposit to reserve the space, that deposit will be returned after their appearance at the Chicago XR Summit.

  And last–but absolutely not least–Matthew and his team are exploring a new way for virtual attendees to experience the Chicago XR Summit!

  “We are experimenting with technology that, frankly, I haven’t seen anyone do before,” Matthew says.

  The overall goal: to educate and involve Chicago industries–and individuals–in the uses of immersive technology in day-to-day life in the workplace, education and creative disciplines.

  A mission of exploration

  VRAR Chicago, which Matthew founded in 2017, supports individuals and organizations in implementing virtual and immersive technologies into their products and services. For the past eight years, they’ve hosted their free hybrid monthly event series, The Next Evolution, where attendees explore the ways new immersive technologies can become valuable tools in their industries and future employment opportunities.

  In other words, they’re showing people the ways immersive technologies’ capabilities extend far beyond the “gaming” applications with which many people associate them.

  And Chicago XR Summit supports this goal by introducing attendees to some of the uses of immersive technology which they may never have imagined.

  Matthew shared the story of creating VRAR Chicago, talked about some of the exhibitors during last year’s Chicago XR Summit, and offered some guidelines for successful virtual events.

  And, be sure to reserve your tickets for Chicago XR Summit. Matthew warns that this is going to sell out!

  On this issue of Over Coffee® we cover:

  • How Matthew was first introduced to virtual reality and augmented reality;

  • How he came to create VRAR Chicago;

  • How The Next Evolution events led to the creation of Chicago XR Summit;

  • What’s going to be happening at the Chicago XR Summit;

  • Some of the exhibitors who participated in last year’s event;

  • How the virtual-attendee element might work, as a new innovation this year;

  • How new users might get started creating virtual spaces;

  • Some of the recent innovations in immersive technologies which Matthew finds most exciting;

  • A look behind the scenes, at the preparations for June 4th;

  • How to help support these all-volunteer events;

  • “do’s” and “don’t’s” of creating successful virtual events;

  • How Matt and his team plan for “backups”, in case anything goes wrong technically;

  • The partnerships with which they’re working;

  • What he considers most fun, in his work on Chicago XR Summit;

  • Where he’d most like to grow VRAR Chicago, in the future

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• Award-Winning Innovation November 4, 2024

  

  In 1949, a group of students decided to build their own float and participate in Pasadena’s Tournament of Roses® Parade.

  Ever since, Cal Poly Universities Rose Float have been coming up with new ways to wow parade goers–and winning awards for their work.

  As one of only six independent noncommercial floatbuilders, called “self-builts”, in the parade, Cal Poly Universities’ entry is unique for several reasons.

  First of all, they’re the only student-built float in the Rose Parade®,

  Secondly, the float, built from the frame up, is constructed by two student groups. At the start of the building process, these groups are working from campuses more than two hundred miles apart!

  Two teams become one

  

  Annually, the students at Cal Poly Pomona build the front half of their float’s chassis, while the students at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo build the back half.

  Then, in October, the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo students bring their half down to the Pomona campus. The two halves are joined–and from then on, the groups work as one, crafting their Rose Parade® entry.

  So far, the Cal Poly Universities students’ entries have won more than 60 awards–which brings up the third reason their float is unique.

  As students, Cal Poly Universities Rose Float participants have room to “play” and experiment with new methods and technologies.

  And frequently, the results are Rose Parade® “firsts”.

  Brooke Handschin is President of Cal Poly Universities Rose Float in Pomona, while Collin Marfia is President of Cal Poly Universities Rose Float, San Luis Obispo.

  Brooke and Collin talked about their experiences with Cal Poly Universities Rose Float, what it’s like to create and drive their innovative entries and, of course, Cal Poly Universities Rose Float’s 2025 entry, “Nessie’s Lakeside Laughs”, which will be their 76th Rose Parade® float.

  On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover:

  • How Brooke and Collin first became involved with Cal Poly Universities Rose Float;

  • How each of them developed their specific creative talents and gifts as a result of working on the floats;

  • Some of the ways they did troubleshooting in the past, as co-hydraulics leads;

  • One particular issue they found “frustrating but fun”, as their team navigated a construction challenge;

  • What it’s like to operate a Rose Parade® float on New Year’s Day;

  • The story of Cal Poly Universities Rose Float’s 2025 design, “Nessie’s Lakeside Laughs”;

  • How the teams from the two universities collaborate;

  • One major logistics problem they’ve been working on solving, for “Nessie’s Lakeside Laughs”;

  • Some of the considerations involved in decorating the float;

  • A look at some of the past innovations which the Cal Poly Universities entries have introduced to the Rose Parade® (and a hint at what we may see on their float in the 136th Rose Parade® on New Year’s Day, 2025!);

  • What Brooke, a mechanical-engineering major, will enjoy most about the decorating process;

  • What’s planned for the animation;

  • Where to see the team’s progress on their social media;

  • The next milestones to be completed;

  • How to support the students as they create Cal Poly Universities’ Rose Float’s 76th float, “Nessie’s Lakeside Laughs”.

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• “Dino-Ween” Promises a “Roaring” Good Time October 20, 2024

  

  “Dino-Ween is such a blast,” says Las Vegas Natural History Museum Director of Education Grace Njoroge.

  Throughout the year. Grace designs STEAM-oriented educational programming for the museum–captivating young visitors and introducing them to natural-science concepts, the humanities and history, even as they’re having fun.

  Halloween, especially, spotlights this imaginative programming, through the museum’s annual “Dino-Ween” celebration.

  Games, hands-on maker activities, costumes, candy and, most of all, fun learning activities, characterize the day.

  This year’s “Dino-Ween” happens next Friday, October 25th, from 10 am to 3 pm. Guests are encouraged to come in costume, and children in costume, ages 3 to 11, receive free admission. Here’s the link for more information.

  And once Friday is over, the fun–and the education-continue.

  LVNHM’s additional programs include regular shark feeding presentations, “Creepy Crawlies” workshops on millipedes on October 27th and the upcoming “A December to Remember” program, spotlighting holiday traditions from around the world,

  Grace offered a preview of “Dino-Ween” 2024, explained what guests will see in some of the museum’s exhibits and gave us a look ahead at an exciting special event happening in 2025.

  Las Vegas Natural History Museum hosts “Dino-Ween” next Friday, October 25th, from 10 am to 3 pm, and you’re invited! Kids in costume, ages 3-11, get free admission, and “big kids” are encouraged to come in costume as well. Here’s the link for information.

  On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover:

  • One of Grace’s favorite ways the museum is combining art, science and storytelling with some very fun technology for “Dino-Ween”;

  • A look back at the Museum’s use of virtual reality for last year’s Halloween event;

  • A closer look at the “critters” behind this year’s theme, “Creepy Crawly Carnival”;

  • Some of the educational programs planned around the “creepy crawlies”;

  • An imaginary “walk” through this year’s “Dino-Ween” event;

  • What the pumpkins will be doing!:

  • One surprise visitors experienced, during “Dino-Ween” 2023;

  • What guests this year will get to explore, in the museum’s paleontology lab;

  • The museum’s “Treasures of Egypt” exhibit, and what guests will learn and get to do;

  • What October 25th will be like, for Grace and her team;

  • What’s going to be happening with the museum’s dinosaurs!

  • Some of the “messy science” projects which young visitors will get to do, outside!

  • One of Grace’s absolute best experiences, designing programs as the new Director of Education over the past year;

  • And, one of her favorite moments, with a cultural event that incorporated art, science and the humanities;

  • One of the best lessons which Grace herself learned, as an educator who continues to grow and learn within the community.

  • A closer look at a local cultural group and the activities they brought to the museum;

  • Why “Dino-Ween” is fun-scary, as opposed to terrifying (there won’t be any “creepy crawlies” on the loose!);

  • How to support the museum in their programming, and where to find upcoming events;

  • A preview of an exciting cultural event scheduled for 2025 at the museum (artists, take note!)

  Continue reading →