VRARA Retailer’s Playbook for AR and VR in 2023 (download)

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VRARA Retail Retailers Playbook 2023

(and participate in our annual Retail Forum 2023 on Aug 31!)

VR/AR Association White Paper

The Retailer’s Playbook for AR and VR in 2023

Stores, e-commerce, Web3, AI/ML, and beyond

By the VRARA Retail Committee

VRARA Retail Co-Chairs

Sonia Schechter, 3D Cloud by Marxent

Sarah Ennis, Intergalactic Agency

VRARA Retail Working Group Contributors

Ben Feld, Niantic

Lucky Gobindram, CemtrexXR

Vanessa Mullin, Agora

Aditya Mani, YOLOgram Style

Hassaan Iftikhar, Aequilibrium

Navjeet Chhina, Genius Ventures Inc

Jessi Sparks, Magnetic Mobile

Delz Erinle, Astraverse

Michael Potts, Polycount

Rachel Fischbein, Fashion Incubator San Francisco

Oktay Kesebi

Foreword: Unlocking the potential of AR, VR, and Web3 in retail

Beck Besecker, Founder & CEO, 3D Cloud by Marxent

It used to be relatively easy to test new retail tech concepts. Back in 1999, I worked for a datadriven couponing company. We conducted a simple experiment by having my team stand next to products in convenience stores and hand out coupons as shoppers passed by. Looking back, that experiment seems ultra-simple when compared to testing the current class of retail technologies.

But the good news is that testing new ideas doesn’t have to be complicated. The potential of today’s cutting-edge technologies—Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Web3—is crystal clear, and there are accessible methods for quickly testing ideas. This is good news because consumers want to shop with these technologies.

According to a recent Harris Poll/Footwear News survey conducted in March 2023, 69 percent of online shoppers in the United States expressed their interest in using an FDA-cleared AR scanning app to try on apparel and footwear purchases.

Furthermore, approximately 62 percent of shoppers revealed their willingness to use smartphone scanning to determine the correct sizes for their apparel and footwear purchases. But the applications of AR continue beyond virtual try-on.

Our own data shows a staggering 300 percent increase in conversion rates when shoppers utilize the “View in Room” AR feature while shopping for furniture. Retailers across various categories are testing other applications, ranging from Snap lenses to in-store virtual mirrors.

While testing AR, VR, and Web3 may seem more complex than my in-store couponing test, they are well within the reach of retailers eager to evolve their strategies and embrace technologies that resonate with millennials and future generations. These emerging tools offer the ability to enhance the customer experience, drive operational efficiencies, and unlock previously unimaginable levels of engagement.

Retailers today have only begun to scratch the surface of what these transformative technologies can offer. They possess the power to redefine how businesses interact with customers, presenting exciting possibilities for innovation and growth. Now is the time to seize this opportunity, educate yourselves, build confidence, and test your ideas for utilizing AR and VR.

In this ebook, a group of early developers of retail technologies will serve as your guides on this journey. Our goal is to demystify these technologies, making them more accessible and easier to understand. We aim to empower retailers to explore and harness the immense potential of AR, VR, and Web3 in their own unique ways.

Drawing from our collective experiences and insights gained from numerous retail deployments, we have witnessed firsthand the immense impact these technologies can have. We have seen customers transported to virtual showrooms, engaging with products in ways previously only possible in dreams. We have witnessed shoppers trying on virtual garments, enabling them to visualize and personalize their style like never before. The power of AR in enhancing the in-store experience is undeniable, seamlessly blending the physical and digital worlds to create captivating environments that capture shoppers’ imagination.

Consider this ebook your trusted resource and compass as you embark on your exploration of AR, VR, and Web3. We will delve into the fundamentals, provide practical implementation advice, and showcase inspiring examples that illustrate the transformative power of these technologies. Our aim is to ignite your imagination and spark ideas for your own retail revolution.

It’s time to break free from the constraints of the past and embrace the boundless potential of the future. Together, let’s unlock the door to a new era of retail where AR, VR, and Web3 revolutionize the industry and make the shopping experience better for all.

Also, download our VRARA Retailer's Playbook for the Metaverse: e-commerce in Virtual Space using Web3, VR/AR, NFT

Participate in our annual Retail Forum 2023 on Aug 31!

1249 people from 61 countries joined our Healthcare Forum 2023. See the top speakers and sessions.

Get ready for more healthcare innovations at our Immerse Global Summit in Orlando!

The VRARA Healthcare Forum Provided a Platform for Revolutionizing Healthcare Through Virtual and Augmented Reality

The VR/AR Association (VRARA) hosted it's annual Healthcare Forum, a virtual event comprised of health tech pioneers, industry experts, and healthcare professionals that are dedicated to advancing healthcare through the use of Virtual and Augmented Reality technologies, digital health, medical, and AI.

Our Forum 2023 had 45+ speakers and 1240+ attendees from Microsoft, Bloomberg, Magic Leap, Tel Aviv Medical Center, Merck, Thermo Fisher, Harvard, Edwards, MIT, NYU, CAE, Sony, Intel, Nebraska Medicine, Global Center for Health Security, NYC Health + Hospitals, Meta, Elsevier, Pfizer, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Mayo Clinic, SSM Health, PICO.

Top Speakers, Sessions included:

• VR/AR & AI Technology in Healthcare - With Super Powers come greater Responsibilities - Rafael Grossmann, Surgeon, MD

• How VR/AR and Generative AI will Impact the Future of Healthcare (panel) with Doug Hohulin, Harvey Castro Author of ChatGPT and Healthcare, and Denise Meade, Microsoft

• VR/AR in Healthcare: How to Scale Successful VR/AR Training Programs by David Burch, ArborXR

• TAMP Doctor Innovators (panel) with David Hall, CEO, TAMP and TAMP doctors from around the world

VRARA Healthcare Forum provided the healthcare industry with a unique opportunity to explore the benefits and applications of VR/AR technologies. These technologies offer innovative and immersive experiences that promote patient engagement, accelerate clinical trials, and enhance healthcare outcomes.

How VR and AR Technologies are Revolutionizing Healthcare

VR/AR technologies have brought about a myriad of changes in the healthcare industry. Some of the exciting ways the VR and AR technologies have revolutionized healthcare include:

1. Training Healthcare Professionals

VR and AR technologies offer a safe and immersive environment for training healthcare professionals. These technologies provide them the opportunity to hone their skills and practice managing complex medical scenarios in a realistic environment.

2. Enhanced Patient Experience

The immersive experience that VR provides can promote relaxation, reduce anxiety, and aid the rehabilitation of patients. AR technology can help provide patients with interactive and visual aids for better communication and understanding of their medical conditions.

3. Virtual Consultations and Checkups

VR and AR technologies are already being used for virtual consultations and checkups by healthcare providers. This technology enables physicians to conduct remote consultations and checkups with patients in different locations, thus reducing the time and cost associated with travel.

4. Improved Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are an integral part of developing new drugs and treatments for various medical conditions. VR and AR technologies have revolutionized this process by making it possible to conduct realistic and safe simulations using virtual patients, significantly reducing the time and costs of clinical trials.

The VRARA Healthcare Forum: A Platform for Revolutionizing Healthcare

The VRARA Healthcare Forum provided healthcare professionals, researchers, and industry experts with a platform to share their knowledge and insights on the use of VR and AR technologies in healthcare.

This forum brought together healthcare professionals, technology experts, and researchers from around the world to explore the vast potential of virtual and augmented reality technologies in healthcare.

By participating in the VRARA Healthcare Forum, individuals and organizations were able to:

• Connect with like-minded individuals and organizations committed to advancing healthcare through VR and AR technologies.

• Learn and share insights into the latest trends and developments in VR and AR technologies and how they apply to healthcare.

• Access informative and actionable resources that support the application of VR and AR technologies in healthcare.

In conclusion, the VRARA Healthcare Forum was an invaluable opportunity for healthcare professionals, researchers, and industry experts to explore the potential of VR and AR technologies in healthcare. The forum offered a platform for individuals to share their knowledge, connect with like-minded individuals and organizations, and advance healthcare.

Thank you to our forum Sponsors!

Get ready for more healthcare innovations at our Immerse Global Summit in Orlando!

Apple showcases its Vision Pro headset with a medical app. Join our Healthcare Forum on June 29.

Apple enters the spatial computing headset market!

The XR healthcare market is projected to reach $9.5B by 2028.

On June 29, join our annual Healthcare Forum as we host 40+ speakers, and 800+ attendees.

Apple showcases its Vision Pro headset with a medical app during WWDC

Although still a small market ($1.8B in 2021), health-focused XR has shown potential in treating a range of conditions, from phobias to chronic pain.

Already, XR is helping treat patients. One of the most successful areas has been post-traumatic stress disorder (the Veterans Health Administration was an early adopter) and has also been used to reduce pain and anxiety without medication. XR has become an important educational tool, allowing students to practice procedures and prepare for high-risk scenarios (surgeons trained with XR have shown significantly fewer errors than traditional training methods.) And, VRARA Member UCF, has implemented XR for nurses over the past year. And, Arizona State replaces all intro biology labs with VR labs.

On June 29, our annual Healthcare Forum will have 40+ speakers, 800+ attendees from Microsoft, Bloomberg, Magic Leap, Tel Aviv Medical Center, Merck, Thermo Fisher, Harvard, Compal, Edwards, Pacific Neurocenter, Canon, MIT, NYU, CAE, Sony, Intel, TAMP (with doctors from US, Europe, Brazil, Nigeria, India), and many others.

Jeremy Joseph appointed as Co-Chair of VR/AR Association's Aerospace Committee

We are thrilled to have Mr. Jeremy Joseph help lead our Aerospace community. Join us!

Jeremy is a results-oriented and visionary software engineering expert with 16 years of experience as a dynamic solutions architect, customer interface, and effective company leader on the forefront of innovation. He recently joined Bluedrop USA as Vice President Capture, Training and Simulation after a 15+ year career including companies such as SAIC, CAE/Presagis, GameSim, and Luminar. Passionate about the Orlando M&S and Tech community, Jeremy has been involved in several community organizations including the UCF Engineering Leadership Innovation Institute and has mentored Senior Design students. He has also been a conference chair for the Serious Play conference and the IMAGE conference. Jeremy holds a BS in Computer Engineering and a MS in Modeling and Simulation from UCF and is currently pursing a D.Eng. in Engineering Management from George Washington University. He is also a NTSA Certified Modeling and Simulation Professional.

“I’m excited to Co-Chair the Aerospace committee as I have been in this industry a long time and I am looking forward to the continued growth of VR and AR in the Aerospace industry and bringing together the best of the best to propel the industry forward through collaboration.”

— Jeremy Joseph

AR Post: "A Very Interesting VR/AR Association Enterprise & Training Forum"

See top Sessions, Speakers, and Video Recordings from our Forum here

The VR/AR Association held a VR Enterprise and Training Forum yesterday, May 24. The one-day event hosted on the Hopin remote conference platform, brought together a number of industry experts to discuss the business applications of a number of XR techniques and topics including digital twins, virtual humans, and generative AI.

The VR/AR Association Gives Enterprise the Mic

The VR/AR Association hosted the event. In addition to keynotes, talks, and panel discussions, the event included opportunities for networking with other remote attendees.

“Our community is at the heart of what we do: we spark innovation and we start trends,” said VR/AR Association Enterprise Committee Co-Chair, Cindy Mallory, during a welcome session.

While there were some bonafide “technologists” in the panels, most speakers were people using the technology in industry themselves. While hearing from “the usual suspects” is nice, VR/AR Association fora are rare opportunities for industry professionals to hear from one another on how they approach problems and solutions in a rapidly changing workplace.

“I feel like there are no wrong answers,” VR/AR Association Training Committee Co-Chair,Bobby Carlton,said during the welcome session. “We’re all explorers asking where these tools fit in and how they apply.”

The Convergence

One of the reasons that the workplace is changing so rapidly has to do with not only the pace with which technologies are changing, but with the pace with which they are becoming reliant on one another. This is a trend that a number of commentators have labeled “the convergence.”

“When we talk about the convergence, we’re talking about XR but we’re also talking about computer vision and AI,” CGS Inc President of Enterprise Learning and XR, Doug Stephen, said in the keynote that opened the event, “How Integrated XR Is Creating a Connected Workplace and Driving Digital Transformation.”

CGS Australia Head, Adam Shah, was also a speaker. Together the pair discussed how using XR with advanced IT strategies, AI, and other emerging technologies creates opportunities as well as confusion for enterprise. Both commented that companies can only seize the opportunities provided by these emerging technologies through ongoing education.

“When you put all of these technologies together, it becomes harder for companies to get started on this journey,” said Shah. “Learning is the goal at the end of the day, so we ask ‘What learning outcomes do you want to achieve?’ and we work backwards from there.”

The convergence isn’t only changing how business is done, it’s changing who’s doing what. That was much of the topic of the panel discussion “What Problem Are You Trying to Solve For Your Customer? How Can Generative AI and XR Help Solve It? Faster, Cheaper, Better!”

“Things are becoming more dialectical between producers and consumers, or that line is melting where consumers can create whatever they want,” said Virtual World Society Executive Director Angelina Dayton. “We exist as both creators and as consumers … We see that more and more now.”

“The Journey” of Emerging Technology

The figure of “the journey” was also used by Overlay founder and CEO, Christopher Morace, in his keynote “Asset Vision – Using AI Models and VR to get more out of Digital Twins.” Morace stressed that we have to talk about the journey because a number of the benefits that the average user wants from these emerging technologies still aren’t practical or possible.

“The interesting thing about our space is that we see this amazing future and all of these visionaries want to start at the end,” said Morace. “How do we take people along on this journey to get to where we all want to be while still making the most out of the technology that we have today?”

Morace specifically cited ads by Meta showing software that barely exists running on hardware that’s still a few years away (though other XR companies have been guilty of this as well). The good news is that extremely practical XR technologies do exist today, including for enterprise – we just need to accept that they’re on mobile devices and tablets right now.

Digital Twins and Virtual Humans

We might first think of digital twins of places or objects – and that’s how Morace was speaking of them. However, there are also digital twins of people. Claire Hedgespeth, Head of Production and Marketing at Avatar Dimension, addressed its opportunities and obstacles in her talk, “Business of Virtual Humans.”

“The biggest obstacle for most people is the cost. … Right now, 2D videos are deemed sufficient for most outlets but I do feel that we’re missing an opportunity,” said Hedgespeth. “The potential for using virtual humans is only as limited as your imagination.”

The language of digital twins was also used on a global scale by AR Mavericks founder and CEO, William Wallace, in his talk “Augmented Reality and the Built World.” Wallace presented a combination of AR, advanced networks, and virtual positioning coming together to create an application layer he calls “The Tagisphere.”

“We can figure out where a person is so we can match them to the assets that are near them,” said Wallace. “It’s like a 3D model that you can access on your desktop, but we can bring it into the real world.”

It may sound a lot like the metaverse to some, but that word is out of fashion at the moment.

And the Destination Is … The Metaverse?

“We rarely use the M-word. We’re really not using it at all right now,” Qualcomm’s XR Senior Director, Martin Herdina, said in his talk “Spaces Enabling the Next Generation of Enterprise MR Experiences.”

Herdina put extra emphasis on computing advancements like cloud computing over the usual discussions of visual experience and form factor in his discussion of immersive technology. He also presented modern AR as a stepping stone to a largely MR future for enterprise.

“We see MR being a total game changer,” said Herdina. “Companies who have developed AR, who have tested those waters and built experience in that space, they will be first in line to succeed.”

VR/AR Association Co-Chair, Mark Gröb, expressed similar sentiments regarding “the M-word” in his VRARA Enterprise Committee Summary, which closed out the event.

“Enterprise VR had a reality check,” said Gröb. “The metaverse really was a false start. The hype redirected to AI-generated tools may or may not be a bad thing.”

Gröb further commented that people in the business of immersive technology specifically may be better able to get back to business with some of that outside attention drawn toward other things.

“Now we’re focusing on the more important thing, which was XR training,” said Gröb. “All of the business cases that we talked about today, it’s about consistent training.”

Business as Usual in the VR/AR Association

There has been a lot of discussion recently regarding “the death of the metaverse” – a topic which, arguably, hadn’t yet been born in the first place. Whether it was always just a gas and the extent to which that gas has been entirely replaced by AI is yet to be seen.

While there were people talking about “the enterprise metaverse” – particularly referring to things like remote collaboration solutions – the metaverse is arguably more of a social technology anyway. While enterprise does enterprise, someone else will build the metaverse (or whatever we end up calling it) – and they’ll probably come from within the VR/AR Association as well.

Post originally appearing on Arpost.co by Jon Joehnig.

930 People from 55 countries joined our annual Enterprise & Training Forum. See top Sessions, Speakers, and Video Recordings.

Access the video recordings here

Our annual forum was a full day of best practices, guidelines, and insights as we brought together industry leaders in VR/AR, digital twins, industrial metaverse, AI, and digital transformation.

We had 60 speakers from Qualcomm, CGS Inc, Overlay, Microsoft, ArborXR, Boeing, Michelin, US Air Force, Bridgestone, Magic Leap, UPS, Accenture, Lenovo, Varjo, Raytheon, Unity, Booz Allen, Porsche, Schlumberger, Veteran Affairs, and more.

Access the video recordings here.

Below are the top sessions and countries:

Access the video recordings here.

Kerry Persen of Meta appointed as Co-Chair for VR/AR Association's Education Committee

We are thrilled to have Kerry Persen join the leadership for our Education Committee and help lead our community.

Kerry works on the Global Policy Campaigns and Programs team at Meta and is focused on AR/VR, particularly on its application to education and upskilling. Kerry is excited to engage with the VR/AR education community on the future of the space and the opportunities to develop the AR/VR ecosystem for education.

Kerry  is a Security Fellow at the Truman National Security Project and an affiliate at the Center for International Security and Cooperation. She has previously worked at the Institute for the Future and at RiceHadleyGates LLC, a strategic consulting firm led by former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, former National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley and former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. She has also been a Minerva Fellow at the U.S. Institute for Peace, a Fellow at the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs at Georgetown University, and a Fulbright Scholar in Indonesia.  

Kerry received her Ph.D. from the Department of Political Science at Stanford University, where her research was supported by the National Science Foundation, the Horowitz Foundation, and the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START), among others. She graduated summa cum laude from Bowdoin College with a double major in Government and Economics. 

Doug Hohulin Appointed as Co-Chair for VR/AR Association's Generative AI Committee

We are thrilled to have Doug Hohulin help lead our community for Generative AI.

Doug brings extensive experience and expertise to the position, having worked for 33 years at Nokia/Motorola in Strategy, Business Development, Account Management, and Engineering roles. He is a Generative AI Consultant and Innovation Advisor and focuses on Generative AI, XR/Metaverse, Digital Health, Telehealth, Education, Telecommunication (5G/6G, WiFi, Cable/10G), Sustainability/Energy/Smart Grid, and Public Policy projects. Additionally, Doug frequently shares his knowledge on Generative AI through workshops, webinars, and panel discussions.

“I am excited to co-chair the AI committee because it provides an incredible opportunity to bring together professionals, researchers, and organizations to harness the immense potential of Generative AI in the XR domain. Together, we can innovate, collaborate, and drive the industry forward, paving the way for groundbreaking solutions that will reshape our digital experiences and interactions. The AI market is expected to reach $42.6 billion by the end of the year, growing at a compound annual rate of 32% to $98.1 billion by 2026, according to PWC/PitchBook Data Inc. This presents a significant business opportunity for those involved in Generative AI, and being part of this committee will enable members to stay at the forefront of this rapidly evolving industry, leveraging insights and networking opportunities to drive success and growth.”

— Doug Hohulin

UL8400 safety standards around immersive technologies for AR/VR/MR head-mounted electrical equipment

Exciting times for safety standards for VR/AR! Ibrahim Jilani takes us through UL Solutions continuing efforts in establishing UL8400 safety standards around immersive technologies to increase public safety of all VR/AR Association (VRARA) members as well as help manufacturers mitigate the unique safety risks associated with AR/VR/MR head-mounted electrical equipment. Listen to our interview with Ibrahim here.

See Ibrahim speak at our annual Enterprise & Training Forum on May 24.

Advances in 5G and Wi-Fi 6 technologies combined with more affordable and compact devices are driving rapid innovation and adoption of AR/VR/MR technology. However, there are safety hazards related to the use of an AR/VR/MR headset that need to be addressed.  Particular aspects addressed by this standard include the means to reduce, as far as practicable, the effects of visually induced motion sickness, visual opacity (luminous transmittance, spectral transmittance, and relative visual attenuation quotient), flicker, skin compatibility, heat exposure to the eye, biomechanical stress, mechanical robustness, and optical occlusion to some extent (enhanced spatial perception).

VRARA recognizes UL Solutions as an organization whose mission is working for a safer world, and a global leader in safety, security, and sustainability.  Several VR/AR Association members participated in the UL 8400 standard development, the world’s first safety standard dedicated to VR/AR/MR equipment.  We want our members to have greatly reduced risk from injury from safety hazards related to VR/AR/MR equipment and support that all VR/AR/MR equipment demonstrate 3rd party certification by an OSHA National Recognized Testing Laboratory to UL 8400 and be  certified 1 year after date of publication noted above.

We look forward to working with UL Solutions in advocating for safety that will help to advance the VR/AR/MR technology in a transparent way that the public, stakeholders & regulators can trust. 

Regards,

Kris Kolo

VRARA

1140 people joined our Education Forum 2023 from 61 countries!

Our annual Education Forum 2023 was a full day event for immersive learning, VR/AR, and metaverse that brought together 70+ speakers and 1140 attendees from the academia and industry, including Harvard, Stanford, Meta, Google, Microsoft, Lenovo, Dell, Magic Leap, Unity, ArborXR, Full Sail, NYU, CMU, University of California, FIU, UCF, Univ College of London, and 100+ other schools and organizations.

To purchase access to video recordings, see here

Top countries and top sessions/speakers shown below:

Thank you to our Sponsors!

Some of the positive feedback we received includes:

• Diversity of contents, time precision and great set of speakers.

• The diversity of people and backgrounds in attendance

• The vast amount of topics focused in XR for education and the speakers that gave specific examples of their work, and their approach towards XR implementation and challenges they solve.

• I learned so much, it is hard to describe. Thank you to the speakers who were so informed and free with their knowledge and time. I am just blown away, thank you so much.

• The connections and content were quite nice.

• Plenty of networking time!

See our upcoming events here

Michael Cohen appointed as VR/AR Association Co-Chair for Hospitality #VRARA @michaelccohen

We are thrilled to have Michael Cohen help lead our community in the Hospitality industry vertical.

Michael Cohen is a veteran executive and innovation leader within the global travel, hospitality and MICE industry, with a specialized focus on web3, VR and AR. He is the Managing Partner @ Growth Advisors International Network - GAIN, a global advisory group focused on innovation and growth within the travel, hospitality and meeting tech space, as well as a Mentor and Speaker at the NYU Tisch Center of Hospitality.

“ I am pleased to announce my appointment as Co-Chair of the VRARA’s Hospitality Committee. As VR and AR technologies continue to revolutionize engagement and customer loyalty within the travel, hospitality, and food service industries, I am excited to contribute to the committee’s leadership efforts in driving innovation and enhancing guest, patron and passenger experiences through these emerging mediums.”

— Michael Cohen

Bob Cooney appointed as Co-Chair of VR/AR Association Location-Based Experiences Committee

We are thrilled to have Bob Cooney help lead our community for LBE! Join our weekly Online Meets!

For more than 35-years, Bob has accurately predicted the impact of bleeding edge tech on entertainment business trends. He’s the founder of an INC 500 company with a successful NASDAQ IPO to his credit. He has emerged as one of the leading voices in the virtual reality and metaverse space.

Cooney is the go-to-market strategist behind the launch of some of the world's most successful location-based VR companies He is the author of the book Real Money from Virtual Reality, and co-author of The Guardians of the Metaverse, a think-tank report from Laval Virtual.

Bob is widely considered the world's foremost expert on location-based virtual reality, having founded the VR Arcade Game Summit, the biggest dedicated location-based VR conference in the US.

“I am honoured to have been invited to chair the LBE committee for the VRARA. I am excited to support this group of experts and work together to advance the VR industry’s offerings in location-based entertainment. Together, we will explore new technologies, innovative ideas, and best practices, all aimed at delivering high-quality and engaging experiences for consumers.”

— Bob Cooney

Hermes Frangoudis appointed as Co-Chair of VR/AR Association WebXR Committee

We are thrilled to have Hermes Frangoudis as co-chair for our Industry Committee and help lead our global community with regards to WebXR!

Hermes is the Co-Founder and CTO of Arlene, where he and his team have developed webXR.tools, a no-code web AR/VR toolkit for digital creatives to extend reality. Hermes started his journey in XR as a solutions engineer at Blippar and later went on to become Director of Developer Relations and Partner Engineering at Agora.io, supporting many of their AR/VR partnerships. With over 18 years of experience in web technologies and almost a decade working with AR/VR, Hermes has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the field.

Hermes is a respected speaker in the industry, having presented at conferences. Throughout his career, Hermes has worked with many Fortune 500 companies and top brands spanning a wide range of industries, including fashion, automotive, and CPG brands to launch immersive experiences.

“I’m excited to co-chair the committee because I believe webXR is quickly evolving and revolutionizing the future of immersive experiences.”

— Hermes Frangoudis

Computer Generated Solutions (CGS) becomes a sponsor for our VRARA Enterprise Forum 2023

Computer Generated Solutions (CGS) becomes a sponsor for our VRARA Enterprise Forum 2023. Don’t miss their keynote presentation!

For nearly 40 years, CGS (Computer Generated Solutions) has enabled global enterprises, regional companies, and government agencies to drive breakthrough performance through software and business applications, enterprise learning and outsourcing services.

CGS is wholly focused on creating comprehensive solutions that meet clients’ complex, multi-dimensional needs, and support clients' most fundamental business activities. Headquartered in New York City, CGS has offices across North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

TeamworkAR

Your people power your business. Whether the goals are onsite repairs, new training, remote assistance or enabling a dispersed workforce, TeamworkAR™ is how you can give your people the support they need.

Through innovative technology with practical functionality, TeamworkAR can make employees more efficient, more effective, and more confident in their work. With real-time learning, expert guidance and seamless collaboration, they can do what your business needs and be safer while doing it.

Learn more about CGS AR product offerings here https://www.cgsinc.com/en/enterprise-augmented-reality-for-business or watch video below.

Skip Kimpel appointed as chair of VR/AR Association Hospitality Committee

We are thrilled to have Skip Kimpel chair our Hospitality Committee and help lead our community in this sector.

Skip Kimpel is a restaurant and hospitality technology evangelist and an industry known thought leader. Kimpel is currently the Principal of Independent & SMB Consulting for ConStrata and has held previous roles as the CIO and senior technology roles for 4R Restaurant Group, Technology for Virtual Dining Concepts and for Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza. His responsibilities have included all areas of strategy and operational technology not only at the restaurant level but also within the various corporate departments. He views data as the number one asset that a company has at its disposal that allows them to leverage this for honing in on business strategy and solid pro-active decision making.

Kimpel is also the creator and host of The Tech Chef Podcast, which is a restaurant and hospitality technology show and is one of the most popular places to get the latest information on operational and technology driven solutions solving for the complications brands are currently experiencing. Skip actively sits on the Board of Governors for the Restaurant Technology Network (RTN) as well as the marketing and allied member committees and previous board member for the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA). He is heavily involved with anything that is hospitality technology driven and has been instrumental in creating industry standards as well as the restaurant industry’s first standardized open API.

“I am excited to chair the virtual reality and augmented reality committee for hospitality because it provides an incredible opportunity for this vertical to explore new ways of engaging with customers, creating immersive experiences that are tailored for their needs and interests in addition to training programs that usually involve complex and dangerous skill sets that can be achieved, safely, through a virtual platform. Companies in the hospitality sector can create innovative experiences to delight their customers and unlock new revenue streams that will quickly be adapted once shown the possibilities and the ROI. Currently, this area is completely unexplored in the hospitality sector”

— Skip Kimpel

Dave Alpert appointed as Chair of VR/AR Association AEC Committee

We are excited to have Dave Alpert help lead our community for AEC.

Dave Alpert, CEO and Co-Founder of Geopogo AR, is an award-winning building architect and inventor with granted patents in AR and the Metaverse. Following  decades of experience leading landmark design projects like the California Supreme Court and the Lucasfilm Executive HQ, Dave co-founded Geopogo AR to apply the power of AR to solve chronic problems in the design and construction process. His team has launched two successful products and is partnered with Magic Leap, Oracle, and Siemens. Dave has been an active thought leader in the design tech community, organizing meetups for the AIASF Design Tech Committee and speaking and presenting at CES, AWE, DevWeek, AIA conventions, IFMA, and other events. He is personally committed to inclusion, collaboration, and transparency in his quest to democratize access to 3D creation and visualization.

“I’m excited to co-chair the AEC and Real Estate committee because I believe in working together with peers and mentoring new members of the community. By collaborating, we can all make more effective progress in the enterprise adoption of AR and VR. Please join me by proposing monthly topics of value to you, presented by experts who you know, especially by end users in enterprise.”

— Dave Alpert

Alexander Jones appointed as Co-Chair of VR/AR Association's Universities & Colleges Committee

We are thrilled to have Alexander Jones be a key part of our Universities & Colleges Committee.

Alexander possess over fourteen years of extensive experience in career/workforce development, cultivating industry partnerships, professional development programming, and collaborating to create career pathways for diverse learners. My higher education experience includes research, program development, and program evaluation for The Bay Area Community College Consortium, College of Marin’s Work Experience, Career Services and Career Education programs, and the San Mateo Community College District’s Cooperative Education Department and Apprenticeship Programs. Working together with administrators, faculty and classified personnel, I have increased job placement rates, ensured students possess the requisite skills needed to secure their careers, and ensured that my efforts remained responsive to the needs of employers and community partners.

The successful and inclusive workforce development initiatives he has overseen have enhanced programming that bridged community college students to their career of choice, and is responsible for an influx of a younger and more diverse workforce into industries that have historically struggled to forge and sustain lasting relations.

“I am excited to co-chair the VRARA University & College Committee, and look forward to creating similar programming that is effective, sustainable, and robust for VRARA members/communities and students.”

— Alexander Jones

VR/AR Association will host its annual Enterprise Forum on May 24, 2023

Get ready for a full day of best practices, guidelines, and insights as we bring together industry leaders in VR/AR, smartglasses, and digital transformation. Our virtual forum will bring together leading digital transformation vendors and end-users/brands from across the world! We expect 1,000+ audience and 60+ speakers.  In addition to keynotes, rapid presentations, sessions, demos, expert panels, we will have the best-in-class online networking where you can build meaningful connections!

Our previous forum in 2022 had over 1370 attendees from 70 countries and speakers included Paul Jacobs

Apply to Speak, Sponsor, Get Tickets here