LOCATION: THE ALLEY, 119 WEST 24TH STREET, NYC
OVERVIEW
Augmented reality, or AR, involves layering visual information on top of exiting physical reality. Whether through mobile apps, head-mounted displays (HMDs); head-up displays (HUDs); retinal displays, or haptic sensors, AR provides expeiences that are changing the way media is consumed and distributed. From the hit game ‘Pokemon Go’ to the forthcoming Magic Leap platform, the lure of AR involves geolocation information and real objects in a transformative way. Lower-cost hardware and the first holographic projection systems offer producers new ways to deliver advertising, viral stories, and special venue content.
The AR industry has evolved from Will Wright’s ‘The Sims’ to companies such as Blippar, which enables smartphone users to recognize images and layer content on top of objects, and Atheer, which delivers a mobile 3D platform.
This session will feature leading producers in the AR field, who will discuss the opportunities for creative technologists and production companies in AR.
Speakers
Eric Schwertzel, vice president, business development, eyecandylab
Eric Schwertzel is the vice president of business development for eyecandylab, which creates augmented reality programming for TV. By holding a smartphone or tablet in front of a TV screen, new worlds can be visualized with what eyecandylab calls AugmenTV. Eric is also the founder of OEM Content, which enables brands to deliver engaging digital experiences. He has worked with companies ranging from MasterCard to Oracle and from MTV Networks to Vivendi Universal Games.
Gordon Meyer, vice president, product & marketing, Lampix
Gordon Meyer is the vice president of product and marketing for Lampix, which transforms any surface into a smart surface. It is the foundation of the next generation of user experiences in retail, office, gaming, and other environments, bridging the gap between the physical and the digital. Through projection and computer vision, built on an integrated hardware and software platform, Lampix creates augmented reality on fixed horizontal surfaces. Previously, he was the head of marketing for YouVisit, where he helped create immersive brand experiences. Prior to this, Gordon worked for 12 years with Sirius XM Radio, where he was the director of digital marketing. Gordon started his career as an agency producer with the likes of Heavy.com and Razorfish.
Raheel Khalid, chief technology officer, Envrmnt by Verizon
Raheel Khalid is the chief technology officer of Envrmnt, the end-to-end studio VR/AR studio created by Verizon Labs. Raheel works with a team that combines world-class research and development in VR/AR from Verizon Labs with the production and creative capabilities of Oath and Ryot, offering brands, agencies, and rights holders unique immersive solutions that engage audiences.
As one of the leading inventors in the U.S., with more than 140 patents to his name, Raheel has helped develop technologies and workflows that enable richer, more compelling VR experiences. He is part of a team that was awarded a Clio award for its ‘Virtual Gridiron’ VR experience for the NFL. Other recent experiences include AR experiences from Time Inc., using the Sports Illustrated cover of Mount Everest; a cover of Entertainment Weekly with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and a recent AR implementation for the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue.
Moderated by Chris Pfaff; VRARA New York Advisor/PGA New Media Council/CEO, Chris Pfaff Tech Media
Chris Pfaff is a charter member of the New York Chapter of the VR/AR Association, and currently serves as an advisor to the chapter. A former board delegate of the Producers Guild of America (PGA) New Media Council from 2006-2013; former PGA New Media Council vice chairman, and former PGA Board of Directors delegate, Chris has been a PGA New Media Council member since 2004. He leads a consultancy – Chris Pfaff Tech/Media LLC – that represents some of the leading service providers, audio/video technology firms, networking vendors, and media companies in the world. A veteran of the venture world, Chris helped launch more than 20 ventures from the Lucent New Ventures Group, including iBiquity Digital; Flarion; Lucent Digital Video, and GeoVideo Networks, among others. In addition, he has helped launch AT&T’s Internet businesses as well as Viacom New Media. Chris helped produce the first short films on a mobile device in 2003, and produced the first promotional DVD, in 1997. He helped produce the first ‘Twitter Wall’ in 2010.
