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Due to a technical issue, Over Coffee® is on a one-week hiatus. Please enjoy this reposting of one of our top episodes of 2022! "Move fast and break things," says multiple award-winning computer science teacher Mark Suter. He's talking about the entrepreneurial approach he takes, as he guides his Elida High School classes through creating virtual-reality experiences. Failure, Mark explains, is a key element in real-world problem solving. And problem-solving is exactly what Mark and his students are doing, as they create VR training simulations for local businesses. An entrepreneurial approach to learning leads his students to collaborate, interact with others to learn what customers need, and adapt their creations accordingly. According to Mark's LinkedIn page, his class is also currently seeking a company that would like them to create some free training prototypes! Part of the curriculum is Grit 9, a student-run business. Students can design VR simulations and websites. They also offer photo scanning and video work for local businesses. In addition, Mark is an instructor at Bowling Green State University, where he is both a co-creator of their masters' level course. And if you're a VR beginner who'd like to learn more, you can start today--free. On his website, Mark offers beginner-friendly lessons in creating virtual reality with his "VR Basic Bytes" series! (These are both nonintimidating for beginners, and a lot of fun!) Mark talked about his own learning journey with VR and his experiences in the classroom, shared some favorite resources and discussed a hilarious "failure" from which his class learned. On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover: Mark’s recollections from his own learning journey, as he first started learning to create with VR and teach it to his students; How an artist or educator might put virtual reality to work in these areas; The partnership experience through which Mark took his game-design class with a local business as a client: The creative process involved; What’s involved in his beginner-friendly high school computer science course; Why Mark tells his students that “failure is highly encouraged”; A safeguard, for when students do make errors, so their work isn’t lost; Mark’s favorite resources for creating with VR; What to use, instead of code, to perform some basic functions in VR; How Mark introduces his students to coding; Several ways to share created VR apps; The hilarious "learning experience" mistake one of his students made; How Mark’s approach to preparing students to work in immersive tech has changed since he first started teaching; Why Mark wants students’ approach to learning (and his to teaching them!) to be “entrepreneurial”.

(Photo courtesy of Vlad Konov, and used with permission.) "All Ukrainians are innovating right now," says Nanit Robotics Founder Vladyslav Konov, as we discuss his latest creation. Vlad, a Ukraine-based engineer, entrepreneur and educator, introduced his ed-tech robot, Nanit, to the U.S. during CES® 2023. This is a kit, designed for all ages (big kids too!). Users can create, literally, a hundred robots from the components provided. For beginners, it's an easy process, based on snapping blocks together. And tutorials and add-ons, available with the kit, allow the user to grow and continue learning. They can also create their own applications--because Nanit is open-source! For Vlad, Nanit is the latest step in his creative journey. He's been creating robots--and teaching others to do so--since 2016, according to his LinkedIn page. Just one of his innovations was the creation of a first-of-its-kind robotics school in Ukraine. (He is also the founder and CEO of RoboHouse, Ukraine's international laboratory of robotics, electronics and programming.) Nanit, though, is much more than an educational "toy". Vlad is introducing a version for adults who have never worked with robotics. As he demonstrated during our conversation, "building a robot" is a simple snap-together process with his kit. And his overall vision is to train students for professions that don't yet exist, but will be a reality in the future. As well as helping adults keep pace with technology and rebuilding a better world. Vlad shared the story of Nanit Robotics, explained some of the ways the kit can be used and offered a closer look at a future in which robotics can facilitate bringing ideas to life. Here's where you can follow and connect with Vlad and his Nanit Robotics team: Facebook https://www.facebook.com/nanitrobot2. LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/813012573. Instagram https://www.instagram.com/nanit_robot/4. Website nanitrobot.com  On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover: How Vlad first became inspired to pursue robotics as his life's work; The biggest challenge Vlad found in his journey, as a Ukraine-based innovator; The story of the Nanit robot (this is a kit that can make, literally, 100 robots easily!) A "demonstration" of how we create a robot from the Nanit kit; Vlad's vision for Nanit Robotics, beyond the kit's use in schools; A "really funny" use case one user put into effect with open-source Nanit; Why the kit is as easy as connecting blocks, for non-technical users; How the video books which go with the robot get young learners engaged in problem-solving; What Vlad enjoys most, about the creative process of bringing Nanit to life; Why Ukraine excels at innovation; - How best to support Ukraine's innovators; Vlad's experience exhibiting at CES® 2023 (he was one of a dozen innovators from Ukraine, according to CES®'s webpage!); His future vision for Nanit (this is a global vision!); When the kit might be available in the U.S.; What Vlad prefers for the setup of smart homes; One of the most interesting lessons he himself has learned from teaching and creating robotics within the past year; How robots fit in with the better future world he envisions.

Over Coffee® is on post-CES hiatus. Please enjoy this re-posting of one of our top episodes of 2022! This post and podcast are for informational purposes only, and are not intended as medical advice. Please contact a healthcare professional with any health-related questions. Clinical neuropsychologist Dr. Albert "Skip" Rizzo is a pioneer in the field of medical virtual reality. Since the 1990s, Skip, as he prefers to be called, has been using immersive technology to treat his students. (He doesn't call them "patients".) Today Skip is the Director of Medical Virtual Reality at USC's Institute for Creative Technologies. He first began working in research at ICT in 1995, according to his LinkedIn profile. One of his multiple titles is "Ayatollah of VR", listed from 1995 to the present! (We first had the pleasure of hearing him speak at Cedars-Sinai's inaugural Virtual Medicine conference in 2018.) Skip's ground-breaking work has garnered multiple awards. He's researched, designed and evaluated VR-based therapy systems for traumatic brain injury, autism and post-stroke rehabilitation. He is also the creator of BraveMind, a VR-based exposure therapy program for the treatment of PTSD. As of December, 2022, according to their website, the U.S. FDA has endorsed the use of AR and VR devices in medical care--decades after Skip's discoveries in the field. But when he first started talking about using virtual reality applications at psychology conferences, he says, "(My colleagues thought I was crazy.)" Today, he's looking at an apparently-limitless future for mental-health VR apps. "There's no wall here," Skip says, when considering future directions in which he'd like to innovate. Skip, who will be speaking at Cedars-Sinai's 2023 Virtual Medicine conference in March, shared the story of his creative journey with medical virtual reality in this interview we recorded in February, 2022. On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover: Skip’s introduction to virtual reality; His process, from there, in implementing VR simulations for brain-injury rehabilitation; What he remembers from the early days of treating his students with VR simulation-based therapy; How he and his team currently use VR simulations with virtual humans to help patients on the high end of the autism spectrum; A closer look at some of the virtual-reality applications that can enhance empathy across various areas of mental health; Some of the results Skip has seen; His vision for the future of therapeutic virtual reality.

Over Coffee® is on post-CES® hiatus. Please enjoy this reposting of one of our top interviews of 2022! STEMuli Studios Founder/CEO Taylor Shead is using immersive technology to fulfill her mission. That mission, as stated on their website: "to provide a pathway to an intellectually and economically fulfilling career for all." In 2016, Taylor created her small business: the first game-based learning metaverse in the United States! Ever since then, STEMuli has been navigating students from their current academic capabilities, to the skills and experience needed to secure their dream jobs. Taylor says that's just the beginning, for her Dallas-based startup. Today, according to their website, STEMuli Studios serve more than 20,000 schools. And Taylor's ultimate vision: to serve learners, worldwide, on AI-driven academic and career-based learning journeys in STEMuli's 3D smart city. In our August, 2022, conversation, Taylor shared the story of STEMuli Studios, talked about her vision for the future and explained how students, educators and anyone who'd like to support them, can get involved. On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover: The epiphany that led Taylor to her mission as an entrepreneur; How she started STEMuli, and saw it evolve; Taylor’s memories of the early days of her startup; A conversation with a student that cemented Taylor’s commitment to her calling; How a surprise discovery led her to seek the involvement of Fortune 500 companies; What students experience, in the virtual world; The tools available in the “STEMuli engine” for educators (and students!) to create content; One of Taylor’s most “fun” experiences in her creative journey with STEMuli; Taylor’s own “GPS” of STEMuli’s current accomplishments and the goals she’d like to reach; Where to connect with Taylor and STEMuli; What the new “learning GPS” could mean for a lifelong learner; How to support the project and get involved!

(Photo courtesy of Natalie Rotschi, and used with permission.) Switzerland-based startup Scewo is re-imagining wheelchairs. That re-imagination process involves designing them as both a lifestyle item--and as some seriously cool technology. (Photo courtesy of Natalie Rotschi, and used with permission.) Scewo's "Bro" wheelchairs climb stairs! They also balance on two wheels, raise and lower their occupants to reach items or sit at tables of varying heights, and have no problem going up over curbs. And you'll get a chance to see these firsthand, this week in the Eureka Park® startup area of CES® 2023! They're exhibiting in the SwissTech pavilion of the Eureka Park® startup area, booth #61433, Level ! Hall G. At CES® Scewo (pronounced Skee-voh) is presenting their wheelchair to the U.S. market for the first time. Scewo Lead Communication and PR Manager Natalie Rotschi shared the story of Scewo, some of the ways their technology is changing the lives of their road drivers (they don't call them customers) and Scewo's goals exciting vision for the future. On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover: How Natalie's fascination with language led to her current career; How the first "Bro" wheelchair was created; Why Scewo's unique designs reflect their mission; Some additional ways the technology could be applied, in the future; One of Natalie's favorite success stories from one of Scewo's road drivers, using the Scewo Bro. CES®2023 continues through Sunday, January 8th in Las Vegas.

This post and podcast are for informational purposes only, and are not intended as mental-health advice. Please contact a medical professional with any mental-health-related questions. As CES® 2023 continues, Switzerland-based startup Virtuosis is premiering their new innovation. As Co-Founder Lara Gervaise explains, Virtuosis analyzes participants' voices. By doing so, it can give them feedback on both their soft skills, and their current mood. Then, it can offer tips on improving communication skills or help an individual manage stress or other negative emotions. Lara, who just released Virtuosis during Day 1 of CES® 2023 in Las Vegas, is currently exhibiting Virtuosis in the show's Eureka Park® startup area. Look for her in the SwissTech pavilion, Booth #61433 of the Venetian: Level 1, Hall G. Lara shared the story of creating Virtuosis, explained how it works and talked about what's next. On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover: How Lara's course of study, in her area of Expertise, led to the creation of Virtuosis; How the technology works; A walkthrough of the ways the AI can operate in an academic setting; What the algorithm is looking for, as it analyzes the voice; Privacy considerations and how Virtuosis addresses them; A timeline for Virtuosis' availability. CES® 2023 continues in Las Vegas through Sunday, January 8th.

"Fun" isn't a word most people would associate with cybersecurity. But for AckTao CEO and Co-Founder Cecile Maye, it's a critical factor in empowering others in their digital lives. And she'll be demonstrating how engagement equals retention, as she exhibits AckTao in Booth 61433 of the Swiss Tech pavilion in CES® 2023's Eureka Park® startup area! Switzerland-based educational technology startup AckTao has created an advanced cloud-gaming digital education program. Participants "play" in different scenarios which educate them on digital security risks. A scenario might take you into an airport store. Or perhaps a restaurant, workshop or office setting. There's even an application for those who work at home. And the system is customized, through AI, to adapt to a user's answers and level of understanding in real time. Areas which AckTao's library of scenarios cover include phishing, cyber resilience, password security--and much more. From experience, AckTao is engaging. We did the airport scenario and were curious to see our scores. One situation (no spoilers here, but it's a common one at airports, or in public in general!), came as a complete surprise: "Wow, that's a cybersecurity risk, too?" And we were excited to see our scores! Cecile shared the story of AckTao, explained some of the "everyday" cybersecurity risks which the general public can face and discussed the areas in which she'd most like to grow, in the future. On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover: The story of AckTao; How the system works; Some of the everyday cyber threats that don't occur to most of us; What's ahead for AckTao; One of Cecile's best experiences since creating the program; How users experience the system; Some common workplace pitfalls that can leave you vulnerable to hackers; A particularly popular new AckTao scenario. CES® 2023 runs from Thursday, January 5th through Sunday, January 8th in Las Vegas. The Eureka Park® startup area is located in The Venetian.

This post and podcast are for informational purposes only, and are not intended as medical advice. Please contact a healthcare professional with any health-related questions. What if you could experience your dream travel destination--exactly as it is--as you plan your trip? Or use VR to get a guided tour of someplace you've always wanted to visit? With Weezy VR, those questions are no longer theoretical. Switzerland-based startup Weezy VR is the world's first interactive virtual reality app for travel. And they'll be onsite at CES® 2023. "What you see is what you get," says CEO and Co-Founder Jimmy Kunzli, explaining how the platform works. Users, he continues, see unaltered 360 videos of their destinations. They also get virtual guided tours and filters which can tell them about climates, costs and how they might like the locales they have in mind, depending on the purpose of their travel. Jimmy shared the story of Weezy VR, explained how it works and what's next. And if you're coming to CES® 2023, you'll get a chance to meet Jimmy and his staff and talk with them about the platform! Look for Weezy VR in CES®' Eureka Park® startup area, in booth #61344 of the Switzerland pavilion. On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover: How Jimmy first came up with the concept of Weezy VR; The process involved, from concept to creation; How the platform works; A new feature he'll showcase at CES®2023; One of Jimmy's best experiences since the creation of the platform; How the platform is currently serving patients in hospitals and care facilities; What's next, after CES®!; Where the name comes from; What it's like for Jimmy, as he prepares for his first CES® show; How to support Weezy VR as the startup grows. CES® 2023 runs from January 5th through January 8th in Las Vegas, and is open to members of the consumer technology industry. Both in-person and virtual attendance registrations are available. We'll see you there--virtually!

Over Coffee® is on holiday hiatus. Please enjoy this reposting of one of our top episodes of 2022. And be sure to join us next week, as we profile some of the innovators of CES® 2023! For this Christmas holiday, we plan on going NOWHERE. And it's going to be a lot of fun. That's because NOWHERE is a relatively-new virtual platform, combining Zoom's ability to communicate face-to-face with the ability to travel through, create content for, and host events in, some breathtaking virtual worlds! This past week we visited an enchanting "snow globe", created for the Christmas season. There's currently a breathtaking "Cosmic Lighthouse" world that's new since we last visited, as well as an art show featuring NFTs to empower Brazilian women. Those are just three of the experiences available--along with performance spaces, workshops and just about anything a creator can imagine. This past spring we had the opportunity to talk with NOWHERE Co-Founder and Managing Director Ana Constantino. Here she is, with the story of NOWHERE and some guidance on how to get involved, have fun and even host your own events. On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover: Ana’s previous experiences as a creative professional at the intersection of art, media and technology; How she and her collaborators came to create NOWHERE; The reasons behind the name; How to share content and participate in live experiences in NOWHERE; The platform’s intellectual property requirements; One her most fun creative experiences, since launching NOWHERE; A closer look at some of NOWHERE’s virtual worlds; Ana’s advice on creating compelling 3D worlds.

Over Coffee® is on holiday hiatus. Please enjoy this reposting of one of our top episodes of 2022. (Photo courtesy of Dr. Colleen Bielitz, and used with permission.) Futurist Dr. Colleen Bielitz has an invitation for you. She would like to invite you to get involved in XR--or to get further immersed in it, if you're already exploring augmented, virtual and extended reality. Colleen is Associate Vice-President of Strategic Initiatives and Outreach at Southern Connecticut State University. Her additional professional credentials include: entrepreneur, blue economy pioneer, tech evangelist,, and XR researcher. And her mission: to make XR accessible to everyone. Colleen is Co-Chair of the VRARA Education Committee, as well as serving on the board of XR Women–the global collective of women in augmented and virtual reality. We've virtually attended events which both organizations hosted, and can wholeheartedly recommend them as vibrant communities which encourage both visitors and members to grow. Beginners are welcome, and supported in their learning journeys. Among Colleen's innovations is Project Blue, an initiative towards creating a tech transfer, innovation hub and Blue Economy research in New Haven, Connecticut. AND, exciting update: during this interview we discussed her work on IMXR. The website is now up, and expanding horizons! Here's the link. In this interview, prerecorded in spring, 2022, Colleen discussed her mission of making XR available to all, shared resources for getting started and discussed her goals for the future. On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover: How technology first captured Colleen’s imagination, as an area in which to use her talents; A definition of XR; Free resources and platforms for beginners; What immersive technology can mean to artists; The directions in which Colleen would like to take XR education in the future; Some of the dangers of this new immersive “world”; Safeguards that could help users avoid those dangers; The current implicit bias behind the looks of avatars; Some of Colleen’s most exciting experiences, both with VR applications and during her workdays; A closer look at Project Blue, and a preview of the next chapter; A look at IMXR; Two challenges to innovators in the metaverse; Some exciting applications for users with disabilities; One of the areas that Colleen sees as requiring considerably more work, towards a metaverse that welcomes everyone.

Over Coffee®is on holiday hiatus. Please enjoy this reposting of one of our top episodes of 2022! (Graphic courtesy of Deshjuana Bagley, and used with permission.) "Dream big," says State College of Florida Coding Academy Director Deshjuana Bagley. That's exactly what Desh, as she prefers to be called, has done--and what she continues to teach students to do. In addition to her work with SCF, Desh is the founder and CEO of Tampa-based TechPlayZone. As a mom who wanted to create a better future, not just for her own sons but for the next generation of innovators, Desh guides students to become creators, rather than simply consumers, in the metaverse. And she has a special event coming up. SCF Coding Academy is currently preparing for their Winter Break "Super Cyber Camp"! Geared towards students, grades 2 through 7, this promises to be a lot of fun as the young participants program in Minecraft. They'll also learn the principles of cybersecurity in the best possible way: in VR scenarios where they're having fun problem solving! (Here's the link for more information.) In this interview recorded in Spring, 2022, Desh shared her story, her creative journey with Tech Playzone and her vision for the future. On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover: How Desh first became engaged in computer science and robotics; The story of TechPlayzone; Desh’s memories of the early days of her unique program; What she’s doing to engage students in creating with technology, versus the traditional approach in which schools teach tech; How teachers can get around the “intimidation factor” and make technology work in their curricula; What can work best for educators in arts disciplines; Some of the digital resources that can be most helpful in the arts; A closer look at the classes offered at State College of Florida’s Coding Academy (these are available online!); Another technology program which allowed her students to create their own virtual worlds; Desh’s vision for the future of TechPlayzone, and an exciting upcoming project; Her favorite resources for artists who’d like to start creating in XR; Desh’s advice to arts students, in preparing for the new jobs which will result from current advances in robotics.

(Photo courtesy of Maxwell Durea, and used with permission.) One Love Machine Band creator Kolja Kugler is, first of all, an artist. He's also a roboticist--which he says he never expected to become. Kolja started out creating sculptures from scrap metal. But the project wound up having other ideas--and he found himself turning those sculptures into robots. And not just any robots. These are robot musicians who play real instruments! (Photo courtesy of Kolja Kugler, and used with permission.) As members of Kolja's One Love Machine Band, they're a real crowd-pleaser. One Love Machine Band has wowed audiences all over Europe--including at the Maker Faire Rome and during Kolja's TEDx Talk in his native Berlin. Kolja enjoys watching audience reactions, especially. A common response: delight. "Everybody became a child, suddenly, when they looked at that bass player, playing," he says. (Photo courtesy of Kolja Kugler, and used with permission.) Kolja explains that he started by building the band manager, whom he named "Sir Elton Junk". Next came the bass player, the drummer and some unusual background harmony. He sees himself as "playing" with the scrap metal, to see what kinds of characters emerge as he builds. And he has some exciting visions for the future. Kolja shared the story of his robotic band, discussed his creative process and offered a look ahead at what may be next! On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover: How Kolja first discovered his passion for creating sculpture; One of the best creative lessons he learned from English arts group The Mutoid Waste Company; The story of the One Love Machine Band; The ways in which Kolja sees his robotic sculptures evolve as he builds them; His favorite memories from the first time the One Love Machine Band performed in public; A closer look at the "characters" of the musician robots; What helped Kolja keep going when he ran into roadblocks; What he considers the most fun involved in creating his playful art!; His vision for the band, in the future; Where the One Love Machine Band may be performing, in 2023.

Over Coffee® is on Thanksgiving hiatus. Please enjoy this reposting of one of our top episodes of 2022! ARVRinEDU® Founder Jaime Donally has created an Advent calendar--with new and user-friendly applications for augmented and virtual reality! And that's only one of the XR applications she offers educators. Jaime, who is an author, speaker and EdTech consultant, shares all kinds of fantastic resources on her ARVRinEDU® blog. Just one of the highlights: her collection of AR/VR resources from the free Verizon Innovative Learning HQ portal! And with December approaching, Jaime is once again offering her ARVRinEDU® Advent Calendar. The theme for 2022: "STEAM-Verse". If you'd like to receive these free resources, Jaime invites you to subscribe at ARVRinEDU.com for daily emails. During our conversation in early August, Jaime shared the story of ARVRinEDU®, shared some of her favorite resources for teaching in XR and told a favorite story of the effectiveness of AR from her own experiences as a parent. On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover: Jaime’s educational journey, from reluctant reader to education professional; Her own introduction to immersive technology; A definition of augmented, versus virtual and mixed, reality; The story of ARVRinEDU®; A closer look at some of the augmented and virtual-reality applications on the site; A preview of the content Jamie's planning for her Advent calendar; Jaime’s advice to educators who are just starting to use immersive technology in the classroom; Some immersive apps which engage students in reading, science and writing; How students can create 3D content; Some VR applications that can be implemented in the classroom; Some of Jaime’s favorite recent immersive-technology discoveries; The FREE microcredentialing training Jaime is currently offering, online! (Here’s the link!) One of Jaime’s favorite success stories, from her use of AR and VR.

This post and podcast are for informational purposes only, and are not intended as medical or safety advice. Please contact the appropriate professionals with any questions you may have in these or other areas. (Headshot by Mary Rice Photo, and used with permission.) Immersive technology is ready to revolutionize our world, says Cleanbox Technology Co-Founder and CEO Amy Hedrick. Areas in which nongaming uses of VR and XR are blossoming, include education, medicine, retail, and transportation , among other fields. But widespread adoption of virtual reality or other new technologies often requires willingness to engage with shared devices: headsets, laptops, even phones. One possible barrier to that implementation: the fear of spreading germs through shared devices. Accordingly, Nashville-based Cleanbox Technology has engineered and patented technologies which can disinfect a surface in 60 seconds--using UV light! Cleanbox's website says that their products can eliminate 99.999 percent of all contagions on surfaces, in a safe and environmentally-friendly process. Cleanbox Technology offers products which can sterilize any shared device: headsets, VR or AR hand controls, respirator masks and more. And their products aren't for technology alone. Cleanbox's newest device, the Omniclean 2, can sterilize any frequently-touched object placed in its chamber. A recent company video shows the UV light technology decontaminating markers, a purse and small office items. Amy shared the story of Cleanbox, discussed some of the ways she's seeing the use of immersive technology change the world and offered a preview of what's next. On this edition of Over Coffee®, we cover: How Amy first realized the potential of virtual reality to make an impact on the world; The story of Cleanbox; One of the most memorable ways she saw VR being put to use in a safety application, during her travels as she acquainted immersive-technology users with Cleanbox; How she makes the practical consideration--hygiene--behind the technology, appealing; An imaginary "unboxing" of one of Cleanbox's products and how it works; What UVC light is, and how it works in sterilizing surfaces; The safety mechanism used to make Cleanbox safe for general use; Why the technology is environmentally friendly; What most people don't know, about traditional sterilization procedures. And, what's next!

ERICA at the Japan section of Eureka Park® during CES® 2020, Las Vegas. "ERICA (isn't just a laughing robot)," clarifies researcher Dr. Divesh Lala. "The laughing is just a small part of the whole." Kyoto University researchers first began working with ERICA, or ERATO Intelligent Conversational Android, in 2015. Their goal: to develop her as a social robot who can function in conversational situations. Currently, that objective includes teaching the robot to laugh--an appropriate laugh, at the right time. Divesh, who is a JSPS Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Kyoto University, specializes in the area of artificial intelligence. For almost six years, he's been a researcher on the ERATO Ishiguro Symbiotic Human-Robot Interaction project. In other words, he's had the opportunity to work with ERICA, from the very early days. Using gaze behavior, speech and gesture, Divesh creates engaging conversations with this humanoid robot. He's published numerous research papers on his work--including "Can a Robot Laugh With You?", on which he is one of three co-authors. Divesh talked about the process of programming ERICA to be an engaging and believable conversationalist, explained what's involved in giving the robot the ability to laugh and offered a preview of what's next. On this edition of Over Coffee®we cover: How Divesh first became interested in artificial intelligence; His recollections from his early days of working with ERICA; A speech-recognition issue which is natural to humans but presented researchers with a challenge, in programming the robot; A distinction to keep in mind, about ERICA; How researchers decided to include laughter in her conversational capabilities; Considerations involved in that process; How it works, when the robot laughs; Divesh's favorite experience, from this latest aspect of his research work; Some possible future applications of ERICA's conversational capabilities; What could be next, for the laughter model; Divesh's recollections of the first time he heard ERICA laugh; Where to find additional publications on his research; Divesh's advice for fellow robot enthusiasts, on creating lifelike humanoids.

(Images courtesy of Andrew Wright and used with permission.) "It's all geared around creativity," says EDUmetaverse creator, owner and lead consultant Andrew Wright. "And so when they're (learning), they're constantly making, as well." He's talking about students' experience in his collection of customizable virtual worlds, designed to enhance the learning experience in classrooms across the globe. An innovator in the educational-technology space for more than a decade, Andrew is the owner of Sydney-based iTeacher. Nevertheless, he says the pandemic provided a catalyst for him to explore new worlds--virtually. His response: the creation of EDUmetaverse. Today, Andrew has built more than 50 customizable virtual worlds. In these experiences, students can travel to any location imaginable. Collaboration and creativity are center stage. So is learning retention: students are experiencing and interacting with, rather than memorizing, the subject matter. Naturally, those experiences can incorporate multiple disciplines at once. According to Andrew's LinkedIn page, he opens up EDUmetaverse on weekends, for visitors. Exploring the worlds When you visit, you might get to visit a medieval market. Or a farm, to explore the farm-to-table food production process. Or possibly even Mars! One major project, on which six schools around the world are collaborating, is a virtual butterfly preserve. Students get to upload information on the butterflies in their region, and learn more about conservation. Perhaps most exciting of all, though, are the results Andrew has seen. The end results Students get excited about learning--to the point that they don't want to leave the classroom sometimes! Quieter students can blossom. And some at risk have had a 180-degree turnaround in their perspectives of their future possibilities. "I know what we're doing here is something crazy special," Andrew comments. While some of the worlds are free, Andrew, who is an independent creator, says he hopes to monetize in the future. If you would like to see some of his work, in addition to checking out the main page on Framevr.io, here is a link to EDUmetaverse's YouTube channel. Andrew talked about his experiences, shared some of his most inspiring moments in creating EDUmetaverse, and shared his vision for the future. On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover: How Andrew first became inspired to become an innovator in the field of education; The story of EDUmetaverse; Andrew's experiences as a first-time learner with a popular world building software; What you'll experience when you come into EDUmetaverse; A preview of one of the virtual worlds; How historical figures are represented through AI art; Some projects in which students collaborated and learned through AI art; A look at headsets versus desktops (EDUmetaverse is set up to be accessible through desktops in order to be more widely available); One of Andrew's most rewarding experiences as a creator; How schools can implement EDUmetaverse; Roughly what the cost might be, for a U.S. school; A closer look at EDUmetaverse's collaborative butterfly conservation project; Andrew's vision for the future; Where to connect with him. for more information on EDUmetaverse; How Andrew has incorporated his students' interests and suggestions nto the latest worlds he's been building; Workarounds to some of the common obstacles to implementing innovation into a more "traditional" education system; Why EDUmetaverse empowers students, beyond learning subject matter; The story of one student whose future vision changed radically, through interaction with EDUmetaverse.

At first glance, a casual observer might mistake Omega Mart for a supermarket. But after about ten seconds, they'll realize they're in for an adventure--and a lot of mind-bending fun. Omega Mart, the second permanent art installation by Santa Fe-based arts and entertainment collective Meow Wolf, is a surreal, and interactive, immersive experience. Secret passageways, slides, Easter eggs and surreal worlds are all part of the fun. So is storytelling with a sense of humor, as visitors can explore the lore of "Dramcorp"--or not--as they choose. Comprised of sixty different rooms with work from international and local artists, Omega Mart opened in Las Vegas' Area 15 in 2021. It could accurately be described as a "show", with psychedelic lights, tall overhead flowers, a playable laser harp and portals leading to unexpected places. The artists of Meow Wolf have even designed "products" for the "supermarket" area--and they're unlike anything you'll find in your local grocery. And their goal--as with Meow Wolf's previous installations in Santa Fe and Denver-- is to continue the mission of inspiring creativity through art, exploration and play. Spencer Olsen, Senior Creative Director at Meow Wolf, worked on twenty-two of the projects which Meow Wolf created for Omega Mart over the four years of its construction. We talked about the creative process, some of the areas visitors can experience and what's next for Meow Wolf. On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover: What first inspired Spencer to become an artist; One of the best creative lessons he learned from his first teacher; How Spencer first became a part of Meow Wolf; His favorite part of working with his fellow artists; The story of Omega Mart; What was most exciting about preparing the project with the team; A theme which visitors will discover; A closer look at some of the products in the "supermarket" area and how they fit into the storytelling; What it was like for the team of artists to come up with these tongue-in-cheek "supermarket" products; A hidden portal for which to look, and what guests see when they pass through; The summit of the narrative behind this experience; Two robots created especially for the occasion!: One of the technologies which Spencer most enjoyed incorporating into Omega Mart; The challenges the team dealt with, while bringing Omega Mart to life; One of the best creative lessons from the experience of creating this installation; A "don't-miss" feature of the installation; Some of the tactile experiences of Omega Mart; What Spencer remembers best from Omega Mart's opening day; Why the show isn't "done", and what's new!

(Photo courtesy of Kate Porter/LVNHM and used with permission.) Uh-oh. Mad scientists are just about to descend on Las Vegas Natural History Museum, for "Dino-Ween"! And it's going to be a blast. "It's one of the most fun days of the year, at the museum," says LVNHM Co-Executive Director Kate Porter. "Dino-Ween" is LVNHM's annual Halloween celebration--with the "resident" dinosaurs center stage. And the goal: to relate natural science to everyone's world, while showing just how cool science can be. Think: special effects, maker activities and thermodynamics. In a setting that's part Halloween haunt, part educational experience and completely fun. Items appear to float in mid-air. Staff don "mad scientist" lab coats and conduct Venus flytrap and bat-making workshops. And some of the pumpkins may not be feeling too well...with astonishing results! This year's "Dino-Ween" happens Friday, October 28th, at Las Vegas Natural History Museum, from 10 am to 3 pm. The theme: "Mad Science Lab". And you're invited! Meanwhile, if you don't happen to be in the Las Vegas area, you don't have to miss all the fun. LVNHM has some great online resources--including videos on making cool stuff, like Halloween slime, on their Facebook page! Kate offered a preview of what's going to be happening at this unique celebration, shared a behind-the-scenes view of the festivities and a look ahead at what's next! On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover: What's going to be happening for this year's "Dino-Ween"; How this special event came about and evolved; An additional celebration which visitors may like to experience; A state holiday, unique to Nevada, which the community is celebrating; What visitors will experience when they come into "Dino-Ween 2022"; A closer look at the science and technology behind some of the Halloween effects; An introduction to some of the dinosaurs at LVNHM!: One of Kate's favorite crowd-pleasing Halloween surprises; A look at some of the science demonstrations and workshops that will be happening, along the spectrum: from "gross for Halloween" right up to "family crafts". Some of the makers/tech experts whose expertise is making "Dino-Ween" possible; The online resources LVNHM offers, for anyone who can't be there in-person; What Kate and the LVNHM staff will be doing on October 28th; A preview of one "surprise" to look for; The best challenge/opportunity Kate has experienced, in developing "Dino-Ween" into the event it has become; A cool technological soon-to-be addition, coming in 2023; Another interesting program happening at LVNHM on Halloween weekend!; The role of storytelling in the museum's educational activities; Kate's vision for the future; What LVNHM need most, as they continue their mission of inspiring and educating; And, what's next!

Award-winning artist and metaverse designer Juliana Loh has a challenge for you. And it's going to be fun. Not to mention beautiful, interactive and you may just find yourself coming back to it more than once. Juliana accomplishes these goals with her latest metaverse world, Awaken the Giants, accessible on Altspace. Awaken the Giants, Juliana explains, is both a social experiment and a way of connecting to explore our highest aspirations. Created on Tiltbrush, Juliana's immersive world allows you to explore concepts, share ideas and experience a sense of wonder as you literally "get inside the heads" of her giants. Plus, you get to fly! The first thing that will happen, as you enter Juliana's immersive world, is that you'll be asked to turn on "flight" mode to travel. Then you zoom through a lighted tunnel to sparkly areas, taking as much time as you would like and investigating what you see on the platforms, the figures you encounter and the ideas that result from your experience. And--you're going to wind up with a takeaway to use in your creative life. But we won't do a spoiler here! Juliana talked about her background, shared the story of "Awaken the Giants" and offered a look at some of her additional work in the metaverse. On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover: What first inspired Juliana to become an artist; Her memories of the first time she created art in virtual reality; The resources that gave her a background for creating art in 3D; How Juliana came to create Awaken the Giants; A closer look at what visitors experience; One of the creative challenges that helped Juliana grow as an artist as she built her immersive world; What she observed as people interacted with her world; What the figures in her world represent; Two of the most exciting professional honors she's received since the start of her XR career; The creative takeaway which the Awaken the Giants experience gives visitors; Juliana's guidance to fellow artists creating in the metaverse; An overall challenge which allowed her to continue growing; What works well for her, with setting priorities; A closer look at another of Juliana's worlds--Jingleville--which she created in 2019 and which allowed her to explore some of the techniques she uses for Awaken the Giants; Why certain elements are present in Juliana's Tiltbrush art; The real-world "magic" which inspires her; Her advice to fellow creatives who want to share their work to make a difference; An exciting opportunity that's coming up for her (you'll want to see this!).

This post and podcast episode contain some adult language. (Photo courtesy of Robin Moulder, and used with permission.) "I posit that you should just do it all," says 3lb XR and 3lb Games Founder and CEO Robin Moulder. She's speaking from experience. In addition to being a software engineer, entrepreneur and XR innovator, Robin is, quite literally, a rock star. As a founder of the 1990s alternative-rock band Jack Off Jill, she played bass, toured with her band and recorded albums--while working full-time in software and management. And she found both careers fun and creatively fulfilling, as they involved her passions: music and technology. "(It's) switching my brain to another mode," Robin says of her music. Exploring the different areas, she explains, "lit up" all the areas of her brain. New creative applications Today, Robin combines those two areas of expertise through her work in XR. Earlier this year, her 3lb XR accelerator debuted a series of gamified virtual-reality training applications. These are hands-on simulations for safe and thorough training of staff in industrial, hospitality and medical fields. "What really matters to me is that we, as a company, are very much aligned with your mission," Robin says of the clients she serves. That alignment can be groundbreaking. Working with Tucson Medical Center, 3lb XR recently introduced a first-of-its-kind pilot program for medical staff. The simulations--which you can find on 3lb XR's YouTube channel--include suicide prevention training, medical inventory and thorough cleaning procedures. So far, 1000 members of the staff have been training on various procedures through these simulations. The benefits of these simulations? Learners can safely make mistakes and learn from them; physical supplies and facilities aren't depleted; and trainees tend to become more vigilant through the interactive experiences. {Plus, they tend to be fun!) Robin says that's just the beginning, as she and her team work to accelerate the metaverse by making hands-on VR training widely available. While the "fun" element is very much present in these VR simulations, it's equally so in 3lb Games' creations. The aspects of acceleration Robin started Michigan-based 3lb Games in 2008. Their current release, an action adventure game, Vault of Stars, was released in early access for the Meta Quest 2 earlier this year. For their next release, Space Dragon: Unchained, your arms become VR dragons that are used to blow up planets! Space Dragon: Unchained will be released on November 3rd and can be waitlisted on the Oculus App Lab Store now. We talked about Robin's creative journey in music and technology, the story of 3lb Games and 3lb XR, and the ways Robin and her team are accelerating the metaverse--for everyone. On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover: Robin's creative journey with both music and technology; One of the creative lessons she uses today, from her dual careers; A favorite memory of some of the pranks she and her fellow musicians played on each other while on tour; The story of 3lb Games; How 3lb XR evolved from what Robin and her team were seeing in the XR world; What accelerating the metaverse can mean for someone in the arts; What's next, for 3lb XR; One of Robin's favorite reactions she's seen, among participants using 3lb XR's learning simulations; A closer look at 3lb Games' upcoming releases.