UgoVirtual: Hybrid Creativity

Over Coffee® | Stories and Resources from the Intersection of Art and Science | Exploring How to Make STEAM Work For You

"It can't just be because it's cool," says UgoVirtual CEO and Co-Founder Michael Cohen. "It's got to be effective." He's talking about what works--and what doesn't--for hybrid events. Focusing on the human experience, Michael explains, is key to engagement. That applies to real-world use of XR for conferences, seminars, job training and much more, And if you're creating a conference, festival, workshop or other onsite event, there are ways virtual, augmented or mixed reality can help keep participants engaged.. AR can allow for hands-on training. Holographic historic figures can engage students' interest. A scan of a phone can give attendees digital conference "swag". And Michael, who is also the President of the Toronto chapter of the VR/AR Association, says new 3D creation tools are currently available. Educators, he adds, can expect to see even more of these coming online within the next two to three years. Meanwhile, UgoVirtual specializes in creating hybrid events. Their website highlights the ways augmented, virtual and extended-reality technologies can enhance onsite conferences, meetings and presentations. Michael shared the story of UgoVirtual, explored the ways educators can put XR technology to use and highlighted some new resources for crafting applications. On this edition of Over Coffee®, we cover: How Michael himself first experienced the evolution of immersive technologies; Michael's first AR "wow moment", during his career in advertising; The story of UgoVirtual; How a hybrid experience can work in an educational setting; Several of the resources for creating immersive applications for education and events (including a new, just-announced one from Apple!) Applications of augmented reality for both an academic setting and on-the-job training; One of UgoVirtual's technologies, which adds holographic imaging to a physical setting; What Michael considers the most important lesson he's learned, about XR and its uses.