Aviation & Space Exploration, Tangible Storytelling, Theater and Tech, and More: VR/AR Track Sessions at SXSW 2018

Virtual reality and augmented reality technologies are finding new ways to enhance our ability to perceive the world that surrounds us, and in many instances they are redefining how we experience the world. Check out our VR/AR Track recommendations below.

"Many people consider virtual reality to be a lonely experience that is only used in isolation. This may have been somewhat true in the earliest days of the VR but is no longer the case," said VR/AR Conference Programmer Blake Kammerdiener. "More and more virtual reality is being integrated with other art forms explicitly to be experienced in a group setting. We can even begin renaming this integration of different art forms as Immersive Art."

At SXSW 2018 you can some see some of the leaders of the industry speak to how they are integrating VR with their art forms. On Tuesday, March 13, at the JW Marriott you will find the session Making It Real: Tangible Worlds of Storytelling where Vince Kadlubek, Co-Founder and CEO of Meow Wolf, Delaney Martin, Co-Founder and Artistic Director of New Orleans Airlift, Ted Schilowitz, Futurist for Paramount Pictures and Brandon Oldenburg, the Chief Creative Officer of Flight School, will speak on how they are using virtual reality today.

From aviation and space exploration, to the future of theater and tech, the VR/AR Track will showcase different sessions that highlight the way we see the world. Dive deeper into the VR/AR Track from March 13-15 during SXSW Convergence programming. SXSW Convergence programming features a range of topics that straddle the cultural and technological intersection at the heart of SXSW with primary access granted to all SXSW Badges.

VR/AR Session Highlights

How VR/AR/MR Changes Aviation & Space Operations!

Speakers: Justin Chandler (United States Air Force), Gabe Diaz (Chester F. Carlson Center For Imaging Science), Eric Frahm (Air Force Strategic Planning And Experimentation), and Matthew Noyes NASA/Johnson Space Center.

The Air Force is partnering with Academia and Industry to expand how VR/AR/MR can enhance traditional aviation and space operations. This partnership is having far-reaching impacts in how the future of these fields will be utilized. Many believe that VR/AR/MR will open the doors to tremendous growth in aviation and space exploration. Humanity has the opportunity to harness this potential for unprecedented benefit around the world. Come form a partnership to change humankind!

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Brave New World: The Future of Theatre & Tech

Speakers: Felix Barrett (Punchdrunk), Sarah Ellis (Royal Shakespeare Company), Daivd Gochfeld (HamletVR), and Simon Mellor (Arts Council England).

Theatre has been working in its own virtual reality for centuries and has been at the forefront of new technologies in entertainment from electric light to projection mapping. This panel will focus on the emergence of VR and AR in theatre and what this means for producers and audiences. The panel will also explore some of the new partnerships developing with the tech industry and how theatre is responding to and shaping the rapidly changing landscape of our digital future.

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Making it Real: Tangible Worlds of Storytelling

Speakers: Delaney Martin (New Orleans Airlift), Brandon Oldenburg (Flight School), and Ted Schilowitz (Paramount Pictures).

In an increasingly digital world, it can be difficult for storytellers to break through the noise. Through new media technology, filmmakers, artists and technologists are transporting viewers back to a tactile approach to entertainment. From immersive theater to augmented reality, physical connection to art and storytelling can dramatically transform a viewer experience. Panelists will discuss how connecting viewers physically can spark personal memories, reverberating long after the experience.

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Browse All VR/AR Sessions

Crossover Track Recommendations

Explore topics outside of your comfort zone and learn from SXSW sessions across all 24 Tracks of Conference programming. These recommended sessions are outside of the VR/AR Track, but will interest any SXSW attendee.

• Immersive Tech: GenZ’s Beauty Counter & Mall - Emily Dybwad (Benefit Cosmetics LLC), Tammy Johnson (Pixability), and Jennifer Tidy (Modiface).
  Track: Brands & Marketing

• Augmented Minds – VR That Pushes Perceptual Limits - Christopher Berger (Microsoft Research) and Daniel McDuff (Microsoft Research).
  Track: Intelligent Future

• Sizzle: VR for Cuisine, Content, and Commerce - Gabriele Corcos (The Tuscan Team), Cathy Hackl, Gordon Meyer (Lampix).
  Track: VR/AR

Register to attend SXSW 2018 today to experience these compelling sessions and more. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and SXSW News for the latest SXSW coverage, announcements, and updates.

"The Mummy VR Experience" at SXSW 2017 - Teaser Photo by Randy and Jackie Smith