Next generation display technologies expected to enhance our lives with Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) applications, which will revolutionize entertainment, healthcare, communication, and manufacturing industries among many others. In this talk, I will introduce the key challenges in designing near-eye VR/AR displays to meet the requirements of the human visual system. I will describe how we can address those challenges with our novel varifocal near-eye display designs. Key to our efforts is a novel see-through rear-projection screen.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

This daunting question is often asked of children who have hardly been alive long enough to know about career opportunities other than public offices, celebrity platforms and what their parents do for a living. It often isn’t until much later in life – after their talents and desires are honed – when anyone can muster a well-informed answer.

This was the case for Cali Fidopiastis, who never pictured herself as the inspiring scientist she is today.

Born and raised in Sacramento, CA, Steven Christian (he/him/his), grew up playing sports, spanning football, basketball, and baseball. His excellence in football earned him a scholarship to the University of Hawaii. During his college career, he injured his hips and had to get bilateral hip reconstructive surgery. During his recovery, he began to explore art, comics, and developing content for mobile devices.

Dr. Chiao Liu is responsible for research direction and technology roadmap for future generations of AR/VR devices at Facebook Reality Labs. He leads a team of brilliant research scientists, system architects, technologists, and research engineers in innovating, prototyping and delivering solutions for future products.

Dr. Yan Xu is a research scientist from Facebook Reality Labs. Her current research intersects AR, AI, and HCI, focusing on identifying and improving user experiences that can benefit the most with AI and AR. Previously, she led the design and UX work for several product features on Magic Leap One, leveraging eye tracking and hand tracking as input. She has also worked and published on the following topics: user-generated content by camera array, social interactions during augmented reality games, persuasive games for health.

Renée Stevens is an interactive and immersive designer, educator, author, and speaker. Her creative work focuses on innovative ways design can help overcome learning disabilities and create more accessible and inclusive learning environments. For over a decade, she has run her own interactive design studio. You can find her teaching at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, where she is the Associate Chair of the Visual Communications Department, overseeing the undergraduate and graduate design programs.

Carl Domingo is the Global Student Programs Manager at Unity, working to support student communities. While studying game development at RIT and later working at Major League Hacking, he witnessed the rise of future tech leaders at hackathons all around the world. Carl has spent several years helping students and others discover their potential and empowering them. He will discuss how XR is used across different industries and how people can get started in their careers.

Ece Tankal and Carmen Aguilar y Wedge, cofounders of Hyphen-Labs, will discuss several projects that examine the concept of immersion and blending the digital and physical worlds. Hyphen Labs is an award-winning international collective of women with a base in London, UK. Their projects oscillate between technology, design, science, and futurism to challenge conventions and stimulate conversations.