The Building New Realities Podcast

In the latest episode of the Building New Realities podcast, Tim chats with Rupert Breheny about his work on Google Earth VR, his observations and lessons as a UX designer focussed on virtual reality and the future of immersive technology. They cover the power of VR to improve accessibility, digital anthropology and the importance of designing with a customer focus. Guest Bio Rupert is an experienced technology advocate and conference speaker, specialising in VR/AR and mobile ecommerce, particularly in the fashion vertical. He builds partnerships and wrangles technology to launch products that drive both business value and user delight. Highlight 1 - Using VR to unite different generations 00:09:34:15 - 00:10:57:02… I live in Zurich, Switzerland I'm quite enthusiastic about that too Highlight 2 - Digital anthropology and the importance of face-to-face testing 00:24:30:06 - 00:26:33:23… when I was a UX prototyper see it for yourself in person Additional Resources Rupert's links LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/rupertbreheny Applications mentioned: Unseen Diplomacy: https://store.steampowered.com/app/429830/Unseen_Diplomacy/ RealityViewer: https://www.oculus.com/experiences/quest/4369155596472213/?locale=en_GB Theories mentioned: Imposter Syndrome https://www.verywellmind.com/imposter-syndrome-and-social-anxiety-disorder-4156469#:~:text=Coping-,What%20Is%20Imposter%20Syndrome%3F,perfectionism%20and%20the%20social%20context.  Simulation Theory https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/do-we-live-in-a-simulation-chances-are-about-50-50/ Book Recommendations Heaven and Hell, Aldous. Huxley https://amzn.to/36WeTjy The Three-Body Problem, Cixin Liu https://amzn.to/3OEICyk Tower of Babylon by Ted Chiang https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/29864598-tower-of-babylon Piranesi, Susanna Clarke https://www.waterstones.com/book/piranesi/susanna-clarke/9781526622433 Snow Crash: Neal Stephenson https://amzn.to/3vPhS5J Fall of Hyperion, Dan Simmons https://amzn.to/37Gu2WB Episode Transcript 00:00 - 00:49 Introduction 00:50 - 01:29 Rupert explains what his role is at Google 01:30 - 03:21 Rupert talks about his first experience with VR in the 80's 04:22 - 09:29 What does building new realities mean to you? 09:30 - 12:44 Using VR to access the non-accessible. 12:45 - 20:18  User Design for VR 20:19 - 22:28 Observing and learning from how people react in VR 22:29 - 23:54 Using novel mechanics and using the natural playfulness of VR to heighten immersion for users. 23:55 - 30:33 Digital anthropology, face to face testing and customer focus 30:34 - 33:54 Sacrificing aesthetics for performance in immersive design 33:55 - 46:21 The future of social interaction and games in the metaverse 46:22 - 48:51 What project has changed the way you approach design? 48:52 - 01:01:08 Rupert's future trends: Avatars, virtual clothing, architecture and NFTs. 01:01:02 - 01:05:59 Gaining perspective and “opening your eyes” 01:06:00 - 01:07:48 If you had $100m to spend on a social programme with no red tape, what would you do? 01:07:49 - 01:12:00 Rupert's favourite theories and book recommendations 01:12:01 - 01:12:55 Closing comments  Listen, rate, and subscribe! Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4WdFEVGCsFJCb5iyIY19sY Podbean: https://buildingnewrealities.podbean.com/ YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZuZmlLMIX3lCunZ1bXIb-ZTDJOZRKbLY Apple Music: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-building-new-realities-podcast/id1508003242 Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/the-building-new-realities-podcast TuneIn: https://tunein.com/podcasts/Technology-Podcasts/Building-New-Realities-p1315313/ Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8063a708-52c8-43d0-a952-5d45d9f47158/the-building-new-realities-podcast

In today's episode, Tim speaks with Publius, the anonymous founder(s) of Beanstalk, a decentralized credit based stablecoin protocol uses a new and novel method of pegging their native currency $BEAN, to the value of $1. Together they discuss the purpose that stablecoins play in the cryptocurrency markets and what makes Beanstalk so innovative.   Beanstalk: https://bean.money/ Beanstalk Farms Twitter: https://twitter.com/BeanstalkFarms Publius' Twitter: https://twitter.com/isthispublius   00:00: Introduction 01:06: What is the purpose of a stablecoin in the world of cyptocurrency? And what problem do they solve? 04:30: Collateral & Credit based stablecoins 07:00: The problem with collateral based stablecoins 08:00: How Beanstallk's credit based stablecoin works 10:05: The success of Tera Luna 11:15: Digging in on the volatility and cost of borrowing for stablecoins 15:40: What drew Publius into the world of finance 18:30: How do you explain DeFi to newcomers? 23:45: How can people engage with Beanstalk? 26:20: The mechanics of Beanstalk's borrowing 30:15: The Beanstalk DAO & How Beanstalk stablises the cost of BEAN to $1 36:00: Incentivising people to remain invested in Beanstalk 37:45: The journey for a first time user getting involved with Beanstalk 42:00: Clarifying terms and the user journey 43:30: What can I use Beans for? 48:00: The vision for Beanstalk's future 51:15: Where do you see the future of DeFi? 55:30: What does Publius think about NFTs? 57:00: What would Publius do with $100 million to spend on a social programme with no red tape?   Disclaimer: This podcast is for information purposes only. This should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.

In today's episode, Tim chats to Brenda Chen, a freelance Immersive Media Director and XR Artist. Brenda describes her previous jobs working on events for Justin Bieber and John Legend, as well as her thoughts and ideas about using XR as a tool for meditation. Topics discussed in this episode: • Background on Brenda [00:46 - 04:31] • What is Brenda excited about? [04:32 - 5:46] • Brenda's early steps [5:47 - 10:23] • The Metaverse [10:24 - 12:32] • Digital experiences [12:33 - 17:43] • Examples of immersive mental health apps [17:44 - 20:26] • Greatest technical challenges [20:27 - 22:21] • A project that changed Brenda's approach [22:22 - 28:16] • Brenda's opinion on NFTs [28:17 - 31:44] • Building new realities [31:45 - 33:00] • Social programs [33:01 - 34:28] • The creative scene in L.A. [34:29 - 36:02] Highlight sections • Brenda talks about learning to work under pressure [07:14 - 09:07] • Brenda talks about using to Metaverse to detox [15:25 - 17:15] • Brenda describes her immersive installation, Opal [22:30 - 25:14]

In today's episode, Tim chats to Emma Cooper, Project Lead at Cooperative Innovations Ltd. Together they discuss topics; the doughnut economy, The Museum of Plastic, and predictions for future technology.   Topics discussed in this episode: • Background on Cooperative Innovations [00:29 - 09:43] • What is the doughnut economy? [09:44 - 15:11] • What is the focus of Cooperative Innovations? [15:12 - 18:32] • How did Curators come about? [18:33 - 21:17] • What does the metaverse mean to Emma? [21:18 - 31:16] • A project that changed Emma's approach to her field [31:17 - 36:28] • What is Emma curious about? [36:29 - 39:03] • Building new realities [39:04 - 41:06] • Social programs [41:07 - 42:21] • Favourite theories [42:22 - 43:37] • Book recommendations [43:38 - 44:16]   Highlight sections • Emma Cooper explains the goal of The Museum of Plastic [07:33 - 09:43] • Emma Cooper explains the unintended result of one of her projects [31:43 - 33:44] • Emma Cooper talks about predictions for future technology [34:36 - 36:24]

In today's episode, Tim chats to Michael Quintana, Director of Innovation Solutions at Sony. Together they discuss the concept of 'highlight culture', and how VR can be used as a medium for discussion between individuals. Topics discussed in this episode:  • Michael's background [01:16 - 03:35] • Michael's first VR project [03:36 - 05:17] • What is Michael working on at Sony? [05:18 - 08:42] • The Metaverse and blockchain [08:43 - 13:04] • Highlight culture [13:05 - 17:37] • What does the Metaverse mean to Michael? [17:38 - 26:04] • NFTs [26:05 - 34:19] • The link between mental health and technology [34:20 - 35:54] • Michael's aspirations [35:55 - 40:00] • Technical challenges [40:01 - 42:42] • What is Michael curious about? [42:43 - 45:57] • Building new realities [45:58 - 50:42] • Social programs [50:43 - 53:44] • Favourite theories [53:45 - 55:37] • Book recommendations [55:38 - 57:57] • Michael's social media [57:58 - 58:59] Highlight sections • Michael Quintana and Tim chat about 'highlight culture' [16:05 - 17:37] • Michael Quintana explains how VR can be used as a medium for conversation [46:55 - 49:14] • Michael Quintana and Tim chat about Solomon's Paradox [53:45 - 55:37]

In today's episode, Tim chats to Jordi Van Den Bussche, AKA Kwebbelkop. Jordi explains the concept behind NFTs, as well as his new project 'Launch my NFT'. Together they also discuss the benefits and drawbacks of being an online influencer, as well as how to manifest positivity. Topics discussed in this episode: • Background on Jordi [00:00 - 05:59] • VR and NFTs [6:00 - 17:35] • Jordi's aspirations [17:36 - 24:50] • Favourite metaverse experiences [24:51 - 31:57] • Recognisability as a YouTuber [31:58 - 35:26] • Unexpected effects on audiences [35:27 - 36:58] • What is Jordi curious about? [36:59 - 42:04] • Building new realities [42:05 - 43:55] • What is 'Launch My NFT'? [43:56 - 50:15] • Favourite theories [50:16 - 53:17] • Book recommendations [53:18 - 56:00]

In today's episode, Tim chats to Anthony Steed. Together they discuss topics ranging from the early days of XR to what developers consistently get wrong about the metaverse. Topics discussed in this episode:  • Anthony's background [01:01 - 10:21] • People's reactions to VR [10:22 - 16:39] • The rise of the term 'Metaverse' [16:40 - 23:59] • The timeline of expectations with metaverses [24:00 - 27:55] • What is Anthony excited by? [27:56 - 33:43] • Anthony's favourite project [33:44 - 36:17] • What is Ubiq? [36:18 - 40:22] • What makes for a useful collaboration space? [40:23 - 44:24] • What do developers get consistently wrong? [44:25 - 48:12] • Good interaction techniques [48:13 - 55:45] • Book recommendations [55:46 - 58:45] • Favourite theories [58:46 - 1:00:46]

In today's episode, Tim chats to futurist & metaverse consultant, Theo Priestley. Together they discuss topics ranging from NFTs and virtual influencers, to visions for the future of the metaverse.  Topics discussed in this episode:  • Introduction [1:03 - 3:43] • The new popularity of the metaverse [3:44 - 10:32] • Theo's earlier projects [10:33 - 15:04] • What is Theo excited by? [15:05 - 16:11] • Personal aspirations [16:12 - 20:20] • NFTs [20:21 - 26:08] • Motivations for the metaverse [26:09 - 30:00] • Virtual influencers [30:01 - 34:30] • VR as a tool for wellness [34:31 - 37:29] • Creator economies [37:30 - 40:27] • Favourite theories [40:28 - 41:44] • Book recommendations [41:45 - 43:14] • Favourite artists [43:15 - 44:25] • Abstract craziness [44:26 - 45:08] • Social programs [45:09 - 46:41]

In today's episode, Tim chats to Louise Liu. Together they discuss topics ranging from how VR can generate empathy and understanding, to Louise's background before getting into XR at PwC.   Topics discussed in this episode: • Background on PwC [00:41 - 02:37] • How did the XR department come about? [02:38 - 04:37] • Importance of a disruption team [04:38 - 07:10] • Louise's background [07:11 - 10:33] • The development of UX and VR experiences [10:34 - 14:09] • VR as a tool for empathy and understanding [14:10 - 18:24] • Future VR products [18:25 - 19:53] • Conversations with clients [19:54 - 21:16] • Greatest technical challenges [21:17 - 22:48] • Cross-device experiences [22:49 - 26:30] • Projects that changed the approach to a field [26:31 - 30:35] • Louise's curiosities [30:36 - 34:08] • What does Louise wish she knew when she started out? [34:09 - 35:54] • Building new realities [37:09 - 38:33] • Favourite theories [38:34 - 41:04] • Book recommendations [41:05 - 41:50]   Highlight sections • Importance of a disruption team [04:38 - 07:10] • How 'In My Shoes' affected viewers [15:58 - 18:21] • Greatest technical challenges [21:17 - 22:48]

In today's episode, Tim chats to Perri Lewis. Together they discuss topics ranging from challenging preconceptions and approaches to coaching, to ideas for social programs and the power of stepping away. Topics discussed in this episode: • Introduction 00:00 - 00:14 • Background on Mastered 00:15 - 06:00 • Perri's background 06:03 - 09:10 • Perri's approach to coaching 09:12 - 14:07 • Challenging preconceptions 14:08 - 19:05 • Problems with the medium of VR 19:06 - 22:13 • Mastered's interest in XR 22:14 - 23:20 • Perri's view on the XR workplace 23:21 - 27:15 • Unreal and Unity 27:16 - 28:40 • Problems with universities 28:41 - 34:19 • Greatest opportunities in Perri's field 34:20 - 27:26 • Rethinking your approach to a field 37:27 - 39:38 • Curiosities about other areas 40:00 - 45:23 • Building new realities 45:24 - 46:29] • Social programs 46:30 - 49:17 • Favourite theories 49:18 - 51:46 • Book recommendations 51:47 - 54:20

In today's episode, Tim chats to Alex Rühl, founder of the VR production studio CATS are not PEAS. Together they discuss techniques for guiding people through VR experiences, curiosities about where VR is headed, as well as ways to creating a more balanced society.   Topics discussed in this episode: • Origin of the name "CATS are not PEAS" [00:48 - 03:42] • Alex Rühl's background [03:42 - 10:47] • Views on narrative storytelling in VR [10:47 - 20:17] • Alex's favourite projects to have worked on [21:11 - 26:09] • Guiding people around VR spaces [26:09 - 30:38] • Shortcuts to starting in VR [30:38 - 34:04] • Curiosities about the future of VR [34:04 - 40:06] • How to help build a new reality [40:06 - 47:05] • Social programs [47:05 - 51:33] • Favourite theories [51:33 - 54:17] • Book recommendations [54:17 - 56:33]

Welcome to our monthly podcast, Building New Realities. Future Visual's CEO, Tim Fleming, discusses ideas and stories around building new realities with today's XR thought leaders. A warm welcome this week to Tim's guest Antonia Forster. In today's episode, Tim welcomes Antonia Forster, an XR Technical Specialist at Unity. Together they discuss topics ranging from Unity and controllerless hand tracking, to AI and metaverses. Antonia gives some insight into the use of XR as a tool for equality, equity and empathy. Antonia's socials: Twitter: https://twitter.com/AntoniaRForster LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antonia-forster/ Topics discussed in this episode: • Antonia Forster's background [00:18] • Technical and empathetic research in Unity [3:49] • Thoughts on VR as a tool for empathy [6:20] • Current projects in Unity [10:30] • Feelings on controllerless hand tracking [12:18] • Greatest technological challenges with hand tracking [13:18] • What we can learn from animal behaviour [17:13] • Investigations into decision making [23:08] • Greatest opportunities in XR [28:36] • Problematic results with AI [31:00] • Thoughts on how Metaverses may emerge [32:57] • Projects that changed your approach to your field [37:42] • How to help build a new reality [38:28] • Social programs [43:05] • Museums as a platform [45:33] • Book recommendations [50:49] • Theories and laws[52:21] Resources mentioned in this episode: Algorithms to live by [50:59] https://www.amazon.co.uk/Algorithms-Live-Computer-Science-Decisions Solving for happiness [51:39] https://www.amazon.co.uk/Solve-Happy-Engineer-Engineering-Uncovering Dunbar's number [52:54] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunbar%27s_number Unity Industrial webinars [54:14] https://create.unity3d.com/unity-for-industrial-series

Welcome to our monthly podcast, Building New Realities. Future Visual's CEO, Tim Fleming, discusses ideas and stories around building new realities with today's XR thought leaders. A warm welcome this week to Tim's guest Professor Karen Cham. Karen has an impressive 25 years experience in technology transformation and human centred design and she is an expert in harnessing human/machine convergence to drive complex socio-technical systems change. Karen also excels in R&D for Next Gen, ensuring the DX of values at scale by leveraging the user experience (UX).  What makes Karen curious and why does she think we might be losing depth perception in lockdown? Tune in and find out.

This week Tim Fleming's guest is Claire Ellis - Brand strategist, creative, business-leader and firm believer in the power of 'so what?'. Claire is the Managing Director of Strategic Sales and Marketing Agency, JPC.  Claire has spent the last 22+ years building brands, cutting through complexity and devising imaginative strategies and creative ways to help clients more effectively engage and convert.   What's coming next for customer experience? Tune in and find out. #CX

This week Tim Fleming's guest is Sebastien Jouhans, Technology Director of Jack X at Jack Morton Worldwide. Jack X is Jack Morton's innovation practice. Sebastien works with emerging technologies and creatives in order to inject cutting edge thinking and lead teams to deliver successful projects. Sebastien is passionate about technology, touch interfaces, natural interfaces, physical computing, Internet of Things, bots, NLP, Machine Learning and blockchain.  How is Jack X connecting technology to experience? Tune in and find out.

This week Tim Fleming's guest is Walter Davis, Head of talent and learning technology at Aggreko and technology thought leader and strategist. Aggreko is a supplier of temporary power generation equipment and of temperature control equipment. They Power everything from large events to whole geographic areas that do not have the suitable infrastructure. How is Aggreko deploying VR and AR training? Tune in later today and find out.

This week Tim Fleming's guest is Phil Rowley, Media Futurist and Futures Director at Omnicom who demonstrates his extraordinary enthusiasm and passion for futurism as an art and science. Phil works with businesses and brands to imagine and fast-track their future via emerging tech and innovation. He converts thought-leadership and tech trends into actionable innovation strategies around the future of media and entertainment, future of audio, future of gaming, future of AR, VR & AI - and their application for the future of marketing. Tune in now to the future in this eighth podcast from immersive technology experts, Future Visual.

Rachel Blackman is an actor, improvisor, theatre maker, somatic educator and embodiment trainer and coach and creativity mentor. You may remember her with a shaved head and double barrelled bazooka as Chara in Matrix Revolutions. Tim Fleming and Rachel discuss the synergy between VR and embodiment and theories around Feldenkrais and neuroplasticity. Can you achieve what you can't imagine? Tune in and find out......        

This week Tim Fleming's guest is Joanna Popper, HP's Global Head of Virtual Reality for Location Based Entertainment and leads Go-To-Market initiatives for XR.   Joanna is a Hollywood and Silicon Valley Media executive and one of the most influential women in VR.    Joanna talks to Tim Fleming about how HP is leading the way in the immersive space, building new realities with constant hardware innovation and taking advantage of embodiment to bring us the future of computing.

This week Tim Fleming's guest is Simon Roberts, Business Anthropologist.  Simon is one the world's leading anthropologists in business.  He advises some of the largest global organisations, including Intel, Facebook, Spotify, Google and many other Fortune 500 companies, through his London-based consultancy, Stripe Partners. His book The Power of Not Thinking is out now in e-book and Audio format and will be published on July 9th. Simon talks to Tim about how he helps companies understand people by conducting ethnographic research and thereby taking yourself into other people's worlds. Companies can therefore construct meaning in pursuit of building better products and services by grounding  truth and reality to businesses. The Covid crisis has rapidly accelerated the adoption of remote immersive collaboration technologies - Tim and Simon discuss Amara's Law  - will it prove us wrong as we assume everything is going to change quickly post Covid?  In discussing his new book, Simon  suggests that intelligence can be held in our bodies and that embodied knowledge is a real force - should we trust our executive brain or should we trust our gut? Find out in this fascinating discussion.

Katherine Courtney, STEM Ambassador and former CEO of the UK Space Agency talks to Tim Fleming about her shared passion for space and startups and how there is a strong connection between the two communities.  Katherine shares her thoughts with Tim on how the future habitation of space might work, the impact of space data on the environment and the phenomenon of space debris.

Sarah Ticho, immersive health innovator and founder of Hatsumi VR, Project lead at VulVR, freelance producer of Explore Deep (Deep VR) and healthcare lead at Immerse UK, talks to Tim Fleming about how VR can make a difference to the future of health, why she is excited about developing interactive pleasure to alleviate sexual awkwardness and disorders and why environments are becoming even more important during COVID-19.   

Belinda Gannaway, strategy director of creative employee communications agency Fathom XP, with 20 years experience transforming cultures and helping to build brands from the inside out, talks to Tim Fleming about employee engagement and the need to challenge the status quo of organisational culture - will immersive experiences offer the solution? Tune in to find out.

Ep 1: Charles Nduka the surgeon, technologist & co-founder of Emteq - a biofeedback enabled VR therapy platform -  talks to Tim Fleming about what why he thinks VR experience and virtual collaboration are tools of the future? Tune in to find out.