On this episode, we welcome back Will Gee, Founder and CEO of Balti Virtual. A lot has changed since we last spoke with Will back in 2019; Balti Virtual has evolved as a tool for creative expression, social engagement, and brand experiences.
We nerd out on the rapidly-advancing world of XRcise, the compelling ways VR can connect us in isolation, and what perspective in 6 degrees really means. Will shares with us how augmenting our surroundings with XR technology is more exciting than ever, and expanding the possibilities for how we tell and experience stories.
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WebAR Sample Projects developed by Balti Virtual Learn more about Web AR and hypARlinks HERE
To Our Supporters
Special thanks to O’Keefe Communications for the remote studio support. Music by Minden “4th And Starlight Road – Instrumental” (CC BY-NC 2.0).
On this installment of 6 degrees, we have the pleasure of talking with friend, collaborator, audio engineer extraordinaire: Josiah Canzanella.
Josiah’s professional trajectory – from touring with world-famous bands to mixing audio for high-profile corporate events – makes for some unforgettable stories and insights.
In conversation with Josiah, we reflect on the power of the unexpected, the spontaneous moments unique to in-person, live events; and what we’ve learned about emotional impact and interpersonal connection in virtual spaces.
“AR is impermanent, ephemeral, invisible to the naked eye and leaves no environmental trace. It is accessible to a broad audience through the ubiquitous use of smartphones and tablets…”
From its origins in American history, “liberty” was only available to a certain demographic and came at great expense to others.
What happens when a visionary artist brings together these conflicting histories and complex realities with immersive design and technology?
Artist Nancy Baker Cahill asks: “In an age of pandemic, surveillance, injustice and disinformation, who is actually free? That’s the conversation we need to have.” We sat down with Nancy to discuss storytelling and American history using immersive technology.
Learn how a collective of artists leverage augmented reality “to make visible the injustices of the largest immigration detention system in the world.” Through the project entitled “In Plain Sight” these creators seek to share a sense of hope and solidarity with those detained in immigration camps.
TO OUR SUPPORTERS
Special thanks to musician Artofescapism (Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)) and O’Keefe Communications for the remote studio support.
“There is a special kind of magic that lives in creating shared moments in time.”
-Nick Rivero
We came across this line in a recent Medium op-ed, and couldn’t resist reaching out to the author to learn more about his perspectives on experiencing stories with new technology.
Nick Rivero, co-founder of Meptik, shares his unique journey from classical music major to data visualization innovator. Fusing skills in design and technology, his company is pioneering creative modes of storytelling that are possible in today’s new paradigm.
Nick tells us about painting stories on buildings with projection mapping and reimagining the content development process as real-time and reactive. He leaves us with a call to action to reinvent how we connect audiences and drive human connection.
Listen to our conversation with Nick, and experience Meptik’s cutting-edge work through these links and videos….
For International Day of Yoga, Meptik teamed up with lululemon to host an immersive, virtual yoga experience.
BONUS: COVID-19 Visualized
The graceful rhythm of an ugly virus on the move. Meptik created visualizations that are driven by data, in real time, to bring awareness to the devastating impact using the same tools for concert visuals and live experiences.
TO our supporters
Special thanks to musician Chad Crouch (Attribution-Non-Commercial 3.0 Unported (CC BY-NC 3.0)) and O’Keefe Communications for the remote studio support.
We caught up with Cyrene Q – SnapChat Influencer, Graphic Designer, and one of the most inspiring artists we’ve had the pleasure of interviewing. Cyrene makes art that’s meant to be played with, and her ingenious Snap creations simultaneously reflect the current world we live in and bring joy to millions of users. Don’t know much about Snap Lenses or how they work?
Cyrene explains the magic of AR and takes us inside her creative process. Get inspired by her thoughtful insights on how we’re living today and how innovative storytellers can make an impact using AR.
Together we consider the future of lenses, and get a glimpse into the exciting projects on Cyrene’s horizon (like her collaboration withThe Advocateto createaugmented Pride 2020 experiences)!
Special thanks to musician Chad Crouch (Attribution-Non-Commercial 3.0 Unported (CC BY-NC 3.0)) & Mid-Air Machine (Attribution-ShareAlike CC BY-SA 4.0) for lending us your musical talents to underscore this episode.
The world around us has changed dramatically. So has the role of virtual and immersive technology in our everyday lives. It feels like our dialogue around these topics and how we connect through stories are more relevant than ever. Join us as we continue to explore the implications and applications of immersive media.
Augmented Reality is expanding as a means to help kids learn, simulate experiences, and bring books to life.
To find out more about how AR is built for and marketed to children, we reached out to Live Animations, an agency based in Ukraine. Their mission – “to create magic” – drives projects like Alif & Sofia, a children’s book series teaching the Muslim rites of prayer using AR. Live Animation’s retelling of Little Red Riding Hood lets the reader experience the story from multiple perspectives, finding their own way through the forest with no fixed point of view.
Rather than trying to fit old stories – like Alice and Wonderland – into new technology with gimmicks, Live Animations is using augmented reality to give young readers more immersive experiences and encourage reading. They’ve even come up with a way to make math more fun, with the game IQ Robots.
Join us for a little “edutainment” on this episode of Six Degrees of Storytelling!
Empathy /ˈempəTHē/ noun. sharing in the emotional state of another person.
Virtual Reality Creator, Tobin Asher
We love solving puzzles. So does our latest guest and VR-Research hero: Tobin Asher, Associate Director of Global Partnerships for Stanford’s Virtual Human Interaction Lab. Tobin investigates how media impacts society, and considers empathy at scale– how can we connect; how can we better understand each other; how can we get closer through VR? Our discussion with Tobin reveals fascinating philosophical and scientific insights into the nuanced power of storytelling through immersive technology, and the potential of VR to educate, disrupt, and inspire.
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This installment of Backstage Pass takes you behind our own curtain, in a candid and convivial conversation with the O’Keefe video superwomen – Tina Hoffmann and Asia Taylor.
In Part One, we discuss how intention and purpose drive every new project. We divulge our collaborative creative process – how we, as producers, directors, and editors with vast and varied skillsets, team up to bring ideas to life. How can we, as artists, craft original work (that challenges, engages, and excites us) within the parameters of a client’s goals and interests?
Meet Jill, Spokesbot for PAYMENTS2019
In Part Two, Asia and Tina share takeaways from the NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) 2019 Show in Vegas. We consider how our team might implement cutting-edge technology to innovate our creative approach. How can we, as creators, use this new technology to tell stories with a purpose?
Technology is exciting but, as Tina says, audiences still seek connection to authenticity. Tina was impressed by MetaStage – a company creating volumetric video, and first US partner for the Microsoft Mixed Reality Capture system (*side bar: stay tuned for our upcoming interview with CEO Christina Heller!) Asia was most compelled by seminars and classes geared towards video editors. Technology without technique, Asia contends, is emotionless design.
We had a blast chatting with Tina and Asia; let us know your thoughts on new technology, audience engagement, and creative authenticity. Tweet us @Pod6Stories or message us on instagram @Pod6Stories.
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Charlie Fink Consultant, Writer, Speaker, & Futurist
Do AR/VR experiences complement our basic instincts, or contradict our natural tendencies? On this episode of six degrees, we explore the sociology of immersive technology with our guest Charlie Fink, an AR/VR consultant, and former Disney, AOL, and AG Interactive executive who now writes about immersive technologies for Forbes. His insights into the innovation, industry, and impact of AR/VR spurs discussion of how we communicate and interact with stories.
With an eye on the future and anchor in historical context, we learn about the Milgrim Scale and Pepper’s ghost in order to better understand how immersive technology augments experience and what’s next on the horizon for content creation and hardware.
Addressing myriad subjects from the McKittrick Hotel to Game of Thrones and the state of our democracy, Charlie compels us to consider narrative experience from unexpected angles. Why does some technology cause disruption; how does it infiltrate society; and what challenges do we face as immersive technology integrates into our daily lives?
Join us for this time-shifting adventure into the nature of reality with Charlie Fink!
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On this episode of Six Degrees, we traverse the limitless landscape of AR / VR / MR with Will Gee, cofounder of Baltivirtual. Baltivirtual, a full-service software studio creating state-of-the-art experiential media, exemplifies how new technologies are transforming the way we tell stories, learn, and interact with the world around us.
Will’s candid perspectives on the creative process lead our discussion about the profound potential for AR content creation, exploring how layers of sensory engagement – sight, sound, touch – can enhance the created experience and, ultimately, the impact of the story being told.
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