EMERGING TECH | XR & AR
Future Tense: Designing for a World Yet to Come
TechChill 2025 Session
I recently presented at TechChill on the transformative potential of combining VR/AR/XR technologies with AI. During my talk, I highlighted practical applications across various sectors, including:
- Healthcare: using augmented reality for precise injections and VR for surgical training
- Assistive technology: smart glasses connecting volunteers with visually impaired people and developing AR tools for sign language learning
- Entertainment: creating immersive content and VR art
- Fitness: leveraging VR workout programs
I emphasized the importance of uniquely human qualities like creativity, emotional intelligence, and critical thinking in the age of AI, while also encouraging others to develop skills such as generative AI prompt design and AR/VR design to future-proof their careers.
Key Insights
🌟 Cross-Pollination is Key: Combining diverse ideas and technologies leads to innovative solutions that address complex problems. This approach can unlock new opportunities in various sectors.
🔍 Empathy in Design: Understanding human needs and emotions is crucial in creating effective technology. Tools that consider user experience can significantly improve outcomes.
🎓 VR and AR in Education: These technologies enhance learning experiences, especially in medical training, allowing for risk-free practice and deeper understanding of complex subjects.
🤝 Accessibility Matters: Assistive technologies like “Be My Eyes” improve daily living for people with disabilities, showcasing the importance of inclusivity in tech development.
⌚ ️An EMG bracelet, released by Meta as part of Orion project, can read movements on the forearm, allowing users to perform actions and interact with devices, which is an example of cross-pollination and the potential for new gestures in virtual and augmented reality.
💪 Fitness and Health Tech: VR applications in fitness provide engaging ways to stay active, demonstrating how technology can enhance personal well-being.
⚙️ AI and Creativity: While AI can automate tasks, it cannot replicate human creativity and emotional intelligence, which remain vital in innovation and problem-solving.
🌍 Humans at the Center: Despite technological advances, the human element remains essential in design and implementation, ensuring that innovations truly serve people’s needs.
