See This From SXSW: VR/AR Storytelling
The Forrest Four-Cast: April 14, 2018
If you didn’t attend SXSW 2018 in person, you missed some truly visionary speakers. But you can view what you might have missed at March Magic 2018 by visiting the SXSW YouTube Channel. For example, check out Nonny de la Peña’s convergence keynote address on Reaching for Truth: Unlocking the Power of Human Creativity for Storytelling in Virtual and Augmented Reality. This is a video you can mostly experience as audio (the first few minutes, for example, show a dark stage), as de la Peña touches on a range of important, timely issues ranging broadly from sexual harassment of women and the struggles of immigrants to bullying of LGBTQ youth and the tragedy in Syria.
Widely credited with helping create the genre of immersive journalism and known as the “the Godmother of VR,” de la Peña continues to redefine the standard for how human creativity and technology can work together to create engaging narratives and life-changing experiences. She discussed her personal journey while evolving technology solutions within the industry toward developing best practices for storytelling in virtual and augmented reality. She also revealed the power of ‘Reach,’ a new platform Emblematic is building on Mozilla’s A-Frame WebVR technology, which will provide an open door for content authorship, empowering new voices to tell their own stories in the medium.
De la Peña was selected by Wired Magazine as a #MakeTechHuman Agent of Change and Fast Company named her “One of the People Who Made the World More Creative” for her pioneering work in immersive storytelling. As CEO of Emblematic Group, she uses cutting edge technologies to tell important stories — both fictional and news-based — that create intense, empathic engagement on the part of viewers.
Find more great video content here and tales of transformation here. Also, SXSW podcast content is available by exploring the SXSW online schedule. When you click on a session and see an audio bar, then you’ve got your listening assignment for the day! We’ve made it easier by recapping some of the SXSW highlights. Check out previous roundups of audio content related to Senator Bernie Sanders, The Future of Work, Boosting Benefits, Politics Matters, Culture Changers, Fresh Media Voices, Tech and News, Community Rules, Fake News Facts, Lessons from Vets, Love Rules and Building Inclusion.
If you have an idea for a session for SXSW 2019, mark your calendar for Monday, June 25. That day, we will begin accepting speaking proposals for next year’s event via the SXSW PanelPicker interface. This application process will close Friday, July 20.
Hugh Forrest serves as Chief Programming Officer at SXSW, the world’s most unique gathering of creative professionals. He also tries to write at least four paragraphs per day on Medium. These posts often cover tech-related trends; other times they focus on books, pop culture, sports and other current events.
