XR Project Development: A Comprehensive Advanced Guide

In the digital age, high-quality content is essential for engaging and retaining audiences, as well as provide value and resolve problems to real life. It helps build trust, establish authority, and drive traffic. Compelling content can differentiate a brand, provide value to the audience, and foster community engagement.

In the digital age, high-quality content is essential for engaging and retaining audiences, as well as provide value and resolve problems to real life. It helps build trust, establish authority, and drive traffic. Compelling content can differentiate a brand, provide value to the audience, and foster community engagement.

Experience brings things to life, creating immersive and memorable moments that engage the senses and emotions. On the other hand, content touches the heart, the senses and the perception of being there, resonating on a deeper level by conveying stories, ideas, and emotions that connect with the audience. Together, they form a powerful combination: a rich experience that captivates and meaningful content that inspires.

In the development and implementation process of advanced “XR projects, I have had the opportunity to work with highly potential and excellent teams in design and development. However, there are still some barriers that make the design of the solution and the concept require a fundamental effort to have an initial global vision.

This vision should enable us to visualize what we are going to offer our target audience, what we intend for them to feel, do, play, get excited about, or even hate us forever. Playing with emotions is something magical that requires constant feedback and user testing. But if there’s something fundamental to capturing the sensations and emotions of the user, it is designing a captivating and immersive user journey. This is one of the key elements for success when tackling a complex immersive project.

Then, we have the earthlier, yet no less complex, problems: the technologies to apply, data and information formats, their integration, functionality, programming, and the means or devices where the experiences will be developed and enjoyed. These are just a few pieces of the puzzle that requires a very detailed and well-crafted workflow to achieve the objectives we set at the beginning.

One of the fundamental parts of the initial design is considering the types of content and context we will create and how we can reuse them in the future. Creating these assets, videos, animations, and volumetric captures is extremely costly, and their integration and reuse will allow us to ensure continuity for the project or its future developments. This is often forgotten. While it’s true that it’s not an easy task, if we approach it well, we will achieve significant savings and benefits in the future.

Creating the most innovative and advanced XR (Extended Reality) experiences requires pushing the boundaries of technology and creativity.

Let me share with you some insights an in-depth guide to achieving this:

a. Conceptualization and Planning.

   – Innovative Vision: Aim for a unique concept that leverages the latest XR trends and technologies. Consider incorporating AI, machine learning, and real-time data integration.

   – Comprehensive Objectives: Define sophisticated goals, such as hyper-realistic simulations, complex interactive storytelling, or groundbreaking educational tools.

   – Advanced Target Audience Analysis: Conduct deep research on your audience to understand their technological adeptness, preferences, and potential use cases.

b. Design phase.

   –  Advanced Storyboarding and Scripting: Use detailed storyboards with advanced techniques like branching narratives and non-linear storytelling. Ensure scripts accommodate complex interactions and AI-driven content.

   –  Cutting-edge UX/UI Design: Design intuitive and immersive interfaces with advanced interactions like eye-tracking and gesture controls. Utilize user experience testing tools like heatmaps and biometric feedback.

   – High-Fidelity Art and Asset Creation: Create hyper-realistic 3D models, textures, and animations using advanced tools like Substance Painter, ZBrush, and photogrammetry. Consider procedural content generation for dynamic environments.

c. Development phase.

   –  State-of-the-Art Platforms: Choose platforms that support the latest XR innovations. Unity and Unreal Engine are industry standards, with Unreal Engine being particularly powerful for photorealistic graphics.

   – Innovative Interaction Models: Implement advanced interaction models such as hand-tracking, eye-tracking, and haptic feedback using technologies like Leap Motion, Tobii Eye Tracking, and haptic devices.

   – Programming and Scripting: Develop complex behaviors and interactions using advanced scripting languages and frameworks. Unity uses C# while Unreal Engine uses C++ and Blueprints for visual scripting.

   – AI and Machine Learning Integration: Leverage AI for adaptive learning experiences, dynamic content generation, and personalized user interactions. TensorFlow and PyTorch can be integrated for machine learning capabilities.

d. Q&A, Testing and Iteration.

   – Comprehensive Testing: Conduct rigorous testing across various devices and environments. Use advanced debugging tools and performance profiling to ensure seamless experiences.

   –  Beta Testing with Advanced Analytics: Use beta testing phases with detailed analytics to gather data on user interactions, preferences, and technical performance.

   – Continuous Improvement: Implement feedback loops with real-time updates and continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines. Use, standard tools for collaboration and fast operation, Teams is a very powerful tool..

e. Delivery.

   – Optimized Packaging: Optimize the final build for performance across different platforms, including VR headsets, AR glasses, PC, tablets and mobile devices. Use asset streaming and level-of-detail (LOD) techniques for performance optimization.

   – Advanced Deployment: Utilize cloud-based distribution platforms for real-time updates and content delivery networks (CDNs) to ensure fast, global access.

   – Post-Launch Support: Provide ongoing support and updates. Implement advanced monitoring and analytics to track performance and user engagement.

Tools and Technologies

–  Development Engines: Unity, Unreal Engine

–  3D Modeling Software: Blender, Maya, 3ds Max, ZBrush

–  Texturing and Painting: Substance Painter, Quixel Mixer

–  AI and Machine Learning: TensorFlow, PyTorch

–  Performance Optimization: NVIDIA Nsight, Intel GPA

–  Collaboration Tools: Jira, Confluence, Slack, Teams

–  Testing Tools: Oculus Debug Tool, SteamVR Performance Test, Pico Deb

–  Video Production: Adobe Premier, Final Cut, DaVinci Resolve

–  Video 360º: Canon, Insta, Kandao

–  Ambisonic sound: Zoom, Sennheiser

Best Practices

–  Pushing Visual Fidelity: Utilize high-resolution textures, advanced lighting (like ray tracing), and realistic physics to create stunning visuals.

Innovative Interactions: Implement and experiment with the latest interaction methods, ensuring they add value and enhance immersion.

–  Scalability and Flexibility: Design your XR experiences to be scalable and adaptable to different platforms and future technologies.

–  User-Centered Design: Keep the user at the center of the design process, ensuring that advanced features enhance rather than complicate the user experience.

–  Ethical AI Use: Ensure that AI and machine learning applications respect user privacy and data security.

I do not intend to give a master class in XR content design and development with this, but rather a simple support guide, which we will develop in more depth based on years of industry experience.

By combining cutting-edge technology, innovative design, and rigorous development processes, you can create advanced and immersive XR experiences that stand out in the rapidly evolving XR landscape.

Carlos J. Ochoa Fernández ©

Embracing Creative Freedom: The Art of Experimentation in #XR

In the realm of #XR, there are still windows of unlimited possibilities waiting to be explored. As creators, we often find ourselves captivated by the allure of this immersive technology, eager to push the boundaries of our imagination.

In the realm of #XR, there are still windows of unlimited possibilities waiting to be explored. As creators, we often find ourselves captivated by the allure of this immersive technology, eager to push the boundaries of our imagination.

However, to truly harness the transformative power of XR, we must first grant ourselves the freedom to experiment without fear.

Experimentation is the cornerstone of creativity, serving as the catalyst for innovation and discovery. It is through experimentation that we uncover new techniques, refine our skills, and ultimately, forge new paths in the world of XR.

From my perspective and experience, it’s time to cast aside apprehensions and embrace experimentation wholeheartedly. “Experiment Freely” becomes a new mantra, an opportunity for creative liberation in the XR landscape. This mantra urges us to shed inhibitions, to break free from the chains of self-doubt, and to immerse ourselves fully in the vast array of creative possibilities that XR offers.

What can we understand by “Experiment Freely” in XR?

It means taking risks in experimentation, pushing beyond technological limitations and barriers, and using past learnings to explore, play, and innovate without restrictions. It means daring to dream big, challenging conventions, and exceeding expectations.

At the heart of this ethos lies a simple truth: the beauty of creative work lies in exploration, experimentation, collaboration, and empathy. It is through our willingness to push the boundaries of what is possible that we truly reach our full potential as creators. In the world of XR, this sentiment rings truer than ever.

Every new experiment is a learning opportunity, a chance to broaden our horizons and refine our art. With each new challenge, we come closer to mastering XR and unlocking its full potential for our creative careers. But this is just a fleeting step in a new direction, one that we cannot be certain where it leads, but it’s exciting.

Embracing uncertainty and venturing into the unknown is a risky and demanding path. A journey into the unknown alongside elements not necessarily prepared for this journey.

The world of XR awaits a new milestone yet to be discovered, ready to be shaped by our limitless imagination and unwavering determination. Let’s embark on a new journey, now.

You can visit some amazing references: #Music5Senses, #VIVALDI30, #MagicalandMysteryTour, and many more to come…

Carlos J. Ochoa Fernández ©

VIVALDI 3.0 THE JOURNEY. III

“Journey Through the Immersive Universe of Four Seasons” is an interactive xr experience that immerses viewers into the realm of Antonio Vivaldi’s musical masterpieces. Through visually compelling storytelling, participants will delve into Vivaldi’s creative journey as he breathes life into his renowned concerto “The Four Seasons.” Each season unfolds in a distinct and captivating environment, seamlessly blending natural elements and music to deliver a multisensory and enchanting encounter.

Journey Through the Immersive Universe of Four Seasons” is an interactive xr experience that immerses viewers into the realm of Antonio Vivaldi’s musical masterpieces. Through visually compelling storytelling, participants will delve into Vivaldi’s creative journey as he breathes life into his renowned concerto “The Four Seasons.” Each season unfolds in a distinct and captivating environment, seamlessly blending natural elements and music to deliver a multisensory and enchanting encounter.

As artists, musicians, and creatives, we find ourselves at a true crossroads—a junction where making the right choices is neither easy nor singular. Beyond the numerous apparent opportunities before us, we must navigate financial survival and address the sustainability of teams, technicians, and the myriad fellow travelers who render our projects minimally viable and appealing to an ever-changing society hungry for new, distinct, and increasingly participatory experiences.

Our journey began over a decade ago with our first forays into immersive 360º recordings, collaborating with artists, musicians, and music classrooms. Here, we began to experiment and learn from the sensations and perceptions conveyed by users, students, and teachers.

One of the pivotal moments in our journey was the first live performance featuring renowned artists like Ouka Leele, where we embarked on an interactive interpretation inspired by the sounds of the Concerto de Aranjuez. It was a fascinating experience, devoid of prior rehearsals or experiential training, executed on a digital stage using Oculus Rift equipment and Tilt Brush from Google, and recorded in 360º stereo with Vuze 360º cameras. This opportunity to recreate Digital Ephemeral Art raised initial doubts regarding feasibility, sustainability, and monetization in more straightforward and economically accessible spaces, as we spared no means or resources for this performance. Crucially, this experience was made possible through the indispensable collaboration of CEVs technical team.

Later on, we delved into the world of reconstructing the virtual museum of the Arab Kunka (Cuenca ancient city)—a collaborative, immersive space within the Frame VR platform. Here, we established a connection between the virtual reconstructions of the Ancient Kunka during the Arab era and the music of the great musician and composer Chema Vílchez, particularly his work “The Land of the Three Cultures”.

As visitors strolled through the ancient Arab fortress, its mosques, baths, buildings, markets, and streets, they were enveloped in the sound of music that transported them to bygone eras, while also being able to explore current spaces through 360º videos. This interconnection between virtual reconstructions, current videos, and music elevated the experience to a higher level, almost teleporting participants to that magical bygone time.

Years later, the Reina Sofia Higher School of Music presented us with a truly intriguing challenge. We were tasked with creating an experience using recordings from a classical music concert to reach students in their educational program who, due to pandemic-related time constraints, were unable to participate in workshops and concerts. This concert was recorded in the Sony auditorium of the school, utilizing 360º 4K cameras and ambisonic microphone technology. The acoustical characteristics of the auditorium are truly exceptional, enabling us to produce recordings of the utmost quality. We utilized Vuze and Zoom equipment, as well as VR devices from Pico, with technological support from HP.

This experience allowed us to craft 12 virtual musical stories centered around artists such as Mozart, Tchaikovsky, and Respighi, where musical compositions intertwined with natural spaces, sensory explosions, and magical worlds, transporting visitors through 12 unique historical narratives. As a result of this endeavor, we developed “Music with the Five Senses,” which was implemented on a Virtual Reality platform and Pico devices, visiting hundreds of schools and educational centers nationwide over the years. Thousands of visitors have immersed themselves in this wonderful and experiential world, making it a true milestone and international benchmark as an immersive educational project centered around classical music.

The next stop on this journey is Vivaldi 3.0. The Journey to the Universe of Antonio Vivaldi and the Four Seasons, led by Ara Malikian and the Camerata of the Reina Sofia School, has been a mystical experience, with a predetermined start date and script, and a long journey through the forests of magical seasonal music. Along the way, we’ve encountered numerous passages and experiences that ultimately culminated in an absolutely magical work. This journey, based on Vivaldi’s original sonnets, reinterpreted by a team of writers and Ara himself, allowed us to rediscover the connections between music, nature, and the cycle of life. Throughout this process, we’ve painted on a virtual canvas, initially blurry passages gradually taking shape into a metaphorical interpretive tableau. Throughout this process, we’ve immersed ourselves in music and creativity, repeatedly playing with the tools offered by generative artificial intelligence, which helped us reinterpret passages and scenarios through Vivaldi’s sonnets and words, Ara’s interpretations, and our own way of composing this tableau, ultimately giving it a cohesive and coherent form. We aimed for it to be timeless, appealing to various types of audiences, inviting them to return to a childlike state and be carried away by the creative spirit of the compositions and the intersection with the cycle of life, both human and natural. And all this, with a commitment to sustainability, balance, equality, and educational vision through values inspired by the emotions and sensations we’ve gathered in the project. This is our way of contributing to the awareness of the need to accelerate societal transformation.

The first test to visualize the outcome of this initial step of the project was the concert held on January 29th at the Sony auditorium of the Reina Sofia School. It was a real trial by fire, where we had to present this new proposal for an interactive multimedia concert live to a select audience: students and teachers from various schools in the Community of Madrid. It was a multimedia experience where interactivity through monitors and screens, interactions among musicians on stage, Ara Malikian’s performance, his introductory messages for each movement, and images, passages, and videos related to the movements were put to the test.

More than 600 students from a dozen public and private schools in the Community of Madrid, accompanied by their teachers in two sessions, were able to enjoy this experiential session, with an extremely high level of satisfaction. And all this was made possible thanks to the perfect coordination between the ONE team and the production, audio, and video team of the School. We had top-of-the-line equipment and professionals of the highest caliber. The journey has only just begun, and this experience has allowed us to analyze and evaluate the initial results, and to envision how we can continue advancing and projecting new immersive experiences in the immediate future. We aim to enhance the experience by integrating 3D multimedia elements more extensively, as well as enhancing the pre- and post-concert experience.

Welcome to the interactive immersive world of Vivaldi 3.0. Step into a space where reality merges with imagination, where every corner is filled with magic, and music awaits you at every turn. As you enter the world of the four seasons, you’ll find yourself surrounded by vibrant landscapes pulsating with energy and creativity. Feel the thrill of immersing yourself in a world where the boundaries of reality blur, and your senses awaken like never before. Interact with the environment around you: touch, explore, listen, and engage with the elements inhabiting this fascinating world. Whether you get lost in enchanted forests or dive into the depths of the unknown, each experience is yours to discover and shape. Prepare to be captivated by the sights, sounds, and sensations enveloping you as you delve deeper into this immersive universe throughout the cycle of life.

So, welcome to a world where dreams come to life, and the extraordinary awaits you around every corner! Let your curiosity guide you as you embark on an exciting and unforgettable journey through the Interactive Immersive Universe of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons.

Here are some figures reflecting and highlighting the extraordinary effort involved in this journey: An experience recorded and produced in 6 months, many locations, involving more than 50 professionals and over 4,000 hours of work, recording 4 live concerts with the attendance of over 1,000 people (students & teachers) from 20 schools. An immersive experience available on VR devices and the Web XR immersive platform, featuring 4 spaces, or “stations,” with interactive games, integration of 3D volumetrics, hundreds of photographic images, 10 hours of concert recordings in 8k, several terabytes of video and sound files, hundreds of hours of processing and post-production, hundreds of hours of editing and format integration…hundreds of images generated by AI to create virtual spaces and environments, artificial intelligence and image processing, 8K 360º cameras, ambisonic sound, creation of countless 3D assets

8K Enables Immersive Vivaldi 3.0 Project

By Bob Raikes

…and this is just one of the stops on this magical and unique journey.

Carlos J. Ochoa Fernández ©

Metaverse is ready for Education

Over the course of the past two decades, I have been fortunate enough to engage in groundbreaking initiatives within the realm of digital transformation in education. Today, as we grapple with contrasting viewpoints on whether the #Metaverse holds promise as an educational tool or is merely a rehashed concept, I wish to offer my insights on the matter.

“A Reflection on Virtual Worlds and Their Contribution to Education”

Over the course of the past two decades, I have been fortunate enough to engage in groundbreaking initiatives within the realm of digital transformation in education. Today, as we grapple with contrasting viewpoints on whether the #Metaverse holds promise as an educational tool or is merely a rehashed concept, I wish to offer my insights on the matter.

To me, the #Metaverse embodies a realm where Time and Space engage in a game of strategy, akin to a game of chess. Drawing inspiration from Albert Einstein’s musings: A human is an integral part of the cosmos we term the Universe—a fragment confined by time and space. But so what?

The crux of the matter lies here: the interplay between Time and Space.

Metaverse versus Universe, and Human Being versus Avatars—these interactions hinge on the relationship between time and space.

In the spheres of art and music, artists have fashioned #MetaphoricalUniverses or #EphemeralUniverses —spaces and encounters that are unparalleled, transient, experienced in the present, and then fade away.

Virtual Worlds offer us this same potential but with the power to amplify it manifold into new, boundary-defying dimensions. This expansion reaches individuals and groups who might otherwise never have had the chance to connect in such an environment.

The term #Metaverse, though rooted in technological definition, has acquired a mythical aura and has been employed in ways that fail to captivate. Presently, describing or elucidating the societal advantages and opportunities afforded by #ImmersiveTechnologies presents a challenge. This is due to the term’s misappropriation and dilution by entities possessing an insufficient grasp of the profound intricacies and context of the technology at hand.

In 2003, I embarked on a transformative journey that led my past company, eLearning Consulting, to evolve an eLearning platform into a cutting-edge virtual educational platform known as “Edutopia.” This ambitious endeavor marked my foray into the realm of 3D worlds and virtual reality, bridging the gap between schools, educational communities, and innovative technology. Edutopia introduced avatars, interactive games, and an array of tools tailored for teachers, students, collaboration, monitoring, and evaluation—accessible from any PC.

My dedication bore fruit as thousands of students in Spain gained free access to this groundbreaking platform, supported by funding from the Ministerio de Educación, España.

Over two decades, my commitment to innovation in education extended to active involvement in classroom innovation programs and collaborations with prominent publishers. This commitment also manifested through investments in Research and Development programs under the aegis of the European Commission, resulting in the realization of several globally renowned projects.

In 2013, my endeavors expanded beyond education as we developed pioneering simulators and digital twins for the industrial sector. Subsequently, in 2017, I launched the #SmartEducationLabs initiative for the Ministry of Education in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This groundbreaking project championed advanced education and the digital transformation of classrooms.

This legacy persisted through 2022-23, marked by my instrumental role in establishing Advanced Labs and a Virtual Campus for Madrid’s gaming industry. This Virtual Campus is uniquely focused on nurturing entrepreneurial skills within the realm of video games and immersive experiences, ultimately fostering innovation within the gaming sector.

If you want to know more, please visit #MetaMinutes with my friend Rene Schulte here: https://lnkd.in/d5WXRf3P

If you want to know more about #SmartEducationLabs, visit
https://lnkd.in/dZciTDGa

Carlos J. Ochoa Fernández ©

La Frágil Levedad del SER

Muerto el #Metaverso, larga vida a la #AI o #ChapGPT,  debiera decir?

En este mundo tan frágil, efímero e inconsistente en el que vivimos últimamente, resulta muy preocupante la fragilidad de los argumentos que soportan grandes decisiones de la vida diaria.

El duro mundo del influencer, del bloguero, del metaversado, en busca de la última novedad, o al menos así lo piensan ellos, los lleva a ensalzar ídolos y convertirlos en villanos en apenas unos meses. El poder del marketing, y su influencia en tomas de decisiones rápidas, en aquellos que actúan sin pensar (proactivos dicen ellos, desinformados, pienso yo) es realmente brutal. El numero de impactos en este breve espacio de tiempo, supera con creces las expectativas que se podría alcanzar por cualquier otro medio. Una caza sin piedad de desinformados, ignorantes habidos de ser, sin ser.

Nuevas generaciones que buscan respuestas rápidas a problemas complejos, sin importarles la consistencia ni la transcendencia de las decisiones o el alcance de estas.

¿Resultado? lo tenemos a la vista. El presente se nos cruza y abofetea cada día con temas tan trascendentes y relevantes como la canción de Shakira y las historias de Pique. Algo que no se produce como fruto de la casualidad, o ¿ piensas que si?.

Hoy a nadie le extraña que escritores, blogueros o revistas técnicas internacionales, lleven haciendo trampas con sus artículos firmados, y elaborados por una máquina. Por no hablar de grandes ídolos musicales de un solo tema, elaborados íntegramente por ordenador.

El nuevo “Tsunami” golpea nuestras desoladas costas de la educación. Aparecen nuevas voces en el horizonte, cantos de sirena, intentando convencernos de los milagros de la Inteligenia Artificial” y los chats inteligentes, bla, bla, bla.

En 1988, durante mi etapa de formación en la Escuela de Informática de Siemens en Alemania, llegó a mis manos un libro verdaderamente apasionante: Sistemas Expertos, editado por Siemens y Dieter Nebendahl. Se convirtió en mi libro de cabecera durante algún tiempo y apoyó los desarrollos que llevamos a cabo en los días de los Sistemas de Información Geográfica.

A lo largo de los últimos 5 años, como Co-Chair del Comité de Educación de la Asociación (VRARA), hemos venido realizando una incesante labor de sensibilización, liderazgo y colaboración, con instituciones de primer nivel, en el estudio de implementación de metodologías, tecnologías inmersivas en la educación, tratando de avanzar en el desarrollo de un nuevo ecosistema educativo.

Humildemente creo que, en muchas ocasiones nos hemos anticipado a los tiempos, elaborando trabajos y estudios: El estudio de la VR/AR en Educación, Immersive Learning, Adcanced Simulations, Virtual Worlds and Metaeducation, Augmented Education for Augmented Soceity

A lo largo de la interesante sesión de la semana pasada “Are we ready for #AI in #Education”, se pusieron de manifiesto por un importante panel de expertos internacionales, algunos puntos esenciales, como que uno de los propósitos centrales de la educación es desarrollar pensadores críticos. También que la educación se ve comprometida cuando tratamos de impartirla a grupos grandes. Y cuando la discusión se lleva a grupos pequeños es donde se logra el verdadero aprendizaje. Otro de los problemas que se pusieron encima de la mesa, es que estemos demasiado centrados en hacer trampa en algunos aspectos del desarrollo de nuestras habilidades, lo cual nos puede llevar a un triste escenario de futuros lideres, en donde la sociedad en su conjunto puede verse afectada. ¿Como vamos a permitirnos esta falta de integridad académica y su transcendencia en el desarrollo de los futuros lideres de esta sociedad?.

Es necesario poner el foco en incorporar el pensamiento crítico y el pensamiento basado en la aplicación en el sistema educativo con mayor peso, en lugar de escribir la información aprendida a través de libros (digital/papel) a los que se les puede dar un peso más bajo. En la actualidad podemos decir sin lugar a duda, que la perspectiva desde el punto de vista de los estudiantes, justo la opuesta.

Esto es, “Augmented Education” es un salto cualitativo, en donde metodologías y tecnologías inmersivas en entornos disruptivos, nos hacen visualizar y definir un espacio de educación y formación más práctica, colaborativa, avanzado, adaptado a las necesidades de la sociedad actual y futura. Centrándose en algo más práctico, innovador, basado en experiencias, trabajo colaborativo, etc… algo que está en el polo opuesto a la formación tradicional basada en la lectura, el aprendizaje escrito, etc…

Hace ya seis años, con motivo del congreso internacional #Expolearning, tuve la oportunidad de presentar: La rebelión de las máquinas y la formación disruptiva. Una visión futuristica de la Educación Inmersiva y Experiencial y su posible evolución…y parece que fué ayer.

Y en menos de tres semanas, es cuando aparece la novedad “para algunos” de herramientas como #ChatGPT. Y creen descubrir el nuevo santo grial, saltando inmediatamente a un nuevo futuro… olvidando todos los paradigmas, visiones y avances realizados en estos últimos años.

En realidad, estamos ante un escenario muy similar al inicio de la Robotica. Cuando empezaron a invadir nuestras vidas hace más de 50 años, con orígenes similares y en muchos casos paralelos a la IA… lástima que la memoria sea frágil, la ignorancia tan atrevida y el marketing de las grandes multinacionales tan potente. Alimentando la maquinaria paralela de los blogueros, que necesitan cada día para sus blogs novedades, noticias únicas, aunque no lo sean, y no se procuren de estudiar las cosas, su evolución, orígenes, etc…baste con copiar y traducir un artículo de una prestigiosa revista americana, y publicarlo como propio, o filtarlo por ChatGPT?.

Gracias a dios, no es el caso de los eruditos mortales, sino de los metaignorantes, que cada vez ocupan más la superficie de este maltratado planeta.

Es curioso ver cómo, año tras año, encaminados hacia la transformación digital en la educación, simuladores inmersivos, trabajo en equipo, herramientas avanzadas, mayor interactividad, realidad aumentada en tiempo real… alejándonos de libros, textos, mensajes literales, y apoyándose en el mundo gráfico e interactivo, y ahora…. we go back again?.

No tengo la bola de cristal, pero los tiempos están cambiando en una dirección, en la que necesitamos mas “Human Touch”, “Etica”, “Honestidad”, “Sentido de Sacrificio, del esfuerzo”, “Sentido Solidario” y “Educación en Valores”.

Estas de acuerdo?…y Tu, que piensas?.

Carlos J. Ochoa Fernández ©

The Future of Immersive Technologies is to focus on the Value Chain

In times of uncertainty, investments must be accompanied by calm reflection when selecting our travel partners and not just service or product providers.

Today I want to invite you on a journey from the origins of interactive graphics systems to the world of the metaverse with my friend Marlon Molina.

I want to share with all of you the recent interview that the prestigious Computerworld University conducted with me through an old fellow traveler from the early days of Geographic Information Systems, Marlon Molina.

This a unique and passionate opportunity, in which we remember our steps and experiences in the graphic industry, for more than 30 years, Marlon at Intergraph and I at Siemens.

A time in which we feel like authentic active pioneers, and with the luck of being able to share these experiences with the new generations of enthusiasts of the interactive graphic world.

After a brief and charming conversation about the origins of digital image processing, the leadership of Silicon Graphics workstations (all major film productions used this technology, animation and simulation studios, etc…) and its disappearance by complete at present. Coming to the conclusion that the evolution of technology in recent years, leaves us with lights and shadows uncovered, which are repeated today and against which we must remain on guard.

In times of uncertainty, investments must be accompanied by calm reflection when selecting our travel partners and not just service or product providers.

After this brief review of the history of the interactive graphic world, we take a tour of the current state of immersive technologies, #virtual reality, #augmented reality, #Immersive experiences, the #Metaverse, and the new Vision from ONE Digital Consulting.

And one of the first reflections that come to mind is the insistence of the big manufacturers in selling us a wonderful, virtual and better world, without asking me if I am interested, if I like it, or if I simply prefer to solve the problems of this world. from my freedom, intelligence, and personal decision.

Join me in this conversation, only for fans of advanced technologies and their application to real industry. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did during the interview. I am looking forward to hearing your comments.

https://www.computerworlduniversity.es/tendencias/concentrarse-en-la-cadena-de-valor-es-la-clave-para-el-exito-de-la-realidad-virtual-y-aumentada

Have a great and wonderful day.

Carlos J. Ochoa Fernández ©

Carlos J. Ochoa “un guiño a la Educación”

“Apostando fuertemente por un nuevo modelo educativo, ilusionante, empático, inclusivo, democrático y sostenible

Presidente VR/AR Madrid Chapter, Co_Chair del Comité de Educación y miembro fundador de Immersive Learning Association, ICICLE X-Reality for Learning and Performance Augmentation SIG. También es fundador y CEO de ONE Digital Consulting, así como autor del Libro Blanco “Best Practices of VR in Education”.

Entrevista realizada por Sonsoles Gallego para Miranos y Unete 2019

Ayer

Empezamos por su infancia, por conocer a ese niño que todos llevamos dentro.

¿Cómo fue su etapa de estudiante?

Recuerdo mi etapa de estudiante como una sucesión de historias emocionantes, irrepetibles y únicas. Años en los que descubres todo con emoción, ilusión y sorpresa. A pesar de ser tiempos difíciles, como fueron los años de la transición, también fueron una oportunidad única para descubrir el valor de las cosas, la necesidad permanente de aprender y establecer amistades con fuerte arraigo que siguen conmigo hasta el día de hoy.
¿Qué recuerdas de ella?

Tuve la inmensa suerte de comenzar el bachiller en el Instituto Ramiro de Maeztu, en la antigua residencia de estudiantes. Un espacio privilegiado, con profesores muy buenos y compañeros extraordinarios. Allí fueron mis comienzos obligados en el baloncesto “Estudiantes” y en la música (otra de mis grandes pasiones), el arte y el cine fórum…en fin. Allí se fue perfilando mi personalidad y algunas de mis aficiones. Tiempos de desarrollo personal, aficiones y bocatas de mejillones…en la Cantina. Y por cierto, íbamos al “insti” en tranvía, el 27, en donde nos colábamos todos los días…)
¿Algún profesor especial?

Bueno, me vienen varios a la memoria. En especial el Sr. Cebada, profesor de matemáticas (una persona entrañable y gran fan del Rock de los 70) y con el que entablé muy buena relación a lo largo de los años. La Sra. Burgos de geografía, historia y arte y que, por casualidades de la vida, coincidí en Siemens con su hijo como compañero de trabajo por varios años. De la Universidad guardo extraordinarios recuerdos de profesores y posteriormente compañeros y amigos. Algunos de aquellos me ayudaron a centrarme profesionalmente y encarar una nueva fase de mi vida con gran vocación disfrutando inmensamente. Recuerdo emocionadamente las clases de Astronomía y Geodesia, las de Fotogrametría y Teledetección, las observaciones a los astros desde la terraza del Instituto Geográfico Nacional… 

¿Cómo fueron sus inicios en la innovación, la realidad virtual y aumentada?

Mi primer gran reto fue en mis inicios profesionales en la Ingeniería, trabajando en Typsa y participando en los años 80 en proyectos de Cartografía Digital, con los primeros ordenadores de Floppy Disk, pantallas graficas Tektronics, los primeros ploters…etc. En Siemens estuve formándome en IT y Geosistemas de Información en Alemania, incorporando la simulación a los proyectos de Ingeniería Avanzada, en los años 90. Y posteriormente en Eptron comenzamos con proyectos de I&D en Realidad Virtual, desarrollo de los primeros navegadores virtuales educacionales y contenidos digitales para el Aula. Esta etapa la recuerdo como la época de Jurasic Park, y las estaciones de trabajo Silicon Graphics. Éramos realmente unos adelantados a nuestro tiempo, en los inicios del nuevo siglo. En 2015 comienzo este nuevo proyecto profesional y me incorporo a la Asociación de VR/AR y el Comité de Educación. A lo largo de estos últimos años, he estado participando en distintos proyectos nacionales e internacionales de VR/AR en la Educación, la Formación y la Ingeniería.

Hoy

Palabra que define su trabajo: Pasión por la innovación.

Proyectos actuales: 

Recientemente he sido seleccionado como experto internacional del iLRN State of XR and Immersive Learning 2019-20. El objetivo fundamental, es crear un Panel de expertos internacionales equilibrado entre líderes académicos y de opinión de la industria, visionarios e innovadores que representen la totalidad del aprendizaje de K-12, a través de la educación superior, el espacio laboral, la comunidad educativa y el aprendizaje permanente.

Así mismo, sigo empujando la iniciativa de “Schools of The Future” que contaré más detalladamente en el Congreso.

Mañana

Haz un guiño a la educación:

Apostando fuertemente por un nuevo modelo Educativo, “Ilusionante, Empático, Inclusivo, Democrático y Sostenible”, capaz de liderar la Transformación Digital, Innovando eficientemente y eliminando barreras de todo tipo.

Especial ponente en el II Congreso de Influencers Educativos

Breve resumen de su Ponencia en el II Congreso de Influencers Educativos:
“Espacios y Experiencias Inmersivas en Educación 4.0”. Las nuevas tecnologías son aplicadas cada día en la industria y nuevos modelos emergentes, que crean importantes oportunidades de empleo y posibilidades de desarrollo empresarial. De acuerdo con las proyecciones establecidas por la Comisión Europea recientemente, la demanda del mercado en especialistas calificados en tecnología de la información y las comunicaciones (TIC) no se cubrirán, ya que en 2020 habrá un déficit de alrededor de 500,000 profesionales de las TIC. Siendo los profesionales de realidad virtual y aumentada los que se encuentran entre aquellos más solicitados en el sector de las TIC.

Es en este contexto vamos a desarrollar un Taller sobre “Formación de Profesores” en las habilidades relevantes para la formación en el aula, la formación y capacitación para el empleo y el desarrollo del espíritu empresarial basado en estas tecnologías.

Entrevista realizada por Sonsoles Gallego.

Las Claves para implantar las Tecnologías Inmersivas en la Educación.

Education is a system; teaching is an action; learning is a process. Terry Heick

Regulación y ética para máquinas, un desafío para los humanos
Analizamos el paradigma tecnológico al que se enfrenta el ser humano desde el punto de vista de los profesionales.

Educar, Educar y Educar…

¿Cómo vamos a formar en realidad virtual? La clave está en “educar, educar y educar”. De esta premisa parte Carlos J. Ochoa Fernández , fundador y CEO de ONE Digital Consulting y Co-Chair VRARA Metaverse on Dec 17 Education Committee, quien visitó nuestro auditorio en una de las sesiones del XR Fest.

Educar de forma transversal en nuevas tecnologías y crear documentos dirigidos a los centros educativos que aporten valor y formen al profesorado, es una tarea ardua pero necesaria. El primer paso es analizar el perfil de los profesores. En ocasiones, –comenta Ochoa– “queremos formar a gente o profesionales que son reacios o que no tienen la formación adecuada para luego impartir a los alumnos”.

Desde su organización, proponen un escrito de buenas prácticas donde reflexionan sobre la ayuda que necesitan los colegios, los docentes y los decisores para comprender la tecnología y ver el sentido de su aplicación en los métodos de enseñanza.

Marjorie NETANGE, directora de Desarrollo y Comunicación de la Escuela Superior de Música Reina Sofía, coincide en que “el docente tiene que trabajar su metodología en términos de cómo integrar la tecnología puntualmente”, pero sostiene que parte de su programa debe seguir una línea tradicional.

Según Angeles Heras Caballero, secretaria de Estado de Universidades de Ciencia, Investigación, Desarrollo e Innovación, es necesario orientar a los alumnos de universidades y posgrados hacia un futuro tecnológico. En España, ya se ha puesto en marcha la construcción de un Comité Científico de Ética, pero es imprescindible que estas normas coexistan con el resto de los actores empresariales, asociaciones e incluso, con otros Estados.

Una sesión, presentada y dirigida por Elena González de la Fuente, responsable del Espacio Fundación Telefónica.

Y con la participación de Ian Forrester, responsable del departamento de I+D de la BBC, el R&D Future Experiences, Pedro Lozano Alcolea, fundador y COO de Imascono, Marjorie NETANGE, directora de Desarrollo y Comunicación de la Escuela Superior de Música Reina SofíaCarlos J. Ochoa Fernández, fundador y CEO de ONE Digital Consulting y presidente de la Asociación VRARA Madrid y co-presidente global del Comité de VR Education de VRARA Metaverse on Dec 17, y Gonzalo Ruipérez García, CTO en EstudioFuture.

XRFEST , Fundación Telefónica Junio 2019.

Humanos Virtuales en el #Metaverso. ¿Y ahora que?

Fija tu rumbo a una estrella y podrás navegar a través de cualquier tormenta. Leonardo Da Vinci.

Humanos Virtuales en el #Metaverse. Congreso Digital Enterprise Show en #Madrid. Parece que, en los últimos meses, y en particular, desde que Mark Zuckerberg lanzó su proclama sobre Meta, ya todo se ha vuelto Meta-Verso. Y algo más que una metáfora, es una nueva dimensión a un mundo paralelo y finito, y que aún hoy, tiene muchos laberintos por desentramar…¿Estamos listos para ello?

El pasado mes de mayo tuve el inmenso placer de presentar estas reflexiones previas en torno a los Meta-humanos, en el Panel de VRARA del Congreso DES celebrado en Madrid y aquí os dejo el video de la presentación.

https://youtu.be/1QGRvcQiWqE

Desde ONE Digital Consulting, llevamos años desarrollando e implantando plataformas virtuales inmersivas para la educación: Talleres, Masterclasses, Formación de Profesores, Proyectos Colaborativos…en donde miles de estudiantes y profesores han participado de esta experiencia, viviéndola de una manera muy innovadora, inspiradora y positiva.

Estas experiencias nos han permitido desarrollar actividades On-Line, en modo síncrono y asíncrono en varios centros y países del mundo. Desde Estados Unidos, a la India, Rusia, Latino América, Europa, España…y contando con los mejores y mas experimentados colaboradores a nivel internacional. Algo inimaginable hace algunos años, hoy marca un punto de inflexión hacia el nuevo paradigma de una Educación Digital, más inclusiva, participativa, colaborativa, inspiradora, igualitaria, limpia y sostenible.

Cualquier comentario, es siempre bienvenido

Carlos J. Ochoa Fernández ©

Chronicles from the #RealVerse. The New Age of Technology.

The world as we have created, it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking. Albert Einstein.

In just 12 months, the world has been turned upside down. And all predictive models, analyzes and future scenarios have become obsolete without being able to identify a single true and predictable answer about the immediate future.

Phrases such as transformation, adaptation to change, permanently reinventing oneself, sustainable and safe models, have become a thing of the past. All these definitions require a new mentality, attitude and mental strength far superior to what we were used to living together to face the day to day and think about a future, to some extent, stable.

And for this, we must be able to quickly change our way of thinking, acting and conceiving the world as we have done until now, or we will not be able to survive these new, unpredictable and uncertain scenarios.

Living in a permanent state of alert requires great mental strength, but above all honesty, ethics, networking and handling of truthful information in real time. In order to be able to anticipate unwanted scenarios, with some success.

And unfortunately, all this is what we are missing right now, as a society and as individuals.

It is enough to go outside and take a walk through our cities, fields, hospitals, schools, offices and homes and see how in just a few months, everything has radically changed.

While it is true that technology has invaded every corner and space of our lives. Changing our habits and ways of doing things, of working, of communicating … this change must accelerate and find a new temporary space, where we can significantly improve our quality of life. From communications, to transport, through health and health, science, energy, food, in short, each and every one of the activities that human beings develop in their day-to-day life must be reimagined in some way. way, allowing us to benefit from the efficient use of technologies.

Despite what we think, the planet earth has been inhabited in its greatest historical period by dinosaurs. And in the timeline, the human being has barely lived a hundredth part of it. The stone age lasted 200,000 years, the agricultural age 10,000 years, the industrial age 200 years and barely 60 years the era of high technology.

And it has been in this short period of time that the greatest technological developments have taken place, accompanied by the greatest industrial development on the planet, accompanied by the greatest environmental impact in known history.

The main technological drivers are all exponential, the development of broadband, the greater storage and data processing capacity, the increase in clean power generation plants, development in the world of medicine and telemedicine, have democratized access and benefit of technologies by facilitating and simplifying access and management of them to citizens.

The interrelationships that occur between major trends “Megatrends”and “Innovation” is a fertile field for scientists and developers in which new business models and opportunities must be modeled for the new society of the Post-Covid Era.

But in this new scenario, society has new expectations and demands that it is willing to lead, to guarantee a model of sustainability and well-being sponsored by this technological revolution. Transparency, honesty, veracity, ethics, environmental impact, sociability, sustainability, are some of the values ​​that emerge from the new society.

The British Alan Turin, considered by some the father of artificial intelligence, laid the foundations of what we know today as the “Information Society”, back in the 1930s and 1940s. One of the founders of modern computing, he was capable of programming everything that could be specified by an algorithm. And on the other hand, the American Claude Elwood Shannon, elaborated the bases and the essence of the communication mechanism, defining the concept of “information”, as the foundation and ability to store and transfer data. Almost seventy years later, those basic foundations and incipient beginnings of information and communication technologies have become fundamental elements of our current society and future evolution and development.

We are facing a unique opportunity, albeit in a very complex scenario. Which leads us to take on new challenges with courage, seek creative and innovative solutions, focusing primarily on those aspects that provide the greatest value and in which the capacity for green and sustainable leadership makes a difference to us to continue betting on life in the blue Planet.

Carlos J. Ochoa Fernández ©