A talk from the Consumer Track at AWE USA 2017 - the largest conference for AR+VR in Santa Clara, California May 31- June 2, 2017. David Traub (Epiphany Film Fund): VR, AR and Life: The Inevitable - And Hopeful - Integration Technology is neither good nor bad: its how you use it. As low cost, ever higher fidelity immersive interfaces - VR, AR increasingly MR - continue their race to organic integration within our lives, the question is increasingly asked: what does these intrusions do to our authentic 'humanness" - and our pursuit for a higher quality of life for all? And accordingly, where do the greatest opportunities for both financial and social ROI lay? This panel (or presentation) will address the psychology, sociology and digital anthropology of immersion - and how these new increasingly powerful tools of persuasion are likely to be integrated into our consciousness, both irresponsibly, and ideally for the better. http://AugmentedWorldExpo.com

1. VR, AR and Life:The
Inevitable - And Hopeful –
Integration;
Our Positive Future in 10 Minutes...
David C.Traub, Ed. M
1989Thesis: The Design of aVR/AI-Powered
‘Psychodynamic Holodeck’ for Modeling Family
SystemsTherapy,
Harvard Graduate School of Education (with AI
class work at MIT Media Lab)
Exec Producer; JOBS, Epiphany Film Fund
Co-Exec Director, S.E.E.M.,UNGSII.org
2

2. 3
We are Homo Sapiens
Which means ‘Wise Humans’
We are the only survivors
of the Homo Genus
Why?

3. 4
We are different from our competitors and other
animals
Many ways: speech, upright posture, clothing,
life after children, etc.
Perhaps the most unique differentiator:
Our Brain

4. 5
A brain which allows us to...
Think, reason, be rational, self aware, and even
moral...
And as highly-cooperative animals, share such
meaning via stories

5. 6
A skill that has been used – and abused – since
the beginning of time
The Soviets realized that story – in the form of
‘soft power’ propaganda – could be as powerful
as the bullet.
In order to weave together 150 tribes and 15
countries into a single culture, they invented
Montage, a new kind of cinema, that if well done,
could trick the brain into seeing the content as
primary – as Real.

6. 7
Immersion –VR, AR, MR, XR, Holography,
Telepresence, etc. – and the stories it projects will
be exponentially more compelling, irresistible and
believable to the mechanism of the brain that
cinema could ever dream to me.
All the brain wants to do is solve the 5-7 problems
it manages at any given time, and does so by
filtering approx. 400b bits/sec of incoming reality
in search of solutions.

7. 8
Immersive Computing IndustryToday
Gaming – obvious
Industrial scaffolding, Enhanced Education,
VirtualTravel, etc. - all obvious
Capturing our lives
– a natural extension
Kids love to be stimulated
The above and more are all inevitable as evolving
interfaces/biz models enable.
.
As with all genuinely valuable innovation, all will
be absorbed into the Mainstream (the Borg)

8. 9
Our LivesToday
For those not on the tip of society- changing
technology, political and economic power: fear
and anxiety.
For those increasingly dependent on/enmeshed
within pervasive social technology; alienation,
but also globally – more connection.
For those with the relevant skills, social capacity
and creative vision: Hope.
Please consider: technology is neither good nor
evil; it depends on how you use it

9. 10
My Personal Choice forToday
Operate within the international technology &
entertainment economy – particularly as
immersion & AI enable their confluence - to take
care of my family and loved ones
But equally, empower ALL of us as I’ve been
blessed to do - with a particular focus on
producing content that exploits this convergence
in a manner that helps to accelerate – versus
undermine
- our humanness.

10. 11
Your Choice
Continue your good work, overcome your
challenges, realize success as you now choose to
define it..
Follow your own dreams, your karma, your own
life arc – but know that each and every one of you
is also gifted with an absolutely unique gift to
humanity which you will find if you look for it..
To find your contribution, see the goal(s) which
accelerated my path: the UN’s 17 Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs)...

11. 12
The 17 SDGs:The United Nation’s greatest
accomplishment since its founding inWW2.
A comprehensive roadmap to bringing peace and
prosperity (QOL) to all Human Beings - and our
Planet - by 2030.
Amazingly, a legally-binding agreement signed by
all 193 counties in 2015.
Equally binding on each of these countries – and all
their corporations and institutions.
A ‘Story’ that will be told by us via immersive
narratives.

12. 13
The 17 SDGs

13. 14
Thank you for inviting us.
And for allowing your brain
to do the right thing.
For you.
Your spirit.
And for our children’s, humanity’s
And planet’s future.
David.Traub@ungsii.org

14. 15
Abstract:
VR, AR and Life:The Inevitable - And Hopeful – Integration
1:30pm - 1:45pm Jun 1
Technology is neither good nor bad: its how you use it. As low cost, ever higher
fidelity immersive interfaces -VR,AR increasingly MR - continue their race to
organic integration within our lives, the question is increasingly asked: what does
these intrusions do to our authentic 'humanness" - and our pursuit for a higher
quality of life for all?And accordingly, where do the greatest opportunities for
both financial and social ROI lay?This panel (or presentation) will address the
psychology, sociology and digital anthropology of immersion - and how these
new increasingly powerful tools of persuasion are likely to be integrated into our
consciousness, both irresponsibly, and ideally for the better.