"The point here is not to have a lot of people just talking about (VR)," comments VRAR Chicago Founder Matthew Wren, of the upcoming Chicago XR Summit.

"...We want them to come into the space, put the headsets on and actually try this."

VRARA's Chicago XR Summit, happening on June 4th at Illinois Institute of Technology and virtually, in Frame VR, will be unique in several ways.

Breaking new ground, hands-on

In addition, no speakers will be featured. Attendees get to explore exhibitors' innovations in immersive technology through hands-on demonstrations.

Also, Matthew says, exhibitors will not be charged for exhibiting their products and services! While they'll pay a deposit to reserve the space, that deposit will be returned after their appearance at the Chicago XR Summit.

And last--but absolutely not least--Matthew and his team are exploring a new way for virtual attendees to experience the Chicago XR Summit!

"We are experimenting with technology that, frankly, I haven't seen anyone do before," Matthew says.

The overall goal: to educate and involve Chicago industries--and individuals--in the uses of immersive technology in day-to-day life in the workplace, education and creative disciplines.

A mission of exploration

VRAR Chicago, which Matthew founded in 2017, supports individuals and organizations in implementing virtual and immersive technologies into their products and services. For the past eight years, they've hosted their free hybrid monthly event series, The Next Evolution, where attendees explore the ways new immersive technologies can become valuable tools in their industries and future employment opportunities.

In other words, they're showing people the ways immersive technologies' capabilities extend far beyond the "gaming" applications with which many people associate them.

And Chicago XR Summit supports this goal by introducing attendees to some of the uses of immersive technology which they may never have imagined.

Matthew shared the story of creating VRAR Chicago, talked about some of the exhibitors during last year's Chicago XR Summit, and offered some guidelines for successful virtual events.

And, be sure to reserve your tickets for Chicago XR Summit. Matthew warns that this is going to sell out!

Can we work in tandem with AI to craft a future world in which we'll want to live?

Futurist, AI ethicist. anthropologist and educator Dr. Lollie Mancey says we can--and must.

The infusion of artificial intelligence, into all sectors, is inevitable, she continues.

"We can't just shut our eyes to it and say, 'it's not going to happen. It's already happened," she says.

"And actually there are some amazing, incredible benefits, as well as some not-so-good things, coming."

A proactive approach

As Programme Director at University College Dublin's Innovation Academy, Dr. Mancey's expertise is based on her experience in multiple areas.

In addition to her background in anthropology, she is an entrepreneur who has. so far, founded and directed three businesses. She is a broadcaster, whose most recent work included co-hosting RTE's "Futureville Ireland" and her radio show on Dublin South FM. Dr. Mancey also hosts a podcast, "An Entrepreneur Like You", on Spotify.

An award-winning storyteller and keynote speaker, Dr. Mancey likes to challenge her listeners to explore new ideas--and specifically, to imagine the ways they can have "a place at the table" as artificial intelligence evolves into all aspects and industries of the future. Her research and exploration of the challenges of AI focuses on the ethics of its use, for a human-centered approach to a rapidly-changing world.

Dr. Mancey talked about her background, some of her research in AI and the directions she recommends everyone take, to stay proactive and collaborative with artificial intelligence in education and the future workplace.

As the world watches the activities of NASA's SpaceX Crew-10 what is life like, aboard the International Space Station?

NASA Astronaut and retired U.S. Navy Captain Stephen G. Bowen can certainly answer that question.

Steve has flown four separate missions aboard the International Space Station. Most recently, he served as commander aboard NASA’s SpaceX Crew-6 mission to the ISS, in 2023. Over the course of his career, he has conducted 10 spacewalks. In all, he's logged a cumulative total of 227 days in space.

And the best part of it, he says, is getting to work with his fellow astronauts towards the goals of each mission.

"There is no better feeling you'll have in life, than achieving something or succeeding as a team," he says.

In fact, those achievements included rebuilding parts of the ISS!

Steve says that his first three flights on the International Space Station included bringing up the galley for the U.S. side, a module for the Russian side and a new stowage module for equipment.

In addition, Steve and his crew members were involved in some very exciting research projects, from around the world, that could have some exciting implications for medical science in the future.

"What we learn on orbit really informs how we understand the world," he explains.

In this interview, recorded in early 2024, Steve talked about his background, offered a look at life aboard the International Space Station and explained some of the ways astronauts’ work in space can improve life on Earth.