The Immersive Media podcast
By James Taylor
The aim of this podcast is to introduce you to some of the professionals, practitioners, and researchers working in this field and to help give you an insight into the industry and their own experience.
We have picked guests who represent some of the key topics we are covering in the Immersive Media module but also those that are doing some exciting or unique work.
The Immersive Media podcastMar 14, 2024
Tatiana Collet-Apraxine | The Descent
I recently had the opportunity to chat with Tatiana Collet Apraxine, a VR director/creator and real time artist as well as one of the winners of the Immerse UK Awards 2023 with her VR short film The Descent. Which has also been shown at various festivals.
We talked about her transition into the world of XR storytelling and how she is deeply fascinated about the potential of VR and XR to alter our sense of presence, embodiment, and to enhance the impact of the age-old art of telling stories.
Remember to also take a look at this year's Innovate UK Immersive Tech Awards 2024.
These one-of-a-kind awards aim to help connect students to the XR industry. The idea is to discover where the best XR talent is coming from in the UK, and to bridge the pathway from academic learning to real world problem solving through internship opportunities at leading companies innovating with immersive tech.
The application deadline has just been extended one week until Sunday 24 March.
Liana O'Cleirigh | Narrative Realms
This week I was joined by the talented Liana O'Cleirigh, an Interaction Designer and Grand Prize Winner from the 2023 Immerse UK Awards. Her project, Narrative Realms, an Augmented Reality Story Engine for writers to collaborate, was described as, “a mesmerising tactile collaborative storytelling platform that enriches the creative writing landscape.”
Remember to also take a look at this year's Innovate UK Immersive Tech Awards 2024.
These one-of-a-kind awards aim to help connect students to the XR industry. The idea is to discover where the best XR talent is coming from in the UK, and to bridge the pathway from academic learning to real world problem solving through internship opportunities at leading companies innovating with immersive tech.
The deadline for all categories is Sunday 17 March 2024. Click here to start an application for the Awards.
Amy Chao | Immerse UK
On the 9th March 2023 I spoke with Amy Chao, Community Lead at Immerse UK & Immersive Tech Consultant.
Immerse UK is the UK’s leading membership organisation for immersive technologies bringing together industry, research and academic organisations, public sector and innovators to help fast track innovation, R&D, scalability and company growth.
We talked about supporting the community and creating an accessible talent pipeline for those wishing to explore the sector and what they could do within it.
We also talked about some of the ways Immerse UK have been helping to support the growth of the sector, including the new Immerse UK Awards programme.
The Immerse UK Awards, announced at the 2022 Beyond Conference in Cardiff, aims to help connect students to the XR industry. The idea is to discover where the best XR talent is coming from in the UK, and to bridge the pathway from academic learning to real world problem solving.
All ten finalists will be invited to London to showcase their work (travel fees included) at the Immerse UK Award Reception at ARUP’s headquarters in London on 10 May 2023, where the five category winners, and the two grand prize internship winners will be announced.
There are 5 categories in the Awards:
Digital Art & Creative Storytelling
Sensory
Technical Innovation
UX & UI Design
Best Overall Experience
Submissions will be judged on their execution, creativity, functionality, innovative approach, and potential.
Individual applicants will have to record a short video (3 minutes or less, you will not be judged on high production video quality; a Zoom recording is fine) and fill in the application form with more details about your project. Click here for more details of what the video should cover, and the questions that you will be asked when applying.
DEADLINE: 27 March 2023
For more information visit - https://www.immerseuk.org/awards/
Tom Ffiske | The Immersive Wire
Tom Ffiske writes about immersive technologies through his newsletter the Immersive Wire, dedicated to all things VR, AR, and the metaverse. The goal "to bring a curated digest of the analysis that matters, helping professionals interested in immersive to reach new heights."
Tom has been writing about the immersive technology industry since 2016, covering the latest trends and investments while keeping a pulse on the latest innovations and the future of the sector.
Tom is a successful author and his recent book "The Metaverse: A Professional Guide" looks at immersive technologies, the metaverse, and what the relationship between them is, with the aim to provide insights and guidance on how to navigate the burgeoning world of immersive technologies.
On the 24th February 2022 I spoke to Tom about his experiences, things he has learnt and what he thinks is coming next.
Catherine Robinson (BBC) - Spatial Sound
On the 11th February 2022 I got to speak with Catherine Robinson. Catherine has worked for the BBC since 2001, specialising in sound design for radio drama, as well as binaural audio and 3D sound for 360 video and VR.
Catherine has been integral to bringing spatial audio to some of the BBC's productions that include; The Russell T Davies adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which was the first ever binaural feature film; six 360 films for Planet Earth 2 using dynamic binaural sound design; and an episode of Doctor Who called 'knock Knock' which is the first binaural tv drama to be made available on BBC iPlayer, as well as her work on The Ring as BBC Podplays.
Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/tatami/thrillseeker
License code: BU2FPQJDFFKHQBFD
The Future of Immersive Media | Roundtable discussion
In this episode I spoke with Daniel Dyboski-Bryant from Educators in VR, Rob Eagle from the University of West England and Peter Gardom from 'this great adventure' about the future of immersive media and technology.
This was a roundtable discussion recorded on the 16th April 2021.
Peter Gardom | this great adventure
Whilst technological developments in immersive media are helping to grow the potential reach, improve user experience, and open up new ways in which creators can use it, there is a potential for us to be "dazzled" by the new and lose focus on what is important, the user and the experience.
On the 10th March 2021, I spoke to Peter Gardom, Director at this great adventure, a company working with different organisations, including museums and heritage sites, to develop engaging immersive experiences, but with a clear focus on the story and the audience, not the technology.
Website - https://www.thisgreatadventure.world/
Rob Eagle | University of West England, Bristol
Immersive media is being used in new and exciting ways, and has the potential to give audiences a unique experience or perspective on the world around them.
On the 21st January 2021 I spoke to Rob Eagle about his own work and experience with immersive media. A digital artist and researcher based at the University of West England, Bristol, Rob has a unique incite when it comes to immersive media and how it can be used. His most recent project Through the Wardrobe explores gender expression in unique and exciting ways.
Twitter: @Rob_Eagle_
Website: http://throughthewardrobe.net/
Rosie Summers | VR Artist
Rosie Summers is a 3D animator at XR games, and a Virtual Reality Artist. Working with the medium of VR Rosie has created some unique and amazing pieces of art that each tell their own story. However, unlike traditional 2D art, Rosie is able to bring a whole new dimension to her work and the stories being told.
I spoke to Rosie on the 11th February 2021 about her experience and to get her thought on immersive media.
Twitter: @VR_Rosie
Website: https://www.rosiesummers.com/
Daniel Dyboski-Bryant | Educators in VR
Virtual Reality, or VR, is growing in its potential applications and reach, with issues around accessibility and technological limitations beginning to be resolved as the technology quickly develops. One sector in which VR has shown real potential, and where people have really engaged with the technology, is education.
One individual who has been actively pushing the use of VR in his own work, but also in the educational community at large is Daniel Dyboski-Bryant.
On the 29th January 2021, I had the opportunity to speak to Daniel about his experience, the work he is doing and what excites him the most about immersive media.
Website: https://educatorsinvr.com/
Twitter: @EducatorsVR