This month we are honoured to host the Father of Wearable Computing, Steve Mann and provide Canada's first look at the much anticipated augmented reality glasses, Meta.
Steve Mann made Toronto an epicentre of wearable tech with his wearable inventions including the smartwatch videophone, HDR, and the EyeTap Digital Glass which predates Google Glass by 30 years. In 1992 Mann took this invention from Toronto to Massachusetts Institute of Technology, founding the MIT Media Lab's Wearable Computing project as its first member. Mann is the Chief Scientist at the Creative Destruction Lab at Rotman’s School of Management, co-founder of InteraXon and the Chief Scientist at Meta, a California-based startup, wearable AR glasses.
Meta is the first wearable Augmented Reality computer that lets you create and share digital objects in the real world. Meta's AR platform has attracted thousands of development groups building professional and gaming applications for medical simulation, education, government, architecture, industrial design, and many more.
Grab your spot now. This is sure to be a packed event.
Agenda
- 6:30-7:00PM: Doors Open & Exhibitor Area Begins
- 7:00-7:05PM: Opening Remarks
- 7:05-7:35PM: Keynote presentation from The Father of Wearable Computing, Steve Mann
- 7:35-7:45PM: Q&A with Steve Mann
- 7:45-8:00PM: Canadian Premiere of Meta
- 8:00-8:25PM: Panel: Augmented Reality in Everyday Life: Wearable Computing
- Steve Mann, the Father of Wearable Computing and Chief Scientist at Meta
- Todd Revolt, Director of Strategic Alliance at Meta
- Helen Papagiannis, AR specialist and author of 40 ideas
- Caitlin Fisher, co-founder of York's Future Cinema Lab
- Ray Sharma, Executive Managing Partner of Extreme Venture and founder and Chairman of XMG Studio
- Moderated by Tom Emrich, Founder of We Are Wearables
- :25-8:30PM: Micro-presentation of Englightli, winners of the PCH Hardware Hackathon
- 8:30-10:00PM: Bar Opens, Food Served and exhibitor area open:
- Meta, the first wearable augmented reality computer
- ReDeTec, makers of the ProtoCycler - the first complete desktop filament recycler
- Decimal Lab, develops wearable augmented reality apps on heads-up displays, brain interfaces, garments and other platforms.
A big thanks to our sponsors MaRS Discovery District Centre, Uproar PR, CloudExchange, EY Canada, BetaKit and the Reach app for making this event possible.
About The Tech
Meta
Meta is the first wearable Augmented Reality computer that lets you create and share digital objects in the real world. Meta's AR platform has attracted thousands of development groups building professional and gaming applications for medical simulation, education, government, architecture, industrial design, and many more.
ReDeTec
ReDeTec is a Toronto based startup that focuses on sustainable creativity. Their first product, ProtoCycler, removes the cost and waste associated with 3D printing, making it both a more sustainable and accessible technology. By eliminating the constraints imposed by budgetary or environmental concerns, the user is empowered with unlimited creative freedom - and that's what Renewable Design Technology is all about!
Decimal Labs
Decimal Lab develops wearable augmented reality apps on heads-up displays, brain interfaces, garments and other platforms. It is dedicated to exploring how digital technologies that are personal like wearable tech are affecting life, culture and the arts. Decimal Lab is also a META pioneer and one of the first labs in the world to work on the META platform. The lab has recently begun designing a prototype for META Museum, which will enhance the museum guest experience by using gestural and visual augmented reality. Decimal Lab is led by Dr. Isabel Pedersen, Canada Research Chair in Digital Life, Media, and Culture and an Associate Professor at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology.
About our Speakers & Panelists
Steve Mann
Steve Mann is widely regarded as “The Father of Wearable Computing” [IEEE ISSCC 2000]. His work as an artist, scientist, designer, and inventor made Toronto the world's epicentre of wearable technologies back in the 1980s. In 1992 Mann took this invention from Toronto to Massachusetts Institute of Technology, founding the MIT Media Lab's Wearable Computing project as its first member. In the words of the Lab's founding Director, Nicholas Negroponte: “Steve Mann is the perfect example of someone... who persisted in his vision and ended up founding a new discipline.”
Mann also invented the smartwatch videophone (wearable computer) in 1998, which was featured on the cover of Linux Journal in 2000, and presented at IEEE ISSCC2000, 2000 February 7, where he was named “The Father of Wearable Computing”. To this day, Toronto remains an international hotbed for the development of wearable technologies.
Some of Mann's other inventions include HDR (High Dynamic Range) Imaging, now used in nearly every commercially manufactured camera, and the EyeTap Digital Eye Glass which predates the Google Glass by 30 years. Now as the Chief Scientist at Meta, a California-based startup, wearable AR glasses will be brought to a mass market. Recently, Steve and his team successfully raised US$23 million in funding to support Meta’s Spacesglasses.
Steve received his PhD from MIT in 1997 and then returned to Toronto in 1998 where he is now a tenured full professor at the University of Toronto in the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science departments. During his early years at U of T he created the world’s first Mobile Apps Lab (1999) as a part of his wearable computing and AR course. He is also the Chief Scientist at the Creative Destruction Lab at Rotman’s School of Management. Mann holds multiple patents, and has contributed to the founding of numerous companies including InteraXON, makers of Muse, “The Most Important Wearable of 2014”.
Mann is also the recipient of the 2015 Digital Pioneer Award.
Helen Papagianis
Dr. Helen Papagiannis is recognized as a world leading expert in the field of Augmented Reality (AR). She has been working with AR for a decade as a researcher, designer, and technology evangelist with a focus on storytelling and creating compelling experiences in AR. Dr. Papagiannis was named among the NEXT 100 Top Influencers (#16) of the Digital Media Industry in 2013, and is featured as an innovator in the book, “Augmented Reality: An Emerging Technologies Guide to AR”, published in 2013. Her work and research in the field include her past roles as Chief Innovation Officer at Infinity Augmented Reality Inc. (New York City and Tel Aviv), and Senior Research Associate at York University’s Augmented Reality Lab in the Department of Film, Faculty of Fine Art (Toronto).
Dr. Papagiannis has presented her interactive work and Ph.D. research at global conferences and invited events including TEDx (Technology, Entertainment, Design), ISMAR (International Society for Mixed and Augmented Reality) and ISEA (International Symposium for Electronic Art). Her TEDx 2011 talk was featured among the Top 10 Talks on Augmented Reality and Gamified Life. Prior to her augmented life, Dr. Papagiannis was a member of the internationally renowned Bruce Mau Design studio where she was project lead on “Massive Change: The Future of Global Design”, an internationally touring exhibition and best-selling book examining the new inventions, technologies, and events changing the world.
Caitlin Fisher
Caitlin Fisher directs the Augmented Reality Lab at York University where she’s held the Canada Research Chair in Digital Culture for the past decade. A 2013 Fulbright Chair, Fisher is the recipient of many international awards for digital storytelling including the International Electronic Literature Award for Fiction and the International Vinaròs Prize for digital poetry. She serves on the international steering committee for HASTAC, the Humanities Arts Science Advanced Collaboratory and the international Board of directors for the Electronic Literature Organization. Currently she is engaged in a collaborative research project with Steve Mann exploring souveillance, wearable computing and new literary forms with Meta Spaceglass.
Ray Sharma
Ray Sharma is the founder and Executive Managing Partner of Extreme Venture Partners. EVP is an accomplished venture capital firm, as determined by exits and investment returns. Ray is also the founder and Chairman of XMG Studio, a critically acclaimed game studio with tens of millions of fans worldwide. Ray was also a founder and former Chairman of Xtreme Labs, a World-class mobile and web application developer. At the time of its sale to private investors, Xtreme Labs was Canada’s largest mobile app developer.
Previously Ray spent over 10 years in wireless technology investment banking research. During that period Ray was the top-ranked wireless technology analyst based on Greenwich and Brendan Woods International surveys of fund managers for 5 of 8 eligible years.
Ray serves the community through appointments including: Board of Trustees, Royal Ontario Museum; Advisory Panel on Open Government, Treasury Board of Canada; National Council, CD Howe Institute; creator and leader of the Great Canadian Appathon (GCA) and Canadian Open Data Experience (CODE) national hackathon competitions.
Todd Revolt
Todd is the head of Strategic Alliance at Meta Co. and has more than 15 years experience in the software industry. He built global channels at Zendesk, Atlassian, Lithium, and Zero G. At each, he was responsible for overseeing a variety of activities including marketing, sales, new business development and global expansion. Todd holds a bachelor's degree from Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado.
About Our Sponsors
MaRS Discovery District Centre
MaRS Discovery District is a mission-driven innovation centre located in Toronto. MaRS works with partners to catalyze, accelerate and amplify innovation. MaRS supports entrepreneurs building Canada’s next generation of growth companies.
Uproar PR
Uproar PR is an innovative consumer technology public relations and social media agency. Along with their other technology practices, the firm has successfully built brand recognition for its wearable tech clients. Within the Toronto and Waterloo communities, Uproar works with Thalmic Labs, Bionym Kiwi Wearables and PUSH. With Uproar's media relations experience, those companies have been featured in media outlets including The Today Show, Business Insider, New York Times and CNBC, just to name a few. The firm specializes in developing campaigns that drive awareness and sales, creating industry buzz.
CloudExchange
CloudExchange is a white-labeled app store platform that connects you with your users and developers. Our simple and easy to use platform gets your branded app store and branded developer portal up and running quickly, no big budgets or custom code required, helping you get the very best apps into the hands of your users.
BetaKit
BetaKit covers Canadian startup-news and tech innovation.
EY Canada
EY Canada helps media, technology, telecommunications and retail companies adapt to change, manage risk, meet regulatory requirements, foster product innovation and develop new business models. Our team of experienced industry professionals in Canada and around the world — supported by the EY Global Centres of Excellence — provides a multidisciplinary team of assurance, advisory, tax and transaction services to help you achieve your objectives.
Reach
Reach is an app that lets you make real Connections, in real time. Big Rock Labs (@bigrocklabs) will help WWTO participants make real connections in real time using Reach (@thereachapp), a new free mobile professional networking app that uses location-based technology to connect professionals with others nearby. Be among the first in the world to take networking to the next level with Reach at WWTO. Download Reach for free on iOS or Android.
About Our Partners
Pixelbot
Pixelbot is a league of hackers, hipsters, and hustlers - passionate about empowering ventures that are changing the world. Think of us as your internal startup arm. We bring the design and development expertise, business acumen, and (wo)manpower you need to innovate and scale in this digital age. We partner with both startups and large organizations on projects ranging from mobile/desktop experiences to service design. Follow us @hellopixelbot.
Belight
Belight: Billy Lee is a Photographer capturing events of our times to be shared and remembered. #event #conference #photography #photojournalist #documentarian #life #technology #wearable #startups #entrepreneurship #education #time #learning #change #better #experiences #humanevolution #involution #balance #awareness #creation #creativity #design Find him at @makingsenses or billy@belight.ca
Interested in speaking at or sponsoring the event? Want to join the team? Or have some feedback? Email the Toronto team at toronto@wearewearables.com.