After a combined 20 years of studying and teaching foreign languages, Michael McDonald created Gold Lotus which aims to demonstrate how virtual reality can support the learning and teaching of foreign languages.
Recent projects include the launch of the Handy English VR vocabulary-building app, a 24-hour VR English lesson and cultural event to raise funds for the fight against Covid and programs in schools around the world aimed at raising awareness of how VR can be used to develop language skills and cultural awareness, with particular focus on students building their own webXR spaces to share their local cultural heritage in a unique VR exchange program. His most recent course in partnership with VictoryXR has just concluded on the ENGAGE VR platform – Public Speaking in a Multicultural World.
Job is the founder of StanLab Ltd, an education technology company that is leveraging immersive technology to build learning solutions to create access to quality education for all students no matter their background. Stanlab builds 3D interactive, virtual laboratory application that provides practical science education to students especially those who do not have access to traditional laboratories in resource-constrianed settings.
He is the 2018 Winner of the Global #IdeasChangeLives Competition organized by British Council and a top education innovator as recognized by Deloitte and World Economic Forum in the #WorldClass Education Challenge.
Steve Bambury has worked in education and training for 20 years. In 2016 he became the first Head of Digital Learning and Innovation across the JESS school group before moving on to work as an education consultant in 2019. This included an extended engagement within New Media Academy where he led on education strategy and immersive technology and coordinated the deployment of the first virtual campus in The Middle East.
Steve has won awards from Apple, Microsoft, GESS, BETT and EdTech Digest for his working integrating technology in learning and professional development. In 2017, he hosted the world’s first professional development sessions inside virtual reality and in 2018 he co-hosted the world’s first global lesson inside VR alongside Pixar co-founder Loren Carpenter. Steve is on the judging panel for both the GESS Awards and World VR Awards and his work with VR has been featured on Forbes Middle East, Arabian Business, Dubai One and more.
Steve now works as a consultant and project manager in the field of NFTs, Web3 and the Metaverse.
Yinch is a software engineer who works in the games and real time graphics space. His recent projects have included a VR ski fitness game, a jetliner cockpit procedural trainer and MRI machine simulator. He believes that technology should help solve real world problems and make life better.
He works closely with local schools to give access to immersive, interactive and inspiring VR learning experiences, ranging from an ISS jetpack adventure to Shakespeare\’s Globe Theatre. His company also runs programmes that encourage pupils to learn coding skills.
Before VR, his company has worked on video installations, healthcare mobile apps, treadmill fitness software and interactive 3D kiosks. Clients including Bank of America, Ford Motor Company and Samsung USA.
Yinch founded playko after working as lead developer on console games and multimedia titles. He graduated with a Masters in Engineering from Imperial College, London.
Alex spent 10 years in the games industry with Codemasters before starting RiVR in 2015.
We started making 360 videos for car manufacturers and holiday brands all around the world which led us to create some software to synchronise all the virtual reality headset together. RiVR link is the software that came out of those projects and is now being used all over the world for training in all industries particularly first responders.
RiVR has also created photo realistic fire and crime scene investigation scenarios (RiVR investigate) for UK and US governments and we now see the software being used in multiple sectors.
as we look to the future we are growing our scanning techniques and pipelines allowing us to create two-dimensional documentary series which incorporates 6° of freedom photorealistic room scale virtual reality as well!
Step inside is the new platform we are creating to allow people to go that next step with a documentary film or TV series.
James is a marketing expert in the immersive technology sector, with extensive experience in marketing VR and AR solutions stretching back to the launch of the first Oculus headset in 2013.
He is currently Chief Marketing Officer at The Glimpse Group (Nasdaq: VRAR), a multi-solution immersive technology company with an ecosystem of 13 subsidiary companies. Previously he founded XRTech Marketing consultancy and was CMO at VR platform provider Immerse.
Tom Ffiske writes about immersive technologies at the Immersive Wire, a newsletter and website dedicated to all things VR, AR, and the metaverse. His goal is to bring a curated digest of the analysis that matters, helping professionals interested in immersive to reach new heights.
Tom has written about the industry since 2016, covering the latest trends and investments while keeping a pulse on the latest innovations. He has spoken in several events, published a bestselling book on the sector, and help connect professionals to help each other soar.
Daniel passed away on November 15, 2024. The Polys team and the global XR community mourns his loss. This bio is dated to 2022. Please enjoy the legacy of his passion and wisdom in his appearances on The Polys, the WebXR Summit Series, and MetaTr@versal.
Daniel Dyboski-Bryant is a humanitarian committed to XR for good. His personal mission is to explore, drive and share the development and application of benevolent and meaningful and impactful experiences with emerging technologies.
Daniel is the Executive Director of the Virtual World Society – a US non-profit – leading their mission to inspire and enable people to thrive, solve problems and create positive impact with emerging technologies. Since 2015, the VWS has run projects around the globe with families, schools and communities; has recognised and celebrated achievements in the XR community; and has contributed thought leadership to the industry.
Daniel co-founded Educators in VR in 2018 to bring together a global community of 3500 educators pioneering the integration of VR for learning, teaching and beyond. He specializes in R.I.S.E. – Remote Immersive Synchronous Experiences and Education. Educators in VR has run more than 3000 virtual events, workshops, presentations and conferences. In Feb 2020, two weeks before Covid 19 arrived, Educators in VR hosted the 2020 International Educators in VR Summit – a 6-day, 24/7, fully immersive VR conference on 5 platforms with 170 speakers, 150 events and 95% CO2 saving compared with a real-world conference. In May 2021 they ran a similar 30-day conference on 20 immersive VR platforms. Daniel will host the WebXR Production Summit on October 13.
Daniel has been an educator for 25 years, teaching languages, entrepreneurship and innovation and training trainers at colleges, universities and corporations in Germany, England, Wales and online. At Coleg Menai Daniel built and led an immersive learning Lab where he used VR to engage with migrant workers and refugees for which he won Inspire Tutor of the Year award in 2020.
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Kai Frazier is an educator turned EdTech entrepreneur passionate about using tech to provide opportunities for underestimated communities.
She is the founder & CEO of Kai XR, which uses Metaverse technologies to develop critical 21st century skills in students preparing them for a rapidly evolving future. Kai also serves as Global Child Safety & Education Adviser for the XR Safety Initiative, XRSI.
Before creating Kai XR, she worked with several museums such as the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum as well as the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture, specializing in digital strategy and content creation.
Her company is backed by Techstars & T-Mobile and has been featured in Forbes, NBC, the Steve Harvey Show & more.