Look In the LAB- Summer 2023
Summer 2023 Newsletter
Summertime in Chapel Hill is a magical time… USUALLY!
While we typically struggle to pull ourselves back inside, scorching temps have made us flock to any space with AC. Counterintuitively, this made us much more productive!
“Teamwork makes the dream work, but a vision becomes a nightmare when the leader has a big dream and a bad team.”
John Maxwell
Luckily we have a fantastic team! Our summer was particularly exciting, as we were able to welcome our wonderful Innovation Fellows- almost all of whom were new faces!
Summer Innovation Fellows
Our Innovation Fellows program allows us to bring together lots of different types of thinkers, and build a truly diverse, cross-functional, multidisciplinary team.
What’s News?
We’ve been hard at work all summer leveraging innovative and emerging technologies to solve real problems.
Media Monks
This summer, we made technology history live streaming the first sporting event in stereoscopic 3D, full 8K resolution, at 60fps. We streamed directly to nextgen VR headsets like those made by Apple and Meta! This was a partnership led by Media.Monks working along with UNC Blue Sky Innovations to design a custom workflow and pipeline with Amazon Web Services (AWS), RED Digital Cinema, NVIDIA, and UNC.
IdeaVR
Over the summer, we debuted our latest Virtual Reality training module: IdeaVR. IdeaVR is a unique VR project designed to provide employees with a safe, immersive space to practice and navigate challenging conversations that occur in the workplace. By placing users in realistic, first-person scenarios, we facilitate experiential learning that promotes equitable decision-making and inclusivity.
Our VR simulations focus on honing critical interpersonal skills in contextually rich settings, bolstering communication, and relationship-building capabilities. Our virtual curriculum aims to address common workplace issues, such as bias, pregnancy-related discussions, ‘us vs. them’ mindsets, and equitable treatment.
INSEAD- Abu Dhabi
Grace and Steven had the exciting opportunity to discuss this technology at the 1st Annual Meeting of the Global XR Management Community in Abu Dhabi hosted by INSEAD.
Fortune Brainstorming Tech 2023
We were also delighted Steven was able to attend this year’s Fortune Brainstorm Tech conference in Park City, Utah. Engaging with respected leaders and being included in such a prestigious event truly underscored our place in the tech community. We’re inspired by the insights shared and look forward to future collaborations.
See below for some of Steven’s takeaways!
AWS
Our very own Liz Gibson attended the AWS summit in Washington D.C.! In addition to networking and checking out some awesome new tech, Liz was able to get the scoop firsthand from FinTech leaders about what they see as the biggest trends in tech.
Final Reflections
My journey as an Innovation Fellow this summer has been nothing short of transformative. Being immersed in the heart of all the groundbreaking projects and innovations we’ve achieved in the lab has been a profound learning experience, and has been a huge inspiration. Each endeavor I’ve been lucky enough to be a part of, from the pioneering VR modules to the historic live streams, has shaped my perspective and fueled my passion for technology and innovation.
Getting the chance to learn from our amazing team has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I’m so grateful and proud to call myself an Innovation Fellow! As we transition into the fall semester, I’m so excited to see what comes next. Here’s to the future, to growth, and to the endless possibilities that await!
To stay up to date on the latest happenings in the Lab, connect with us on social media @UNCBlueSky, and be on the lookout for future newsletters that will be appearing more regularly!
