We’re heading back to the Silicon Slopes of Salt Lake City to check out the latest in the technology learning space.

With a range of top speakers from Google, Microsoft, T-Mobile, Code.org, Oracle and GSK, Pluralsight LIVE takes place in the Utah capital from August 28th to the 30th. The event will also feature a start-up competition where companies will pitch their ideas in front of the Pluralsight community and investors for a chance of winning a $50,000 prize.

Pluralsight LIVE takes place in the Utah capital from August 28th to the 30th
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From my experience of attending last year, Pluralsight LIVE is a great event for anyone interested in technology and learning. And while there is a strong commercial element to the proceedings – this is, after all, a successful and profitable tech company which sells its product to some of the world’s biggest corporations – there is also a strong and genuine sense of mission, and a palpable desire to pay back some of that success by using that same technology to tackle some of the world’s most pressing problems.

#PluralsightLIVE will bring together a range of top speakers from Google, Microsoft, T-Mobile, Code.org, Oracle and GSK
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From my experience of attending last year, Pluralsight LIVE is a great event for anyone interested in technology and learning
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The conference is set in Salt Lake City, which I found to be a pleasant town which combines a welcoming atmosphere with the comforts and cultural options of a large metropolis, all set against the dramatic backdrop of the majestic mountains that surround it. The only downside is that I simply can’t help getting the entire soundtrack of the Book of Mormon stuck in my head as soon as I land, and find myself sometimes humming rather rude songs such as Hasa Diga Eebowai at the most inappropriate moments… Still, the locals are so friendly, and seem to have a sense of humour – the LDS actually bought advertising on the show’s playbill – so it might be all right after all.

As in 2017, this year’s #PluralsightLIVE will take place on the beautiful grounds of the @GrandAmerica hotel
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As in 2017, this year’s event will take place at the beautiful Grand America hotel, which is still on my favourite places to stay list (quite a feat considering they are up against the likes of The Palm in Dubai or the Hotel Miró where we stayed in the same room as some of the stars from Game of Thrones when they were filming near Bilbao) with its opulent-friendly atmosphere and service.

“Find inspiration to push the boundaries of technology and create a brighter future.”

Speaking of inspiration, it’s hard to imagine a tougher act to follow than last year’s amazing headliner Michelle Obama. However, as the youngest-ever recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, bestselling author and one of the world’s best known and loved champions for education, 21-year-old Malala Yousafzai certainly does the job. Having seen some amazing examples of how learning technology and digital skills can empower girls (such as Kizcode, the social enterprise started by Mujde Esin that we featured here previously) I’m very much looking forward to finding out what role she believes they can play in advancing girl’s education and economic empowerment worldwide.

Having seen how projects like @kizcode empower girls through technology and education, I'm looking forward to hearing @malala 's take on digital skills and her mission to ensure school for every child.
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@Malala will be speaking at #PluralsightLIVE 2018
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So check out the full agenda here and do reach out on Twitter (hashtag #PluralsightLIVE) to @alicebonasio or @techtrends_tech if you’re going to be there too!

To find out how to leverage VR/AR/MR in your enterprise, Tech Trends offers bespoke Virtual Reality Consultancy support

Alice Bonasio is a VR Consultant and Tech Trends’ Editor in Chief. She also regularly writes for Fast Company, Ars Technica, Quartz, Wired and others. Connect with her on LinkedIn and follow @alicebonasio and @techtrends_tech on Twitter.

The post Tech Trends at #PluralsightLIVE 2018 appeared first on Tech Trends.

Some of the biggest companies and brightest minds of the VR space will converge for a 2-day event in New York, and we’re joining them!

I know what you’re thinking; aren’t you supposed to be in California? Why yes, even as I’m writing this I’m still recovering from jetlag and acclimatising to this strange bright light they call sunshine.

Experts from NYU and Columbia University Media Labs will discuss the future of the VR industry
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Over the next few days we’ll be in Anaheim covering the Teradata Partners 2017 and just as this baby wraps up, we’re off to the Big Apple. It seems like forever since we last visited the City to check out an innovative pop-up 3D Printed furniture shop, and we really can’t say no to a cool VR showcase and meeting of minds, so bring on those air miles!

NYVR Expo is the first large-scale event in New York dedicated to Virtual and Augmented Reality and will focus on the opportunities that immersive technologies like VR and AR can bring to businesses.

Tech Trends can't resist a cool VR showcase and meeting of minds
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The conference will feature the newest products, services, and technologies from more than 50 manufacturers in the VR/AR industry. I feel lots of gadget geeking coming on, specially since the passes also allow access to its sister conference PhotoPlus Expo. This is the largest photography trade show in North America, so should be right up the street for our Tech Trends Reviews Editor and photographer extraordinaire Tom Atkinson.

“The NYVR Conference and Expo will give attendees an opportunity to see the latest in VR and AR technologies and learn from the world’s foremost authorities about how to apply the technology to their businesses,” said show director Mike Gangel. “Whether you’re in software development, advertising, or real estate, there will be a number of seminars, panel discussions, and special presentations that will address the future needs and opportunities for your business.”

Supported by the New York City Economic Development Corporation, the event will feature representatives from major players in this space such as Microsoft, HTC Vive, Facebook, and Google. It will also host members of the NYU and Columbia University Media Labs, who will also share their thoughts on the future of the industry. A panel of VCS will discuss the funding environment, while Glimpse Group will discuss challenges and share tips for start-ups in the VR/AR ecosystem.

“We reached out to the NYC community, and around the world, for the best-in-class speakers on a range of topics,” says conference advisor Hugh Seaton.

The full list of seminars is available to view and register for here, but check out some of the highlights we’re looking forward to below:

NYVR expo will feature representatives from Microsoft, HTC Vive, Facebook, and Google
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HoloLens Development

Welcome to the future. During this seminar, Microsoft will demonstrate the amazing ability of HoloLens and the latest R&D updates and features.  HoloLens will be able to let you view and interact with work projects such as assembling 3D models, play games like Minecraft, video chat with hologram versions of Skype contacts, and even watch live content.

360 VR Video

Industry veteran Jim Malcolm will share his experiences and shows tips and tricks for making amazing, and amazingly easy, 360 VR videos.

Facebook 360

Join Chetan Gupta, product manager at Facebook, as he shares the latest advancements in 360 technologies with photos and video, including scaling 360 media. The presentation will give attendees a real sense of how this technology, available today, can be applied to their business and creative endeavours.

Photogrammetry

So what is Photogrammetry, anyway, and why is it important in the world of VR and AR? By definition, it is the science of making measurements from photographs but in the world of VR/AR it is a platform for content creators to upload photos and graphics and use as reference for constructing 3D objects. Alban Denoyel is the co-founder and CEO of Sketchfab, a platform to publish and explore 3D content, and in this session will explain how AR/VR content developers can best leverage this.

Future of VR

2017 has been a very exciting year for VR and AR but the technology is moving so quickly it’s hard to distinguish what is already available and what is still in conceptual and prototype stage. Ken Perlin – a professor in the Department of Computer Science at NYU and director of the Future Reality Lab – will share his own thoughts and insights on the future of the industry.

From See-Through to Be-Through: Research Directions in Augmented Reality

Researchers have been actively exploring Augmented Reality (AR) for a half century, first in the lab and later in the streets. What can AR make possible by interactively integrating virtual media with our experience of the physical world? This question, and others, will be answered by Steven Feiner, a Professor of Computer Science at Columbia University where he directs the Computer Graphics and User Interfaces Lab, and co-directs the Columbia Vision and Graphics Center.

VR & Entertainment

NYC Media Lab Executive Director Justin Hendrix conducts a fireside chat to explore how Virtual Reality is changing the entertainment landscape and what the future holds.

Developing Roomscale

The best VR is in room-scale, which is the ability to physically move within a space to replicate real-world movement. HTC’s Dario Laverde will conduct a “walk-around” and demonstrate the latest technology in room-scale development.

We reached out to the community around the world to find the best-in-class speakers
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So if you’re around on the 26^th to the 28^th October 2017 do look us up on Twitter @R3Digital, @alicebonasio and @techtrends_tech we’ll all be tweeting the latest news and cool s**t on the #NYVRExpo hashtag!

@R3Digital @alicebonasio and @techtrends_tech will tweet news and cool s**t on #NYVRExpo
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If you would like to find out how to leverage VR/AR/MR in your enterprise, Tech Trends offers Virtual Reality Consultancy support

Alice Bonasio is a VR Consultant and Tech Trends’ Editor in Chief. She also regularly writes for Fast Company, Ars Technica, Quartz, Wired and others. Connect with her on LinkedIn and follow @alicebonasio and @techtrends_tech on Twitter.

The post Tech Trends at #NYVRExpo 2017 appeared first on Tech Trends.

We’re off to Los Angeles from the 22^nd to the 26^th October to join the brightest minds in data analytics for the Teradata Partners Conference 2017.

Tech Trends continues its relentless globe-trotting by adding yet another top tech event notch to its proverbial bedpost: The Teradata Partners Conference in LA.

Tech Trends will be at the #TDPARTNERS17 conference from the 22nd to the 26th October
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OK, I’m not going to lie. Any chance to escape the rain for a spell of California sunshine is always welcome, yet for anybody who’s into technology, data is actually a pretty sexy subject.

Data is actually a very sexy subject
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Think of any cool tech, from VR to the Internet of Things, EdTech, green energy, mobility, finance, and yes, even sex. Big Data, AI and Machine Learning will be the backbone of how these pan out.

Machine Learning, AI and Big Data affect every cool technology out there
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Described as the premier customer-led global data conference, the conference aims to bring together experts to help companies in all sectors drive more value from data.

At PARTNERS, you will meet and learn from change-agents and practitioners—those marching to their own tune. You will see tomorrow not as another day, but where The Edge of Next is.

Illustrious keynote speakers include Jason Silva from National Geographic’s Brain Games, Emmy-winning tech expert Katie Linendoll and the legendary director of MIT’s Media Lab Joi Ito. I know that I for one am very excited about hearing Mr Ito’s thoughts on what lies just over the horizon for tech.

MIT Media Lab Director Joi Ito is among this year's keynote speakers
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Check out some of the highlights from last year’s conference below:

If you’re lucky enough to be heading over there, reach out and say hello on Twitter @alicebonasio or @techtrends_tech , and you can also follow the latest from the conference on #TDPARTNERS17

To find out how to leverage VR/AR/MR in your enterprise, Tech Trends offers bespoke Virtual Reality Consultancy support

Alice Bonasio is a VR Consultant and Tech Trends’ Editor in Chief. She also regularly writes for Fast Company, Ars Technica, Quartz, Wired and others. Connect with her on LinkedIn and follow @alicebonasio and @techtrends_tech on Twitter.

The post Tech Trends at #TDPARTNERS17 appeared first on Tech Trends.