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food tech 2018 | Austin Forum
Metaverse Meetup
November 30, 2022 | 6:15-8:00 p.m. CST | Event Type: In-person, Discussion
Event Type: In-person, Discussion

Location

argodesign
108 W Gibson St, Austin, TX 78704
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Moderators


Jarrett Webb
Technology Director
argodesign

Amber Allen
Founder & CEO
Double A Labs

Jay Williams
Vice President
Frontier Marketplaces

​Michael Shepherd
Distinguished Engineer
Dell Technologies

Finn Staber
Founder / Programmer / Designer
​
Chicken Waffle

Erik Summa
Innovation Experience Lead, Innovation Studio
Dell Technologies
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Agenda
6:15-6:45 p.m. | Arrival & networking
6:45-7:00 p.m. | Speaker presentation
7:00-7:45 p.m. | Group discussion
7:45 p.m. | Closing comments
8:00 p.m. | End


The hype around the metaverse is strong, but the potential for metaverse technologies to change how we learn, work, play, shop, and more is huge. How do we separate the hype from the high-potential opportunities and applications, and demonstrate real value in many aspects of our lives, jobs, schools, and more? Come join us for a metaverse meetup with experts sharing information and perspectives with attendees of all expertise levels. Everyone is welcome, and we will come out with guidance for how you and your company can make the most of the metaverse!
Moderators
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Jarrett Webb
Technology Director
argodesign
​Jarrett Webb is Technology Director at argodesign, where he specializes in interaction and experience design with emerging technologies such as Spatial Computing and natural user interfaces. His 20+ years of experience include modernizing Dell Financial’s call center operations, management software for jail systems that are in place throughout Texas and Georgia, and multiple interactive installations: for AT&T, deployed in stores around the world and its flagship Michigan Ave store in Chicago; Audi, deployed at specialized Audi City dealerships worldwide; and DARPA, featured on 60 Minutes with Leslie Stahl. He was the product strategy and design director of Magic Leap’s The Lab platform and the author of Beginning Kinect Programming with the Microsoft Kinect SDK.
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Amber Allen
Founder & CEO
Double A Labs
Amber Allen, CEO & Founder of Double A Labs, is a leading expert on metaverse and hybrid events. Forever a “gamer girl” at heart, Amber is passionate about creating experiences and tools that promote human connection and boost productivity. For the past decade, Double A Labs has been leveraging innovative, data driven, immersive technologies to help brands strengthen teams and connect with customers. They recently launched Double A, a proprietary metaverse platform where people chat, learn, and play to optimize sales, employee training and customer experiences.

A community leader and mentor, Amber is an active board member at the University of Texas's Game Development and Design Program, the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), the Raiden Science Foundation and the Center for Child Protection.
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Jay Williams
Vice President
Frontier Marketplaces
Jay Williams has been a chief technology officer and consultant to many of the Fortune 500. As a consultant he has developed a highly refined process for managing a company’s technology infrastructure, including applications, security, and network assets. Jay is a highly sought-after, enterprise systems architect and problem solver. He has advised a number of high profile technology companies on their products and is known for a rare combination of deep technology expertise, expert problem solving ability and business acumen. Jay is widely respected by peers and has influenced many pivotal technology consortia and industry steering groups. He regularly consults with senior technology and business executives and is frequently consulted by venture and capital investors for analyses of new technology strategies.
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Michael Shepherd
Distinguished Engineer
Dell Technologies
Michael is a Distinguished Engineer and recognized technical evangelist who speaks globally on the impact of emerging technologies. With 25 yrs Technology experience backed by 14 years growing up in Asia, he currently leads AI Research and Emerging Tech for Dell Technologies Services. Michaels responsibilities include engaging with external researchers and collaborating internally across the Chief Technology Offices to envision and drive transformation as we prepare for the Age of AI.

As Augmented Intelligence improves the efficiency by which humans and machines work together, Michael focuses on “the possibilities” with Machine Intelligence and provides vision for how Data Scientists in Dell Technologies Services can help drive human progress and better outcomes for businesses and humanity. Michaels experience as a sole proprietor and subsequent 20+ yrs at Dell in multiple organizations gives him a unique perspective of Dell’s entire product lifecycle. He serves on the MSBA advisory council for the University of Texas McCombs School of Business and has been granted thirteen hardware and software patents in eight countries.

When he isn’t consumed by Machine Intelligence, he can be found (or not) hiking with family and friends somewhere off the grid…getting recharged by nature where technology has yet to reach.
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​Finn Staber
Founder / Programmer / Designer
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Chicken Waffle
Game Programmer/Designer with a diverse background in Visual FX, Animation, 3D Art, Level Design and Blockchain/NFT solutions. Primary focus on building advanced player controls for cross-platform games, and multiplayer eSports using cutting-edge VR and AR technology. Enjoys creating funny interactive experiences, and donates much of his free time to helping others.

Finn has launched multiple successful tech companies, and has developed award-winning video games, interactive educational content, digital marketing experiences and cyber-security solutions. He is the Founder of Chicken Waffle, and Co-Founder of WaveXR and Failed To Render. He has helped many studios ramp up, and has consulted for some of the leading technology developers in the world. He has worked with several Fortune 500 companies to help them build R&D efforts for XR. His experience with agile teamwork allows him to communicate well with other developers, and his experience as a decorated combat veteran of the US Army instilled the ability to work hard to accomplish difficult tasks.

Finn has worked as a voice actor for multiple games, animated cartoons and commercials. He enjoys networking with other skilled developers, and hacking the latest technologies/hardware to create awesome fun experiences. He has often volunteered his free time to teach game development workshops at numerous local schools and universities, and has helped organize developer meetups for the Austin Unity group, AR/VR Tools & Tech and Austin Game Devs (IGDA Austin).
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Erik Summa
Innovation Experience Lead, Innovation Studio
Dell Technologies
Erik Summa is an award-winning Experience Designer, specializing in creating new and innovative experiences that leverage touch, voice, gaze, gestures, biometrics, and more. He has 15+ years of experience in the creative industry and spent over five years of teaching and mentoring future experience designers

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