DATE: 1-5 p.m. April 6 and 1-5 p.m. April 7, 2021

EVENT: The XR @ Michigan 2021 Summit will bring an audience from around the world onto a virtual events platform to hear leading researchers, higher education innovators and business leaders discuss the potential and challenges of extended reality in the classroom, in homes and on the big screen.

The free, virtual event is open to the public.

Featured speakers include a keynote address from Jeremy Bailenson, founding director of Stanford University’s Virtual Human Interaction Lab, which works to better understand the psychological and behavioral effects of virtual reality. Executives from Walt Disney Studios, HP and Microsoft will also share how their businesses utilize the latest in virtual, augmented and mixed-reality technologies.

Faculty innovators at the University of Michigan who work with the XR Initiative to bring virtual reality technology into their classrooms will also speak at the event, including a team from the Medical School and School of Nursing, and faculty from the School of Education, Taubman College of Architecture and Urban planning, College of Engineering, School of Music, Theatre & Dance, and the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts.

“This is an opportunity to see firsthand how Michigan is shaping the future of education with XR technologies,” said Jeremy Nelson, director of the XR Initiative at the U-M Center for Academic Innovation. “While this summit will be held virtually, this is a chance to learn about how VR and AR technologies have the power to bring people closer together.”

The summit also will feature a showcase of XR project updates and work from U-M students.

PLACE: The program will be hosted on the virtual events program Hopin and a networking reception will take place in AltspaceVR. An RSVP and an AltspaceVR account are required to attend the reception. The reception on a virtual recreation of the U-M campus Diag will be hosted by Nelson and Alan Smithson, co-founder of the MetaVRse. The virtual diag was created by students at the Center for Academic Innovation.

SPONSORS: XR Initiative at the Center for Academic Innovation, Microsoft, Lenovo, AWE, VR/AR Association and Smithson of MetaVRse.

INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION: The event is free, but participants must register in advance at XR @ Michigan Summit.

MEDIA: For help on-site, contact Sean Corp, [email protected].