VR is about to reach mass usage so we are focusing on text in VR, specifically for knowledge work, for the 2022 Symposium. Similarly, we look at AI methods for augmenting text since this is also becoming mainstream.
Why Text? | Why VR & AI? | VR Experiences
In order to unleash text in VR and text using the power of AI, we will need to upgrade the infrastructures of text, something which will benefit traditional digital text as well.
The potential of digital text has been left largely untapped after it was demonstrated to us by the pioneers in the 1960s–once digital text became mainstream the question of what it could be faded from public imagination. Now that we are entering the whole new world of VR we have a chance to fire up our imagination as to what richly interactive digital text can be and how it can help us think and communicate. This moment won’t last forever, once VR is commonplace we will likely see the same fading of curiosity as to what text and be and what it can do for us, so let us use this time wisely.
Book & Symposium
The full record of the Symposium, including presentations and Q&A/Dialogue, will be published in ‘The Future of Text’ Vol III: Future Text Publishing.
When & Where
The Symposium was held on the 27th and 28th of September 2022, at The Linnean Society, London, UK, and Online via Zoom.
Who We Are
This Symposium is hosted by Frode Alexander Hegland, Ismail Serageldin and Vint Cerf. The curators and editors of the event and the subsequent ‘Future of Text’ volume 3 are Dene Grigar, Claus Atzenbeck and Mark Anderson.
Presentations will include Jaron Lanier (keynote), as well as Andreea Ion Cojocaru, Andy Campbell, Annie Murphy Paul, Bob Horn, Bob Stein, Bronac Ferran, Caitlin Fisher, Cynthia Haynes, Deena Larsen, Eduardo Kac, Fabien Benetou, Jack Kausch, Jim Hollan, Kalev Leetaru, Karina Ngyen, Ken Perlin, Lorenzo Bernaschina, Mark Anderson, Mez Breeze, Michael Roberts, Peter Wasilko, Sam Brooker, Scott Rettberg & Yiliu Shen-Burke.
Format
Abstract. Presenters will submit an abstract which will be distributed to all the attendees 1 week before the symposium, on the 20th of September, as a special issue of our Journal. There is no restriction on length, format or style though there are some suggestions in the ‘Information for Presenters‘. Attendees, are also invited to submit a brief outline of their thoughts on the subject or what they expect from the event, which will also be distributed.
This will be included in the ‘Future of Text’ book, unless requested otherwise.
The draft Future of Text Volume 3 with abstracts
Presentation On The Day. On the day there will be 5-10 mins for presentations, which may be exactly the same as the submitted abstract, a summary or a new presentation on the same topic, then 10-15 mins dialogue, for a total of 20 mins per presenter. This is a deadline we hold rigorously, to make the flow more relaxed for everyone 🙂
The presentation and full Q&A/Dialogue will be transcribed and included in the book.
Comments. Everyone is welcome to submit a comment on their own, someone else’s or a general comment a month later.
This will also be included in the book.
Schedule
Regards,
The hosts and curators: Frode Hegland, Vint Cerf, Ismail Serageldin, Dene Grigar, Claus Atzenbeck & Mark Anderson.
Further Information
- Further Information for presenters
- Notes on Text & VR
- The Symposium is part of the work of the Future Text Lab.