How to use AI for design and art with Don Allen Stevenson III

As an engineer and designer, I've always been interested in how technology can be used to enhance the creative process. Recently, I've been exploring the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the field of design and art, and I have to say, the results have been astounding.

One of the most significant benefits of using AI in design and art is the ability to generate new and unique ideas. For example, an AI-powered program can analyze a large amount of data and generate countless variations of a design, providing a designer with a vast array of options to choose from. This can help to make the design process more efficient and can lead to more innovative and unique designs.

AI can also be used to create collaborative experiences, allowing designers and artists to work together in a virtual environment.?

Recently, Runway announced the next iteration of their Gen 1 video-to-video generator and is introducing text to video, allowing creators and artists to generate amazing graphics based on text inputs. What does it have to do with XR? Well, we are discussing today with Don Allen Steveson (Creator and XR expert), the future of AI at the intersection of XR and how we can start mixing these tools and media to create next-level experiences.?

This episode will provide you with insights on:

1. How did Don combine his background in videography with his new knowledge of 3D and XR to create augmented reality experiences?
2. What is Don's stance on the evolution of artificial intelligence and its impact on originality and creation rights?
3. How can individuals contribute to diversity and inclusivity through the use of data sets in artificial intelligence?
4. The main advice that Don shares for aspiring creators who want to break into the 3D and XR industries.

Please let me know if you have any questions about this episode or what guests you would like me to bring next! ??

Notes. We’re excited to share with you the recent news of the exclusive XR Magazine digital publication as well as our new exclusive newsletter for members! Besides getting access to curated guidance and insights from our select guest interviews, you’ll also get discounts on every one of our XR, Web 3, and AI workshops!!! You can subscribe now here: XR MAGAZINE

*If you’ve already heard about the podcast and prefer video, you can also head over to the D.O.! YT Channel to enjoy the interviews.

XR Weekly News

How To Become A VR Designer: Careers in the Metaverse?

Since the role of VR designer is still a relatively new one in today’s evolving marketplace, there’s no one-size-fits-all path to success. Some VR designers will branch into the arena with pre-existing experience in graphic design, web development, or software creation. Others will start their journey from scratch, focusing exclusively on the VR space.??

In almost all instances, professionals will need to:?

• Seek out the right education: VR designers should have a clear understanding of the VR landscape, how it works, and the design elements associated with virtual reality. There are already various courses available on eLearning platforms which teach the basics of graphic design in virtual reality, and universities are also beginning to add VR topics to their syllabus lists. Some courses even come with advanced certifications.??
• Become familiar with commonly used tools: Like most designers, VR designers will need to be familiar with graphic design, audio editing, and similar tools. However, a knowledge of solutions like Photoshop and Illustrator may not be enough. Rather, these professionals will need to become familiar with the development tools built specifically for VR, such as Unity and Unreal Engine.??
• Develop experience in the field: The more experience a designer has in the VR field, the more likely they’ll be to access lucrative employment. A good strategy for any professional is to start working on building a professional portfolio. Experimenting with different designs intended to work with common VR headsets and tools is a good strategy. Professionals can even start building their own VR software for tools like the Meta Oculus.??
• Network and expand their knowledge: As the VR landscape continues to grow, VR designers will need to be committed to constantly expanding their knowledge and exploring new technologies. Networking with other professionals is a great way to open new doors to employment and access some useful insights into the marketplace. At the same time, keeping up-to-date with the latest evolutions in the VR hardware and software markets will be crucial too, particularly as the metaverse develops.??

Becoming a VR designer may require significant work and commitment from a creative professional, but it could open the door to a number of lucrative opportunities as we reach the age of the metaverse. Anyone considering a career in this industry should start building their knowledge as early as possible.

Croquet, Unity Announce Beta Metaverse Platform ahead of GDC 2023

Croquet Corporation announced on Thursday last week it had launched its Croquet for Unity solution. The new JavaScript multiplayer framework integrates with Unity to provide a novel approach for developers.

The company will trial a Beta version of its latest metaverse solution at the Game Developers Conference 2023 in San Francisco in April.

With it, people can create Unity-based immersive experiences without writing or maintaining multiplayer code. It also eliminates the need to deploy servers, offering Unity developers access to the Croquet platform and multiplayer network. Additionally, it facilitates JavaScript-based Unity development, leading to a greatly expanded pool of developers with increasingly democratised solutions.

The latter incorporates Croquet’s global network of reflectors across four continents, allowing coordinated, seamless interactions in metaverse spaces via its Synchronised Computation Architecture.

This allows Croquet to synchronise the evolution of state over time via computations on the network, eliminating requirements to transmit physics, artificial intelligence (AI), and other complex computations.

For virtual worlds, this condenses computing power from multiplayer code to single-player code as gaming simulations operate on devices. Code is later executed across a shared virtual computer, operating “bit-identically” across clients to synchronise data and computations instantaneously.

This provides each user with a unique point of view, with reflector networks leveraging edge and cloud computing with multi-access edge computing (MEC) 5G networks. Such technologies significantly reduce latency, bandwidth requirements, and deployment costs, and accelerate time to market and player experiences.

By creating an unprecedented framework for shared immersive experiences, users can benefit from shared real-time physics, replicated non-player character behaviours, and complex gaming interactions. Previous networks in the industry have failed to accommodate bandwidth and complexity requirements for such simulations.,

About the Author?

Diana Olynick is a Canadian engineer, XR Designer and award winner, speaker, and the host of the XR Magazine podcast.? Diana has more than 10 years of experience in engineering and she is a current mentor of two Canadian organizations, North Forge and Futurpreneur Canada where she guides early-stage entrepreneurs in the areas of engineering applications and technology adoption. She also serves as a committee member and writer for the Keystone Professional Canadian publication. Diana has been a guest in various podcasts and events, delivering and sharing her knowledge and experience in the areas of XR in the fields of Ethics in XR as well as XR design.?

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