<p><strong>Being stuck at home has led me down many rabbit holes, such as watching Tiger King, 90 day fiance, firefly again and has also expanded how I look for art and artists. The search for art that was being produced became difficult for a few months because nothing was being publicly displayed due to covid shutdowns. So as a creative, I got creative and tapped into the artists’ community on instagram. It may seem unorthodox to find creatives on Instagram, but the visual based platform is the perfect incubator for trailblazing artists. Experimenting with a gamut of creative tools and output, these artists have evoked wonderment and awe. These are the trailblazers everyone should be watching...</strong></p>
<h1><a href="https://linktr.ee/DonAlleniii">Don Allen Stevenson III</a></h1>
<h2>Artist Instagram:<a href="https://www.instagram.com/donalleniii/"> @donallenii</a></h2>
<p>Spirited in fun and educational, Don Allen is one of the rising stars in animation right now. Spread out across <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTdn5DOTtaZlBrB2K8y1Dzw">youtube</a>, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@donalleniii?language=en&amp;u_code=ca3bg4d8bf4b8&amp;utm_campaign=client_share&amp;app=musically&amp;utm_medium=ios&amp;user_id=272648951550586880&amp;tt_from=copy&amp;utm_source=copy&amp;source=h5_m&amp;sec_uid=MS4wLjABAAAAr-7GSsoI05IkqGObHV-KGSnlWC7MfAo9vGePaZ4Z_5Hc62MDyqziqov8HUAPyKbc">tik tok</a>, and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/donalleniii/">instagram</a> you can easily access his augmented reality animations, graphic design work, tutorials, fun games and more. First, let's ask the most logical question… How does he produce that much creative content?!?! From the outside looking in, I’d say it’s his pure love and joy for animation. I took a deep dive into his<a href="https://linktr.ee/DonAlleniii"> work</a> after watching this video on instagram: </p>
<figure><iframe style="width:500px;height:281px;" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/438050476" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure><p><br />Oftentimes I’ll see a great animation, but that’s just what it is -- just an animation. He has a mind that integrates various technologies into his stories and expands on what an animation can be, with Augmented reality. With versatile creative abilities and great storytelling , he has made sure to share his knowledge with the world. </p>
<p><strong>How to Shoot Augmented Reality Videos</strong></p>
<figure><iframe style="width:500px;height:281px;" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/UB1l_3McGrU" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure><p><strong><br /></strong></p>
<p><strong>Learn how to make an augmented reality riddle </strong></p>
<figure><iframe style="width:500px;height:281px;" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/cEX62jVUox0" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure><h1><a href="http://ueeism.co.uk/">Eugene Sharpe</a> </h1>
<h2>Artist Instagram:<a href="https://www.instagram.com/ueeism/"> @ueeism</a></h2>

<p> Are you looking to calm TF down after a long day of looking at covid news articles? Well my friends do I have the artist for you… Eugene Sharpe is a Multimedia designer who is always looking to push and pull different aspects of new media art. What was decidedly different about his work, is that he also integrates his own music into his art. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ueeism/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Check out his Instagram for more...</a></p>
<p><strong>Surreal for the feels</strong></p>
<figure><img src="https://s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/blisf-website/1b013781531585.5d0237ea78025.jpg" alt="" /></figure>
<h1>Alda Boyd</h1>
<h2>Artist Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aqua.grl/">@aqua.grl</a></h2>

<p>Originally I noticed Alda Boyd as one of the standout artists exhibited in the Digital Art Series zaz corner billboards from Lightbox in collaboration with Zaz10ts . Creating 3D, VR and creative technology works of art, she sets an aesthetically pleasing tone with her use of color, and unique representations. <br /></p>
<figure><iframe style="width:500px;height:281px;" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/392838496" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CBIHNqLFwD-/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dreaming of places that don’t exist</a></strong></p>
<p><strong>Made with </strong><a href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/c4d/"><strong>#c4D</strong></a></p>
<figure><img src="https://s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/blisf-website/giphy-2.png" alt="" /></figure><h2>Feeling inspired yet?</h2>
<p><br /><br /></p>
<h1><a href="https://linktr.ee/stephyfung">Stephy </a></h1>
<h2>Artist Instagram:<a href="https://www.instagram.com/stephyfung/"> @stephyfung</a></h2>

<p>This self titled tech head has skills as a 3D motion designer, self taught in Cinema 4D, Adobe Suite, Unity, Spark, and AR. Her foundation is graphic design, she also has passion within interaction design and animation. Again her work caught my eye on instagram, her style is undeniably aesthetically pleasing. Her use of shapes and color bring her animations to life in a way I can’t describe, so take a look… </p>
<p><strong><br /></strong></p>
<p><strong>Amazing work</strong></p>
<figure><strong><iframe style="width:500px;height:281px;" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/343447881" frameborder="0"></iframe></strong></figure><p><strong><br /></strong></p>
<p><strong>36 days of type</strong></p>
<figure><strong><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/2WlnrMK3IxJuTit12OoEX3JdOh_z-6Bbl3jy1-7S_qxmiFDkX5t5eo5CDMQVsxtr_PH6QIyeGq8JE_IGxayQwgITExT97RI8GDdYYt1gCiNqPdpgonlUnfKrrJkc6mF7DwzGSTpN" width="600" height="600" alt="" /></strong></figure><p><strong><br /></strong></p>
<p><strong>Wise words</strong></p>
<figure><a href="https://www.instagram.com/r2thespecialist/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><iframe width="500" height="281" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/_3hNabnsNC4" frameborder="0"></iframe></a></figure><p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/r2thespecialist/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><br /><br /><br /></a></p>
<h2><strong><a href="https://www.instagram.com/r2thespecialist/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">A Share from one of our very own Ryan Lotz</a></strong></h2>

<p>Our Experience Architect brings a lot to the table here at Britelite. This versatile artist has teamed up with <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sarahgriffenlotzart/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sarah Griffin Lotz </a>to create beautifully composed videos and music. Sarah composited all the footage together in Resolume Arena and added tasteful overlay FX and crossfades.</p>

<p>The visuals are inspired by some of Gmunk's hybrid digital/analog work like his Adobe project and Microsoft. Experimenting with abstract light patterns through different prisms, etc. </p>
<figure><iframe style="width:500px;height:281px;" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/438325725" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure><h2><br /><a href="https://www.instagram.com/briteliteimmersive/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><br /></a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/briteliteimmersive/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Now Check out our Instagram! </a></h2>


<p>Give us a like, follow, comment, ask questions, we'd love to have you! We want to bring good news to you every week focusing on creative technology and inspiration. Let us know what interests you by <a href="http://www.briteliteimmersive.com/contact/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">contacting us</a>! <br /></p>

Giphy 2

Creative trailblazers you should be watching

<h2>“As white leaders if you aren’t making immediate changes you aren’t taking the urgency of the moment seriously.”</h2>
<p>Those words from <a href="https://twitter.com/benishshah" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benish Shah</a> rang through me as I sat through the latter half of the first ever <a href="https://www.freelancercybersummit.com/events/allyship-and-action" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Allyship &amp; Action Summit</a>, a live-streamed one day conference designed to meet the current moment of Black justice and the reckoning for agencies who have been ignoring the racist elephant in the room for too long. </p>
<p>The summit, which was organized and executed in just barely two weeks' time, brought together leaders and changemakers to discuss what has gone wrong in regards to racism in agencies, what has gone right, and what we should do next. Organized by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/the_nichols/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nate Nichols</a> and Steffi Behringer of the <a href="https://www.palettegrp.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Palette Group</a> with virtually no budget, the Allyship and Action Summit was one of the highest quality digital conferences I’ve attended to date. With creative uses of breakout rooms and beautifully produced interstitial videos, it was a call to action for those who wanted to move beyond the performative black square posting into taking real action and making real change within their agencies. Throughout the day there were keynote speakers, panels, and seven breakout sessions to attend. Over a thousand people strong, the live stream kept everyone engaged for over four hours with hardly any drop off. </p>
<figure><img src="https://s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/blisf-website/screen_shot_2020-07-01_at_9.56.45_pm.png" alt="" /></figure><p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/jayanta/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jayanta Jenkins</a> opened the summit with sage advice for everyone in the industry (no matter how junior) to bring leadership mentality to their jobs to create change. His call to build trust and to understand multiple perspectives was not only sound advice, but underscored the purpose of the entire summit. Jayanta also challenged white leaders to look at how they are bringing people into their companies and how they approach diversity &amp; inclusion to make sure it is equitable and holistic. The end goal of all this being to make agencies more creative and effective. </p>
<p>Creativity is about risk taking. And if we, as agencies push our clients to take calculated risks, but don’t do the work internally to take risks and do better, our teams, our clients, and our work will suffer the loss. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/neptunesnachos/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kathryn Guess </a>brought ideas in the second panel, “How Can White Leadership be Allies in the Ad Industry” moderated by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/bennettdbennett/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bennett Bennett</a>. Proclaiming, “You are never a good ally, because you are never done doing the work to become a better ally,” she garnered a lot of approval in the chat. Doing the work is what it’s all about. </p>
<p>Here at <a href="http://www.briteliteimmersive.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Britelite</a> we work hard to maintain a culture where people can show up fully as themselves, but that’s not enough. After the summit we are auditing our hiring practices, job posting language, and onboarding documentation to make sure we are being truly equitable and setting everyone up for success. Our management team is making sure we are hiring, nurturing and promoting diverse talent. We’ve started an ID club for employees to unpack our biases and have tough conversations around race. Additionally, we're rewriting our policies so we have a shared understanding of what is expected of our employees in an Anti-Racist workplace.</p>
<p>In the words of <a href="https://twitter.com/kianamoods" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kiana Pirouz</a> from We Are Rosie in her breakout session on designing an equitable organization: “Buckle Up." This is a long-overdue call to action for agencies, not just in the US but around the globe to lean into discomfort.</p><p> <strong><br />If you missed the summit all the sessions can be watched online here: </strong><a href="https://www.freelancercybersummit.com/events/allyship-and-action">https://www.freelancercybersummit.com/events/allyship-and-action</a> </p>

<p>The single event spawned a slack working group where people are already digging into how they can take action to improve their agencies. A second Allyship &amp; Action Summit is already in the works. We’ll see you there.<br /></p>


AA Summit Blog Image 2

Allyship & Action Summit Recap

<blockquote>Written by<br />Kelsy Postlethwait<br />Creative Strategist at Britelite Immersive<br /><br /></blockquote>
<p>Planning workshops that spark novel ideas while instigating brand and business objectives is a key part of my job as a Creative Strategist at Britelite Immersive. In the past, getting a group of five to twelve people together in a conference room (along with gratuitous quantities of post-it notes and a whiteboard) to carry it out has been my bread and butter. Alas, among the countless professional and existential quandaries that “WFQ” (work from quarantine) has sparked, is the need to evolve and reconsider this practice. In doing so, I’ve come up with three essential categories of reconsideration which can help to inform or guide any creative who seeks to recreate the magic of an “IRL” workshop within a fully remote and digital stratosphere—they are: <strong>Materials</strong>, <strong>Structure</strong>, and <strong>Planning</strong>.<br /></p>
<p>I would recommend starting with <strong>Materials</strong> first, this is where the proverbial rubber hits the road—your whiteboard, sharpies, color-coded post-it notes, voting stickers—basically any tangible item you might leverage during a workshop falls under this category for reconsideration. </p>
<p>Naturally, the digital platforms and features you call upon as stand-ins for these tangible items will play a pretty big role in the possibilities, or limitations, that your digital workshop must abide by. Conveniently, this is also the easiest category to redefine. Start by making a list of all of the items you typically use, then investigate the webosphere to find their digital counterparts! A favorite of ours at Britelite is called <a href="https://help.miro.com/hc/en-us/articles/360017730533-What-Is-Miro-">Miro</a>. Miro is a free platform that allows multiple teammates to collaborate simultaneously, and spontaneously, in an online whiteboard and comes fully loaded with digital post-its, writing tools, and flow-charts galore. If you’re looking to keep your whiteboard and your computer screen totally separate, and are open to making a larger investment, Google’s <a href="https://gsuite.google.com/products/jamboard/?utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_campaign=na-US-all-en-dr-bkws-all-all-trial-b-dr-1003894&amp;utm_content=text-ad-none-any-DEV_c-CRE_330171022030-ADGP_Hybrid%20%7C%20AW%20SEM%20%7C%20BKWS%20~%20BMM%20%2F%2F%20Jamboard%20%5B3:1%5D%20Google%20Jamboard-KWID_43700037135188935-kwd-329327703739&amp;utm_term=KW_%2Bjamboard-ST_%2BJamboard&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjw-_j1BRDkARIsAJcfmTEvW8gNubFT3JEYhIEchXkYqrbNEMBxDksQE4kzzmocszka7ZVcB34aAmacEALw_wcB">Jamboard</a> provides a robust suite of digital features attached to a physical whiteboard so intuitively designed you can almost smell that signature Expo dry-erase scent.</p>
<h1><strong><em>Start by making a list of all of the items you typically use, then investigate the webosphere to find their digital counterparts! </em></strong><br /><br /></h1>
<p>Next, let’s take a look at <strong>Structure</strong>. In many ways, this category boils down to the fact that traditional workshop etiquette—i.e. the inherent social contracts that we unconsciously rely on, and defer to, while in the physical presence of others—are no longer available to us when collaborating across a disparate network of home offices. In considering and redefining this dynamic, it’s important to recognize that the host will need to play an active role in reinstating a sense of etiquette and norms which help to guide social interaction and manage expectations. In her novel, The Art of Gathering, <a href="https://www.priyaparker.com/">Priya Parker</a> refers to this structure wielding onus as <em>generous authority</em>, and we’ve found that applying a healthy dose of it is sure to help coax free-flowing participation and generative energy from a sundry of sweatpants clad professionals sitting at home.</p>
<p>For example, your <em>generous authority </em>as host might begin long before the workshop does, with an expectation setting email that answers questions such as:</p><p><em>Are there any homework questions that participants can answer ahead of time to get everyone in the right frame of mind? </em></p><p><em>What topics can everyone come prepared to discuss?</em></p><p><em>Should participants plan to have their front-facing cameras on during the session?</em></p><p><br />During the workshop, <em>generous authority</em> might look like making statements such as: “Now let’s all take some time to introduce ourselves and say hello”—or even requesting that everyone on the call stand up, shake it out, and try a silly hand gesture. In the physical world, directions like these could make your conference table feel more like a kindergarten classroom, but in the digital realm they can significantly strengthen the emotional wellbeing and mental productivity of your workshop cohorts.</p>



<h1>The inherent social contracts that we unconsciously rely on, and defer to, while in the physical presence of others are no longer available to us when collaborating across a disparate network of home offices.</h1>
<p>Our third category for reconsideration is <strong>Planning</strong>, this is the strategic meat and potatoes, the gestalt, the blueprint, even the essence if you will, of the whole shebang! In my experience, this category takes the most sensitivity and thoughtfulness to recreate in a manner that traverses the digital divide. Here, traditional considerations such as the number of transitions, amount of topics covered, client mindset, project agenda, and physical needs (aka bio breaks) are now combined with new external and technological impediments such as crayon-wielding toddlers running through the background screaming, screen fatigue, and the game of chicken that ensues when multiple people start talking at once in digital conferencing platforms. </p>
<p>This category is also the one which will vary the most in accordance with each unique client and project—so I won’t pretend to have a “one size fits all” solution up my sleeve. Instead, here are a few examples that we can share from our experience to use as thought starters: </p>
<p>Pace yourself and support participant stamina by building time for independent thinking and screen breaks <em>into</em> your agenda. One method we’ve used is to assign a lower effort task for participants to do individually, and then giving them more time than they needed to complete said task. In a recent workshop, for example, we let participants know they’d have 20 minutes (10 minutes more than they actually needed) to simply select a few pre-populated post-its from the Miro board and prepare to present their selections upon reconvening. This gave participants some quiet time to think while completing the ask, as well as the opportunity to gracefully step away from their screens and recharge—using the extra moments for a bio break, coffee refill, or otherwise. </p>
<p>The ability to leverage our digital conferencing platform’s built-in features in unconventional and strategic ways has been another useful nugget. For example, one could utilize <a href="https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/115001286183-Nonverbal-Feedback-During-Meetings">Zoom reactions</a> as voting mechanisms in order to gain group consensus, or put them to work in combating the chaos of “who's going to talk next?” by framing them as a hand raising mechanism. Alternatively, simple suggestions such as encouraging participants to turn their video feed off while working in a Miro board—<em>so that they only have to focus on one shared screen at a time</em>—can also go a long way. </p>
<h1><strong><em>Build time for independent thinking and screen breaks into your agenda. </em></strong></h1>
<p>Though we are still learning new things every day at Britelite, I can say with confidence that broadening our horizons to include robust remote workshop sessions has been well worth the time and effort. Finding digital versions of our favorite studio supplies, practicing generous authority, and actively training in ways to mitigate creative fatigue has evolved our practice and led to a more rewarding understanding of workshops as a whole.<br /><br /></p>

Making Workshops Work Hero Image Final 01

Making Creative Workshops Work While Quarantined

<p>We all need to feel a little lighter on our feet, and a little inspiration can go a long way. We are a creative technology agency and it’s sometimes tricky to explain what that means. We pull together a few different business sectors (art, emerging technology, and A/V) to create public and sometimes private immersive and interactive art environments. </p>
<p>To quote our CEO John Flores --- </p>
<p>“Around 2011, pioneering brands and marketers started creating large immersive exhibits designed to wow audiences. Having grown weary of interactive banner ads and new media web tools, these forward-thinking content creators sought to use visual technology to build larger-than-life exhibitions that blew people away. Iconic examples of these early activations include Obscura’s Sydney Opera House and Audi’s A1 projection projects.</p>
<p>In 2015 the term creative technology became popular within advertising communities. By that point, emerging tech (motion sensors, VR headsets, beacons, smart technologies, etc.) had created new opportunities for companies to connect with audiences. Experiential and immersive content was (and is) still alive, though content creators now have smarter tools and the processing power needed to interact directly with environments and audiences.”</p>
<p>Does that make sense? Well, here are some inspirational creative technology experiences that have been getting us excited to give you an idea of what is possible with creative tech...<br /><br /><br /></p>
<h2><strong>Wave</strong></h2>
<p><strong>Public Media Art #1 “Wave” </strong><strong>By Dstrict</strong></p>

<p>A virtual waterfall, 'WAVE' is an anamorphic illusion that has been revealed on the largest high-definition outdoor advertising screen in S.Korea. The high-definition outdoor advertising screen is 80.1m (w) x 20.1M (h).<br /></p>
<figure><iframe style="width:500px;height:281px;" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/CZxKdgiisAU" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure><h2><br /></h2>
<h2>Ada</h2><p><strong>Microsoft's latest artist in residence installation</strong><br /><br />Ada, a two-story structure made of 3D printed nodes, fiberglass rods and fabric digitally knit with photoluminescent yarn, uses AI to translate anonymized data about facial expressions, noise, voice tones and language into a choreographed dance of color and light. It's on display on Microsoft's Redmond, Washington, campus.</p>
<figure><iframe style="width:500px;height:281px;" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/b3eZqO1Oh5E" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure><h2><br /></h2>
<h2>Artivive </h2>
<p><strong>Bringing Classical Works Of Art To Life In AR</strong></p>
<p>Artivive is an AR tool that allows artists to create new dimensions of art by linking physical with digital art. The digital layer opens the doors to a whole new world of possibilities. Artists can take visitors on a journey in time and explain what lies behind, enhance the art with illustrations or show how the artworks were made. More than 3800 artists are creating artworks with Artivive and having exhibitions in 75 countries. For museums, exhibitions, galleries and other art institutions Artivive offers a new and innovative way for the audience to interact with the exhibits.<br /></p>
<figure><iframe style="width:500px;height:281px;" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Dzblxg8Udtk" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure><h3><br /></h3>
<h3>Feeling inspired yet? Here are some “call for artists” to get you going…</h3>
<h2><br /></h2>
<h2><a href="https://www.hotelwonderland.nl/callforartists/">Hotel Wonderland - Call for artists</a><br /></h2>
<p><a href="https://www.hotelwonderland.nl/callforartists/"></a>Within the world of Hotel Wonderland we have room for 10-20 independent artists to transform a part of the space into a meaningful, immersive and/or interactive installation inspired by our poetic DNA. Installation artists working with visuals, space, interaction, sound, paper, light, story, decor, technology, actors, video, interior design, etc. from anywhere in the world are welcome to apply and start a conversation with us.The themes are connection, magic, intuition and openness are the core themes for Hotel Wonderland. Part of the experience will consist of guests wandering around freely in a large indoor space for several hours, interacting with lots of different experiences/installations around these themes.<br /></p>
<figure><img src="https://s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/blisf-website/Hotel-Wonderland-1-Onderschrift-400x225.jpg" alt="" /></figure><h2><br /></h2>
<h2><strong><a href="https://www.designscience.studio/">Design Science Decade - Call for Artists</a></strong></h2>
<p>The Buckminster Fuller Institute (BFI) in partnership with habRitual is calling all creators: fine artists, designers, performers, philosophers, ecologists, systems thinkers, data scientists, and others who resonate with this prompt to create art that explores the principles of Design Science. Through creative expression, members of this program will co-create in service of a world that works “for 100% of humanity in the shortest possible time, through spontaneous cooperation, without ecological offense or the disadvantage of anyone”.</p>
<p>We welcome creators to apply to join the Design Science Studio and embark on a facilitated journey to use principles of nature, science and design to imagine a future that is regenerative and just. </p>
<p>Learn more at<a href="http://www.designscience.studio/"> www.designscience.studio</a>. Applications due June 5, 2020.<br /><br />“The artistic imagination allows us to have a visceral experience of possibility. In times where we understand that the future must be significantly different than the present (for the health and flourishing of 100% of life), then there are few better pathways to realizing this than art that illuminates this future. Art that gives us freedom for a moment to live within, be challenged by, discuss, and bask in possibility.”</p>
<p>- Tom Chi</p>
<p>We want to bring good news to you every week focusing on creative technology and inspiration. Let us know what interests you by <a href="http://www.briteliteimmersive.com/contact/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">contacting us</a>! <br /></p>

Dstrictwave

Inspiration Sensations: Projects we love

<p>Being stuck inside can lead to the development of new needs, ways to interact, remote work and most importantly ways to have fun. As we know VR has been a rising star for some time, but with quarantine people have realized that it is the interactive tool we all need. In fact Mark Zuckenbrg said “Oculus Quest Has Surpassed Our Expectations. I wish we could make more of them faster during this period.”. With the oculus quest being <a href="https://www.oculus.com/quest/">back in stock</a> we recommend getting one, so you can see first hand how helpful VR can be….</p>
<h2><strong>Host your next meeting in VR</strong></h2>
<p>Engage is an advanced virtual reality training and education platform that makes it easy to collaborate, create, and learn in VR. It offers the ability to hold meetings, events, and more all within a virtual reality environment. </p>
<p>As events and conferences are being cancelled and postponed due to the global spread of coronavirus, HTC took the opportunity to hold their annual conference inside virtual reality. The VIVE Ecosystem Conference - which is usually held in Shenzhen, China - took place in ENGAGE this year on March 19. </p>
<figure><iframe style="width:500px;height:281px;" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/orAOe7P_Mv8" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure><p><br /><br /><br /></p>
<h2><strong>Concerts in VR</strong></h2>
<p>This isn’t something new, but alas it is something all of us concert goers can agree is needed right now, bring back the music please!! Travis Scott got clever with it, and teamed up with Fortnite for Astronomical, a now-record-setting live-stream tour that has elevated the virtual concert experience. </p>
<p>“The excitement began with players being able to see the stage as it was constructed at the Sweaty Sands beach, in addition to multiple <em>Astroworld</em> heads popping up in the days leading up to the show. When the show started on Thursday, players were alerted by a planet-like object floating toward them on-screen that eventually exploded.</p>
<p>During the show, a giant Scott stomped around the island performing while visuals changed along with the songs. There were roller coasters, spacemen, and a cyborg version of Travis Scott, and the crowd was submerged underwater at one point.” - fast company </p>
<figure><iframe style="width:500px;height:281px;" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/tVkOrJlEJbM" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure><p><br /><br /><br /></p>
<h2><strong>Mood Boosting VR</strong></h2>
<p>Are you into solving puzzles, well VR has got you covered. Now you can assemble 3d puzzles in VR. It’s a free prototype of a game where you build, piece-by-piece, a jigsaw puzzle of beautiful 3D models from around the world! </p>
<figure><iframe style="width:500px;height:281px;" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/R2vJ-qfVdiQ" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure><p>It's nice to get your mind in shape with some puzzles, but what about getting your body fit? Well VR has a few games just for that, but the one that stands out is Beat Saber. It is the perfect tool to get your mind and body fit!</p>
<p><a href="https://www.vrfitnessinsider.com/review/beat-saber-game-review-a-jedi-samurai-rhythm-game/">Beat Saber</a> was named one of the best virtual reality fitness games and has been given a fitness rating comparable to tennis by the VR Institute of Health and Exercise. It is certainly a mood booster.</p>
<figure><iframe style="width:500px;height:281px;" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/wxLpBDgxjcI" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure><p><strong><br /></strong></p>
<p><strong>And for fun…</strong><strong><br /></strong></p>
<figure><iframe style="width:500px;height:281px;" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/05pzUXujMJU" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure><p><br /><br /><br />“As people can’t go out into the world as much, the ability to have technology that allows us to…feel present even when we can’t be physically together — whether that’s Quest, or Portal, or any of the software that we’re building around video presence — that stuff has certainly seen especially large spikes in usage.And it’s possible that this…accelerates some of the trends around adoption of virtual or augmented reality.” - Mark Zuckerberg</p>
<p>We want to bring good news to you every week focusing on creative technology. Let us know what interests you! Take a look at some of our <a href="http://www.briteliteimmersive.com/work/cisco-live" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">VR projects.</a> <br /><br /></p>


Oculus Quest

Glow up your quarantine with VR

<p>At roughly thirty plus days of quarantine, it hasn’t gotten any easier to settle into it… But With the thrust of support from creative technology companies finding ways to assist the public in keeping occupied, it’s hard to escape all the inspiration. Do you have an interest in creative technology? Well to our happy surprise there are plenty of free educational tools to be offered. </p>
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<h2>Patch</h2>
<p>From Gray Area</p>
<p>As patrons of Gray Area, we are always excited to see what new innovative artwork is on display or being performed, but with things on lockdown Gray Area is bringing the innovative artwork to you with Patch. Patch is a platform where anyone around the world can now participate in Gray Area’s innovative education and cultural programs. </p>
<p>“Refine your creative skills and learn from renowned artists &amp; technologists.”</p>
<p>This platform is complete with a virtual salon, which is a virtual space for artists to meet and connect. There are so many facets of inspiration on this platform including music, so don't miss out, and<a href="https://www.patch.grayarea.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> sign up now</a>! </p>
<figure><img src="https://s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/blisf-website/RAeALWmA.jpeg" alt="" /><figcaption>Modular Synths Workshop next week with Ryan Smith, who makes music as @CaribouBand collaborator @TaravalMusic and runs Crowbar Corner at Gray Area. </figcaption></figure><h2><br /></h2>
<h2>AVIXA</h2>
<p>AVIXA is opening free online training to all AV professionals through June 12th, regardless of membership level.  “We hope this will give you and your team the opportunity to learn new topics, work toward CTS certification, or earn CTS-RUs if already CTS certified, even if you are home.”</p>
<p> If you know anyone else who could benefit from this opportunity, please encourage them to participate at the link below. <a href="https://store.avixa.org/AvixaLogin?startURL=%2Fsetup%2Fsecur%2FRemoteAccessAuthorizationPage.apexp%3Fsource%3DCAAAAXGAqJ3TME8wNFAwMDAwMDA4T0k4AAAA3ophYUErMXf05WqZMaVmc668Ov8Q35LrjsoruP7VZxqeBq-jYbdfjhDFSZGKkqL3PM-KIwHUKCHuadhxADZo-CDO7PDfxJnh_wVlt0oBf7JALK0pOsGC04R30Qh9l7hV6vWK4WU-QZxRpDKAEiUCxbXDMvyUcGs4hcWWMI1jJnz0pkuxPfzgR8ou2gSa0IpHtppOQmKTfTpwcqKs6xS6AWb7pjCppbwFq1x0Hi59Ti3W0I4q-h4QpbYOjkFN__trmiGCaJpYORn7n0-mcJj8UleOrYkzhaPXmDbJpCHlVgHevfZ0NObSMi8XD74BwfY082ipoGgZpLAFMygnE45IZOOA2Rk-cvkV6NRQz8tL4JRQ295G4V8DZW6WRzyHCCnJXbY8XBkcmt806Ijw5EFmRt0rO9MGU5BKRwFNzDG2ifyC5Yxyb7KYu0xeybHdu3JuGgPhpcyXTBykdcJTv01p2J-r2pUZNrcvxX934vkBybqDEBwRfYMS6op3EksN5uW4aBaEbxbfDDH0Q6FCMG2fyecdAlRzL8XIB3diwWvEVgQT1gwmORzeiPEut8GlvaN13gHUiMZdjIcaRPKC5gvGR-3QFtcrgeH2k15m3f0OXRXCJod_N8cVsL1yAlAz7opvmw%253D%253D">Access online training</a></p>
<figure><img src="https://s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/blisf-website/ET-TRM8WkAAQdY2.jpeg" alt="" /></figure><h3><br /></h3>
<h2>Learn Squared</h2>
<h3>Join industry leading artists. Become a badass.</h3>
<p>The first lesson of every Learn Squared course is totally free of charge. That's over 58 HOURS of free content. Just simply <a href="https://www.learnsquared.com/user/register?utm_source=intercom&amp;utm_medium=message&amp;utm_campaign=firstlesson">sign up for a free account</a> and start learning.<br /></p>
<p>“FREE LESSONS FOR ALL: As the world self-isolates and maintains social distancing in these unprecedented times - let's connect through creativity. We are offering access to the 1st lesson of every one of our courses for the next 60 days starting today!”</p>
<figure><img src="https://s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/blisf-website/ETrIqZ6WoAAy3uX.jpeg" alt="" /></figure><h2><br /><br /></h2>
<h2>Unity</h2>
<p>Start bringing your vision to life today with the Unity real-time 3D development platform.</p>
<p>“To help support you during these times, we’re committed to providing all users with three months of complimentary access to Unity Learn Premium. Just log in to start learning and click through to learn more about the platform. Free courses, projects and tutorials to get you creating with Unity”</p>
<p>As an added bonus Oculus &amp; Unity Release Free VR Development Course with 20 Hours of Content! </p>
<figure><iframe style="width:500px;height:281px;" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/HfvSH1gqkxY" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure><h3><br /></h3>
<p>We want to bring good news to you every week focusing on creative technology. Let us know what interests you!<br /></p>




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Our favorite free education resources to get you through quarantine

<h2>From Normal life to Shelter-in-Place<br /></h2>
<p>With the current Covid-19 situation both in the USA and around the globe, uncertainty abounds. Large swaths of the community are being asked to stay home except for non-essential errands. For an industry that is normally focused on creating experiences for public spaces and groups of people, this can feel like having the rug ripped out from underneath us. As conferences and public gatherings have been cancelled, experiential work will have to evolve to meet the needs of this new reality. But as we are changing the way we approach our work to take it from public to private spaces, this time offers us a lot of creative opportunity, as well. <br /><br />Britelite’s main office is currently on “Shelter in Place” orders in San Francisco, and many of our projects have paused while we evaluate what is the safest course of action for our team, clients, and end users. While we are pausing, we can also harness our collective creative energy to help create work that helps people navigate these uncertain times. <br /></p>
<h2>Great experiential work is transformative</h2>
<p>At its best, the work we do transforms your sense of place while creating awe and wonder. Immersive experiences can provide relief from the everyday, something that is helpful during normal times and critical now after being stuck indoors for days on end. While experiences are being redefined to meet this new normal on a daily basis, they are even more relevant now when people are hungry for connection and interaction. We can design these experiences to give people a sense of joy or calm, to entertain and help pass the time, or to inform and make the scary less so. The technology to support these experiences can create connections between people, even as we are all apart. </p>
<h2>Can spectacle co-exist with being solo?</h2>
<p>Whether it’s a giant projection mapped building, a reactive light sculpture or a VR field trip, experiential work can be thought of as providing wonder, education, and utility. These categories are just as relevant today as they were several months ago the only difference is how we apply them. Being stuck in your home and without other physical participants changes how we think about and approach the user experience for interactive and immersive works, in addition to the functionality and end result. </p>
<p>This shift is taking individual experiences and working to connect them to a group interaction rather than taking a group interaction and breaking it down for the individual. While there has certainly been a traditional value to the group experience when working with experiential initiatives, there has always been a strong focus on making sure that every individual user feels deeply connected to the experience and has an easy time of engaging with it. Given the change of venue and environments we are working within now, following some basic guidelines can help with success and still leave users delighted by engaging with an experience.</p>
<h2>Work with what you have </h2>
<p>Even through these extraordinary times, there are still compelling stories to be told and communication is more important than ever. Recognizing the potential to connect with people in a more intimate environment has led us to look at the ways people communicate on a daily basis and try to wrap stories into those styles of interaction. </p>
<p>At Britelite we often use web based front end to create the interactive layer of our installations and have become familiar with integrating sensors and user inputs into a web based system. This means there is a limited amount of change in the way we need to build systems to take them from public installations into private homes. Using web based platforms such (as Web AR), easily downloaded experiences, and streaming experiences are a gateway into getting work in front of people in their homes. </p>
<h2>Tap into available hardware</h2>
<p>We usually try to target the most technologically forward hardware we can get access to when planning new activations and installations but this new environment is shifting the focus to technology that everyone has easy access to. While a state of the art Transparent OLED might have been the target display for a public window installation, we need to be thinking in terms of smartphones, tablets and home computers for the immediate future. This does not mean that the quality of the experience needs to be sacrificed, though, because most of these devices have a host of embedded sensors that can be leveraged to create truly compelling experiences. With the host of point cloud tracking systems embedded in almost every personal device these days, we have already been leveraging them to create non-traditional interactive experiments using nothing but handheld devices. </p>
<h2>Think small</h2>
<p>While experiential work is often focused on large footprints and spectacle, this new reality is a chance to turn that on its head and find compelling ways to design and build for smaller screens and environments while still creating impact and a sense of wonder. We have jumped into this design challenge and view this as an opportunity to explore a type of interaction that is not often our focus. Playing with this smaller scale and embracing it can have huge payoffs if you can achieve the transformation of that space or at the very least transport your users out of it.</p>
<h2>Using experiential to navigate this time</h2>
<p>More than anything we are living in a time of extreme uncertainty. While this is something that people are dealing with on a daily basis this is a time where we can use non traditional interaction and communication to help connect people and bring some level of familiarity to a very foreign feeling time. There are new problems and challenges cropping up every day and an industry that was built on solving non traditional problems is set up to thrive in this environment. </p>
<p>We can think of this as a time where people have an opportunity to connect with artists and creators that they love, and the experiential agencies are in a great position to facilitate this communication. We have opportunities to entice people to interact and create themselves, and bringing digital participation into experiences will push people to find new ways of creating and sharing with the world. We can create and share new ways of connecting friends and family that were not as critical several months ago but are vital now. The experiential industry is able and ready to address the needs of the world we all live in now and the opportunities to innovate in this time should be exciting not scary. We are all in this together and we will create new and more immersive ways of connecting and sharing even if we are all in our homes when we do it. </p>
<h1>Getting Inspired</h1>
<p>To get you inspired here are some resources and experiences you can try at home:</p>
<p>Marpi’s <a href="https://marpistudio.itch.io/wave-atlas" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wave Atlas</a> and <a href="https://marpistudio.itch.io/aquarium" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Aquarium</a> interactive art pieces</p>
<figure><iframe style="width:500px;height:281px;" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/eq1MAeIhXuw" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure><figure><iframe width="500" height="281" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/clpZTa7GJbU" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://uploadvr.com/couch-live-shared-virtual-living-room/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Couch Live</a></p>
<p>Hang out with friends and family in a VR and Non VR communal space</p>
<figure><iframe width="500" height="281" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/QjVOkCJXxAE" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYyJUEtYv-ZW7BgjhP3UbTg/videos" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Virtual Disney World </a></p>
<figure><iframe width="500" height="281" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/GY1hrKUUxvU" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure><h2><br /></h2>

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Spectacle in the time of Self-Isolation

<p>One retail show to rule them all — The National Retail Federation’s main trade show event, held in New York, united over 40,000 attendees representing 18,000 retailers from more than 99 countries. It is a very technology heavy show featuring fortune 500 tech companies like Microsoft, Intel, SAP and HP.</p>
<p>An important trend in the retail industry is creating exciting experiences for customers, not just transactions. This often requires retailers to lean on emerging and immersive technologies to help them create these experiences.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.briteliteimmersive.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Britelite</a> attended NRF to design + install an interactive experience to showcase a collaboration between <a href="https://www.sap.com/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SAP</a> + <a href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Microsoft</a>. We also had a chance to explore the show, and experience all that the big show had to offer.</p>
<h2><br /></h2><h2>INTERACTIVE WALL</h2>
<p>Britelite was excited to attend NRF 2020 and we produced an interactive wall installation to promote the new SAP + Microsoft alliance. The alliance is important because it combines the technical, industry and platform strengths of both partners to deliver new and unique capabilities for retailers.</p>
<p>Using a combination of projected visuals, printed graphics and advanced sensors, we created an interactive wall that told four different stories of business cases enabled by the alliance.</p><figure><iframe style="width:500px;height:281px;" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/385833188" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure><p>The sensing technology doesn’t require any traditional or visible sensors, the wall itself became the touch surface. Visitors were intrigued by non traditional interaction and marveled as animations lit up and the room came to life. In a show filled with large high definition screens and LED walls, this was a refreshingly different presentation.</p><figure><iframe style="width:500px;height:281px;" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/385833396" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure><p>The exhibit created great opportunities for people from SAP and Microsoft to start conversations with their customers about the alliance.</p>
<h2><br /></h2><h2>MAIN FLOOR EXHIBITS</h2>
<p>Given that this is a retail-focused show, many of the exhibitors focused on creating realistic, simulated retail stores that they could use to demonstrate the value of their products and services. This is a small sampling of the exhibitors that caught our eye.<br /><br /></p>
<h4>Intel</h4>
<p>Intel’s presence at the show involved a docent-led tour through a series of experiences, each highlighting a different partner and use case. This impressive video wall was built with repurposed phone and tablet screens.</p>
<figure><img src="https://s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/blisf-website/UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_8979.jpg" alt="" /></figure><h4>SAP</h4>
<p>SAP is a major vendor of enterprise resource planning (ERP) software, used as the operational backbone of many businesses. The main SAP booth replicated a retail village, providing visitors with the opportunity to experience demonstrations of the various solutions on offer. SAP recently acquired Qualtrix, a company that focuses on gathering customer feedback, and presenting Qualtrix capabilities through interactive demonstrations was a major part of the activity here.</p><figure><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0fr5YmWIg_g" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure><h4>Salesforce</h4>
<p>Salesforce is a major vendor of customer relation management (CRM) software, and they had a significant presence at NRF. Their brand presentation is about helping their clients navigate a forest of opportunity, and this was communicated at NRF through a massive free-form video wall and custom-built props.</p>
<figure><img src="https://s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/blisf-website/UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_8918.jpg" alt="" /></figure><h4>Bossa Nova</h4>
<p>Bossa Nova makes robots that travel up &amp; down the aisles of a store, monitoring inventory levels and notifying staff if they find exceptions. In addition, it connects to analytics software, allowing retailers to adapt on the fly to changing market and demand conditions. (This wasn’t the only product of its type – this is becoming mainstream very quickly.)</p>
<figure><img src="https://s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/blisf-website/UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_891b.jpg" alt="" /></figure><h2><br /></h2><h2>INNOVATION LAB</h2>
<p>The Innovation Lab on the 4th level of the conference center hosted a number of interesting companies, including startups as well as the innovation and R&amp;D arms of larger businesses. These are some of the interesting things we noticed.<br /><br /></p>
<h4>A.I.</h4>
<p>Artificial Intelligence is everywhere, and is especially noticeable in retail. The combination of cameras, sensors and A.I. aspires to give physical retailers as much analytic info as online retailers. Many booths featured dramatic “computer’s eye” views of typical retail scenarios, showing off the ability to generate detailed analytics in real-time.<br /><br /></p>
<h4>Drones and robotics</h4>
<p>Retail is a very labor intensive business, and there is a great deal of interest in using robotics and automation to allow employees to focus on customer service, as opposed to moving inventory and carrying out routine tasks such as inventory.</p><p>The combination of drones with A.I. allows for great opportunities to improve efficiencies. At least two companies were showing drones optimized for indoor flight, combined with computer vision and A.I. As with many of the Innovation Lab booths, live demos were the star of the show.</p><figure><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bQqn4vDDtVc" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure><p>At Britelite we are always looking for new technology and non-traditional uses of existing technology so this was a very interesting event to attend, and we found many opportunities. If you are a retailer, a technology company, or otherwise interested in creating memorable experiences, please take a look at our <a href="http://www.briteliteimmersive.com/work/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">portfolio of work</a> and <a href="http://www.briteliteimmersive.com/contact/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">contact us</a>!</p>

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Retail's big show: NRF 2020

<p>Britelite had the opportunity to attend CES 2020! As a creative technology company and research center we often turn to emerging technology to be the center pieces of our projects, and CES keeps us a tone to what we will soon be utilizing, and gives us clear production examples from the world’s best futurists. With prestigious keynote speakers and artful presentations CES is an annual must attend for us.</p>
<p>CES typically sets the tone of trends for tech that we expect to see each year, but this year CES felt more like a futurists walk through of what’s to come over the next twenty five years…</p>
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<h2>SCREENS, SCREENS, AND MORE SCREENS</h2>
<h4>LG’s amazing wave display at its CES booth</h4>
<p><br />LG’s wave display was by far the largest showstopper at CES2020. The intense immersive experience is baffling due to its grand size, clarity, but also the realization that the wave display means curved TVs. It features 200 55-inch OLED TVs, 128 of which are curved. Check it out:</p><figure><iframe width="480" height="270" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure><h4>Have you made it to 4k?</h4>
<p>Sony’s new televisions aim to deliver the most immersive viewing experience in their class, with evolving technologies and premium large screens, made to deliver content the way creators intended. Have you made it to 4k yet though? Well Sony is making sure that you will want to jump straight to 8k. Here are the highlights of Sony’s new series of T.V.’s.</p>
<figure><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XlcMgGB0EVA" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure><h4>Samsung’s New Vertical 4K TV ROTATES | CES 2020</h4>
<p>With social media and youtube on the rise for the most views (ahem beating out standard t.v. shows) it makes sense that Samsung created a rotating 4k TV ‘Sero’. Sophisticated and unique, Sero is designed to be paired and used with your smartphone.</p><figure><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eDoaYIJwm1s" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure><h2><br /></h2><h2>SONY</h2>
<h4>Atom View</h4>
<p>The future of production is looking virtual with the Atom View: A Virtual Production Technology using 3D Volumetric Capture. Showcasing their new Atom View technology with the aid of the Ghostbusters Ecto-1, Sony displayed the background of a set changing in real time with the movement of the camera, ensuring the final image has the proper perspective and depth. Here is a little more on the atom view:</p><figure><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ps3LdPpnYcs" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure><h4>Holographic display<em><br />3D Spatial Reality Display Technology</em></h4>
<p>This is the holographic display we have all been hoping for. Sony showed its strengths in combining technologies at this year’s CES, and we have now surpassed the princess leia hologram moment in Star Wars thanks to Sony. To simply put it, Sony integrated sophisticated high-speed vision sensors and face recognition algorithms to a light field display and it was magic to see. It can be easily applied to VR (virtual reality) and AR (augmented reality) content, providing a versatile volumetric content creation environment to creators in various fields such as entertainment and product design.</p><figure><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/A6TaE0UqpUk" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure><h2><br /></h2><h2>THE FUTURE OF COMMUTING LOOKS SLEEK</h2>
<h4>The best surprise of CES? The Sony car.</h4>
<p>Sony made a car? Yes! The Vision-S, an electric concept car focused on “safety, entertainment, and adaptability.” It incorporates Sony’s automotive-focused imaging technology, and is surrounded by an array of sensors creating a “Safety Cocoon,” with a 360-degree view of its environment and any potential hazards.</p><figure><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CxhjKExMrD0" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure><h4>Hyundai’s flying cars</h4>
<p>Is this real life? Being desensitized by all that CES has to offer, I almost walked past the Hyundai section, until I saw the impressively huge Uber x Hyundai flying taxi at CES. The Jetsons future is feeling very real at the moment and it is said to be a service that could be up and running by 2023.</p>
<p>The vehicle is designed to fly for up to 60 miles and has a cruising speed of 180 miles per hour. Uber says it hopes to begin demonstration flights this year.</p><figure><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6MDsR7Oz4Kg" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure><h4>Audi Intelligence Experience: the empathetic car</h4>
<p>This was a noteworthy experience — not only were we impressed by the empathetic car, but we were impressed with the presentation. It was a 360 projection wrapped car, displaying the demo on the inside of the car, giving a fully immersive presentation along with scents to match the scenic drive. <a href="https://www.cobaltindustries.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cobalt Industries</a> x Audi presented an experience that felt achievable, with smart homes and connectivity on the rise, this car was a perfect example of where we should already be. The “Audi Intelligence Experience ” shows how it’s done: The car knows its user and their habits and uses intelligent functions combined with artificial intelligence to increase the passengers’ safety, wellbeing, and comfort. After a short time, the empathetic Audi is familiar with the user’s preferences and implements them autonomously.</p><figure><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iHt2cEvnCzA" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure><p>There is plenty more to write about from CES 2020 — AI is paving the way for smart cities, collaborative technologies are becoming the future instead of the hoaky upgrade of the same tech, and we will be featuring all of this in a series of upcoming blogs. To keep up with our <a href="http://www.briteliteimmersive.com/blog/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">blogs</a>, check in with us on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/briteliteimmersive/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Instagram</a> where we post our latest updates!</p>
<p>When we look to grand events like CES to navigate us towards what to expect in the future, I think many people expect what’s on display to already be finalized, when in reality these are working concepts being displayed in technologically advanced ways.</p>
<p>At Britelite that is what we specialize in, we transform how brands engage. As a Creative Technology agency we build immersive and interactive installations within physical spaces – from customer experience centers to connected spaces, commercial real-estate developments, retail spaces, live events, and more. We combine strategic design with large scale technologies to create experiences that have a powerful and irresistible effect. Most importantly, we transform how brands engage with their audiences by applying creative thinking to experience design, spatial engineering, and application development.<br /><br /></p>
<p>If you’re excited by the combination of:</p>
<ul><li>Ambitious design and flawless execution</li><li>Visual impact</li><li>Alignment with an organization’s business goals</li></ul><p>Then check out our <a href="http://www.briteliteimmersive.com/work/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">work</a>, and <a href="http://www.briteliteimmersive.com/contact/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">contact us </a>for a preliminary discussion on what we can do for you.</p>

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CES 2020: The future of tech and industry

<h2>PLANTING THE SEED</h2>
<p>The North Point Mall in Alpharetta, GA was having a problem that a lot of traditional retail spaces are having these days, how do you create memorable, shareable, and inspiring experiences for visitors? What does it take to transform a retail space into a magical environment? At Britelite that is our specialty.</p>
<p>Britelite and its partner, NatureMaker, proposed a dramatic interactive solution: a 35 ft tall tree with individually addressable illuminated leaves, able to come alive and adapt to the seasons, special events and holidays. A project of this magnitude requires bringing together some unique skills, everything from the meticulous craftsmanship of the tree, manufacturing of custom designed lighting fixtures, and a software ecosystem to keep it feeling immersive, impressive and fresh.</p><figure><iframe style="width:500px;height:281px;" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/374501770" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure><h2>MAKING IT GROW</h2>
<p>The Center Court at Northpoint mall is a beautiful central location that is designed to encourage community and relaxation in a busy and sometimes overwhelming retail environment. The LED tree installation became the focal point of the center court, a visual embodiment of the community that Northpoint Center was trying to create.</p>
<p>To make something that captured the attention and imagination of visitors we knew that that scale of the tree had to be instantly impressive. It is over 35 feet tall and roughly 40 feet in diameter. The tree features over 77,000 individually addressable LEDs housed inside almost 10,000 leaves on 648 total branches.</p>
<p>We worked with our partner Naturemaker to create the most realistic trunk and branch fabrications possible. We wanted to balance the technology and LED look of the leaves with a very natural feeling tree structure and that is just what Naturemaker was able to achieve. As soon as we saw the test materials they sent over, we knew that this was going to be one of the most impressive installations we have had the pleasure of creating.</p>
<p>We installed the tree over the course of two weeks in October with a fantastic team of partners to help make this complex and beautiful installation a reality. We wanted to make sure that not only was this a captivating, instantly recognizable feature, but that it was built for long term reliability and safety in this very public environment. While this is a highly custom installation we tried to make sure that the key foundational components would be easy to replace in case of any issues, because this installation is such a key part of the mall ecosystem that any downtime is unacceptable.</p>
<h2>MAKING THE LEAVES</h2>
<p>To make something that we knew would be as awe inspiring as we had imagined, we had to go to the source and start with completely purpose designed components. The leaves of the tree are a totally original design, engineered in partnership with Britelite’s LED supplier. The leaves are designed around a custom circuit board with 8 LED elements, diffusing the light in pleasing ways that works in the challenging ambient lighting conditions of the venue.</p>
<figure><img src="https://s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/blisf-website/pasted-image-0-1-5-1442x1080.png" alt="" /></figure><p>We iterated quickly through various different designs, using CAD files to create 3D printed prototypes that let us explore different shapes, materials and assembly strategies.</p>
<p>An especially challenging part of the project was designing the branches on which the leaves are mounted: given the public setting of the tree, it was important that wiring be entirely enclosed. Britelite worked with a manufacturing partner to design a fully enclosed metal branch structure, and coordinated logistics with the LED supplier to ensure that they shipped fully assembled branches.</p>
<h2>BRINGING THE TREE TO LIFE WITH SOFTWARE</h2>
<p>As with any Mall space, it is the type of location that locals visit over and over again. Knowing this it was a key requirement that the animations on the tree remain fresh and interesting, with plenty of variety for repeat visitors. In order to do that, Britelite designed and implemented software that would automatically cycle through many different lighting states, creating fresh experiences that are not tied to a regular schedule. Even if guests show up to view the tree at the same time everyday it will never look the same.</p>
<figure><img src="https://s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/blisf-website/PthRTzzQ.jpeg" alt="" /></figure><p>The Fall leaves pattern is one of the launch animations, evoking feelings of changing leaves and seasons that mirrors the Southern landscape.</p>
<figure><img src="https://s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/blisf-website/IMG_6760-1440x1080.jpg" alt="" /><figcaption> A peach tree pattern honors the tree’s home in Georgia.</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="https://s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/blisf-website/zZpwbY0A.jpeg" alt="" /></figure><p>We created this pattern that evoked cherry blossoms, and since cherry blossom season is an important event in Atlanta, we wanted to celebrate that part of the culture.<br /><br /><br /></p>
<h2>EVOLVING ANIMATIONS</h2>
<p>Britelite designed and developed a custom lighting control system, that allowed for realtime previews of animations on the tree, as well as directly controlling it. We used advanced C++ frameworks for speed and efficiency. An advanced LED control protocol (DDP) allows configuring the LED controllers and reading their status, essential for a project of this scale.</p>
<figure><img src="https://s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/blisf-website/pasted-image-0-3-3-1440x1080.png" alt="" /></figure><p>The system is built by combining several basic animation patterns into more complex animations, and then defining an animation program for the tree that incorporates these. These animation programs are based on seasons, holiday or special event, with a number of additional animations that can be triggered randomly over the course of a day.</p>
<p>New animation programs can be created without the need for further programming, so the tree can evolve over time, and seasonal programs can be added or enhanced.<br /><br /><br /></p>
<h2>CLIENT CUSTOMIZATION</h2>
<p>Britelite developed a content management system that allows creating, modifying and scheduling animations for the tree. For example seasonal and holiday programs can be planned in advance, and custom programs created to support brand specific promotions.</p>
<figure><img src="https://s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/blisf-website/Screen-Shot-2019-11-21-at-2.00.28-PM-1445x1080.png" alt="" /></figure><p>This content management system uses a simple web-based interface that can be used on a tablet while standing next to the tree, in order to preview changes directly.<br /><br /></p>
<h2>BUILDING THE TREE</h2>
<figure><img src="https://s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/blisf-website/pasted-image-0-4-3-1440x1080.jpg" alt="" /></figure><p>The actual installation of the tree required a lot of coordination between Britelite, Naturemaker, and the facilities team at North Point. In order to make this happen, meticulous project management and record keeping was essential. A “dress rehearsal” was set up, with the tree fully assembled at Naturemaker’s site in Carlsbad, California. Once we were confident that the project would be exactly what we wanted it was time to pack it up and send it to location in Georgia. The Georgia installation was a seamless experience thanks to the expertise of all the onsite teams and it came together exactly as we had hoped.</p><figure><iframe style="width:500px;height:281px;" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/372493519" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure><p>North Point LED tree construction timelapse (4 minute) from Britelite Immersive on Vimeo.<br /><br /><br /></p>
<h2>IMPACT</h2>
<p>We knew that this would be an impressive project, but we could not imagine how amazing it would look installed until we started to see it come together. Even during the construction process, visitors to the center were enamored and engaged, taking pictures and sharing socially.</p>
<figure><img src="https://s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/blisf-website/ysumDTuw.jpeg" alt="" /></figure><p>Merchants near the tree expressed a great deal of enthusiasm, and could think of multiple opportunities to make use of the tree. For example, the jewelry store next to the tree is actually ordained and able to perform weddings, and the tree is a perfect setting them for this. We would love to see our installation used to enrich all types of events that take place in this public gathering space.</p>
<p>The Northpoint Tree was a resounding success and we are so grateful to our clients and partners for helping to make this a flagship project we can all be proud of. At Britelite we love to create beauty and wonder in the world and seeing the public reaction to this project proved that we were able to create special moments that will stay with visitors long after they leave the mall. We look forward to a continued partnership with Nature Maker and hopefully we will get to make more of these beautiful installations in the future. If you are in Alpharetta, GA stop by the Northpoint mall and check out this amazing installation. You won’t regret the trip.</p>
<h2>IN OUR EXPERIENCE</h2>
<p>We’ve found that activating public spaces through the use of interactive technologies can have a significant payoff in terms of visitor impact. The <a href="http://www.briteliteimmersive.com/blog/portfolio/bespoke/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bespoke event hub at San Francisco’s Westfield Mall</a> continues to entertain and engage even casual visitors with its interactive video walls.</p>
<figure><img src="https://s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/blisf-website/pasted-image-0-7-3.png" alt="" /></figure><p>Another high impact public space implemented by Britelite is <a href="http://www.briteliteimmersive.com/blog/portfolio/amgen/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Amgen’s Immersive Research Center</a>, which positively impacts employees, partners and other visitors to the facility.</p>
<figure><img src="https://s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/blisf-website/pasted-image-0-8-3.png" alt="" /></figure><p>While the North Point tree is brand new, other experiences of large scale public art give a hint of what is possible:</p>
<ul><li>The Bay Lights in San Francisco led to some businesses along the Embarcadero reporting up to a 30% increase in business.</li><li>Olafur Eliasson’s Waterfalls in New York led to an estimated impact of $200m on the local economy while they were installed.</li><li>Teamlab’s “Borderless” exhibition in Tokyo is now the most visited art exhibit dedicated to a single artist, with 25% of visitors travelling internationally with the primary intent to see it</li></ul><p>Using interactive and technology to revitalize office and commercial spaces makes a lot of sense!<br /></p>
<h2>ACTIVATE YOUR SPACE</h2>
<p>With the North Point tree, Britelite is proud to present a project that is both visually striking and helps the organization achieve its purpose.<br /></p>
<p>The beauty and scale of the illuminated tree already adds a sense of wonder to the space. The ability to program animations on the tree in response to seasons, holidays, special events and promotions enables the client to further drive engagement and encourage visitor traffic.<br />If you’re excited by the combination of:</p>
<ul><li>Ambitious design and flawless execution</li><li>Visual impact</li><li>Alignment with an organization’s business goals</li></ul><p>Then check out our <a href="http://www.briteliteimmersive.com/work/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">work</a>, and <a href="http://www.briteliteimmersive.com/contact/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">contact us</a> for a preliminary discussion on what we can do for you.</p>

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