WebXR For Cooperative Work, Thought, And Play - John Shaughnessy

Engelbart had it right: The ways we work, play, learn, create, and think coevolve with our tools.
The internet weaves itself into the fabric of our lives. It has changed how we gather and share information with each other. Personal computers, mobile devices, and now immersive devices shrink the distance between us and our digital identities. And yet, many of us find ourselves feeling overwhelmed, disconnected and without community.
Attempts to “get together” online via text, voice, and video are stifled by inherent limitations of those mediums, despite our efforts to overcome them. Community gatherings need space: for nonverbal communication, for simultaneous streams of conversation, and for seamless integration of media.
Games and metaverse platforms are competing for attention in this rich design space. But these software systems rarely put the needs and interests of the end-users first, and are instead optimized for growth, lock-in, and network effects.
Meanwhile, the capabilities of immersive devices present novel risks to the security, privacy, and well-being of end-users. WebXR brings these capabilities (and risks) to the web, where new generations of programmers, artists, and creatives are making their start.
In this talk, John explores:
How computer-mediated communication tools often “get in the way” of our attempts to connect,
How powerful tools for creative expression often have challenging barriers to entry,
How WebXR enables web developers to build accessible, cross-platform immersive applications,
How Mozilla’s work on Hubs fits into a wider narrative of authentic community-building, open-source, and decentralized technology
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About John Shaughnessy
John Shaughnessy is a programmer fascinated by how people cooperate, how tools empower our thinking, and how complex systems evolve. Since 2017, he has been working on Mozilla Hubs, which he describes as “a WordPress for 3D web apps”. He is currently the Sr Ecosystem and Engineering Manager for Hubs, where he works with engineers, artists and creative technologists to help bring dreams of collective computing to life.
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About the Conference
The Philly Emerging Technologies for the Enterprise (ETE) is the Mid-Atlantic's premier developer's conference. Entering its 17th year, we've brought world-class speakers - including some local favorites - to speak about leading-edge technologies being used today, and emerging technologies that will be important for attendees to know about in the near future.
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About the Host
Philly ETE is hosted by Chariot Solutions, a software development consultancy.
For over 20 years, companies of all sizes and industries have
looked to Chariot as a partner to help them solve their toughest software challenges, and move their business forward.
Are you a business looking to build and manage software solutions optimized for your unique needs? We're here to help. We’ll apply our strategic, high-touch approach and extensive tech experience to solve your most complex business problems. Reach out today. Visit us at chariotsolutions.com/
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Sponsored by Pinnacle 21
Employees at Pinnacle 21 do tech work that means something. Their software enables key transitions in the clinical trial data pipeline and streamlines regulatory approvals for drugs and medical devices, getting new treatments to patients faster. Pinnacle 21 supplies its SaaS platform to the US FDA, Japan’s PMDA, 24 of the top 25 biopharma firms, and many more biotechs. It ensures clinical trial data comply with the standards of both government agencies and trial sponsors. On its way from the clinic to a government agency, a data point goes through many steps, and Pinnacle 21 has processed over 30 trillion (with a T!) of them. With strong product-market fit and an aggressive roadmap fueled by their 2021 acquisition by Certara (NASDAQ: CERT), the team is quickly becoming the one-stop data brokerage for the life sciences. Learn more: pinnacle21.com
Sponsored by Lutron
Lutron is the worldwide leader in lighting, automated shade and temperature controls, with headquarters in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania and engineering offices in Philadelphia, Boston, South Florida and Austin. We are a privately held manufacturing company with over 4000 design and product patents. We are at the forefront of innovating IoT products for smart homes and connected buildings. We provide solutions for residences that span from 500 sq. ft apartments to 10,000 sq. ft homes and commercial solutions for small office spaces to entire building complexes such as the New York Times Building, Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Empire State Building and the Guggenheim Museum. Learn more: www.lutron.com/en-US/pages/de...