Bio

I am always interested in projects that do good and advance VR/AR as new media in their own rights. I have 30+ years expertise in immersive VR environment creation & production, with a focus on evoking emotional responses and meaningful experiences in such environments. Developed techniques to facilitate this. Invented a scent delivery collar to provide smells in VR environments & an Infrasonic floor to produce emotional effects. Research into use and impact of Avatars. Experience in online worlds, & in connecting them to sensors for realtime feedback. Actively researching the vectors of how our virtual avatar representations affect our physical reality. Taught innovative game design classes at UCLA 2007-09. Co-Founder of the game research group Ludica (www.ludica.org.uk), & member of IDGA, and WIGI. Frequent speaker on VR, AR and VWs. Expert in the health, training and social applications of new media and online worlds. Taught Senior Projects class at Otis College of Art and Design. Currently teaching UCLA Extension classes in Immersive Experience Design. Responsible for designing the first combined technical and artistic year long training program for incoming computer animators at Walt Disney Feature Animation. On New Technologies group for the Disney Studios. 1994-1997. Developed similar training for the visual effect industry at VIFX and Blue Sky as well as for the Oscar award winning Rhythm & Hues. 1997-2000. Interdisciplinary background including: Pre-MED; advanced degrees in art & computer science; ongoing intense interests in health, medicine and neuroscience. Virtual environment creation & production (fully immersive, artistic, meaningful and game-like). Game theory and expertise. Directing team-based projects to bring out the creativity of each individual. Teaching design and creativity in technology areas. Artistic concept development. Hundreds of book chapters & research paper publications - a 30 year history.