What we’re about
[Virtual reality? Augmented reality? Artificial intelligence? GPS? Internet-Of-Things? If the following description of this Meetup group seems overly technical, let me assure you that is intended to be fun and educational no matter your level of experience with virtual reality or any related technologies. In fact, this is what I wrote to someone who just joined: "Meetup groups (I've joined about 60, started a couple) tend to be more about finding an excuse (a common interest) to socialize, regardless of levels of personal knowledge. In fact, a bunch of know-it-alls don't typically like to hangout together. But they do love it when someone says, I don't know know much about this, but I'm interested, could you tell me more? The weird thing is I've also seen a bunch of people, where no one knew hardly anything about a subject, in which they supposedly had a common interest, and yet they still had a grand time." So I hope you'll at least give us a chance, no matter how familiar, or unfamiliar, you are with any of these fascinating technologies!]
Spatial computing is not the same as virtual reality or augmented reality, or extended or mixed reality. Spatial computing has roots in decades-old technologies and ideas, such as geographic information systems (GIS), the Global Positioning System (GPS), remote sensing, and spatial data and databases. However, recently, widely available headsets have supercharged conversations across a broad swath of interacting spatial computing and enabling technologies, from VR and AR, to 5G, to Internet-Of-Things (IoT), to artificial intelligence and machine learning. To start our conversation, here is my own personal, current mind map of spatial computing, enabling technologies, and application areas. Feel free to extend or critique. I hope over a beer!
Spatial Computing (example definitions)
- “...human interaction with a machine in which the machine retains and manipulates referents to real objects and spaces. It [Spatial Computing] is an essential component for making our machines fuller partners in our work and play” (Greenwold)
- “seamlessly blends digital content with the physical world while allowing users to stay present and connected to others.” (Apple)
- “the ability of devices to be aware of their surroundings and to represent this digitally” (Microsoft)
- “a set of ideas and technologies that transform our lives by understanding the physical world, knowing and communicating our relation to places in that world, and navigating through those places” (Spatial Computing, MIT Press Essential Knowledge Series, 2019)
- “the combination of the virtual and physical worlds. It allows users to interact with digital content in a natural and intuitive way, by allowing our physical world to be virtualized and by overlaying virtual information onto the physical world” (Amazon)
- “a form of computing where the user interacts with the computer in a 3D space. It involves the use of sensors and actuators to enable computers to perceive and interact with the physical world. This technology is often associated with augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and mixed reality (MR) technologies. But it’s more than just these technologies” (random quote from one of many LinkedIn posts about spatial computing, but I really liked it!)
- “processes and tools used to capture, process and interact with three-dimensional (3D) data” (TechTarget)
- “any computational manipulation of three-dimensional representations of objects and/or their location in 3D environments” (me, basically restating TechTarget)
Enabling Technologies (non-exhaustive subset)
- VR and AR (of course!)
- Artificial intelligence and machine learning
- Computer vision
- Internet-of-Things
- Digital twins
- GIS / Geospatial
- 5G, 6G etc
- Etc.
Application Areas (non-exhaustive subset)
- Healthcare
- 3D Printing
- Archaeology
- Geospatial
- Logistics
- Tourism
- Fashion
- Education
- Manufacturing
- Architecture
- Interior design
- Autonomous vehicles
- Metaverse
- I’m sure you can add more…
This meetup is intended to be an informal monthly get together to noodle these and related ideas, over a beer somewhere in Albuquerque’s excellent craft beer scene. In other words, even if no one shows up, you still get to have a great beer!
PS Spatial Computing [&] Beer has a sibling interest group (not on Meetup), the Mirehaven VR Club. Check us out at bit.ly/ABQVR!
Upcoming events (1)
See all- Is Advanced AI an Existential Threat to Humanity? A Debate Over Beer...Tractor Brewing, Albuquerque, NM
Check out what happened when I asked ChatGPT to debate itself: "Is Advanced AI an Existential Threat to Humanity?" https://youtu.be/qGZcVyRQM2M (5 minutes) I'm not sure who won the debate, Affirmative or Negative. Though, technically ChatGPT did, since it argued for both the Affirmative and the Negative sides of the question!
But what do you think? Many worry that AGI (Artificial General Intelligence, the idea that AI will become superhuman and self-improving) is eminent and will lead to AI Singularity (unpredictable, rapid, and dangerous technological change). Others view this worry as undeserved hype, primed by AI movie villains such as HAL in 2001, A Space Odyssey, Skynet in The Terminator, and Colossus: The Forbin Project (THAT may be way before your time...).
Recently I gave a presentation to the Mirehaven VR Club on just this topic. I uploaded my slides, along with speaker notes, to the photo Meetup photo album: “Is Advanced AI a Threat to Humanity?”: The Debate (slides). Feel free to flip through the slides and arrive to ask questions or make comments. Or simply hang out with precociously intelligent and amiably social folks with wide-ranging interests.
Artificial intelligence and machine learning are important spatial computing enabling technologies. However, is there a more specific connection between AGI and spatial computing? I'd argue there is. Watch With Spatial Intelligence, AI Will Understand the Real World and come to weigh in on whether there is, indeed, an important connection...
Bring your various fully-charged VR headsets and show off our favorite VR games, apps, experiences, and projects to each other. I have hundreds of VR apps and I love giving demos. The last time Spatial Computing met at Ex Novo on Central no one seemed to think we were strange, drinking beer while wearing headsets. Best practice: longneck bottles work better than mugs when wearing a VR headset...
In related news, I am the new organizer for VR New Mexico. Apparently, it was set to potentially go away for lack of a sponsor/organizer. Sixteen years old, with 244 members, that seemed a shame. We'll see if there are any synergies between these two groups.
PS There's a fantastic pizza place next door, Slice & Dice. Order a slice, or two, or maybe an entire pie, and they will deliver it to you at Tractor Brewing.
Cheers
Chuck
- ChuckWebsterMD@gmail.com
- X.com/wareFLO
- wareflo.bsky.social
