How to Do Virtual Reality Right at SXSW

Each year, South by Southwest attendees are faced with an overwhelmingly difficult task: creating their schedule of events. One of the most talked-about topics in all fields this year is virtual and augmented reality, with a new track devoted to the topics, including panels on virtual tourism, virtual space tourism, virtual news, virtual live music, and (obviously) virtual porn. But with its wide range of applications, VR and AR permeate almost every single one of the festival’s niches. We dug through the entire SXSW event listings to create this guide to all things VR, for your health.

If you’re interested in trying out VR tech, you should prioritize the VR/AR Experience Exhibition, where 13 developers will showcase their latest projects as well as the Virtual Reality Showcase, where the University of Texas at Austin’s VR experts will discuss a VR publishing framework, and demo content created with The Washington Post (the collaborators will also lead a panel discussing the use of VR in storytelling).

Two panels will appeal to the athletes:Dude, Where’s My Par? features Sloane Kelley, the executive producer of PGA Tour in VR to talk about why golf is a virtual reality sport. Directly after that is Virtual Football is the New Reality, a conversation and demo on how professional football players are using VR to improve their game.

When it comes to entertainment, the panelists of Lighting Hollywood’s Virtual Reality Actors will discuss light stage facial scanning systems used to create photo realistic digital actors. Immersive storytelling is one of this year’s hottest topics with an interactive Tech and Theater panel discussing the possibilities of layered reality for the stage.

If the programs so far draw a cold, machine-mediated picture of the future, SXSW has the solution: a series of panels discussing the emotional side of VR. The leader of Google’s VR project management team will speak on a panel called Ultimate Empathy Machine, while others will explore the potential of VR for journalism and wildlife conservation. Cause and FX discusses the possibilities and setbacks of using VR to create empathy for global issues, and a UN Spotlight details a project that aims to bring global leaders directly in touch with conflict through VR.

A few panels intend to ground the idealism of VR’s possibilities with practical advice. One will offer tips on monetizing your VR project, while another focuses on the economic realities of VR in cinema. Also, there will be talks about how to create augmented reality shopping experiences.

Lastly, there are a few panels that touch on the use of VR and AR in other industries, like fashion, healthcare, and workplace design. And if you’ve decided you prefer the virtual world to the real one, definitely hit up the VR/AR track meetup to find like-minded colleagues.

What virtual reality projects are you excited for at SXSW? Check out the entire VR/AR Track listing here and let us know @CreatorsProject.

Related:

VR Horror Experience Puts You Inside a 1940s Mental Hospital

Interactive SXSW Installation Uses Kinect to Beam Viewers into CGI Worlds

Can Virtual Reality Show Us What Love Feels Like?