The 1st International Workshop on eXtended Reality  for Industrial and Occupational Supports (XRIOS)

"Innovating with Immersive Technologies at General Motors"

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Abstract:

General Motors’ vision of zero crashes, zero emissions, and zero congestion has driven the need to accelerate the development of battery electric and autonomous vehicles. Designers and engineers require faster decision making tools and less physical prototyping.  Sales and marketing teams need to develop a visual online presence that properly represents the innovation of the vehicle and brand. Meanwhile, the global COVID pandemic has resulted in more remote work and virtual collaboration. Join us for this session to review where immersive technologies (XR, VR, AR, MR) are being successfully utilized at GM, and areas where your work may help fill current gaps in the technology’s capability and application.

Bio:

Jess Bradmon has worked in the product and automotive visualization industry for over 13 years. Starting as a consultant at 3D Excite (formerly RTT) and the last decade holding various creative technology positions at General Motors. Jess contributed to establishing GM’s Immersive Technologies strategic initiative and dedicated enterprise group. He manages a team of domain experts covering R&D, Design, Engineering, Manufacturing, Sales, Service, Marketing and Customer Experience. This team is focused on developing immersive business strategy and delivering innovative solutions. Jess lives in south-east Michigan and holds a BFA in Industrial Design from the College for Creative Studies.

"Applying Inclusive Design to Create Accessible Mixed Reality Experiences"

Abstract:

As mixed reality systems become more common, people are increasingly using these technologies in situations where there is a misalignment of the system's capabilities and that of the user. Whether the user has a permanent disability, temporary impairment, or situational limitation, they should still be able to use the technology to accomplish their task. For example, if a mixed reality user on a factory floor is using both hands to hold tools, they may still need to interact with their device and be guided through their current task. By designing for someone who cannot use their hands, we can prevent these misalignments before they happen. In this talk, Thom will guide us through the persona spectrum of looking at disabilities and how to apply inclusive design in an effort to make XR devices usable for all.

Bio:

Thom Gable works as a Senior User Researcher on the Mixed Reality team at Microsoft. Prior to Microsoft, Thom completed his Ph.D. at Georgia Institute of Technology where he specialized in Engineering Psychology, with his research focusing on interaction with multimodal displays while multitasking. At Microsoft, Thom works across product areas in the MR space with a focus on input and interaction, hardware experience, and accessibility.