PROGRAM

November 28, 2023

07:00 PM – 08:00 PM CET

November 30, 2023

09:00 AM – 09:30 AM CET
06:30 PM – 07:00 PM CET

Warm-up

NOV 28, 2023
07:00 PM – 08:00 PM CET

Meet the Curators and the Conference Crowd

Dress up your avatar and get ready for IMMERSIVE X! Before the conference opens its virtual gates, we want to give you a chance to get a taste of the conference atmosphere. Get to know some of the conference venues and network with other attendees over a drink in our X-Bar. We look forward to meeting you! This session is especially recommended for newbies to social virtual reality and includes a short introduction to the equipment to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable conference experience.

Format

Experience

Platform

Location

REMIO | Area X

Welcome 

NOV 29, 2023
03:00 PM – 03:30 PM CET

Onboarding, Overview and Orientation 

Make sure you got your headset fully charged and let’s head to AREA X, the main conference venue of IMMERSIVE X. At the beginning of the first day, we will guide you through the program, point out the specifics of a conference in VR and answer your questions. This session is especially recommended for newbies to social virtual reality and includes a short introduction to the equipment to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable conference experience.

Format

Experience

Platform

Location

REMIO | AREA X

ACADEMIA

NOV 29, 2023
03:30 PM – 04:00 PM CET

How does Meeting in the Metaverse Affect Business Agility?

Especially in times of crisis, speed of action is a paradigm of success. How can immersive technologies contribute to the agility of companies and organizations? Under the leadership of André Henke, Program Lead Digital Management at the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Lower Saxony (Germany), his federal state has become a pioneer in this discipline in recent years. In this session, he shares his experiences in conversation with Nilusha Aliman, Research Executive of the XRLab at the Marketing Centre Munster.

Format

Presentation

Platform

Location

REMIO | AREA X

Speaker:

André Henke
Program Lead Digital Management at Ministry of Internal Affairs, Lower Saxony

André Henke is the Head of digitalization public administration at the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Sports of Lower Saxony and Head of Testbed Extended Reality (Metaverse) Germany at the GovTech Campus Germany. He is a specialist in scaled agile program management and led the agile events within this research project. 

Nilusha Aliman
Research Executive at XRLab@MCM

Nilusha Aliman is the Research Executive at the XRLab@MCM. She is a Ph.D. student at the Chair of Marketing & Media Research at the University of Münster, supervised by Prof. Hennig-Thurau. Her dissertation focuses on the value of immersive technologies for both organizations and society.

ACADEMIA

NOV 29, 2023
04:00 PM – 04:30 PM CET

Impact of Immersive Technologies on Research & Education

As in the early days of the internet, it is often educational institutions that are the first to gain practical experience with new technologies. How do VR, AR, MR or AI expand the possibilities of teaching and learning? And how does their use change didactics, methodology and the role of teachers and students? In this session, educational pioneers will share their experiences.

Format

Panel Discussion

Platform

Location

VR Chat | MCM

Speaker:

Prof. Dr. Paolo Granata
Associate Professor in Book and Media Studies at the University of Toronto

As an educator, an innovator, and a cross-disciplinary media scholar – nurtured by the century-old tradition of his Alma Mater, the University of Bologna – his research and teaching interests lie broadly in the areas of media ecology, media ethics, semiotics, print culture, and visual studies.

Prof. Dr. Min Ding
Bard Professor of Marketing & Affiliate Professor of Info Sciences and Technology, Penn State

Min Ding is Bard Professor of Marketing at Smeal College of Business and Affiliate Professor in the College of Information Sciences and Technology at the Pennsylvania State University, and has held past visiting positions at Australian National University, China Europe International Business School (CEIBS), Fudan University, and MIT. Min received his Ph.D. in Marketing (with a 2nd concentration in Health Care System) from Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania, his Ph.D. in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology from the Ohio State University. He is the author of several books that include Logical Creative Thinking Methods (2020, Routledge), Hualish (2019, Springer English ed; Fudan Press, Chinese ed), The Bubble Theory (2014, Springer English ed; 2019 Fudan Press, Chinese ed), The Chinese Way (2014, Routledge), and The Enlightened (2010), a novel.

 Prof. Dr. Sebastian Hohenberg
Full Professor and Chair of Digital Transformation at the University of Münster

Prof. Sebastian Hohenberg holds the Chair for Digital Transformation and is the Co-Director of the Research Center for Business Transformation at University of Münster’s School of Business & Economics. With his research, Sebastian strives to solve essential business problems related to the digital transformation of business and organic growth. His work has been published in leading scholarly outlets such as the Journal of Marketing and Journal of Marketing Research. His analysis of how virtual reality can improve new product development of durable products is the first empirical study on virtual reality in a top marketing journal.

Nilusha Aliman
Research Executive at XRLab@MCM

Nilusha Aliman is the Research Executive at the XRLab@MCM. She is a Ph.D. student at the Chair of Marketing & Media Research at the University of Münster, supervised by Prof. Hennig-Thurau. Her dissertation focuses on the value of immersive technologies for both organizations and society.

Prof. Dr. Thorsten Hennig-Thurau | Moderator
Professor of Marketing & Media at University of Münster and Academic Director of the XRLab@MCM

Prof. Dr. Thorsten Hennig-Thurau alias “ProfTHT” serves as Academic Director of the XRLab@MCM. He holds the Chair for Marketing & Media Research at the Marketing Center Münster and oversees the university’s M.B.A. in Marketing program. He is consistently ranked as one of Germany’s leading business scholar; the Stanford study in PLOS lists him among the Top 100 most impactful marketing scholars globally. Thorsten’s work studies the digital economy and has been honored with a number of awards, including a Lifetime Award for Published Scholarly Contributions from the UCLA and the JAMS Sheth Foundation Best Paper Award in both 2015 and 2018.

ACADEMIA

NOV 29, 2023
04:30 PM – 05:00 PM CET

VR-Campus Hopping

Format

Experience

Platform

Location

VR Chat | MCM

Tour Guides:

Prof. Dr. Thorsten Hennig-Thurau
Professor of Marketing & Media at University of Münster and Academic Director of the XRLab@MCM

Prof. Dr. Thorsten Hennig-Thurau alias “ProfTHT” serves as Academic Director of the XRLab@MCM. He holds the Chair for Marketing & Media Research at the Marketing Center Münster and oversees the university’s M.B.A. in Marketing program. He is consistently ranked as one of Germany’s leading business scholar; the Stanford study in PLOS lists him among the Top 100 most impactful marketing scholars globally. Thorsten’s work studies the digital economy and has been honored with a number of awards, including a Lifetime Award for Published Scholarly Contributions from the UCLA and the JAMS Sheth Foundation Best Paper Award in both 2015 and 2018.

Nilusha Aliman
Research Executive at XRLab@MCM

Nilusha Aliman is the Research Executive at the XRLab@MCM. She is a Ph.D. student at the Chair of Marketing & Media Research at the University of Münster, supervised by Prof. Hennig-Thurau. Her dissertation focuses on the value of immersive technologies for both organizations and society.

ACADEMIA

NOV 29, 2023
05:30 PM – 06:00 PM CET

VR for Social Change

The Africa VR Campus and Center is a grassroots tech organization dedicated to empowering the underprivileged and nurturing talent in remote areas, fostering Metaverse growth across Africa. The organization introduces learners of all ages to emerging technologies, providing VR/XR/AR devices to promote diverse African Metaverse participation. The initiative includes weekly events from an African perspective and a development project aimed at creating an open-source VR OS and apps, ensuring free access for Africans to express themselves. In his presentation, Paul shares his story and offers insights into Africa’s role in the future of immersive tech and beyond.

Format

Presentation

Platform

Location

REMIO | AREA X

Speaker:

Paul Simon Waiyaki
CEO and Founder at Africa VR Campus and Center

Paul Simon Waiyaki’s journey began with VOFCIN in 2012, addressing challenges for African children. In 2014, he entered real estate to boost African growth. In 2016 he became the first African in VR and pioneered the technology by founding the The Africa VR Campus and Center. In 2019, he hosted mainstream MetaVerse event hosted live from Africa. In 2022, he launched VR & Space programs customized for the African Learner. 

KEYNOTE

NOV 29, 2023
06:00 PM – 06:30 PM CET

The Future is Spatial

Format

Conversation

Platform

Location

REMIO | AREA X

Speaker:

Thomas Riedel
Journalist & Podcaster at Spatial Realities

Thomas Riedel is a freelance tech journalist, podcast producer, father and moderator based in Cologne, Germany. He has worked for deutsche-startups.de, Digitale Leute and Mediencluster NRW as communications officer and event manager for Gamescom and DMEXCO. He currently produces and hosts Germany’s largest Metaverse and XR podcast “Spatial Realities”, the Apple Vision Pro podcast “Beyond Reality” and the largest XR meetup in North Rhine-Westphalia. In the podcast “FutureFuture” he discusses future stories with experts from all fields. As a speaker on the topics of Metaverse, startups and digitalization, Riedel appears regularly on podcasts, meetups, conferences and as a tech expert on live TV.

Anne Seubert
Managing Director at Brands & Places

Anne Seubert is founder of the strategy consultancy Brands & Places, mentor, moderator and since 2020 Program Director at the non-profit Common Purpose Deutschland GmbH. As an experienced leader, passionate incubator and accomplished process facilitator, Anne Seubert shapes change and builds communities. For 15 years, she has been supporting companies, organizations and networks to redefine their role in people’s lives in a new and relevant way, both digitally and analogously, and develops strategies, formats and platforms for this purpose – preferably immersive, participative and transformative.

HEALTHCARE

NOV 29, 2023
07:00 PM – 07:30 PM CET

Healthcare Metaverse: Transforming Medical Media

The MedTriX Group is a media company that is specializing in medical information for healthcare professionals and patients. MedTriX believes that immersive technologies are not only changing medicine, but also medical journalism. That’s why the company recently opened the Future World, a virtual space the invites their stakeholders into the Metaverse.

What opportunity does the Healthcare Metaverse hold for media companies? Will immersive experiences soon replace traditional methods of medical education and training? And what potential solutions arise from the use of headsets beyond the traditional print business? In this session, we not only look at the future of healthcare, but also take a journey into the human body and experience the phenomenon of hypoglycemia. 

Format

Conversation

Platform

Location

REMIO | Future World

Speaker:

Ines Heitkamp
Junior Marketing Manager and Project Manager „Healthcare Metaverse Solutions by MTX“ at MedTriX Group

Ines Heitkamp has always been fascinated by new media and studied communication with focus on media management (M.A.). Since 2022, she is not only Junior Marketing Manager, but also Project Manager of MedTriX’s Healthcare Metaverse Solutions. Together with the team, she cares for new media solutions for the healthcare market in the virtual space.

Stephanie Bagehorn
Brand Manager at vm-people

As a brand manager at vm-people GmbH, Stephanie advises brand leaders on immersive brand building. After her training as a marketing communications specialist and subsequent studies in business communications, she always focuses on the question of “How?”. How do companies communicate with their target audience? How do customers become enthusiastic fans? How does a brand become an experience?

HEALTHCARE

NOV 29, 2023
07:30 PM – 08:00 PM CET

Training and Therapy in VR

In many parts of the world, healthcare systems are suffering from nursing shortages. Can immersive technologies such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR) help address these shortages and provide better care to patients? In this session, we will present two use cases from the fields of training and therapy that illustrate how these technologies are already being used in medical practice today.

Format

Panel Discussion

Platform

Location

REMIO | Future World

Speaker:

Theda Ockenga
Co-Founder and CEO at StellDirVor

Theda Ockenga is the Co-Founder and CEO of StellDirVor, a Munich-based startup shaping tomorrows healthcare system through innovative xReality solutions for training and assistance. With over 15 years of consulting experience in digital transformation and HR, Theda brings a wealth of expertise to her role, guiding companies in the successful implementation of immersive technologies in the healthcare sector. Her visionary leadership is paving the way for a new era of enhanced healthcare experiences, revolutionizing how we learn and provide assistance in the medical field. 

Barbara Stegmann
CEO and Co-Founder at living brain

Barbara Stegmann is psychologist and the CEO & Co-Founder of Heidelberg-based med-tech startup living brain. living brain developed Europe’s only certified VR-based neurotherapy for people suffering neurological diseases. living brains’ first product teora®mind enables patients to regain their cognitive abilities. Furthermore, Barbara hosts the podcast “BlackBox”, focusing true crime cases and their psychological background to advocate for destigmatization of mental illnesses.

HEALTHCARE

NOV 29, 2023
08:00 PM – 08:30 PM CET

Making of „Goliath – Playing with Reality“

Coupled with the surge in demand for mental health services, and in wake of NHS being under extreme pressure with staff burnout and walkouts, Inside Mental Health is designed as an impactful immersive resource to deliver better empathetic training for a series of mental health issues, starting with psychosis. Functioning as a physical toolkit, the sessions begin with a narrative VR experience with participant’s biometric data captured in real-time, and concludes with an interactive reflection session. The VR component of Inside Mental Health is based on ANAGRAM’s Emmy-nominated Goliath: Playing with Reality, a 25-minute VR experience narrated by Academy Award-winning actress Tilda Swinton.

Format

Conversation

Platform

Location

REMIO | Future World

Speaker:

Sean Caroll
Business Development Manager at Anagram

Sean is an experienced business manager with a track record of delivering customer focused, commercially driven programs across the public and creative sectors. At Anagram, Sean’s developing a new business model taking existing entertainment IP to create an immersive, empathetic training tool for healthcare workers. Prior to Anagram, Sean worked on R&D XR projects for Factory 42, in public engagement at the Natural History Museum and in commercial and operational roles in the public sector. 

Liam Mckill
3D Artist, Virtual Reality Creativity Consultant and Co-Fonder at Anomie

When it comes to exploring new worlds, shaping them and endowing them with values, it always takes people who are curious and courageous enough to move forward. One of the people who shape the metaverse in this sense is Liam Mckill. As a freelance artist and consultant, Liam experiments and explores visual storytelling using new VR/AR technologies as a creative form. As a maker, he is interested in new technologies not only for the expansion of creative possibilities, but also for the impact of new technologies on ethical issues He has been featured on Forbes, Tech@Facebook, Engadget and more.

HEALTHCARE

NOV 29, 2023
08:30 PM – 09:00 PM CET

VR for Mental Health

Globally poor mental health leads to approximately 8 million deaths per year. Adoption of 2D online therapy tools have accelerated during the pandemic. However, 2D online therapy is not fully engaging clients. New innovative solutions are urgently required to tackle the mental health storm that will be coming. Anomie is a VR solution that was born during the pandemic out of need. It was co-designed with creative art therapists in lockdown and has been piloting with coaches and therapists worldwide. 

Format

Presentation

Platform

Location

REMIO | Future World

Speaker:

Liam Mckill
3D Artist, Virtual Reality Creativity Consultant and Co-Fonder at Anomie

When it comes to exploring new worlds, shaping them and endowing them with values, it always takes people who are curious and courageous enough to move forward. One of the people who shape the metaverse in this sense is Liam Mckill. As a freelance artist and consultant, Liam experiments and explores visual storytelling using new VR/AR technologies as a creative form. As a maker, he is interested in new technologies not only for the expansion of creative possibilities, but also for the impact of new technologies on ethical issues He has been featured on Forbes, Tech@Facebook, Engadget and more.

ACADEMIA

NOV 29, 2023
09:00 PM – 09:30 PM CET

The Solar System: Experiential Learning in VR

The Solar System is one of the most amazing places to see in the sphere in Social VR. It shows the full potential of experiential learning in virtual reality as a supplement to the lessons in presence or on the screen and is a great inspiration not only for educators. Meet Niko Lang, the creator, and learn firsthand how this project came to life. Let him take you on a personal tour that will show you our planets in a way you’ve never seen them before. 

Format

Experience

Platform

Location

VR Chat | Niko‘s Solar System

Speaker:

Niko Lang
IT-Consultant & 3D-Artist

Niko Lang is an IT consultant, 3D artist and a long-time wanderer between different realities. The worlds he creates shape our understanding of the sphere that may one day make the metaverse a reality. 

ENTERTAINMENT

NOV 29, 2023
09:30 PM – 10:30 PM CET

IMMERSIVE X Pub Quiz and Get-Together

Social VR can be one of the best places to have fun together – and maybe even educational. Join us for an interactive social gaming session to test your knowledge of the metaverse, storytelling, AI and other topics from our conference. First we will form mixed teams and then we will start the competition. It will be entertaining for everyone who takes part – but the winning team will also win a prize.

Format

Experience

Platform

Location

REMIO | Future World, Rooftop Terrace

Speaker:

Foto: Victoria Tamaschko

Christopher Werth
Chief Creative Officer at VOK DAMS

Christopher Werth is an internationally awarded expert in experiential marketing. He studied theatre directing and staged at the Schauspielhaus Bochum. After working as a copywriter at Jung von Matt and Scholz & Friends, among others, he is now Chief Creative and Metaverse Officer at the agency for events and live-marketing VOK DAMS worldwide. He researches metaverse and VR, writes a gaming column, and gives lectures at universities and international conferences. 

WAKE-UP CALL

NOV 30, 2023
09:00 AM – 09:30 AM CET

Good Morning, Metanauts: Let's Play VR Games

In the era of New Work, the workplace is transitioning from the corporate office to the home office. While video conferencing streamlines work processes, in may not foster team cohesion. This is where social VR apps like REMIO come into play. Explore how VR games, such as Tow Defense and Team Puzzle Race, can be harnessed by companies to enhance team building and bolster their employer brand. 

Format

Experience

Platform

Location

REMIO | AREA X

Speaker:

Lance Powell
Product Manager at Remio

As Head of Product at Remio, Lance is exploring the potential for interpersonal engagement through VR from highly coordinated enterprise events to group hangouts. Lance’s entry into XR began in the context of education and a curiosity about its effect on human behavior, ranging from meaningful connection to the persistent problem of virtual harassment. In this vein, he leveraged the emerging ecosystem of XR labs to study this phenomena, resulting in a foundational Master’s thesis on the problem of harassment. Post-education, Lance worked on deployment of immersive hardware and developing custom VR apps for schools until finally working on the experiences on virtual platforms directly with Remio.

ARTS

NOV 30, 2023
09:30 AM – 10:00 AM CET

Beyond „The Girl“ | AI Art Exhibition

Photographer and media designer Julian van Dieken creates works on a daily basis using A.I. tools to explore their function, effects, limits and strengths. What started out as simple experiments quickly went viral. The Vermeer homage “A Girl with Glowing Earrings” suddenly hung in a classical art museum as the world’s first AI image in a classical art museum of this kind. Justin Bieber and Elon Musk responded to the images. And the political cartoons, like the depiction of Obama and Merkel on the beach, became part of the national AI discourse. What does such a dynamic do to art, media and society? Gain insights into this development by visiting Julian’s VR gallery and experience a selection of the much-discussed images up close, virtually, for the first time.

Format

Guided Gallery Tour

Platform

Location

REMIO | Art Gallery

Speaker: