Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality. Brave new worlds or the way into the matrix? Opportunities and risks and an outlook into a possible future full of new impressions.

Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality. Brave new worlds or the way into the matrix? Opportunities and risks and an outlook into a possible future full of new impressions. with Maria Courtial (VR director and producer; GER), Arif Khan (writer and director; UK), Giovanni Fantoni Modena (filmmaker, VR developer; IT). According to a Forbes article from earlier this year, "the forecast for global sales of virtual reality products is US$22.37 billion by 2025. Up to 74 million VR goggles are expected to be sold annually by 2024. So virtual reality products have long ceased to be a niche business." Virtual reality and its extension augmented reality are not only used in industrial or medical areas, for example, but are increasingly becoming a medium for edutainment and in the narrative and documentary segment. The user is enabled to spatially experience or influence events and stories.

The end user thus becomes a passive or active part of the experience, and not through his or her own imagination. Content thus becomes even more of a sensory experience. In short keynote speeches, artists and producers from the VR/AR field will introduce themselves and their works and then talk together in a panel about the opportunities and risks that their personal focus on this relatively new medium entails and which relevant social, creative and technological transformations could be initiated by them in the near future. A must for anyone who wants to take a little peek into the future.

Presenting and discussing:Maria Courtial, Virtual Reality pioneer and successful entrepreneur. She takes us back in history and to the dawn of all time. Arif Khan, classic narrative content producer and horror expert. He takes us to scary worlds.Giovanni Fantoni Modena, filmmaker, VR developer and the Scotty of virtual reality, who can beam us into the infinite reaches of space.