Kathryn Hicks

3D Artist in XR (Spatial Computing) || Founder || Snap AR Creator

[Kent Bye (Voices of VR) @kentbye]

I just published my Voices of VR podcast deep dive into my coverage of the Snap Spectacles and Snapchat's AR ecosystem with over 8 hours of interviews across 15 Voices of VR podcast and featuring 26 different insights from indie AR devs + Snap reps (link at the bottom links to each episode). I was pleasantly surprised with how viable of an AR dev kit the Spectacles is with a 13ms motion-to-photon latency, very responsive and intuitive hand-tracking, and Snap's top notch ML.

But more than anything else, Snap has the most creative, exciting, and talented set of indie AR devs who have a viable platform to hone their AR lens skills, and that same lens workflow with Lens Studio ports over into building experiences for the Spectacles. Lots of concern about the 45-min battery, but you can also plug it into a battery pack & then you're limited by how comfortable the thermals will be. Snap has optimized for outdoor use, and their Connected Lens framework enables shared experiences, which the Es Devlin Council experience demonstrates powerfully.

Much more of my thoughts in the first & last episodes, but each episode is a deep dive into another corner of the Snap ecosystem:

Kickoff of @SnapAR Spectacles Coverage with First Impressions with XR Analyst @anshelsag

Niantic Launches Virtual Pet AR Game "Peridot Beyond" on Snap's Spectacles - Erin Schaefer and Asim Ahmed

Wabisabi Game Studio Leverages AR Connected Lenses on Snap Spectacles for Outdoor Capture the Flag Game - @joeuvn and Julio Martinez

Turning Your Phone into a Spectacles AR controller with DB Creations' "Tiny Motor Arcade" - @D_Kochensparger and @BlakeDGross

Snap's Lens Studio, Spectacles, & "Polygon Studio" Open Source Low-Poly Drawing App - @maksvanleeuwen and Liisi Mononen

Building a Geo-Located, Dungeon-Raiding, AR Game for Spectacles with @Aidan_Wolf

Snap Co-Founders Share Vision for AR & Spectacles at Lens Fest Q&A Panel - @evanspiegel and Bobby Murphy

Snap AR Platform Lead @sophiaedm on Spectacles and AR Ecosystem

AR Lens Genres, Spectacles Impressions, & SelfReflect VTubing App Using Snap's Camera Kit with @tacolamp

XR Industry Reality Checks with @cixliv and Turning Your Phone into an AI-Driven Exercise Routine

Arguing for Utility-Driven AR Minimalism with @_LucasRizzotto Reflecting upon the XR Market

Snap's Head of Spectacles Software Engineering Shares Technical Break Down of Design Tradeoffs - Daniel Wagner

Team of Women AR Artists Explore Dreams in Spectacles Hackathon - @alexis_zerafa, @badchickstudios, @Mjbinnette, @dunaway_smith, and @EtkindNella

Freelance XR Dev Veronica Flint Shares Thoughts on Spectacles and Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses - @corvenia

AR Medical Training App Wins Spectacles Hackathon + My Concluding Thoughts on Snap Spectacles - Sam Jones, @gokatcreate, Lauren Cason, @eemmasofija, and @PaigePiskin

https://t.co/kjRoMFryw9

[Lens Studio @LensStudioDev]

Congratulations to all of our Lensathon winners! That’s a wrap on #LensFest2024! 🚀

[Kathryn Hicks @gokatcreate]

Thrilled to have worked with an amazing team on Emergencee, our 1st place Lensathon project. Grateful for the opportunity and recognition from @SnapAR

[Lens Studio @LensStudioDev]

🥁 And drumroll please 🥁 The winner of Lensathon 2024 is… Emergensee! 🏆 Our winning team wowed judges with a Lens that lets you practice using life-saving first aid devices, like AEDs, so you’re prepared when emergency strikes!

[Kathryn Hicks @gokatcreate]

@SnapAR And Lauren Cason

[Kathryn Hicks @gokatcreate]

I'm excited to be an ambassador for @LaunchTN's 3686 Festival! 🚀
Join us Sept. 9-11 in Nashville for:

🔹Cutting-edge speakers
🔹Investor meetings
🔹Pitch competitions
🔹Startup showcase

Use code AMBASS3686 for $50 off at https://t.co/Z9sUWWGKgo
#3686fest #StartupEcosystem #TN

[Marvin Stockwell @marvinstockwell]

BVO CEO Reuben Brunson & Chief of Games & Technology @gokatcreate were on @theNewMemphis' Meanwhile In Memphis show on @WYXR_Memphis this morning talking about work that's now underway at Mud Island! Thanks to co-hosts Anna Thompson & Rebecca Dailey for having them on the show!

[The Daily Memphian @DailyMemphian]

More than 4,000 people had a chance to walk, crawl and climb through artist Christopher Reyes’ immersive exhibit at Off the Wall Arts. Now, Baron Von Opperbean is coming to Mud Island. https://t.co/hSjfbGuSSM

@ericbarnes2/@holly_sayshello/@MemRiverParks/@tofureyes/@gokatcreate

[Marvin Stockwell @marvinstockwell]

Thanks to @Kontji at @3onyourside for having @tofureyes & @gokatcreate
on @liveat9tv this morning to talk about Baron Von Opperbean at @MudIslandPark! https://t.co/xPl7MYZ7GR

[Kathryn Hicks @gokatcreate]

@benz145 Baldur's Gate 3 & Minecraft

[Black in Spatial @blackinspatial]

Peep the name change! 👀 Black in XR → Black in Spatial. 12 days until February 2, 2024!

[Linus ✦ Ekenstam @LinusEkenstam]

CGI is about to get easy

This is simulon, a new iOS app that’s still in invite only mode

The video below was made with a live in-camera preview and auto-exposure matching, no camera solve, no HDRI capture and no manual compositing setup.

🔗 in next tweet

[Linus ✦ Ekenstam @LinusEkenstam]

CGI shot on iPhone

4K ProRes recording, VFX shots made on mobile devices are here today.

This is all possible using @Simulon

[Tenet of The Spark @TenetOfTheSpark]

#tenetofthespark #gamescom2023

[Ben Lang @benz145]

I don't know if this specific clip is actual footage or some kind of composite, but this is roughly how good hand-occlusion is on Apple Vision Pro

[Linda Dong 🍉 @lindadong]

🎂 Oh hey, the Apple visionOS SDK …………….is here!!!

Download it and make cool stuff 🥰
https://t.co/aVVnTPevyT


[Linda Dong 🍉 @lindadong]

For you aspiring Vision Pro designers!

🥽 New Human Interface Guidelines for Vision Pro (we added ~60k words of wisdom!!)
https://t.co/0yb3ruUJYp

🎨 Figma Vision Pro design kits
https://t.co/AKnnqd9MHg

🍏App icon tool (for previewing juicy 3d icons)
https://t.co/vApLWx6TjP

[Hart Woolery @2020cv_inc]

Team standups in 2024

[Linda Dong 🍉 @lindadong]

To round out #WWDC23 Vision Pro design video we’ve got two super important topics!

🎧 Sound design – plays a HUGE role in an immersive UX
https://t.co/wWPIHn63tV

👯‍♀️ Shared spatial experiences – designing for that mind-boggling multi-people thing
https://t.co/hgXHxHC4Wy

[jasmine roberts @jasminezroberts]

𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹-𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗼-𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝟯𝗱 𝗼𝗯𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗴𝗽𝘁

3d artists are ok! :) queries beyond content creation are actually a 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 use for llms like #chatgpt. discussed at #awe2023 last week.

#madeinunity

[Playbook 🪄🎨 @playbook3d]

Design in 2D like you always do, then instantly test in VR with Playbook.

Try our @Figma plugin for yourself below: