Meet Alessandro Straccia, a Creative Technologist from Brazil and a valuable member of the Niantic 8th Wall Community. Alessandro recently released his book, “Interactive Web Development with Three.js and A-Frame.” Alessandro used his eight years of experience with Three.js and as a Creative Technologist to provide many insights for beginners. He also used this book to spark inspiration for developers and non-developers to start exploring the many ways you can build creative and captivating experiences. 

We sat down with Alessandro for a Q&A to delve deeper into his AR journey and explore how he's using Niantic 8th Wall to craft more real-world use cases for WebAR. 

Meet Corbin Ordel, a multimedia creative artist and interactive engineer dynamic. Corbin opened his production studio in 2018, he has worked with a wide group of agencies and teams on projects that span traditional AR/VR/XR experiences, WebGL networked multiplayer games, animated films, bespoke app development, and live performance.

A graduate of the Interactive Telecommunications Program at NYU Tisch School of the Arts, Corbin uses a background in creative coding and immersive technology to make cutting-edge work in the consumer market and creative arts.

We're excited to announce our summer developer challenge, the "Explore Together: Location-Based AR Challenge." For the first time, the 8th Wall and Lightship communities will come together, pushing the limits of what can be achieved with AR. This challenge, running from May 6th to June 24th, calls on you to leverage our powerful Visual Positioning System (VPS) to create innovative, location-based AR experiences that bring real-world locations to life.

VPS connects the real world with the digital one by anchoring AR content to locations with unprecedented accuracy and precision. This enables location-based augmented reality experiences that feel more personal and gives users new reasons to explore the world around them.

Meet João Pedro Vaz Pratas, a dynamic Creative Developer at Darabase, who began his journey in augmented reality development with 8th Wall around four years ago during the first COVID lockdown in the UK. His expertise in JavaScript development, particularly in the realm of WebXR development using React, TypeScript, and three.js (with AFRAME or pure three.js), has positioned him as a leader in creating immersive AR experiences that seamlessly integrate with real-world contexts.

We sat down with Joao for a Q&A to delve deeper into his AR journey and explore how he's using 8th Wall to craft captivating experiences that resonate with audiences worldwide.
 

We are thrilled to present the winners of the 8th Wall Time Capsule Challenge — an exciting journey through time that pushed the boundaries of what's possible with WebAR.

We invited the 8th Wall community to harness WebAR to weave together narratives that spanned various timelines, blending past marvels with the latest innovations. From the initial 'Info + Ideation' session to insightful webinars like '8Talks: Using WebAR for Historical Preservation' and 'Cre8te: Mastering VPS Tools for Historical AR Experiences', participants were equipped with the knowledge and tools to craft experiences that not only showcased their technical skills but also brought history to life in engaging and innovative ways.

With a generous prize pool at stake, the challenge served as a perfect platform for developers to showcase their talents, while also contributing to a larger conversation about the role of technology in preserving and celebrating our collective history.

As we reveal the Time Capsule Challenge winners, let's celebrate their creative WebAR storytelling that's redefined augmented reality. Discover the projects that have carved out their place in history.

In the expansive world of augmented reality (AR), Lauren Schroeder emerges as a freelance creative technologist who uniquely combines digital creativity with immersive experience development. Her journey with 8th Wall began at the end of 2023, inspired by a demo at the SXSW popup that year. Lauren’s expertise spans a broad spectrum of digital creative technologies, from web-based experiences that are easily shareable online to using Unreal Engine for VR games and Touchdesigner for interactive physical installations.

Lauren’s approach is distinguished by her passion for exploring and expanding the realms of immersive experiences, constantly pushing the boundaries of what digital tools can achieve in AR and VR. She champions inclusivity and diverse perspectives in technology by building strong networks and collaborative relationships. One of her recent projects, themed around the winter solstice, showcases her skill in blending creative storytelling with sophisticated AR technology, engaging users in a global celebration of light and tradition.

We sat down with Lauren for a brief Q&A to learn more about her inspirations and expertise, the experiences she creates using 8th Wall, and her significant contributions to the AR community.  

Introducing Libardo Martinez Durango, a dynamic force in the realm of augmented reality (AR) development and in the 8th Wall Community. With a rich background spanning various AR platforms, Libardo embarked on his AR journey with a clear vision to elevate the immersive experience landscape. He was interested in building on 8th Wall because the platform suited his ambitious technical needs and had an exciting community of developers and creatives to collaborate with.

From his early days, Libardo has been distinguished by his ability to blend technical prowess with artistic vision, creating AR projects that are not just technologically advanced but also deeply engaging and meaningful. His work is a testament to his dedication to innovation, representing his homeland of Colombia and the Latino community at large in the global tech arena.

We sat down with Libardo for a Q&A to delve deeper into his AR journey and explore how he's using 8th Wall to craft captivating experiences that resonate with audiences worldwide.

In our recent 8talks session, "Using WebAR for Historical Preservation," we had the privilege of witnessing firsthand the convergence of technology and history. Nicole Riemer and her team at ROSE Digital shared their groundbreaking work on three WebAR experiences developed for Black History Month. These experiences not only celebrated pivotal moments and figures in Black history but also set a benchmark for how we can use WebAR to make history accessible to all. 

We're excited to announce our first challenge for 2024,  the 8th Wall Time Capsule Challenge. This first challenge is an opportunity for developers to flex their creative muscles and push the boundaries of WebAR experiences. The Time Capsule Challenge will run from February 6th to March 25th and is an opportunity to not only show off your technological skills but lead audiences through a voyage through time by blending history, culture, and WebAR together for a powerful immersive experience.

Introducing Daniel Vettorazi, a technological innovator and pioneer in Augmented Reality. Beginning his career as an art director with coding skills, Daniel quickly developed a passion for emerging technologies, particularly AR, leading workshops across Brazil since 2010. His journey evolved from developing AR applications using C++, Flash, and early JavaScript to mastering Computer Vision and Machine Learning. 

We hosted a Q&A with Daniel to learn more about his journey in the AR space and how he’s using 8th Wall to build engaging experiences.