Dr. VR

Dans cet épisode de Dr. VR, je reçois Myriam Achard, cheffe des partenariats nouveaux médias et relations publiques chez PHI, une institution incontournable dans le développement, la diffusion et la reconnaissance des expériences immersives à Montréal et à l’international. Avec elle, on revient sur l’évolution de la réalité virtuelle et de la XR, de ses premières découvertes jusqu’aux grandes expé...

I’m joined by Carl-Edwin Michel, founder and executive producer of the Canadian Game Awards, for a timely conversation about the evolution of the CGA and the importance of celebrating Canadian talent in the video game industry. Together, we discuss how the awards have grown, why this year’s edition feels especially significant, and what it means to build visibility for Canadian creators on a large...

À l’approche de la troisième édition de la Compétition Immersive du Festival de Cannes, je retrouve Elie Levasseur, responsable de cette initiative ambitieuse, pour une conversation approfondie sur l’évolution rapide de la Compétition Immersive et de l’industrie XR dans son ensemble. Ensemble, nous discutons des grandes nouveautés de cette édition, de la transformation du format de présentation de...

In this episode of Dr. VR, I sit down with Geoff Eisfeld, founder of XR FIT in Whitby, Ontario, to explore his journey from immersive space design and gaming into the world of location-based VR. We talk about the vision behind XR Fit, why he believes VR arcades need to evolve, and how his partnership with LA Fitness is helping him rethink what immersive entertainment, fitness, and community can lo...

Dans cet épisode de Dr. VR, je m’entretiens avec Éric Brouillet, président de Vibrant Studios, une division de l’entreprise montréalaise Vibrant Marketing spécialisée dans la création d’expériences immersives grand public. Nous discutons de l’arrivée dans la grande région de Toronto de Space Explorers: The Infinite , une expérience immersive en réalité virtuelle qui permet aux visiteurs d’explorer...

Dans cet épisode de Dr. VR, je m’entretiens avec Félix Lajeunesse, cofondateur du studio montréalais Félix & Paul, l’un des pionniers mondiaux du cinéma en réalité virtuelle immersive. Depuis plus d’une décennie, leur studio repousse les frontières de la narration immersive en plaçant le spectateur au cœur de l’expérience. Nous discutons de "Space Explorers: The Infinite", une expéri...

In this episode of Dr. VR , I sit down with Dr. Oliver Schreer, who is an Associate Professor at the Technical University of Berlin and Head of the Immersive Media & Communication Group at the Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute, to explore how cutting-edge volumetric capture technology is being used to preserve Holocaust testimony in VR. Dr. Schreer and his team developed two powerful VR experien...

In this episode of Dr. VR , I take a deliberate turn toward a topic that has surfaced repeatedly on the show but has never been fully unpacked: artificial intelligence. My guest, Claudette Hutchinson, is a Certified AI Lead Implementer and the founder of OwningMy, a platform designed to help people better understand, manage, and take ownership of their AI and digital interactions. Together, we exp...

"The Thrill of the Fight" is unquestionably one of the most iconic and authentic VR experiences ever created. Now, with "The Thrill of the Fight 2," the franchise is entering a bold new chapter. In this episode, I dive deep into the making of TOTF2 with Creative Director Edward Vasquez, exploring how the video game company Halfbrick is evolving the raw, room-scale intensity of the original, fully...

I sit down with someone whose influence can be felt across technology, education, entrepreneurship, and global community building. Julie Smithson is the CEO and co-founder of METAVRSE, XR Women and Unlimited Awesome. She is a driving force in shaping how we create, collaborate, and thrive in the spatial web. In this wide-ranging conversation, Julie shares the incredible trajectory that brought her...

In December 2024, live from Stereopsia 2024 in Brussels, I sat down with Alexandra Gerard, Co-Director and Co-Founder of UnitedXR Europe, and Managing Director of Stereopsia, to explore how one of the continent’s leading XR events has evolved over the years. Alexandra shares how she fosters collaboration across Europe’s diverse XR ecosystem, the growing presence of women in immersive tech, and her...

Dans cette Stereopsia Session, je rencontre Christophe Hermanns, directeur de Vigo Creative, pour discuter de la manière dont le Serious Gaming en réalité virtuelle transforme la formation professionnelle — des pompiers belges apprenant les protocoles liés aux matières dangereuses jusqu’aux simulations pour centrales nucléaires. Christophe partage également des réflexions sur le succès du studio a...

In this Stereopsia Session, I spoke with Prof. Raigmor Barras and Prof. Rosemary Bernabe, coordinators of the EU project XR4Human, about creating a Code of Conduct for ethical and human-centred immersive technologies. They discuss the importance of accessibility, inclusivity, and interoperability in XR—and their hope that the European Commission will adopt their guidelines to ensure an equitable f...

In this Stereopsia Session, I sat down with Roger ter Heide, CEO and Founder of ImproVive, to discuss the intersection of AI, VR, and interactive narrative design. His museum installation "Anders?!" from the Museum de Heksenwaag, immerses visitors in the emotional tension of historical witch-trial interrogations—powered by conversational AI and responsive avatars. Roger shares how this t...

In this episode of Dr. VR, I sit down with Jon Yu, founder of Elysium AR, a no-code AR co-creation app designed to make worldbuilding accessible to everyone. We talk about the inspirations behind Elysium, the challenges of designing for AR in vibrant public spaces, and why user experience is becoming the true “moat” in immersive technology. Jon shares his thoughts on the upcoming wave of wearable...

In this powerful episode of Dr. VR, I sit down with Māori filmmaker, educator, and immersive media innovator Wiremu Grace, the creative force behind "Atuatanga," a groundbreaking VR experience told entirely in te reo Māori. Premiered at the 2025 Imaginative Festival in Toronto, "Atuatanga" brings Māori spiritual narratives, environmental awareness, and ancestral wisdom into the...

In this powerful episode of Dr. VR, I sit down with Māori filmmaker, educator, and immersive media innovator Wiremu Grace, the creative force behind "Atuatanga," a groundbreaking VR experience told entirely in te reo Māori. Premiered at the 2025 Imaginative Festival in Toronto, "Atuatanga" brings Māori spiritual narratives, environmental awareness, and ancestral wisdom into the...

In this episode of Dr. VR , I sit down with Jonathan Griffith, director, producer, and sports photographer, to explore the making of his groundbreaking VR film Touching the Sky , co-produced by Meta and Red Bull. Filmed across the French Alps and the Himalayas, the documentary captures wingsuit flying, paragliding, and other adrenaline-fueled sports in stunning stereoscopic 360°. Jonathan reveals...

In this episode of Dr. VR , I sit down with Jonathan Griffith, director, producer, and sports photographer, to explore the making of his groundbreaking VR film Touching the Sky , co-produced by Meta and Red Bull. Filmed across the French Alps and the Himalayas, the documentary captures wingsuit flying, paragliding, and other adrenaline-fueled sports in stunning stereoscopic 360°. Jonathan reveals...

In this episode of Dr. VR , I sit down with Stephen Henderson, multidisciplinary artist, programmer, and spatial designer, to explore tAxI, a groundbreaking immersive installation that invites passengers into a driverless cab for a deeply human conversation with an AI, presented at the Immersive Competition at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. Co-directed by Henderson alongside Yamil Rodriguez and Mi...

In this episode of Dr. VR , I sit down with Stephen Henderson, multidisciplinary artist, programmer, and spatial designer, to explore tAxI, a groundbreaking immersive installation that invites passengers into a driverless cab for a deeply human conversation with an AI, presented at the Immersive Competition at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. Co-directed by Henderson alongside Yamil Rodriguez and Mi...

Dans cet épisode de Dr. VR , je reçois Dominic Desjardins et Rayne Zuckerman, créateur·trice·s basé·e·s à Toronto et fondateur·trice·s de Zazie Films, à l’origine de l’expérience en réalité virtuelle La maison de poupée / The Dollhouse , présentée à la Compétition Immersive du Festival de Cannes. À travers le regard sensible d’une enfant et un univers de papier qui se déploie, La maison de poupée...

Dans cet épisode de Dr. VR , je reçois Dominic Desjardins et Rayne Zuckerman, créateur·trice·s basé·e·s à Toronto et fondateur·trice·s de Zazie Films, à l’origine de l’expérience en réalité virtuelle La maison de poupée / The Dollhouse , présentée à la Compétition Immersive du Festival de Cannes. À travers le regard sensible d’une enfant et un univers de papier qui se déploie, La maison de poupée...

In this episode, I sit down with Eloise Singer, director and founder of Singer Studios, and Dr. Dave Ranyard, producer, immersive media pioneer, and studio director, to explore their VR work currently under consideration for an Emmy nomination and recently showcased at the Cannes Film Festival in the Immersive Competition. Their projects are redefining how we engage with history through virtual re...

In this episode, I sit down with Eloise Singer, director and founder of Singer Studios, and Dr. Dave Ranyard, producer, immersive media pioneer, and studio director, to explore their VR work currently under consideration for an Emmy nomination and recently showcased at the Cannes Film Festival in the Immersive Competition. Their projects are redefining how we engage with history through virtual re...