Back in LA for AWE! Kudos to Ori Inbar and the team for making it bigger and better than ever. This year is extra special as I’m humbled to be part of AWE’s inaugural XR Hall of Fame. I feel honored to be listed among other leaders, innovators, and dreamers who each worked with many (hundreds) more whose work we collectively represent. Thank you for this honor. Being back at AWE makes me pause and reflect. I remember the early days with Jeffrey Jenkins, John Martellaro, Ralph Osterhout, Bobby King, John H., and Mike Lohse – writing software for optics modules glued to a board of acrylic. The imaginations of Chris Niewinski, Todd Reily, Preston Platt, and Kellie H. are still turning into reality. Nearly 15 years later, IVAS is bringing to life some of the things we envisioned - I wish I could try one on! Though many of us pivoted towards enterprise, the defense industry kept marching on. Fast forward a few years, I remember Scott Montgomerie and I are driving around San Jose, discussing how we, as competitors, can work together and unite around a common goal to guide our hardware partners. Jay Kim and Eric Johnsen working hard to broaden partnerships and create an ecosystem for enterprise. We worked hard and played hard - including memorable moments like the CES party with EPSON. Anyone still have those orange glasses? IYKYK. That was just the beginning. It still is. This industry has so much further to go, and AWE is the pulse of it. I’m proud to see so many of the OGs still at it. Jay Wright, Roy Ashok, Charlie Fink, Shelley Peterson, Tom Emrich 🏳️🌈, Christine Perey – looking at you! I'm so proud to have done some of the best work of my life with the amazing folks at Upskill. And grateful for the twist of fate that turned an old competitor into a friend and then into a co-worker with Dr. Hendrik Witt when we linked up at TeamViewer. Here’s to a bright future ahead in AR! I’m thrilled to see the droves of engineers, designers, and more who are building it.
Brian Ballard ya better not come through LA and not call me! I am 10 min from LAX!
Congratulations! What a rewarding journey we are all on, and half of the reward is working with amazing people like you and the others you’ve mentioned!
will miss the ceremony, but congrats Brian Ballard! hope to see you thursday - will be there for the day
You just surfaced a long list of wonderful memories! It's one of the things I love about this industry, and AWE is still like a family reunion! Looking forward to catching up! And we do need to get you into an IVAS! (I have to admit, Ithought it was spectacular! )
Congrats Brian, is there a XR MVP award ;)
Congratulations Brian Ballard ... Well deserved. It is a great community and ecosystem
Congratulations, Brian -- you are the OG of AR! So many great memories, friends, and experiences from the APX Labs/Upskill days. Definitely worked/traveled hard and played harder!
An amazing shared history, and the time getting closer ...
Congrats Brian. Well deserved!
Entrepreneur/Founder, Enterprise Software Technologist, Engineer
4wJohn H. I couldn't agree more. Lots of our friends are in this list https://www.awexr.com/hall-of-fame but so so many more that deserve it.