#TWiSTLive at SamsungGIC: VR demo & fireside chat with Amir Rubin, industry pioneer & CEO of Sixense

TL;DR

VR is presented as a promising platform for immersive education, entertainment, and startup development. Jason Calacanis speaks with Sixense CEO Amir Rubin about natural interaction with immersive media, including simulations that could let learners practice procedures such as open-heart surgery. Rubin says Sixense began seven years earlier, while Calacanis compares the opportunity to the web in 1996–1998. Read on for their views on applications, developers, and timing.

Transcript

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Key Insights

• 🎓 VR has the potential to democratize education by providing access to immersive and realistic training experiences, regardless of location or resources.
• 😀 Startups in the VR space have opportunities to develop innovative apps and experiences, targeting various industries and catering to the growing demand for VR content.
• 👾 VR in entertainment can offer a new way to experience movies, games, and other media, enhancing user engagement and immersion.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is discussed in the #TWiSTLive fireside chat with Sixense CEO Amir Rubin?

Jason Calacanis and Amir Rubin discuss virtual reality, Sixense’s work, immersive education, entertainment, and opportunities for developers. The episode also includes a VR demonstration at Samsung’s Global Innovation Center in Mountain View.

Q: What does Sixense do in virtual reality?

Amir Rubin says Sixense focuses on enabling intuitive, natural interaction with immersive media. Calacanis describes the company as making powerful software development kits for creating virtual-reality environments.

Q: Why does Jason Calacanis believe VR will work this time?

Calacanis points to improvements in headsets, sensors, screens, and reduced latency. He also credits software such as Sixense’s work and argues that developers can now create meaningful applications for the platform.

Q: How could VR be used in education and training?

The discussion suggests that VR could let people practice complex skills in realistic simulations before participating in real procedures. Open-heart surgery is the central example: a 12-year-old could theoretically begin exploring the procedure in VR instead of waiting years to enter an operating environment.

Q: Could VR make education more accessible?

Calacanis describes VR as a possible democratizing force in education. He speculates that simulated practice could give younger people and even people who are illiterate opportunities to develop advanced practical abilities.

Q: How might VR change movies and storytelling?

The episode considers whether audiences will want to enter favorite stories and influence them through VR. Calacanis remains uncertain, saying he may still prefer filmmakers such as J.J. Abrams, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, and Scorsese to tell the story while he sits back.

Q: Is this a good time for entrepreneurs to build VR startups and apps?

Calacanis calls it a perfect time for entrepreneurs to engage with the platform, while acknowledging questions about whether development may be too early. He compares the moment to the web in 1996–1998, when its potential was evident before its fuller manifestation around 2003–2004.

Q: How long had Sixense been working on immersive interaction?

Rubin says Sixense started seven years before the interview. He traces his own first encounter with virtual reality to 1993–1994, when a simulation project for the Israeli and U.S. Navy introduced him to a complicated and expensive system.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Virtual reality (VR) has the potential to enhance education by providing immersive and realistic training experiences in various fields, from surgery to welding.

• VR in movies and entertainment offers a new way to experience content, allowing users to be part of the story and interact with the environment.

• Startups can enter the VR market by developing apps and experiences, with the potential for significant growth and monetization in the future.