Ken Perlin, a professor in the Department of Computer Science at New York University, directs the NYU Games For Learning Institute, and is a participating faculty member in the NYU Media and Games Network (MAGNET). He was also founding director of the Media Research Laboratory and director of the NYU Center for Advanced Technology. His research interests include graphics, animation, augmented and mixed reality, user interfaces, science education and multimedia. He received an Academy Award for Technical Achievement from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for his noise and turbulence procedural texturing techniques, which are widely used in feature films and television, as well as the 2008 ACM/SIGGRAPH Computer Graphics Achievement Award, the TrapCode award for achievement in computer graphics research, the NYC Mayor's award for excellence in Science and Technology and the Sokol award for outstanding Science faculty at NYU, and a Presidential Young Investigator Award from the National Science Foundation. Dr. Perlin received his Ph.D. in Computer Science from New York University, and a B.A. in theoretical mathematics from Harvard University.

Joergen Geerds is CEO / Creative Director of Freedom 360. Joergen brings a master vision to each 360 endeavor – ensuring the highest levels of creative integrity. As the original inventor of the modern, fully spherical video medium, he has been pushing the language of VR filmmaking by tirelessly finding artistic compositions and dynamic angles. His contribution helps deliver exciting and memorable VR projects to our clients.

David Lobser has been working with animation for nearly twenty years. His work is cinematic, being influenced stylistically by David Lynch, Tim Burton and the Brother’s Quay amongst others. David attended the School of Visual Arts and has taught at Parson’s, Harvard, and the Tecnologico de Monterrey in Queretaro, Mexico where he continued to expand on his character design workshop. David graduated from NYU’s ITP program and has starting creating works using code, mostly 3D projects in javascript. His interest in animation comes from a desire to stir emotion and connect with audiences in unique ways. Intense emotions create intense bonds. David Lobser enjoys being part of the aesthetic conversation for the beginning of this century and hopes to inspire others to act on their creative impulses.

Tom Harding serves as Director of Immersive Products & Virtual Reality at Samsung Electronics America, helping drive Samsung's Virtual Reality product development throughout the United States. Prior to joining Samsung, Tom held several roles in Media & Marketing industries, most recently heading up Sports Products at Thomson Reuters in New York. Tom holds a B.Sc in Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence from The University of Edinburgh, UK.

Gary-Yau Chan is a hackathon enthusiast, participating in over 40 hackathons. He loves how technology can broaden the ways we can tell and visualize stories. Currently, Gary is cofounder and products lead at Oz Content Technologies.

Andre Smith is a software engineer and founder of a startup called Suitefolio. His passion for connected devices (iOT), Motion Sensors, Virtual Reality and Augmented reality started at hackathons. Andre is also an active hacker and the host of hack night every Friday night at a co-working space called Sotechie Spaces.

Callie Leone works to define the future of the agency by spearheading strategic innovation initiatives such as gyro's partner program, thought leadership with Fortune Knowledge Group, leading new business pitch work, onboarding and training new strategists in both the USA and Europe, and developing and implementing strategic tools and resources for all teams throughout gyro's NA/EMNA network. She also is a core member of gyro:human, the agency's newest healthcare practice and develops engagement, community, and brand strategies across all healthcare verticals. Callie brings her passion and expertise from the startup world and leverages new technologies like augmented reality to drive business results and improve brand experiences both for her company and her clients. She was a panelist at InsideAR:Munich 2014 discussing how augmented reality will impact enterprise through storytelling and immersive experiences.

Shawn Van Every is a full time faculty member at NYU’s Interactive Telecommunications Program. His courses include participatory and social media, programming, mobile technologies and interactive telephony. In 2008 he was honored with the David Payne Carter award for excellence in teaching. Shawn’s first book, Pro Android Media was published by Apress in 2010. He has demonstrated, exhibited and presented work at many conferences and technology demonstrations including O’Reilly’s Emerging Telephony, O’Reilly’s Emerging Technology, ACM Multimedia, Vloggercon and Strong Angel II. He was a co-organizer of the Open Media Developers Summit, Beyond Broadcast (2006) and iPhoneDevCamp NYC.