• Games
  • Industry
  • Resources
  • Community
  • Learning
  • Support
Development
Unity Engine
Build 2D and 3D games for any platform
DownloadPlans and pricing
Monetization
In-App Purchase (IAP)
Discover and manage IAP across stores
Mediation
Maximize revenue and optimize monetization
Ad Quality
Protect your app’s user experience
Tapjoy
Build long-term user loyalty
All monetization products
User acquisition
User acquisition
Get discovered and acquire mobile users
Unity Vector AI
Connect players with the right games
Aura on-device advertising
Reach users on-device at peak engagement
All growth products
Use cases
3D collaboration
Build and review 3D projects in real time
Immersive training
Train in immersive environments
Customer experiences
Create interactive 3D experiences
All industry solutions
Industries
Manufacturing
Achieve operational excellence
Retail
Transform in-store experiences into online ones
Automotive
Elevate innovation and in-car experiences
All industries
Technical library
Documentation
Official user manuals and API references
Developer tools
Release versions and issue tracker
Roadmap
Review upcoming features
Glossary
Library of technical terms
Insights
Case studies
Real-world success stories
Best practice guides
Expert tips and tricks
All resources
What's new
Blog
Updates, information, and technical tips
News
News, stories, and press center
Community Hub
Discussions
Discuss, problem-solve, and connect
Events
Global and local events
Community stories
Made with Unity
Showcasing Unity creators
Livestreams
Join devs, creators, and insiders
Unity Awards
Celebrating Unity creators worldwide
For every level
Unity Learn
Master Unity skills for free
Professional training
Level up your team with Unity trainers
New to Unity
Getting started
Kickstart your learning
Unity Essential Pathways
New to Unity? Start your journey
How-to Guides
Actionable tips and best practices
Education
For students
Kickstart your career
For educators
Supercharge your teaching
Education Grant License
Bring Unity’s power to your institution
Certifications
Prove your Unity mastery
Support options
Get help
Helping you succeed with Unity
Success plans
Reach your goals faster with expert support
FAQ
Answers to common questions
Contact us
Connect with our team
Plans and pricing
Language
  • English
  • Deutsch
  • 日本語
  • Français
  • Português
  • 中文
  • Español
  • Русский
  • 한국어
Social
Currency
Purchase
  • Products
  • Unity Ads
  • Subscription
  • Unity Asset Store
  • Resellers
Education
  • Students
  • Educators
  • Institutions
  • Certification
  • Learn
  • Skills Development Program
Download
  • Unity Hub
  • Download Archive
  • Beta Program
Unity Labs
  • Labs
  • Publications
Resources
  • Learn platform
  • Community
  • Documentation
  • Unity QA
  • FAQ
  • Services Status
  • Case Studies
  • Made with Unity
Unity
  • Our Company
  • Newsletter
  • Blog
  • Events
  • Careers
  • Help
  • Press
  • Partners
  • Investors
  • Affiliates
  • Security
  • Social Impact
  • Inclusion & Diversity
  • Contact us
Copyright © 2025 Unity Technologies
  • Legal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

"Unity", Unity logos, and other Unity trademarks are trademarks or registered trademarks of Unity Technologies or its affiliates in the U.S. and elsewhere (more info here). Other names or brands are trademarks of their respective owners.

  1. Unity Newsroom
  2. Vision Summit Reveals New Speakers Richard Dawkins, NFL, and Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Vision Summit Reveals New Speakers Richard Dawkins, NFL, and Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Apr 13, 2017

Joins Facebook, Google, and others in a two-day Unity event bringing leaders together for insight and networking May 1-2 in Los Angeles

SAN FRANCISCO, April 13, 2017 -- Today Unity Technologies announced additional keynote and session speakers for next month’s Vision VR/AR Summit 2017. Preeminent author and evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s Victor Luo, NFL Films’ Jason Weber, Facebook’s Rachel Franklin, and many more will take to the stage for dynamic talks that explore the cross-industry applications of XR technology, best practices, and practical problem-solving. Vision Summit takes place May 1-2, 2017 in Los Angeles. A limited number of event tickets are still available. Check out this video of what to expect at Vision VR/AR Summit 2017.

Opening keynote guest speaker Dawkins will introduce a new talk titled, “Constrained Virtual Reality: A Technology That is Millions of Years Old.” He will take a sidelong look at VR from the point of view of an evolutionary biologist. Vision Summit attendees will also be among the first to hear news from industry leaders and keynote participants Nathan Martz, Product Manager, Google; Jay Wright, President, Vuforia and Brandon Bray, Principal Group Manager, Microsoft, among many others.

“What we see is a model world, constructed by the brain in much the same way as VR software works in the computer. An animal’s world model is constructed to help it survive. A bat, using echoes, and a swallow using light, need the same kind of world model: suitable for high-speed aerobatics catching insects. Do bats even hear in colour? Our perception of reality is a virtual model run by software in the brain, constrained by sensory inputs,” said Richard Dawkins. “That’s what I’m excited to explore in my talk at the Vision Summit.”

Unity recently announced the XR Foundation Toolkit, a framework for XR developers and artists to get up-to-speed as quickly as possible creating immersive experiences. Oculus, HTC Vive, PlayStation VR, and Daydream are currently working with Unity Labs and XR to make content more dynamic than ever before.

“XR has quickly become a defining way to do business, entertain, educate, and inspire,” said Tony Parisi, Head of VR/AR Strategy, Unity Technologies. “While we’re still in the industry’s earliest days, it’s events like Vision Summit that bring together established and budding professionals, the brightest minds, and a powerful network of peers to learn about and discuss key trends that are essential to advancing our practice, and the industry overall.”

Following the keynote, attendees can enjoy two days of session programming designed to expand core skills and inspire creative applications of XR technology.

Session speakers include:

  • Jay Wright, President & GM (Vuforia)
  • Melissa Painter, award-winning filmmaker and author
  • Jules Urbach, CEO (Otoy, Inc.)
  • Timoni West, Principal Designer, Unity Labs (Unity)
  • Danny Bilson, Screenwriter/Creative Director
  • Jacob Mullins, Principal (Shasta Ventures)
  • Chris Pruett, Head of Development Engineering (Oculus)
  • Julie Shumaker, VP Business Development of Advertising (Unity)
  • Ana Asnes Becker, Interactive Graphics Editor (Wall Street Journal)
  • Steven Osman, Principal Software Engineer, Magic Lab (Sony)
  • Michael Gallagher, President & CEO (Entertainment Software Association)

Select sessions include:

  • Making Magic Across Both the Virtual and Real World at PlayStation
  • VR Journalism: 360 Storytelling and the New Era of Reporting
  • Unity + Octane: The Path to Holographic Cinematic Rendering
  • Thinking Outside the Screen: Using the Environment As Your AR Canvas
  • A History of XR in Pop Culture
  • Samsung Innovations with Immersive Technologies
  • Multiplayer Design in VR Gaming
  • Building Cinematic VR: Timeline and Other Techniques
  • XR Around the World Snapshot
  • EditorVR Battle: Live on Stage
  • Narrative Design in VR
  • ...and many more!

To learn more about the Vision Summit conference and view additional speakers, please visit: https://visionsummit2017.com/

For media inquiries and passes, please contact: press@visionsummit2017.com

About the Vision VR/AR Summit 2017

The Vision VR/AR Summit 2017 will be held at the Loews Hollywood Hotel May 1-2, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. This year’s event features an impressive lineup of presentations and panels geared towards furthering the knowledge base of anyone developing virtual and/or augmented reality content. Hosted by Unity Technologies, the event showcases some of the most creative new projects the community has to offer, practical learning for all levels and areas of expertise, as well as numerous networking opportunities. The event also features the Vision Awards and Made with Unity showcase, which honor the most innovative virtual and augmented reality projects made with Unity to date. For tickets and more information visit https://visionsummit2017.com/2017

About Unity Technologies

Unity Technologies is the creator of a flexible and high-performance end-to-end development platform used to create rich interactive 2D, 3D, VR and AR games and experiences. Unity’s powerful graphics engine and full-featured editor serve as the foundation to develop beautiful games or apps and easily bring them to multiple platforms: mobile devices, home entertainment systems, personal computers, and embedded systems. Unity also offers solutions and services for creating games, boosting productivity, and connecting with audiences including Unity Ads, Unity Analytics, Unity Asset Store, Unity Cloud Build, Unity Collaborate, Unity Connect and Unity Certification. Unity Technologies serves large publishers and filmmakers, indie studios, students and hobbyists around the globe. For more information, visit: https://unity3d.com. To see the latest games and experiences created in Unity, go to: https://madewith.unity.com.

Contacts

for Unity Technologies
Amanda Taggart
pr@unity3d.com
or
Alexis McDowel
pr@unity3d.com