Boston VR Newsletter - July 2025 Edition (Final Issue)

The organizers and volunteers of Boston VR are continuing our monthly socials at TimeOut Market.

I’m next to Jeffrey wearing the iconic Boston VR T-shirt. Have you got yours? (I’m taking mine to Arizona!)

This will be the last issue I release…

Why?

Because I’m moving to Arizona to begin a Master’s in…no surprise….Extended Reality Technology at ASU. A new adventure awaits…

A shout-out to Jeffrey Jacobson for your steady leadership, wicked kindness, authentic mentorship, and for being so welcoming as I entered this XR space full of childlike questions about the industry. Carved into my memory of Boston VR are the times at your house, eating tasty pizza (or a fancy salad) and strategizing events and ideas for the Boston VR community—this space allowed for the idea to restart a Boston VR newsletter, now a reality! Thank you!

A shout-out to Casey Armstrong for your humble leadership, ongoing generosity, solid mentorship, and for being such a connector of people. Thank you for coming up with the idea for Hush-n-Hack, encouraging me to join LinkedIn, and for getting the ball rolling to publish on Substack... I’m grateful for your editorial advice, your letter, and for being such an overall cool dude. Your mindset of always asking, How can I add value to you or connect you to someone who can help? is something that seems rare these days and it inspires me on my journey ahead. You are a man of many talents, and if you ever find yourself in Arizona, let me know.

A shout-out to Jim Susinno for your generosity, incredible storytelling (epic interview), and for being a catalyst in getting this club organized in the first place. A memory that will always stay with me, as I shared in a prior issue, was when I first came to the club eager to learn about the members and XR. You passionately explained to a newbie like me the joy of creating a shape in 3D and talked about sweet science fiction novels worth reading. You’ve also been one of the most consistent members, showing up month after month at the socials, ready to connect, share your thoughts on the industry, hardware, and software (and your…ahem…views on Meta).

And of course, shout-outs to everyone else in the community, including Femi (congrats on the second book! You’re inspiring!), John (thank you for continuing your workshops. I enjoyed our time at Hush-n-Hack), and Jeff B. (for your leadership and kind words about the newsletter). If I missed anyone’s name, thank you!

-Chris

Stay in touch through my LinkedIn here or my LinkTree here.

Source: https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/ultrathin-holography-vr-glasses-meta-stanford

Sponsors receive prime speaking spots, access to the full registration list, and promotion to VRARA’s 55,000+ global mailing list, along with added visibility through LinkedIn’s vast network of 1 billion users and 57 million organizations.

The 2024 summit drew 1,470+ live attendees and thousands more via recordings, highlighting the event’s impact and reach.

Source: https://www.xrmotion.com/conference

Date & Location

• When: Saturday, October 25, 2025 | 11 AM–9 PM

• Where: NYU Tandon @ The Yard, Building 22, Brooklyn, NY

Overview
This all‑day event brings together 3D artists, motion designers, and immersive‑tech creators for a dynamic day of talks, demos, workshops, and networking. Whether you’re an established pro or new to the XR world, there’s something for you.

“This is how I love to meditate.” -Chris

Source: https://theeliteinstitute.net/2024/07/06/solara-one-meta-quest-3/

From Publisher’s Website (Wiley.com):

Follow a tried-and-tested approach to integrating augmented and virtual reality into your business

The Extended Reality Blueprint focuses on design for non-gaming or gaming adjacent applications in extended reality (XR), including augmented and virtual reality. Author Annie Eaton is a leading producer of immersive content in the XR space. Many of Annie's clients come to her with the same questions, often not knowing where to begin as they seek to implement extended reality solutions into their business. This book presents the discovery and product development process through an immersive technology lens. You will walk through the XR production process and learn how to apply this technology directly within your organizations in a meaningful and effective way. Join leading businesses like Delta Air Lines, Mars Wrigley, Georgia-Pacific, and JLG Industries, and learn how top companies are leveraging XR for greater market share, engagement, and profit.

• Learn about the latest applications of extended reality (XR), including augmented and virtual reality.

• Discover the steps of the XR product development process, including how to find profitable uses of XR and decide on technology suites.

• Assemble effective teams of XR developers, designers, artists, and other key members to bring your projects to fruition and success.

• Learn from the real-world examples and lessons learned of businesses that have taken the leap into extended reality.

The Extended Reality Blueprint, delivers a concrete, actionable process for brining extended reality into your organization and embracing this crucial technology to remain current.

From Amazon.com:

“Annie Eaton’s The Extended Reality Blueprint is jam packed with her firsthand knowledge and unique experience working with the world’s leading brands on XR solutions. What you will find in this outstanding book is not only an informative read but also insight that is actionable and tangible, a clear reflection of Annie’s decade working deep inside the AR and VR trenches.”
― CATHY HACKL, spatial computing and gaming executive and tech futurist, popularly known in tech circles as The Godmother of the Metaverse

“Annie clearly outlines how to bridge the gap between physical and digital spaces. It’s an informative book for enterprises to understand key concepts about XR and how to apply these concepts to their businesses.”
― ALI ZAMIRI, XR Developer Relations & Ecosystem Development, Qualcomm Technologies Inc.

“I’m thrilled Annie’s process for her outstanding work in virtual reality development is captured in this book. Her creativity and expertise have been instrumental in creating immersive and innovative VR experiences. Annie’s dedication to pushing the boundaries of VR technology is truly commendable.”
― KEVIN MARCUM, Program Manager, Delta Air Lines

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Boston VR is committed to fostering a welcoming and innovative community for XR enthusiasts and professionals.

Whether you're a developer, creator, researcher, or just plain curious, we're excited to explore the future of XR with you.

For more detailed discussions and to share your thoughts or experiences, don't hesitate to join us at our next meetup or reach out through our community channels.

See you in the virtual world!

To join, click here

Email Casey We need help with marketing, event planning, dev jams, sponsorship, and more!

AMXRA is the premier medical society advancing the science and practice of medical extended reality, https://amxra.org/.

AMXRA has generously committed to being a premium sponsor for Boston VR over the coming years. We are immensely grateful for their support and partnership in exploring the forefront of XR technology.