Larry O’Reilly, CEO & Director - ARHT Media
Larry O’Reilly is an accomplished media and entertainment executive currently serving as the CEO of ARHT Media, a global leader in HoloPresence™ communication. Since joining ARHT in February 2018, Larry has focused on monetizing cutting-edge technology that brings celebrities and public figures to audiences worldwide, including luminaries like Stephen Hawking and Prime Minister Trudeau. Previously, he was President of Worldwide Sales at IMAX Corporation, where he played a pivotal role in expanding the IMAX Theatre network from 70 to over 1,400 locations. A graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University with a degree in Political Science and Business, Larry is based in Toronto, Canada, where he continues to innovate and shape the future of immersive media.
Vincent John Vincent, President and Co-founder - GestureTek Inc.
Vincent John Vincent is a pioneering innovator in gesture control technology, serving as the President and Co-founder of GestureTek Inc. With a career spanning over 30 years, Vincent has played a pivotal role in merging technology and creativity, leading GestureTek to become a global leader in video gesture control. The company has secured over 16 patents and installed more than 5,000 systems worldwide, impacting over 100 million consumers through various licensed devices.
Vincent’s journey began at the University of Waterloo, where he co-invented video gesture control technology with Francis MacDougall in the mid-1980s. Their groundbreaking work laid the foundation for the Gesture Xtreme Virtual World System, enabling users to control computer functions through full-body gestures. This technology has found applications in museums, entertainment centers, and education, notably with the development of the IREX (Interactive Rehabilitative EXercise) System, which enhances rehabilitation outcomes for individuals with disabilities.
As the world’s first virtual reality artist, Vincent has delivered over 250 performances globally, blending dance, music, and gesture control into immersive audio-visual experiences. His innovations have influenced major consumer products like the EyeToy and Kinect systems and continue to inspire the next generation of designers and technologists.
Vincent is committed to exploring the future of interaction, currently focusing on Maestro 3D, a cutting-edge gesture control technology for 3D depth cameras. His work has garnered numerous awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Canadian New Media Awards, and he remains a sought-after speaker, sharing his insights on emerging technologies at conferences around the world.
Bill Buxton, Innovation Advocate and Human-Computer Interaction Expert
Bill Buxton is a renowned researcher and designer, recognized for his pioneering contributions to user experience and interaction design. With a career spanning over 40 years, Bill has been at the forefront of technology innovation, advocating for a user-centered approach that emphasizes understanding people’s needs and behaviors.
As a researcher at Microsoft Research, Bill explores the future of interaction design, sharing insights that have shaped how we engage with digital technologies. His influential book, "Sketching User Experiences," is regarded as a foundational text in the field, highlighting the importance of sketching and prototyping in the design process.
Bill’s work has earned him numerous accolades, including induction into the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Canadian New Media Awards. A sought-after speaker, he has delivered keynotes at conferences worldwide, inspiring the next generation of designers and technologists to create experiences that enhance human interaction with technology.